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?

Jasper to come? Should I call

stayed fixed on the road ahead, her driving smooth, her eyes calm. “You didn’t want them to know, right? My

safe. Should we take

roadside, tilting her chin up

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

had clung to Noella’s waist the whole ride, the chilly wind calming her frazzled nerves.

estate, Elara’s gaze

the

where her

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

inward with a

elegant, floor–length evening gown and clutching a parasol,

exuding gentle calmness.

why don’t you and

woman, “Lavinia, this is my sister, Elara.”

out of the Richardson family estate.

gaze settled on Elara, taking in the girl looked

figure standing 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.

Lucian’s birthday, the

Elara into the heart of the

2 2 F F 95

on

it. It’s

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

shimmering, tiny laugh lines

I’ll have some afternoon tea sent

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

for honey cakes, and my sister here adores strawberry shortcake.”

quite partial to strawberry shortcake myself.

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

do you think she could be my

way over. Lucian had but a son and a daughter, the former an ambassador hardly ever in Imperial City.

look quite a bit like you,” Noella added, almost understating the resemblance. From the moment she laid eyes on Lavinia, Noella felt

similarities to Elara

had

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

to trust only in empirical evidence, emotions trailing

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

was taken aback.

scolded, “Dad! How many times have I told you not to zoom around so fest indoors? Have you not

her off. “I’m well past my salad days; I won’t be drag racing.

yet you act like a child. You never

easy.do

deafness, and

eyes landed on Elara and suddenly

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

with a smile. “Don’t underestimate Miss Elara here. She’s quite the researcher. I

Schnabels? And so brilliant, too,