Transmigrated into the body of a poisoned queen

Yvonne's POV

"Take me to a lake," I said, turning to Teresa Alvarado, the head lady-in-waiting. Behind her, the fifteen other ladies-in-waiting trailed closely, as if I might vanish into thin air if they didn't.

Why did they all have to follow me? I didn't get it. And it wasn't just them, some servants tagged along too. I had come to learn that these were the Queen's personal maidservants, like Klara, who stood a little behind me to my left.

The Queen seemed much closer to Klara, though.

And yes, I had learned the name of the Mistress of the Robe, by asking her. In fact, I had asked all of them their names, even the maidservants. But let's be honest, I could barely remember half of them.

"My lady?" Teresa asked, her face a mix of surprise and confusion. She always seemed to look at me like that, as if everything I said was utterly baffling. Not that I blamed her. I definitely wasn't acting like the bimbo who used to be in this body.

"Didn't you hear me?" I repeated, shifting uncomfortably. My breathing was heavy, thanks to the suffocating dress I was wearing. It was tight, cinching around my waist and pressing against my chest. It was beautiful, sure, black and gold, elegant, but let's be real. I wouldn't be caught dead in something like this by choice.

"I did, my lady, only I was taken aback." she responded, watching as I tried (and failed) to adjust my dress.

With a sigh, I gave up and turned to her. "I want to visit a lake. Or a river."

I forced a smile, trying not to seem too suspicious. I did have an ulterior motive, but they didn't need to know that.

"Forgive me, my lady, yet I must ask, why?"

I bit my lip, scrambling for a good excuse. Nothing solid came to mind, so I just blurted out the first thing that popped into my head.

"Don't ask me that. Just take me to the damn lake," I snapped. There wasn't much bite in my voice, but she still flinched before sighing.

"My lady, we cannot escort you beyond the castle," she said.

I muttered a curse under my breath, English, of course.

"And why is that?"

Before Teresa could answer, Klara stepped into my line of sight.

"My lady, you may not depart the castle grounds without His Majesty's leave," she explained.

I clenched my teeth. Damn it. Why hadn't I thought of that? I should've known. I wasn't exactly a history buff when it came to kings and queens, but I'd seen enough movies to know how these things worked.

The real problem? That icy bastard would never let me go anywhere, especially after the stunt I pulled at breakfast.

Just remembering it made me cringe. I couldn't believe I had stooped to his level and asked him if I could suck his dick.

My face burned at the memory.

I turned back to Teresa. "So, I have to ask that icy bastard for permission to go places?"

She blinked in confusion, clearly unsure who I was referring to.

Her brows drew together. "Nay, my lady, you must seek leave from…"

"I know," I cut her off. "That's who I meant."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Teresa's face turned five shades paler. She stepped forward, shaking her hands frantically.

"My lady, I beseech thee, speak not of His Majesty in such a manner! We have not yet passed the days when queens met the axe for the slightest grievance or show of defiance against the king."

I looked at her, she was too close. Realizing it, she quickly took a step back.

"Well, whatever," I muttered, turning away.

The courtyard stretched before me, paved with smooth, sun-warmed stone. Arched walkways lined the edges, their columns carved with intricate patterns. At the center, a grand fountain trickled water down a sculpted basin, the gentle sound filling the quiet air.

Orange trees grew in neat rows, their blossoms perfuming the breeze with a soft, citrusy scent. Ivy crept up the castle walls, weaving through the cracks in the aged stone. In the distance, the heavy wooden gates stood tall, guarded by armored men who barely spared us a glance.

A warm gust carried the fragrance of the gardens beyond, where roses and jasmine thrived beneath the blazing sun. I squinted up at the sky, clear, bright, and utterly cloudless.

I sighed, shifting my weight. "So, if I can't go to the lake, what am I supposed to do all day?"

Silence. Heads bowed. Then, from the corner of my eye, I caught a maid stealing a glance at me from beneath her lashes, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

I tilted my head. "What is it?"

Her gaze flickered to Teresa before returning to me. After a brief hesitation, she lowered her eyes and murmured, "If my lady doth wish to gaze upon water, perhaps the reflecting pool in the courtyard may suffice."

I arched a brow. "The courtyard?" I swept my gaze around. "I see no pool."

She hesitated before gesturing beyond the archways. "It lieth just yonder, my lady, near the eastern colonnade. If you would but walk a little further, you shall come upon it."

I exhaled sharply. "And none of you thought to mention this before?"

Teresa dropped into a swift curtsy. "Pray forgive me, my lady, I did not think…"

I waved a hand, cutting her off. "Forget it. Just take me there."

A small pool wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but if I couldn't leave the castle, it was better than nothing. And if luck was on my side, it might still serve my purpose.

So we began walking, passing beneath the archways. Turning the corner, we arrived at the reflecting pool, a long, still stretch of water lined with smooth marble. The surface mirrored the sky and surrounding arches, rippling gently in the breeze.

A slow smile tugged at my lips. Lifting the heavy fabric of my gown, I stepped forward, each stride deliberate.

Finally, I could escape this nightmare.