All Chapters of Realm of the Chosen: A Reverse Harem Romance: Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

Leaving Kit before the sun began to rise was one of the most difficult tasks Eli had ever been faced with, which was saying a lot considering what he’d seen in battle. She was still sound asleep and didn’t even stir when he’d kissed her goodbye. While he had a feeling Rona wasn’t going to end him that day, whatever she had in store was bound to be unpleasant. Defying the queen was never a good idea, but when your last name was Goedwig, it was the worst possible choice one could make. He might not disappear from Kit’s life altogether that day, but Eli knew his days with the princess were numbered, so long as the current queen sat on the throne.The halls were deserted as he made his way to the queen’s chambers, dressed in the same gray and purple he wore as Commander of the Princess’s Guard, though it wasn’t his uniform. He was hoping to remind the queen that he’d done a great deal to serve her, but he had a feeling none of

Staring at him did her no good as he refused to glance in her direction, but she could tell by the pallor in his face and the sweat beading his forehead he wasn’t himself. He made an attempt to eat and drink something, but it was clear he wanted to do neither, and Kit’s insides tangled up again.Since Eli wouldn’t look at her, she returned her attention to Cassius, hoping for an explanation. When she caught his eyes, he shook his head slightly, as if to say, “Don’t do it, Kit.” Her breath was still caught in her throat, and a rage began to boil inside of her like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Her mother had done something to Eli, but what it was, she didn’t know. How could she sit next to this woman and pretend everything was as it should be?The queen didn’t mind pretending. “There he is. Must’ve overslept.” She giggled in a malicious way and took a swig of wine. “It’s too bad

“We want Rona to think she’s won,” Eli countered. “If she has any idea whatsoever that you’re contemplating rising up against her, Kit, what she did to me is the least of our worries. I have no doubt in my mind the next time it will be far worse. And if we’re not ready, if our allies and confidants aren’t informed, we will all fall, no matter how just or true our cause is, and no matter how many of the citizens would prefer you to her.”Kit wanted to argue, but she was afraid he was right. She slumped back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling for a moment, trying to come up with a response that let her slap her mother across the face and still pretend she wasn’t considering usurping her power and taking the throne. There didn’t seem to be a way.“There are others who will also be angry. I’ve asked Cassius and Jate to speak to them, to let them know they cannot be hasty either. Those who are in pow

Kit spent the rest of the afternoon in her chambers, looking over notes she’d made for a project assigned to her by the council. She had always considered these assignments trivial busy work, but this one could potentially be different. Initially, she’d been asked to consider the current system for upkeep on the wagons that were used to transport goods from the castle to the provinces, but she decided perhaps there was more she could do with such a topic and was able to come up with several questions to pose to those in charge of making the transports. Having the guise of the assignment to hide behind might just give her the opportunity to dig deeper into exactly what was happening with the goods coming into Wrenbrook.Her thoughts were interrupted when Avinia announced it was time to prepare her for the evening meal. She hadn’t eaten much of anything all day, only nibbled on a bit of bread and fruit while she worked, so she was famished, but the thought of

“Eli is strong,” Junno whispered next to her at the dinner table, causing Kit’s head to turn toward her grandmother. “I know the agony he is in. But he will make it through and be good as new in a day or two.”The servants came and removed the fish, replacing it with some sort of potato dish Kit couldn’t name but found much more appetizing. She took a few bites before she asked, “None of you knew?”“No, and she still hasn’t told any of us. I have my ways of finding out information, though.”Leaning in close to her grandmother, Kit asked, “Isn’t it against Yewforian law to whip a person without consent of the majority of council members?”Junno’s only response was, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”It didn’t surprise Kit to hear that, sad as it was. She could only imagine how many people had been dragged into the queen’s quarters to