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?

get Jasper to come? Should I call him?”

gaze stayed fixed 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 we take

her chin up slightly. “Let’s take that.

an hour later, a sleek black motorcycle pulled up outside the Richardson Manor, coming

the whole ride, the chilly wind

they beheld the estate,

this the place?”

place where her

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

door swung inward with a creak of old

evening gown and clutching a parasol, greeted them with

exuding gentle

way, why don’t you and

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

of health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson family estate.

in

her. For

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

from the buzz during Lucian’s birthday,

into the heart of the Richardson Manor.

2 F F 95

be imposing on

it. It’s

across the manicured lawns of the garden, eventually reaching

tiny laugh lines

what would you fancy? I’ll have some afternoon

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

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

to strawberry shortcake myself. I’ll fetch some right away.”

Lavinia retreat, Elara scooted her chair closer to Noella,

she could be

her research on the way over. Lucian had but a son

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

Elara were

by the Schnabels, had a

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

only in empirical evidence,

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

was taken

to zoom around so fest indoors? Have

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

like a

easy.do

covered his ears, feigning deafness, and navigated his wheelchair towards

is?” His eyes landed on Elara and suddenly froze.

confidently, “Hello. I’m Elara, the daughter

here. She’s quite the researcher. I remember

by the Schnabels? And so brilliant,