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 call

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

safe. Should we

the roadside, tilting her chin up slightly. “Let’s

the Richardson Manor, coming to

the whole ride, the chilly wind

beheld the estate, Elara’s gaze grew

this the place?”

this the place where

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

swung inward with

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

exuding

come all this way, why don’t you and this young lady come

woman, “Lavinia, this is my sister,

health, rarely venturing out of the Richardson

taking in the

standing before her. For some reason, Lavinia felt

years. The rumors clearly don’t do you justice. Please, come in. The house tends to be

buzz during Lucian’s birthday, the vast

into the heart of the Richardson Manor.

2 F

on your

It’s

manicured lawns of the garden, eventually reaching the

especially warm, eyes shimmering, tiny laugh

what would you fancy? I’ll have some afternoon

of someone they both knew – Sienna, perhaps.

have a fondness for honey cakes, and

myself. I’ll fetch some right

to Noella, the

she could be my

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

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

to Elara were

had a liveliness

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

mind to trust only in empirical evidence, emotions trailing far behind in

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

taken

I told you not to zoom around

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

aware of your age, yet you act like a child. You never make it easy,

easy.do

feigning deafness, and navigated

on Elara and suddenly

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

here. She’s quite the researcher. I remember reading one of her published papers – a very thoughtful piece!” Lucian’s

child taken in by the Schnabels? And so brilliant, too,