“Do I still make you nervous?” He questioned while taking a predatory step toward her. Renai’s teeth ground as she prepared herself for his close proximity. “Your eyes flickering everywhere but not at me because every time you look into my eyes, I steal your breaths,” He halted two steps before her but she was still in his range. His eyes were boring holes in her plump lower-lip. He pressed his index finger on her stomach, “Do I still make this stomach of yours endure butterflies?” His tone was laced with deep authority and charming hush. That finger trailed up till the valley of her chest and halted on the swell of her left breast. “Does that fragile heart still thump in your chest over my mention?” He cupped the swell and took a step ahead. Renai felt the urge to slap away his hand but restrained because of knowing the consequences.“Speak to me, make me known of your mystery, does your body still react to my presence, my sugar?” His eyes kept glued to her lower lip that was slig
32Kolton let out a shaky breath before forcing his legs to traverse Arlet’s territory. He rubbed his sweaty hands on his pants before the announcer made his presence known. All of the chambermaids lowered their heads and scooted out as he entered the bedroom. He raised his heavy eyelashes and rummaged in the room to find her sitting on a stool in front of the mirror as she detangled her soft blond manes. His eyes sized up her back, she was wearing a beige three-piece silk nightgown that was draped around her, veiling her creamy skin. He gulped and walked in her direction. Arlet’s brush paused for a moment when she heard his footsteps growing louder. She tilted her head over her shoulder and sighed when he reached a few steps away. “So, he finally sent you,” She taunted while pulling her dead hair out of the hairbrush. “Didn’t even wait for a day,” Batting her eyebrows, she put the brush on the dressing and spun to face him. Kolton was watching her with a stoic face. She stood up a
33“My maid of honour delivered me a letter from King Benedict yesterday, he asks why you have put his daughter in the common chambers and not your exclusive ones and reckons if she is being treated right,” Meriall revealed as they both headed to the living hall.“How has he gotten to know?” Zebian asked, frown setting upon his glabella. “He revealed that some connections inside this palace are loyal to him and that is enough to frighten me, our palace is in hands of risks,” Meriall gave him a stern eye and stopped a few steps away from the entrance of the living hall. Zebian raised his brow in defiance, “That numskull has started to show his true colours,” He sighed in frustration and turned around to walk in. Just as he reached the doorframe, he felt the queen following him inside, he turned around and lifted his eyebrow in question and shook his head a bit. “I must be with you,” Meriall cleared. “This is going to be a gentlemen’s gathering, I am sure there must be other issues
Renai blinked open her eyes and got welcomed by the golden beams of daybreak. The muffling chirping of the birds and the cosy ambience had elevated the urge to start the day. It was a strange feeling but she was feeling it till her bones. She squared her shoulders before stretching her arms widely and raising into the sitting position. A yawn left her mouth but she was quick to put a hand. She closed her eyes and rejoiced in the peace that was loading inside her. How long had it been since she last felt it? Ages. She had almost forgotten the taste of morning sweetness. Today’s morning felt different. She opened her eyes and looked at her back to find it empty. That’s why she was feeling at peace. He didn’t come here last night. He must be with his wife. For once, he had left her to breathe freely. Just as she was about to put her feet on the floor, the announcer’s voice ripped through her eardrums, souring her mood in a blink. “His majesty, the king,” Her jaw dropped low as she let
34Three days had gone by in a blink and Renai had not been conscious of it. The taste of freedom absorbed her mind so much that she couldn’t keep a count on days. It was just last night when one of her chambermaids mentioned it to her. She was so drawn to the sense of independence that everything felt meaningless, just the solitude that she wanted was what she knew at time. Though she hadn’t explored much of this enormous place as she had spent most of her time in her chambers. No one was here to judge her. She could do whatever she wanted. Go wherever she desired within her bubble. Swirl, jump or crawl, nobody would care. From early morning baths to playing hide and seek with her chambermaids who she considered more friends to midnight stargazing or dancing in her indoor-chamber-garden. There had been so much peace in those three days that she could trade her whole life for living in it some more. She was given four more days and then life would be back to testing. She didn’t want
“My lady…”“My lady…are you okay?” Cora’s voice ripped through the flashback reeling in her mind. Renai shook her head and moved her foggy vision at the audience who were worriedly looking at her. “Are you alright?” Fara put a hand on her forehead to check her body temperature. Renai smiled and grabbed her hand, pressing her knuckles gently.“I’m absolutely alright, just drifted somewhere into my own little world,” Renai cleared with a soft fake smile, scratching her nape.“You must be missing his majesty just like he misses you,” Cora giggled behind Renai’s back while braiding her hair into a French tail. Everyone laughed at the banter, Renai felt her cheeks burning. Evelyn hooted to deepen the shade more. Fara playfully glared at Evelyn and Cora.“What? Lord Lucian told me that. He says his majesty is quiet and usually stays in his own mind. Which is why I couldn’t help but mention the similarity, now I know who he was thinking about, they are missing each other,” Cora teased while
35 Renai's fisted hands were trembling as Evelyn led her to the Queen’s chambers. Her heart was jackhammering in her bosom while she tried to connect the dots in her mind. Why was she calling? She looked devastated back then. Was she going to blame her for the king’s insolence and punish her? The absurd thoughts only dried her throat. The royal guards slid the gates and they passed the territory of the empress. Evelyn was taking a corridor that was quieter than eerie jungles she had seen in her life, the hush of flames blazing the sconces was only producing a quiet whisper. She gulped hard and clamped her nails into the flesh of her palm while inspecting around. “Is it the queen's chambers or a path to dungeons?” She croaked out to Evelyn as her brain reminded her of the day she accidentally stepped inside the dark cellar. From that moment, mercy had closed its doors on her. Evelyn glanced at her and tittered. “This is the route to the queen's private library, she mostly spends
Meriall took her hands in hers and pressed them firmly. “Where have you been?” She asked vehemently. Her eyes were sprouting longing as if she was waiting for her like her son. “I was…I was gone,” Renai replied in a haze. Her heart was heavy remembering those painful days when she was disposed of by Lord Bancroft’s sword of honour.“But why?” Meriall scooted closer to her and cupped her one cheek as she had grown closer to her after the revelation. For years she yearned to meet the woman who had captured his heart at such a young age. “Why have you left when you knew my son was madly in love with you,” Meriall complained in a soft tone, but the hurt was evident in her every word. “I didn’t know that. I thought he would forget me as I was no good to him,” Renai revealed to her truthfully. It was the half-truth. “Nonsense. He destroyed himself in your loss. He would have been a different man today if you had stayed,” Renai stared at her as she openly accused her of something she was
******All the royal children were present in the hall. The hall was echoing with chirping voices. Little birds were spread everywhere until the king and queen’s arrival was announced. The boys back-stepped on the left and the girls took to the right lane. Zebian and Renai treaded between them and took to the stage. They settled on their respective thrones. The instructors rushed close to the stage and bowed. Zebian nodded and permitted the class to begin. They explained the moves and coordination to the children and showed how to combine the steps. After that, they paired the couple. Zenia was paired with Aurelio and that happened on the king’s order. He wasn’t unaware of her daughter’s interest in his sword of honour’s son.Lucian glanced at Zebian and smirked. Zebian smirked back and watched the pair stepping closer. The instructor told Aurelio to place his hand on her waist and grab her hand. Zenia put her hand on his shoulder and began swaying along to the music. She was deeply
Stepping inside the hall, the announcer proclaimed their arrival and both of the kids stood from their seats in respect. Rebian, who turned fifteen last month, was on the right side of the table along with his sister. Zenia will turn ten next week. The youngest one watched her parents advancing close with blurry vision. She wiped her tears with the back of her hands and dashed toward them. Zebian stepped faster and kneeled with his arms open. Zenia hurriedly slammed into his chest and hugged him tightly. He lifted her in his arms and stroked the back of her head. Her soft muffling caught him cooing. “I missed you so much, papa,” She mumbled against his neck and wept. Zebian smiled and closed his eyes. “Papa missed his angel too. Now, why are you crying?” He asked as a tear smeared over his skin. He tried to pull her face away but he snuggled into him and shook her head. “You didn’t come to meet me last night,” Zenia grumbled. Renai smiled and watched Zebian grin. “I thought you w
Bonus Chapter “Oh…oh…oh..ss…s…stop it, you are…t…tickling m…” Renai held his head and tried to pull it away but her husband was keen on sucking her neck while tickling her belly with his unforgiving cold fingers. The queen was erratically wobbling underneath him and he was chuckling against her skin, making it more hard for her. Zebian undid his lips and pasted a mischievous smirk before glancing down at his artwork. It was raging bright and purple sitting on the side of her neck. He was proud of every mark he owned on her body. “Will you ignore me again?” He aligned himself outside her entrance and gritted contemptuously. The mushroom tip was massaging her clit. Renai bit her lip to press her smile and nodded her head, doing hard to keep an offensive frown on her forehead. Zebian lifted his brows and stared at her in amusement. “Are you sure, my queen?” He leaned closer to her face and locked her gaze with his stern one. “If it comes to our children, I shall be ignoring you f
Sleep came to him after two weeks. After bending fate in his favour, he finally had her sleeping in his arms. His eyelashes fluttered as he woke up to her sight. Her soft petals slightly parted, her nose twinkling in pink hues. She was breathing peacefully as if she knew she was safe and protected. His heart drummed quietly against her left shoulder as he brought the back of his fingers to trace the outer-rim of her jaw. He keenly swirled his route down to her chin, grazing it with his thumb. As if her body acknowledged his touch, her lips got closed. He softly smiled and danced his hand all the way down to her stomach, underneath the duvet. He placed his hand on the bare surface and drew circles on it. She was only wearing gauze on her shoulder, the rest was her skin. Closing his eyes, he imagined caressing their baby. How much he dreaded losing him when she was injured by the arrow. That time he thought he would lose everything. Him, her. Every single hope to live.His heart walls
******Renai was being taken to the king’s chamber which was also hers now. Her chambermaids had dressed her in a black nightie and a gown concealing her beauty. “Her Grace, the Queen,” the announcer said. It felt oddly good to the queen as the doors opened for her. The king who was no other than her husband was gazing out with his hands tugged back. He was wearing a silk black gown like her. She stepped inside and the door shut behind her. Her gaze fell on the envelopes. Was he planning to tease her again? She wondered.He turned around. “My queen,” He stepped toward her and curtsied. Renai smiled amusingly. “You may rise,” “With all pleasure,” He straightened, both of them grinned.“You are holding something?” She mentioned. “Your wedding gift,” He presented it to her. She frowned. Wedding gift? Was it really a wedding gift in an envelope?She took it from his hands and took note of his reaction. “Open it,” He jutted his chin. She inhaled deeply and opened it. It was a paper
*****She squeezed the nosegay in her hands. Her palms were sweaty and she was slightly shivering in nervousness. She lifted her anxious eyes and glanced at the children dressed in royal suits and gowns ahead of her. They would escort her to the altar where she was going to marry the most powerful man in the world; who also happened to be her childhood best friend. Then why was she feeling so nervous? She didn’t know it herself. “My lady, it’s time,” Evelyn put a hand on her arm. Renai glanced at her with tears filling her eyes. She didn’t know why she was feeling mawkish. This was the biggest day of her life, it was supposed to make her happy. “This is the last time we are calling her ‘my lady’,” Cora piped in. Renai chuckled out of the blue and a tear tripped down as she closed her eyes. Evelyn smiled warmly and pulled her in a sisterly hug. “He will love you with his life,” Evelyn whispered in her ear.“You think so?” Renai whispered back.“I believe so, we all have seen in hi
Three Months LaterRenai detached the baby’s mouth from her nipple. His tiny lip formed a pout as he rubbed the back of his fist over his right eye. She purred seeing his little move. Her eyes admired his round, chubby sleepy face as he perfectly snuggled in her embrace. She brought her fingers and moved his fist down before bringing them to his cheek and lightly grazing his skin to the chin. The baby sighed in peacefully, coaxing a smile on his mother’s lip. She leaned down and placed two pecks on his cheeks, settling him on the mattress after that. She shielded his body by stuffing pillows around him as she had to leave him to take a bath. A chambermaid would be here to take care of him but she still chose to keep them for the safer side.Renai stood straight and was about to turn around when she heard the indistinct voices swinging from afar, coming through the window. It was early morning but she had been hearing these voices since last night. She smiled and thought to glance out
Renai had seen Zenner killing people. She first saw it when he was taking her to Calmia on Gordian’s—Bancroft’s Sword of Honour—command. She woke up in a carriage after she passed out in her house, looking around she discovered she was not in Sebria anymore. They stopped in a market. A few minutes later, she heard a commotion, she glanced outside the window and saw Zenner stabbing an old man for not giving him the apples on the rate he demanded. It was her first time witnessing a murder. She never recovered from it. Neither had she the courage to see people getting butchered by him. She also didn’t want him to hurt Zebian. King or not, Zenner was close to him. He could have easily killed him. “He said if I told you anything, he would behead you and your people would turn up against you. I didn’t want that, I never want you to get hurt,” Renai flitted her misted gaze at him and snivelled. Zebian was over the moon. His insides were dancing in happiness. The effect her words had on him
She was staring at his face as he blew air on the hot soup. His eyes were swollen and he looked exhausted. Of course, the war and fighting had tired him out. Her heart was filled with pity for him. He lifted his lashes to her mouth as he fed her. “You c..cried?” She asked, gulping the brew. His eyes flicked to her eyes. If only he could tell how many sleepless nights he had spent beside her, praying for her, feeling dreadful whenever he thought she would give up on him. If only he could sob in her lap and tell her how powerless he felt in all these days of misery.“Did you make it?” She asked him to change the topic as he was only staring at her face, it was making her feel awkward. A soft smile crossed his lips as he forwarded the spoon. “Who else could make it with such fine perfection, my beautiful?” He sneered, keeping his gaze on her sparkless orbs that still held the whole world for him. She looked self-conscious. A small bubble of wrinkle sat between her brows.“I’m not beau