Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“She doesn’t seem very skilled at chess.”
“Remember she had a headache.” Lindsay made a shushing gesture toward the others and whispered, “You all insisted on this match. Give her a moment to think, for heaven’s sake. Keep it down, or she’ll hear us and it’ll throw her off.”
“Right, I almost forgot about her headache,” The onlookers fell silent once more, only to start murmuring among themselves again after a short while.
“Her moves are all over the place.”
“Could this be some newfangled strategy?”
“I’m starting to think so. Maybe Queena taught her this style to confuse her opponents?”Mirabella played her pieces with a nonchalant air. One minute ticked by. Despite Serena’s scattered approach, Mirabella began to close in.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as the black pieces dwindled on the board, devoured by Mirabella.
On the entire board, Serena was left with only two lonely black checkers.
And Mirabella, representing the white side, was clearly the victor.
“Time’s up.” Eugene stopped the stopwatch.
The crowd was in utter disbelief.
“This is the level of Queena’s protege?”
“We thought it was some innovative strategy, but she truly seems clueless!”
“It’s not that she’s clueless; she’s just been thoroughly outplayed by Mirabella.”
“Is this really all she’s got?”
“She’s really letting Queena down.”
“I was expecting her to be formidable.”
Lindsay hadn’t anticipated such a complete defeat for Serena and tried to offer an excuse, “It must be her headache. She’s not at her best today.”
Martin, who was watching from the side, could see that although Serena knew how to play chess, her skills were nowhere near Mirabella’s level.”Well, well, well, this year’s birthday bash is quite the spectacle, isn’t it? Let me see who’s got the guts to challenge Queena.”
A playful voice echoed through the crowd.
Mirabella looked towards the source of the voice and smiled, “Grandpa Regan, you’re here.”
“Lucky me for arriving early, or I would’ve missed this thrilling scene. To think someone dared to challenge you at chess these days, who could be so audacious?”
The speaker was Regan Jarvis, a world-renowned musical maestro.
A virtuoso of various instruments, he was a legend in both the piano and violin worlds.
Speaking of the violin alone, he was counted among the three legends of the international violin scene, alongside Jamie Noelle and Pagonana, revered as the three pillars representing the pinnacle of the 21st-century violin realm, not to mention his achievements in other musical domains.
The arrival of such a masterful figure naturally turned heads.
What stunned the crowd wasn’t just his appearance but his affectionate demeanor towards Mirabella, treating her with the warmth and tenderness akin to a grandfather doting on his favorite granddaughter.
The real shocker, however, was his words that set the whole room abuzz. This teenage girl was Queena??
Impossible!
“Mr. Jarvis, you’re saying she’s Queena? The whiz at chess?”
“Wasn’t Queena supposed to be a senior? How come it’s a young girl, and such a pretty one at that?”
“Didn’t Serena claim Queena was her mentor? If her mentor is right here, how come she didn’t recognize her?”
“What in the world is going on?”
Serena’s face went as white as a sheet, utterly astonished as she gazed at Mirabella before her.
Mirabella didn’t deny being Queena. Could it be true that she was indeed the person??
Martin was equally taken aback. Who would have thought this unassuming girl harbored such a formidable identity?
During a casual visit at the Bard’s residence in Dawnstar, he had by chance heard about Mirabella’s miraculous medical skill and her musical talents under the name Melody. Today, it was as if he was meeting her all over again – this time, as a chess master.This was a status many professional chess players strove for years to achieve yet never reached, and yet, this young girl, it was almost too astounding to believe.
Alma was just as surprised. She had just asked Mr. Albright when Queena would arrive and had insinuated Mirabella’s chess setup was far too simplistic, wondering if Queena would find it overly elementary.
Little did she know that the creator of the chess setup was none other than Queena herself, closer than anyone could imagine!
“Somebody asked me earlier if I would accept Queena as my protege.” Eugene spoke with a chuckle, “I believe everyone now has the answer to that question, don’t you?”
The crowd was too shocked to speak.
If Mirabella was Queena, with her current achievements, how could she so readily agree to become Eugene’s sole protege and carry on his legacy? She was more than capable of founding her own school and passing on her knowledge!
“Queena is not just a chess master; she’s proficient in all sorts of board games,” Eugene’s words left the audience in awe once again, as they looked at Mirabella with immense shock and admiration.
So young, yet so skilled in so many board games – it was truly admirable.
“When have I ever given you advice?” Mirabella’s gaze fell upon Serena, asking nonchalantly, “And when have I ever given you chess set?”
Serena’s face turned even paler.
She hadn’t seen Lindsay in years and thought a little boast wouldn’t hurt. After all, she had made Lindsay promise not to tell anyone.She figured that if she left before Queena arrived after a brief match with Mirabella, her ruse wouldn’t be exposed. But to her horror, Mirabella was Queena! She was Queena.
How could she be Queena?
Impossible.
“Serena, is she really Queena?” Lindsay asked in disbelief.
Serena was her good friend; she had no reason to lie, but Mr. Jarvis had no reason to claim Mirabella was Queena either.
So, what was the truth?
Someone from the crowd stepped forward to question Mirabella, “So, you’re not Serena’s mentor, nor did you personally craft chess pieces for her. Then where did that photo of the chess set on her phone come from?”
“Is she lying?”
“The real chess set is now held firmly in Mr. Albright’s hands. Queena said that she had never gifted Serena with a chess set, let alone mentored her, so all the time it’s Serena who lied and made a fool of us?” The room seemed to swell with disbelief. Could Serena, the daughter of the Collins family, have woven such a deceitful tale?
The revelation was nothing short of a bombshell.
“Indeed, Queena is quite the craftswoman. She once made me a set,” Eugene’s voice was laced with a touch of pleasure.
The set had been a playful project for Queena at the time, but from the very first glance, Eugene had coveted it for himself. Fortunately, the generous young lady had presented it to him on the spot.
That particular chess set, her maiden creation, was still treasured in the safe confines of his vault.
“Serena, say something.” Lindsay pressed, her patience waning; what on earth was going on?
“Queena, is she really your protege or not?”
“Is there some feud between you two that led to this mess, or have you never actually taken her under your wing? Is she lying?”
Everyone seemed to be looking to Mirabella for the truth of the matter.
Before Mirabella could respond, Jarvis chimed in with a sly smile, “Knowing Queena as I do, she’s far too busy to tutor anyone, let alone take on a protege.”
The crowd was struck by yet another wave of astonishment. Mr. Jarvis’ words implied that it was indeed Serena who had been weaving lies all along. Queena had never had the time to guide her.”A lady from a rich family, lying through her teeth.”
“Is it really necessary to puff herself up like that?”
“I can’t believe how vain she is.”
“She didn’t think Queena would be here to call her bluff. It’s utterly laughable.”
Alma, though shocked and surprised at Mirabella being Queena, couldn’t help but revel in Serena’s embarrassment. It seemed Serena’s arrogance was finally being met with the slap of reality it so deserved.
In the crowd, the renowned professional chess player Mona suddenly understood why Mirabella had not offered her an opportunity to learn, not taken her as a protege. She stood before Queena herself! How could she, even with her credentials, hope to catch the eye of such a master?
The Chess Association’s Secretary-General, Atwood, felt a burning sensation creep across his cheeks.
He had been oblivious to the young woman’s true identity and had foolishly hoped to add her on WhatsApp to bridge a connection.
The other guests who had been vying for Mirabella’s mentorship for their children now felt a sense of embarrassment. Mirabella was Queena, a name that stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Albright, who had even hinted that Queena’s skill surpassed his own.
How could such a distinguished master randomly take on a protege or casually provide guidance?
At that moment, Serena massaged her temples and said weakly, “I apologize. I’m feeling a bit unwell. I must excuse myself.”
As she attempted to leave, a couple of guests blocked her path.”You spread rumors about being Queena’s protege, and now that you’re caught, you think you can just walk away?”
“Your chess skills are so lacking, and you almost tarnished Queena’s reputation. It’s generous enough that she hasn’t held you accountable; don’t you think you owe her an apology?”