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?”

eyes calm. “You didn’t want them to know, right? My driving

Should we take

glanced at a motorcycle parked on the roadside, tilting her chin up slightly. “Let’s take that. I

later, a sleek black motorcycle pulled up outside the

ride, the chilly

beheld the estate, Elara’s

the

this the place where her mother had lived?

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

door swung inward with a creak of old

in an elegant, floor–length evening gown and clutching a parasol, greeted them with a

face exuding

you and this young lady come in

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

of health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson family

on Elara, taking in the girl

before her. For some reason, Lavinia felt

“I’ve heard tell of another formidable Ms. Schnabel, a researcher despite her tender years. The rumors clearly don’t do you justice. Please, come

Lucian’s birthday, the

heart of the Richardson

2 2

be imposing on your hospitality, Lavinia.”

it. It’s my

ushered Noella and Elara across the manicured lawns of the garden, eventually reaching the drawing–room where she invited them to sit.

smile was especially warm, eyes shimmering, tiny laugh

fancy? I’ll have some afternoon

they both knew – Sienna, perhaps. Both bore the mark of

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

partial to strawberry shortcake myself.

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

you think she could

on the way over. Lucian

almost understating the resemblance. From the moment she laid eyes

similarities to Elara were

by the Schnabels, had a liveliness

responded with her usual cool logic, “Without DNA evidence, it’s just a theory. I need data before I draw

had honed her mind to trust only in empirical evidence,

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

taken aback.

told you not to zoom around so fest indoors? Have

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

you act like a child. You never make

easy.do

his ears, feigning deafness, and navigated

landed on Elara and suddenly froze.

Lucian’s gaze, one of shock and disbelief, and introduced herself 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 – a very thoughtful

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