40“S..she was not at Aylin’s house last night. I m..met her this morning,” “What!? MOM! You heard that! She is spying on me and don’t tell me you are going to believe this pickpocket?” “I’m not lying, aunt. I’m telling you for her betterment, that boy…he is not good for her, he will taint her purity,” Gaia slapped Renai, hard. She fell on the floor.“Who are you to tell her that? Who are you after all? A bootlicker who had a past of being some third-grade prince’s keep?” Keeping a hand on her cheek, she glanced up. “I’m only saying it for your betterment, you are like my sister,” Renai glanced up.“I don’t need a sister like you, bitch. Rot in your own hell!” Gaia gnashed. Celina watched everything with a straight face. Renai’s eyes flitted to her aunt. “Please, believe me, I’m not lying, I want the best for her, she doesn’t understand now but she will…” Celina cut her short. “Enough! I have heard…enough!” She tightly fisted her hands while glaring at Renai. Renai flinched back
Renai sighed and stepped inside his chambers. She was about to turn to his bedroom when one of the imperial guards came to guide her toward the dressing hall where the king was present. She fisted the sides of her dress and stopped for a moment once the guard opened the giant door for her. “Lady Renai of his majesty,” The announcer bellowed out. Renai sighed again and stepped inside. Before she could glance around, she found the whole army of his servants bowing and stepped back to leave. Renai saw the head who was buttoning his royal coat stopping in the middle and leaving. Once the door was shut, Renai licked her lips and glanced at his way. Her heart skipped a beat as she collided with his intense eyes that were sealed on her face. He stepped down from the soapbox and glanced down at his sleeves, playing with his cufflinks. Renai watched him with held breath. “Come here,” He commanded all of a sudden. Exhaling her breath faintly, she complied and stepped closer. Zebian smirked w
41After serving them lunch, the servants retired to their other duties. It was now the king, his mistress and his sword of honour present in the hall. Lucian had occupied a corner while the two of them had their meals under the golden hues of sun striking through the looming window behind the king. Zebian was quietly taking his food whereas Renai was just fumbling with the beans. Despite feeling famished, she couldn’t bring herself to lift the fork. Her mind continued driving her back to the threats that sonorous voice had made. How many times she had tried to shut her thoughts but apparently her mind was too stubborn to listen to her. She sighed tiredly and carried on to stare blankly at her plate.Zebian was methodically chewing his morsel when his eyes fluttered to her filled plate. He glanced up, finding her lost in her own bubble. His brows quirked. She was blinking recurrently but her forehead had strained lines. He swallowed the morsel and cleared his throat, seizing the lin
Zebian was headed to the ground of the main chamber where the event was taking place. It was a monthly ceremony that would occur to freshen up the moods of all royal nobles. The king had hardly taken a part but today, on Meriall’s insistence, he decided to make an appearance. Just as the king stepped into the ground after the host announced his arrival, loud applause resonated in the ground. Chords of claps were ringing everywhere. He smirked and raised his hand to greet. The crowd went haywire. He, then, strode to the stage where Queen Meriall and other nobles were seated. Zebian took the seat beside the queen and watched two knights opposite to each other decking the armour suits out. He gazed at the sky and smirked. The weather was getting windy. Perfect environment for jousting. Both of the armed men climbed on their respective horsebacks. Everyone hooted to cheer them up. Their partners had handed them the lances. They secured it between their armpits and yanked their horses'
42Zebian entered Arlet’s chambers. She was laying on her bed with Kolton standing near her bedside and a physician checking her up. Kolton left her hand the moment the king arrived and stepped down immediately, kneeling before him. Zebian spared him a glance and walked ahead. “What is the news, doctor?” He asked, impatience laced in his voice.The physician straightened his back and jogged his mind for accurate words. “Your majesty, I shall pay you my heartiest felicitations, Lady Arlet is with the baby,” He affirmed, nervously, and bowed. Zebian didn’t show any expression. He just looked at Arlet who had tears in her eyes. A smirk threatened to spread but he averted his gaze and nodded at the physician. “Prepare the remedies for the mother and the news shall not circulate among your folks otherwise you know where it could lead your fate,” Zebian threatened nonchalantly. The physician felt confused but gave him his word of trust and left. Now there were only three of them in the
“Rose, shall we both stop testing me? Look up,” He implored impatiently. Only he belonged to that world, only he would reside in them and right now, he needed to see if everything was the same. What if she fell for him? “Renai, are you even listening to me?” He questioned with his deep voice which indeed flinched her but rather than compiling his command, she pushed at his chest and stepped away. Zebian watched her distancing herself for a second and before she could take another step, he yanked her back to his chest by seizing her shoulder. “Where do you think you are going?” He hissed as she collided back to his front, her hands landing on his solid packs. The water splashed around them. She still didn’t look at him. “I..I am t..tired, I…need to sleep,” She said in a small voice. “Is it because I defeated Lucian, huh?” He gritted in annoyance. His chest was heaving heavily. Renai shook her head. “Then what?” He jerked her arm again and this time, it did earn him her eyes, but t
43Zebian returned to his chambers after seeing Arlet off. He went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for his beloved. Within half an hour, he was done with his making. He glanced out of the window and saw it was still dawning. He set the trolley and wheeled it to his bedroom all the while his servants standing there with eyes downcast. They couldn’t believe the king was making breakfast for someone and that too, for the second time. Little did they believe she was the same woman who left him. For only he could do this for her. He stepped inside the bedroom and found it empty of her. He sighed heavily and rummaged through the room only to find the glass door of the balcony open. He strode toward there and saw her standing behind the railing with an ankle-length cloak on. Zebian walked toward her and gathered her in his embrace. She slightly flinched before loosening up. He nuzzled his nose behind her ear and placed a soft peck. “Good morning, little love,” He whispered softly, hi
*******A week had slipped by before she knew it. The time went within a blink. Mostly because of the routine she was accustomed to. Wake up, get ready, spend time with her chambermaids, play with the kids, sew some sweaters or spend a day in the kitchen till the evening and in the night, serve the king who would not let her dare to step out until it’s dawn again. But for a few days, he had rarely come to bed on time. It was usually midnight when he would come and by that time, she would have been in her sleep. Yesterday, he had so many meetings that he came when she was waking up. She felt pity for him but again it was his duty to serve his reign. So, today she thought she would make him breakfast. She was setting the trolley when the announcer exclaimed the king’s arrival. Every one stepped back and he straight came to her. “There you are,” He kissed her forehead and backed away to peer into her greys. “What is going on?” He asked, eyeing the food course momentarily. “I was maki