His other Bride

Chapter Four

           Sheila was sitting the East wing of the castle, behind the tall flower shrubs in the Garden as she vigorously sketched a beautiful rose bush.Her hair that had maidens had managed to tie were out of place,her blue dress was tainted by the blackish grains of soil she was sitting on.Deeply immensed in her work,she felt the sheer joy and total satisfaction whenever she was sketching taking hold of her when she heard someone cough behind her.she immediately turned and stood to her feet,she had even kicked off her silk ballet flat shoes beside herself on the ground.

      She looked up to see the king standing before her,his silvery grey eyes were so captivating and could coax someone into spilling even his most deepest secrets and she avoided those eyes at all cost.

    king Aldrich Aquorose was a whole head taller than her,his tall,huge body filled the fine silk attires of his Royal office ,his shoulder length dark waves of hair and the scar that went through his left sculpted cheek to one side of his lips was strangely fierce yet handsome in a wild way.

"Your majesty.."she curtsied,wondering why the king had searched for her and if he was here to belittle her again or to remind her act as a murderer.

         "You missed breakfast,Sheila".he said in that deep rumbling voice that had her cheeks feeling hot.But she was shocked,the king had just casually called her by her name,she was scared of What was happening,she couldn't allow the king to come close to her,if not it's be disastrous.she already liked him,during the days of his engagement with Theia but now she couldn't afford to fall any deeper,in my eyes and heart she knew the king was Theia's and not hers.

               "I wasn't feeling famished.  Your grac_".

"Aldrich..call me Aldrich".He interrupted her.

But she stubbornly shook her head in opposition."No your majesty,I'm not honoured to call the emperor by his name".

"And why..?"his voice dropped to a degree that had Sheila feeling warm and uncomfortable as she began to walked backwards slowbly but he followed."you're my Queen ..you have all right to call me by my name".He grabbed her tiny waist and pulled her to him,the moment he touched her,Sheila could swear she felt a warm electrifying sensation travelling through her body and she knew the king felt it too.

     She garnered the courage and demanded."your highness,what are you up to!... last I remember,you said you hated me because I caused Theia's death and you'll send me to the gallows and I know you're no ordinary man to go back on your promises!".

     He let go and scowled at her."I went down to your father's house and did investigation.And I found out it wasn't your fault,riding out on that stormy night.i know Theia was a free spirit and loved taking on exhilarating and dangerous activities and I'm sure Theia was definitely the one that coaxed you into riding into the woods that stormy night.so it wasn't your fault instead it was Theia,she alone is responsible for what happened and also the trauma you had to live with".

       Sheila never realised the tears that were cascading from her eyes in torrents till the king pulled her into his arms and embraced her tightly.she was loudly crying and bawling in his arms,hitting on his chest to let her go as she struggled but he held her tightly and consoled her over again.

* * * *

Tonight was a ball held for the entourages that had journeyed from the far north kingdom of Toresia to Therondia,king Aldrich had to attend the ball with the queen in other to welcome their Royal visitors.

He was dressed in fine Royal purple linens,with a shielded armor inside his attire,for a king was expected to be always on guard.Tonight his golden diamond embedded crown was placed on his head by his personal manservant and they left for ballroom.

His eyes searched for Sheila and was quite surprised to find her standing with her attending female servants behind her.she was so beautiful..he thought..Her champagne gold gown was overflowing,the bodice tight in a way that showed only a little amount of full ample bossoms with organza balloon sleeves that the diamonds on them caught the light of the moon in a seductive way.Her blonde hair was made into a tight bun on the crown of her head, with strands left lose and a smaller feminine crown that matched his lay atop her head in a regal way.

        He immediately scowled when a tall redhired man walked to the her,he slightly bowed and began to talk.At once ,Aldrich walked to her and he could hear the gentleman praising his wife's beauty when he got to them.He slip a strong arm round her waist and pulled her itimatelg to him.

Sheila felt angry and shy ,she tried pushing his secretly but he held her firmly in place.

"And to Whom do I owe my pleasure?"Aldrich asked the gentleman man,Aldrich was an expert at reading people and he knew the man was jealous and irritated and trying hard to conceal his feelings.

"The crowned prince of Toresia prince Samson Adger Jameson  ,your majesty at your service".He bowed,for he knew the king's status was higher than his.Aldrich grimaced at the thought of his visitor being interested in his wife and they were staying here for few days.

"Welcome to Therondia,I am king Aldrich Abrahamson and this is my wife,Queen Sheila Abrahamson.where is your younger brother".

"He's here your majesty,he just stepped out.we are honored to form alliance with the great Kingdom of Therondia".Sheila frowned slightly wondering in what way were they forming an alliance.

"So are we..if you'll excuse us and let the festivities begin".