Zebian sighed heavily and pressed his lips before facing his back on her. He sat in a kneeling position while Renai read his movement. The cruel sight had caught her eyes, those torrents of tattered scars gracing his skin. She gulped when she began scrutinising the bruises. Some were new, some were faded patches but all of them were equally spine-chilling. The old scars were lighter than the newer ones but they equally told a story. Every scar had its own different story. The older ones were severely carved on his skin, the rough patches were tattooed on it and they made her wonder when did he get them. “You see them? What do you think they are?” Zebian asked her, causing gooseflesh on her skin. Renai’s eyes flitted on the back of his head and gulped yet again. “I don’t know,” She cloaked through her parched throat. Zebian smiled.“Look closely, you may find an answer,” He said. Renai breathed deeply and scooted an inch closer. Her eyes attentively roamed at the patchwork. The bruis
39Arlet was running in circles as she replayed the insult in her mind. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she seemed haywire. Her chambermaids watched her achingly as her tears kept on tumbling down.She shook her head. “No, this is not going to happen anymore,” She mumbled to herself and sprinted here and there before pulling to a halt. "I can't..." She choked on her words and dashed out of her chambers. Her chambermaids followed her with agitation eating their insides. Arlet was headed to the queen's chambers. The guard watched her coming furiously and before they could stop her to enquire about her suspicious behaviour, she pushed them and hurled open the door. “Hey!” The caption-commander yelled but she had already crossed the territory and stepped inside the Queen's living room where she was present. Meriall hurriedly turned around and saw fuming Arlet glaring at her. “Arlet, sweetheart,” Meriall coated her with a smile but Arlet was in no mood to regard her with formalities. “I
Looking up, Evelyn gulped. “Is everything al…alright? Are you…okay?” Renai felt hesitant to match her gaze. She bit her lower lip, snuck a glance at her and nodded shyly. “Why are you in this…and your hair?” Evelyn couldn’t stop herself from asking instead of taking her to the bath hall. At first, she assumed the worst possible but then her eyes darted to her hickeys. Realisation dawned upon her, and her shoulders loosened. It was the king. For only he could mark her.A cruel gust of cold wind whirled around, stabbing Renai’s bones. She tightened the sheets around her and shuddered. “Can we take this inside? It’s cold out here,” Renai said through her clattering teeth while glancing at the sky. Evelyn shook her head thoughtlessly and then nodded. “Why not, my lady, my apologies,” She curled her arm behind her back and pushed her toward the bath hall. The moment Renai stepped inside the bath hall, she sprinted toward the tube and hopped inside. The warmth of the hall engulfed her be
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