Chapter 42 - little Birdy.“ What the hell is he doing here?” I mumbled under my breath loud enough for Treven to hear beside me. My heartbeat increased in pace as Patrick's footsteps became louder and closer to us.“ Do you know him?” Treven asked in a whisper and I almost snapped at him. “That is my ex-husband”“ No! He is now a total stranger to you. From now on, you don't know him” Treven muttered to me in an authoritative tone and I nodded my head in reply but what was up to? And why did Patrick suddenly show up in Nayak? He left a week after my wedding, he only paid a courtesy visit to the king in my absence but why would he show up all of a sudden?“ How may I help you? Lord Patrick?” The king's voice boomed immediately after Patrick's polite bow. He raised his head and glared at me intensely before giving me his wicked smile. Memories of that smile flooded my head and I found myself breathing hard as tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I thought I was over everything but
Chapter 43 - The king's weakness.“ I want snow rolls” I moaned immediately the sun rays reflected on my face. I have not even opened my eyes but my food cravings were high on edge already.“ What?” Treven grunted sleepily beside me and wrapped his arms around my body tighter. My mouth waters at the thought of biting into the chocolate goodness so early in the morning.“ Snow rolls”“ It's too early to eat that. I will have the maids bring you your breakfast” He mumbled but I shook my head trying to get out of his hold. But his grip was too strong on my waist. I opened my eyes to see him hovering over me with a tired smile on his face. His chiseled naked chest was close to my face, my mouth watered, and I forgot my initial chocolate cravings as I stared at the goodies in front of me.“ If you keep looking at me like that, I might be forced to think that you have mistaken my chest for your little snacks” He smiled and I blushed, lifting my body to meet his halfway. He shifted a little
Chapter 44 jealousy.“ Greetings to you, your majesty” Konan and Linda greeted at the same time. They have been waiting for me at the temple. I pitied both of them, if not for Meisi and her cruel plans, they could have been mothers already. Coming from someone who was humiliated for not having a child for years, I know how they feel.Erxi led us to a private room at the temple, The two consorts were nervous but not as much as I was. A small bed was in the room and one of the temple servants helped Linda on it, while Konan knelt in a corner to watch.“ I do not really know how this works, but I pray it works for both of you,” I said stretching my hands to collect the earthenware containing the tears from Erxi. I removed my gloves and the tears instantly responded to my touch. Scooping some of it, I weaved it around my fingers while the two women watched in awe. I placed the tears on Linda's exposed stomach and muttered a small prayer to the goddess. The tears disappeared into her skin
Chapter 45 New wave of trouble: Hwaja.The entire court was full of tension immediately after the king's presence was announced. The Minister's faces held different expressions, Some were wondering why the king summoned them to court so early in the morning while some were just scared of the meeting in general. The expression on the king's face was not helping their nerves either. His face was contorted in fury and he looked like he might breathe out fire anytime soon.The sound of the king's heavy boot echoed in the hall as he strolled to his throne at a quick pace. The ministers all bowed their heads until he sat down. Immediately he sat down, the loud voice of the eunuch at the entrance was heard.“ Your majesty, General Kim has sent a messenger from the borders”“ Let him in,” The king said without a change in his expression, he didn't even look up or acknowledge the presence of his ministers.The messenger was a soldier dressed in the silver uniform of Nayaki's army. He looked l
Chapter 46 Belladonna.-Cave of wondersA week later.The woman in black sat on her makeshift thrones as four masked men entered the candle-lit cave. They were part of the king's court and were supposed to meet him at the southern borders with their troops but they deserted their king under her orders.“ Greetings to my Lady. The King has almost crossed the Fleur River”. The old man among them said, raising their heads from their bow.“ He is so far away from his Queen” The woman chuckled, adjusting her hood. Her eyes and nose were covered but her mouth was exposed, and her exposed red-painted lips curled up into a smirk.“ We have withdrawn our soldiers so he is short of at least three thousand men. If the Barbarians were as strong as they claimed, they would crush the king with ease” The second minister reported, that he sounded much younger than the first man. The news pleased the lady as she kept on smiling. Her plans were going accordingly.“ But after all this, who are we goin
Chapter 47 Missing Princess.“ Valtar” His deep voice resonates as he stares ahead of the plains surrounding Nayak's southern borders. His heavy armor glinted under the bright sunlight clearly inviting the blood of his enemies. He has grown a stubble due to days of riding forward nonstop without the normal palace grooming. Under his heavy armor was a green pendant held by a golden necklace. It represents his Queen's blessings, he misses her a lot but he is on a mission to fulfill Nati's assignment. At the thought of her, his right hand went to the necklace and he clutched the pendant for a while. It responded to him and lightened up, it didn't stir awake like it would have done under her touch but it still responded to him.“ Your majesty, The troops from Minister Li, Lord Ay, Lord Du, and General Koyam never arrived at the Lu fortress. It seems they have deserted us. We are short of close to three thousand men” Valtar reported immediately. He was also clad in heavy armor similar to
Chapter 48 The Lady in black.I was thoroughly angry as I made my way to the ice palace, Annalise, Eria, and other maids hot on my heels. I understand that Meisi missed her child but she was under punishment for her mistake and the ice palace is no place to raise a baby. I wore a fur jacket on my dress because the ice palace is extremely cold as I heard.The old building lived up to its name, it was really cold indeed and looked unhabitable. Only royal prisoners are kept there without warm clothes and enough meals to keep them alive. It was looking so miserable and lonely and I almost pitied Meisi.“ My beautiful baby” I heard a soft coo as we neared Meisi's room. Annalise opened the door and I stepped in immediately. Meisi was seated in an old wooden chair dressed in nothing but a cotton plain Nayak dress. The top was armless and the skirt barely reached her knees. I could only imagine how cold she must be. The baby was wrapped in a silk blanket thoroughly though so that gave me a l
Chapter 49 His Spirit warriors.“ Lyn was poisoned?” He banged his hands on the table at the news from the Hornet. His eyes flashed red but went back to normal immediately the Hornet flew in a circle with a loud buzz. They had made a camp at a place very close to the Silk Valley. The sun was setting already and he was getting ready to attack the Aransas fortress at dawn before the hornet flew in.“ She didn't eat the poison?” He asked and the Hornet stayed still for a while before buzzing around again. “ You stung her maid? That was reassuring at least.” He took a deep breath but his mind was already in shambles at the thought of someone attempting to kill his Queen in his absence. He knows the person, it was the same person that tried to poison him at the inn the first time he met his Queen. It was the same person that was giving the Barbarians a failed hope.The Hornet flew around for a while again with a loud buzz and Treven almost broke the table angrily. How dare that lowly piec