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

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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?

come? Should I

driving smooth, her eyes calm. “You didn’t want them to know, right? My driving is not bad,

not safe. Should we take

roadside, tilting her chin up slightly. “Let’s take that. I have a motorcycle license.”

outside the Richardson Manor, coming to a stop by the flower

Noella’s waist the whole ride, the chilly

estate, Elara’s gaze grew

this the place?”

place where her

floated from inside the gate. “Isn’t that Ms. Schnabel? What brings you to our doorstep? And

with a

and clutching a parasol, greeted them

her face exuding gentle

since you’ve come all this way, why don’t you and this young lady come in for a

Elara’s hand, nodded towards the woman,

of health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson family estate. This was her first encounter with Elara.

gaze settled on Elara, taking in the girl

standing before her. For

tender years. The rumors clearly don’t do you justice. Please, come in. The house tends to be quite empty, it’s rare we have

during Lucian’s birthday, the vast estate remained largely

Elara into the heart

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imposing on

nothing of it. It’s my pleasure, truly.”

of the garden, eventually reaching the drawing–room

eyes shimmering, tiny laugh lines adding character to her

I’ll have

Sienna, perhaps. Both bore the mark of scholarly breeding, an air of refined gentleness

spoke up, “Thank you. I have a fondness for honey cakes, and my sister

quite partial to strawberry shortcake myself. I’ll

Elara scooted her chair closer to Noella, the entire seat scraping along the floor.

think she could be my mother?”

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

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

to Elara were striking!

raised by the Schnabels, had a liveliness that Lavinia

logic, “Without DNA evidence, it’s just a theory. I

of research had honed her mind to trust only in empirical evidence, emotions trailing

of coughing and the whir of an electric wheelchair approached, and Lucian, in the

taken aback.

afternoon tea, Lavinia scolded, “Dad! How many times have I told you not to zoom around so fest indoors? Have you not seen the news about those

salad days; I won’t be drag racing. Besides, I was excited to see

act like a child. You never make it easy, do

easy.do

deafness, and navigated his wheelchair towards Noella.

is?” His eyes landed on

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

Elara here. She’s quite the researcher. I remember reading one of her published papers –

by the Schnabels? And so