The Romantic Trials Of A Transmigrated Empress-Chapter 262: The Queen Consort had a different plan.

After the hug, the queen consort surprised Sigrid by pinching her cheek like one of those grandmother’s addicted to pinching the chubby cheeks of every baby they met. "The pleasure of this meeting is all mine."

"You are so pretty." Sigrid blurted out.

The smile on the face of the queen consort deepened. "I don’t think anybody has called me pretty before. When I was younger they said I was beautiful, radiant, mesmerizing."

"I have no doubt that you were all those things." Roland said with a smile that had not vanished since he set his eyes on his grandmother. "But I have a grudge against you. Why have not replied to my letters for ten years?"

"I replied, do not smear my name before your crown princess child." She scolded in a playful tone.

"Three sentences in each letter. It doesn’t count." Roland answered.

The queen consort walked ahead of them, taking her time as she was in no hurry. "I am getting old boy, my mind is too tired to come up with quirky responses. Three sentences is all I can manage now. You should count your blessings for the bride you married. She is the only reason why the doors to my manor have been opened to the world again.

I wanted to meet the first female mage in centuries that has managed to land herself a crown prince, save her neck, change the laws and convince Eldoria to see the truth that female mages are not a threat.

I grew even more curious about her when I heard that you were besotted Roland. After being hounded to settle down and presented with potential brides from every noble house and rejecting them you married Sigrid Thorin. I could not believe my ears when I heard about it."

"Well he did not stand a chance against my charms." Sigrid quipped.

"I did not know that your father’s brute orders could be mistaken for charm Roland." She bantered. Because she talked about the king, she paused and looked back at them, sighing reluctantly. "How is your father?"

"On the road to recovery, his body just needs to heal." Roland answered. "Do you wish to pay him a visit?"

She shook her head, not to eager to visit her sick son. "I know that it may seem cruel to you, a mother not wishing to see her sick son that could be on his death bed. But, the truth is, I cannot look at him and see the boy I once knew and loved. All the memories I have of him now are tarnished by the images of him killing his brother and most of my other children dying for the throne.

In these fights, brothers turn against brothers, they sell off their sisters to the highest bidders who will provide them with support. They maim each other and kill children and women. The hunger for the throne makes cruel mad men of the children of the royal family. It is one of the reasons why I stay away from the rest of the royal family. I grew sick of it all."

Sigrid took a step towards the Queen consort, placing a hand over hers. "I understand you. I also abhor such things and when Roland takes the throne, there will be no such foolish bloodshed."

Sigrid heard Cosmos’s voice in her mind, he was laughing at her from wherever he was.

"It doesn’t mean that you will not find other ways to get them out of the way. You will simply avoid killing them in a bloody way and not touch the children, women and those that are not involved."

She entered the living room and everyone slowly brought the chatter. Precisely twenty one members of the family had come. They stood up to greet the Queen consort, crown prince and crown princess and then sat down.

One thing that was out of place which Sigrid noticed was that eight servants were lining up with silver trays. On the trays were sealed envelopes, and she was curious to know there content.

"Let’s not waste time, begin, one at a time." The Queen consort ordered.

Regan Maximus was the first to speak up. "The scale of power will be tipped if the nobles are given even more powerful positions in the new empire. This is the time to come together and assert out authority."

"How have you all been?" The Queen consort cut in with a question.

Her question took them all by surprise. They looked at each other, wondering what she was doing?

"Regan, how have you been? I hear that you still refuse to marry. Why is that?"

Regan blinked back a few times, puzzled. What did his marital status have to do with the issue at hand? "I--I am not ready." he responded in an uncomfortable voice.

The Queen consort opened a notebook that had been sitting on the arm of her chair all along. "Mmm, Karla Shadowmere will be the right fit for you." She declared.

Regan raised his head straighter, his mouth was partially parted. He looked at his father Bell Maximus, asking for help.

"Since your father and mother have not said a word against my suggestion then I will take it that a decision has been made." Pointing at one of the servants at the back that was carrying a tray, she said, "Send the letter expressing the intentions of the royal house to Lord Shadowmere."

Sigrid covered her mouth as she broke into a sudden fit of muffled coughs. It seemed the goals of the Queen consort for assenting to this meeting were much more different than what everyone had imagined.

"On your way Regan, follow the footman. Make sure that you take some flowers, she is very particular to tulips." She ordered calmly and dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

Regan was unwilling to move. He clenched his jaw and shook his head. "Grandmother, I have never even met Karla Shadowmere. How can I court a stranger? Moreover, the issue that brought us here is..."

Regan suddenly flew through the air, pushed by a force that was unexpected. The doors were closed behind him and two knights firmly took a hold of him, dragging him to a carriage.

"Mage!!" Roland exclaimed. "Grandmother, you are a mage!!"

The Queen consort gave Roland a thumbs up. "Next, Cameron Maximus." She raised her eyes lazily. "Thirty eight and unmarried but you have provided this royal family with six bastard daughters. It is time you give them a mother. Miss Nelly Mardsen will do perfectly. She is not from a noble family but she can wrangle your brats and help you build a good respectable home. She likes chocolates and cats, both are waiting in the carriage."

Cameron had learned a lesson from Regan, he did not want to embarrassed. With reluctance, he bowed his head and then followed the footman and two knights.

"Next," She barked because reluctant murmurs had started to grow. "I suggest that you all shut up and follow my commands or else I will be merciless. Your parents may have indulged you but I will do no such thing. How Roland and Sigrid choose to run the new empire is their business. How this family is run on the other hand is now my business. Those that are willful and disobedient will be removed from the Maximus family."