Uceek Family/Evangeline/gossip

The girls bustled around the Queens chambers, hanging her freshly washed and pressed clothes, opening the windows, replenishing the sweet, golden flowers in the flowerpot and chattering to one another the entire time.

Opening the Queen's cupboard one girl lifted a small, soft blanket embroidered with a pale, pink thread. Looking quizzically at her friends, a tall, skinny one took it from her and with an attitude of supreme knowledge stated,

"This belongs to the daughter that the Queen gave birth to during peace"

The other girls murmured to one another, before a shorter one piped up,

"I heard she had twins"

"Don't be silly Muriel", another scolded. "The Queen has only one child, a son with Count Maelg"

"Pfft, it has a pink edging... it can't be Prince Murdo's"

A younger girl, who was obviously hearing the story for the first time inquired,

"Where is the baby now?"

The skinny one spoke again, enjoying the attention of her companions,

"Obviously, the baby was a mistake."

"Why was it a mistake?"

A freckly, red head piped up,

"I heard the baby was grossly malformed, and in embarrassment they sent it away to live in a village far away"

"That's ridiculous", the skinny girl snorted, "the Kingdom would've known of her pregnancy. No, this pregnancy and baby was kept secret because Prince Maelg was not the father."

The girls gasped, but some of the older ones nodded in agreement.

"Who was the father Muriel?" the young girl asked.

"Easy. It was the Chancellor of Fontan. Lord Gregor. My mother said her cousin was part of the Queen's entourage when she visited Fontan. She said that the Chancellor invited the Queen into his private courtyard."

The red haired girl grunted,

"That's ridiculous Muriel... he is way too old."

"I've heard he looks good for his age though" she said seriously.

"No... the timing is all wrong anyway. The baby was born before her visit to Fontan. My mother says the baby's father was the King of Itorunt, Lucian. Apparently shortly after peace was signed he came to visit the Queen in Partora on private business"

The girls nodded in agreement and a short, plump girl said proudly,

"Apparently lots of women swooned over the Itorunt King when he visited but he only had eyes for our Queen"

A quieter girl spoke timidly,

"But my Aunt says the King of Caligus was the father, Doombringer. She says they spent a lot of time together during all the region exchanges. After the Queen wounded him during a duel, she felt sorry for him and visited him in his tent. My Aunt says she's seen King Doombringer in person and he is a very handsome man. She said the Queen couldn't be blamed"

The tall skinny one said,

"No... that's not true"

"It was a baby of love, with a lesser born noble of Perdan"

"It was Duke Nightmare"

"No, no... it belongs to Prince Maelg's best friend, Count Magnus"

As a heated argument erupted, the matronly head of the maids entered the room with a cross scowl.

"Enough girls!" she roared "get back to work! Finish cleaning the Queen's room and continue with the rest of your work before I am forced to have you disciplined"

The girls quickly forgot their discussion and returned to their duties before the elder woman became more cranky.