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?

to come? Should I call him?”

on the road ahead, her driving smooth, her eyes calm. “You didn’t want them to know, right? My driving is not bad, and I know

it’s not safe. Should

chin up slightly. “Let’s take that. I have a motorcycle

black motorcycle pulled up outside the Richardson Manor, coming to a stop by the

waist the whole ride, the chilly wind calming

estate,

the

where her mother

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

inward with a creak of old

floor–length evening gown and

face exuding gentle calmness.

you’ve come all this way, why don’t you and

the woman, “Lavinia,

of the Richardson family estate. This was her first

settled on Elara, taking in the

For some reason, Lavinia felt

rumors clearly don’t

from the buzz during Lucian’s birthday, the vast estate remained

heart of the

2 2 2 F F

be imposing on your hospitality, Lavinia.”

nothing of it. It’s

across the manicured lawns of the garden, eventually reaching the drawing–room where she invited

eyes shimmering, tiny laugh lines adding character

you fancy? I’ll have

both knew – Sienna, perhaps. Both bore the mark of scholarly breeding, an air of refined gentleness about

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

quite partial to strawberry shortcake myself. I’ll fetch some

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

do you think she could be

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

look quite a bit like you,” Noella added, almost understating the resemblance. From the moment she

to Elara

had a liveliness

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

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

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

was taken

times have I told you not to zoom around so fest indoors? Have you not seen the

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

act like a child. You

easy.do

and

His eyes landed on Elara and suddenly froze.

met Lucian’s gaze, one of shock and disbelief, and introduced herself confidently, “Hello. I’m Elara, the daughter taken

Miss Elara here. She’s quite the researcher.

the Schnabels?