The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

he cleared her throat and spoke up confidently. “Tve made up my mind! I’ll acknowledge the Pollacks, but i am Elara Schnabel, always Elara Schnabel, Grandpa Sexton will be an extra grandpa who adores me, so guess I’m winning here! As for him… I don’t want to see him just yet, but I don’t blame him.”

Sexton looked at Elara, nodding relentlessly. “Eh, you decide. It’s all up to you. You stick with the name Schnabel, a fine name indeed! Marcel, I owe you thanks for raising such a granddaughter.”

Marcel snorted, his face softening a bit. “Of course she’s wonderful, my granddaughters are the best! Just so you know, Elara’s only being kind. She’s still a Schnabel through and through.”

“I know, and the Pollacks will provide for Elara whatever she needs. Whatever she chooses to do, both the Pollack and Schnabel families will be her home!”

Merrick muttered, “How did this become your win? I was hoping Elara might take on my last name one of these days, but you old coot got lucky”

Elara hugged Merrick’s arm, “Grandpa, I may have two paternal grandpas, but I only have one maternal grandpa like you!”

“That’s more like it.”

Freya coughed. “In the future, maybe Elara and Noella should just stay with us. The Schnabel family is quite Erowded, and our place could use some liveliness”

I

Sexton chimed in, “Sure thing, I could move in too, keep Noella and Elara company.”

Freya snapped, “Have you no shame?”

“Why would I be ashamed? Marcel, you tell them Noella is going to be our granddaughter–in–law, and Elara’s our own flesh and blood. They’ll be part of my family sooner or later, right?”

“Beat it! Getting too big for your britches, are ya? All these treasures belong to the Schnabel family, now

scram!”

Marcel could feel his blood boiling just looking at Sexton, cursing under his breath as he shooed him and

Palmer out the door.

“I get sick just hearing the name Pollack!”

“And the Schnabel’s aren’t any prize either! Except for Noella and Elara, the rest of you are no–good

troublemakers!”

The Schnabel family pretended they didn’t hear a thing.

Elara surreptitiously tugged at Noella’s hand, shielding her face as she whispered, “Noella, I need to get out for a bit. Come with me, will you?”

“Where to?”

As Elara pulled Noella into the car and buckled her seat belt, she explained, “I want to check out the

11:54

Richardson family. Noella, you can drive, right?”

can.

Noella didn’t hesitate, firing up the engine and driving a good distance before admitting. “But I don’t have a license.

Elara was struck silent. She should’ve thought this through, maybe casually dragged one of their brothers along. Noells didn’t have a license; what if something happened?

we get Jasper to come?

calm. “You didn’t want them to know, right? My driving is not bad, and I know where the Richardson family

it’s not safe. Should we take a

a motorcycle parked on the roadside, tilting her chin

the Richardson

had clung to Noella’s waist the whole ride, the chilly wind

they beheld the estate, Elara’s gaze

the

this the place where her mother had

gate. “Isn’t that Ms. Schnabel? What brings you to

swung inward with a creak

elegant, floor–length evening gown and clutching a parasol,

face exuding

this way, why don’t you and this young

hand, nodded towards the woman, “Lavinia, this is my

in the best of health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson family estate. This was

settled on Elara, taking in the girl looked vaguely familiar.

For some

formidable Ms. Schnabel, a researcher despite her tender years. The rumors clearly don’t do you justice. Please, come in. The house

Lucian’s birthday, the vast estate remained

heart

2 2

on your hospitality,

It’s

garden, eventually reaching the drawing–room where she invited them to

shimmering, tiny

would you fancy? I’ll have

features, reminiscent of someone they both knew – Sienna, perhaps.

up, “Thank you. I have a fondness for honey cakes,

partial to strawberry shortcake myself. I’ll fetch some

chair closer to Noella, the entire seat scraping along the

do you think she

has the one daughter,” Noella said, having done her research on the way over. Lucian

resemblance. From the moment she laid eyes on Lavinia, Noella felt an uncanny familiarity, an unforgettable

to Elara were striking!

the Schnabels, had a liveliness that Lavinia

logic, “Without DNA evidence, it’s just a

trust only in empirical evidence, emotions

an electric wheelchair approached, and Lucian, in the driver’s sest, aped over

taken

zoom around so fest indoors? Have you not seen the news about

salad days; I won’t be drag racing. Besides, I

aware of your age, yet you act like a child. You

easy.do

ears, feigning deafness, and navigated his

eyes landed on Elara

herself confidently, “Hello. I’m Elara, the daughter taken in by the

underestimate Miss Elara here. She’s quite the researcher. I remember reading one

by the Schnabels? And so brilliant, too, an experimenter…