Chapter 6: Repatriation

The people patiently waited on the palace grounds despite the dark clouds covering the sky. The rain was not far away, but none of them didn’t want to miss the chance of seeing the king for the first time again after two long years of his absence.

               Asteria was standing at the top of the stairs with the chief minister and the rest of the council. 

               “His royal majesty, the king, has arrived,” the messenger shouted at the top of his lungs. There was enthusiasm in his voice.

               The people screamed with excitement as the guards opened the enormous gate. A group of horsemen entered the palace grounds. When the people perceived the king among the horse riders, their cheers became stronger.

               The king dismounted from his horse, waving to the crowd. When Asteria saw his face again, her heart started to beat faster. She held her chest because she felt like her heart was about to burst.

               The king looked in her direction, and his smile faded. His face became serious as he walked toward her. Asteria’s lips cracked. Her body couldn’t move as if it were waiting for the king.

               Suddenly, there was thunder growling across the sky. Asteria looked up out of her shock, but when she returned her sight to the approaching king, he was already in front of her.

               The king stared at her and whispered, “I heard a lot about your arrogance to the nobles. Are you really qualified to be the Queen? I think not.” 

               Hearing his insult, Asteria struggled to straighten out her expression. She looked back to the King. “Says the man who cannot serve his countrymen for two years,” she said, trying to fight him with fire.

               He just sarcastically smiled at her, then proceeded to walk past her.

Asteria touched her chest once more, trying to calm her rushing heart.

*****

Inside the court, Asteria and the king were sitting on their throne. The ministers lined up, looking at them.

               When the king noticed that all the highest officials were present, he spoke. “There is something I want to announce officially.” All the eyes inside the court then gave their attention to him. “I officially proclaim Jestina Castemont as my royal concubine.”

Upon hearing the king’s proclamation, Asteria’s heart started to throb painfully. She couldn’t talk because of her confusion. She looked around to see his father, the chief minister, frowning.

               The ministers were naturally astounded by the king’s sudden proclamation, except Minister Castemont, as if he already knew this would happen.

               Minister Paxton couldn’t contain his thoughts and said, “But your majesty, you just came back after two years. Is it too sudden to proclaim such a thing?” 

               “No, it’s long overdue,” the king briefly answered. 

               But Minister Paxton was persistent. “How about the Queen? I think you should direct your focus to produce an heir.” 

               The king slightly smashed the armrest of his throne. “Are you trying to control me again?” he said, with apparent anger in his voice. The ministers became silent, with no one willing to talk again.

               On the other hand, Asteria was shocked by the action of the king. She could not believe that he was the man from two years ago.

When she looked at him, she found him already looking at her.

He then turned his sight on the ministers and said, “We need to restore the admiration of the nobles to the royal family. I heard their trust is shallow because of some laws you made while I was away. Making Jestina a royal concubine would help us with that.” The king halted his speech, then glared at her. “We need someone in the palace who can gain the trust of nobility,”

               Chief Minister Eliphas smirked. “Why don’t you ask the Queen what would she feel?” he suggested, still smirking.

               The king glanced at her.

Asteria tried so hard to suppress any reaction that might draw from her face. She’s looking straight, avoiding looking at him. Then she heard the king sigh heavily.

               “In all honesty, I do not care about what the queen feels,” he exclaimed while looking at her. “And I don’t think the queen would interfere with this matter,” he continued.

               Asteria clasped her hands. His words were ripping her heart out straight from her chest. She was struggling to fix her expression.

“He still hated me,” she told herself. 

               The ministers were no longer surprised because they knew the king didn’t love the queen. But it was quite a shock for them to hear him say that so casually.

               Asteria’s emotions were all rushing to her mind at once. She felt like her head was going to explode, and when she did, she just smiled. “Needless to say, your majesty. I do not care about the romantic affair of someone who is not my lover,” she let out. 

               Hearing her say that, the ministers were dumbfounded. They were switching their gazes from her to the king.

The king was also tight-lipped.

When Asteria noticed that no one would respond, she spoke, “If that is all, then I will take my leave first, Your Majesty.” Then she stood up. 

               She was about to walk away when the king held her wrist.

Confused, she looked at him, who was still sitting on his throne. “What is it, Your Majesty?” she asked.

               “The knights, led by Sir Keane Clementine, will return next week. Please be ready, queen,” the king answered with a surprisingly slow pace of words.

               “Very well, your majesty,” she briefly responded, then strolled out of court.

*****

Asteria was walking outside with her servant, trying to reach her chamber when she came across a woman with several servants following her.

               “Greetings, your majesty,” the woman bowed down. “It is my honor to meet you in the palace.”

               Her eyebrows raised while staring at the woman’s appearance.

She had fair skin partnered with her brown hair, green eyes, and pointed nose.

Asteria thought that the woman was beautiful.

               The woman noticed her curious look and spoke, “I am Jestina Castemont, your majesty. I am moving my things to my new chamber just beside the King’s.”

               Asteria became astounded.

“So, she’s the king’s lover,” she said to herself.

She smoothly fixed her composure. “Congratulations on being the first royal concubine,” then smiled at the woman in front of her.

               Jestina was visibly upset by her words. 

               When she realized what she had just said, she revoked her words. “I do not mean it in a bad way. My apologies if I hurt your feelings by implying that there could be a second, one, or a third.” 

               Jestina smiled, “It’s alright, Your Majesty. I knew you didn’t mean to say it to someone who almost became the queen.”

               There was an awkward silence after Jestina spoke. The servants were looking at each other while still bowing their heads.

Asteria clenched her fist, then smiled. “Almost,” she muttered.

After that, she and her servant then walked past the woman in front of them.

******

               Reaching her chamber, Asteria fell to her feet. She didn’t do much that day, but she felt tired inside.

               From the return of the king, Jestina was appointed as a royal concubine, and to the extent of meeting her in the hallway was just too much for her brain.

               Leilana assisted her in standing up. “Are you alright, your majesty?”

               She clung to her servant’s arms. “Thank you, Leilana. Yes, I am fine.” 

               Leilana’s face was worried. “I know what you feel, your majesty. Don’t let it bother you,” her servant said while consoling her.

               She smiled. “Do not worry about me, Leilana. I know this will happen eventually because the king doesn’t love me,” she said, with a hint of bitterness in her voice.

               Leilana felt sad for the queen.

Having her pulled from her carefree life to imprison her in the palace as an unloved queen was too much to bear.

******

               That day was bright.

The sun shone dazzling, and its gaze was reflected the morning dew. 

               Asteria and Leilana were walking down the long path in the palace. They were doing it every morning as a routine to breathe the fresh air offered by the morning. 

               “Your majesty, look ahead,” Leilana suddenly whispered to her.

She followed what she said and spotted the last thing she wanted to see that morning. 

               The king and Jestina were walking together while laughing. Many servants follow them.

She was about to change course when she heard the king’s voice.

               “Oh, if it isn’t the Queen walking the same aisle,” he said while laughing.

His laugh was indeed insinuating mockery.

               Asteria stopped and smiled. “I’ve been doing this for two years, your majesty.” 

“Really? Then I am afraid you will have to meet us every day from now on,” the king then held Jestina’s hand after saying that.

Asteria straightened her face so she would not look pathetic as her husband humiliated her.

               “I look forward to it,” she just answered with a smile she’s been practicing since she became the queen.

               Asteria finally bid her farewell to the two people in front of her.

               And the king’s word was proven true.

Since meeting the two of them, she had been seeing them walking the same aisle every morning. 

*****

               A week had passed.

The day of the return of the knights, led by Keane Clementine, had come. 

               Outside the palace, the people were waiting for them.

Many women stood by, expecting to see who they believed was the most striking man in the Kingdom of Grellis- Keane Clementine, the king’s cousin.

               In their mind, the king was equally gorgeous as his cousin, but Keane’s attitude hailed him as the most stunning. He was a laid-back and charming person.

               Similar to the king, the famous knight also had iced-blue eyes but partnered by his silver hair. He was the kind of man no woman could resist.

               Asteria and the king were sitting on their respective thrones inside the court.

They were waiting for the arrival of the knights.

Keane, the returning knights’ leader, would report their expedition to the royal rulers.

               Suddenly, the wild cheering of people outside was heard.

The king sighed heavily. “The women must have already seen Keane,” he said under his breath.

               Asteria was curious.

Before going to the court to meet the knights, Leilana told her that she heard the servants murmuring about the famous knight. They said that the man was too stunning to be true.

               “Just how stunning is this man to drive the crowd crazy?” Asteria thought.

The guards carefully opened the doorway of the court.

               Two men entered, still wearing their armor.

The taller man went nearer to the throne.

Suddenly, the knight stopped in his way while looking at them but still proceeded and saluted them.

               “Greetings, your majesty,” the knight said.

“It’s been two years, Keane,” the king replied, genuinely smiling at his cousin.

               Keane removed his armor, and what Asteria saw surprised her to the core.

               “D-Dragon?” she blurted out in shock.

               The knight in front of them was also surprised. “Phoenix? It’s you?”