Dragon's Sorceress Queen

34. More Troubles for Rosabelle

Rosabelle's POV-

The people's shock upon seeing me beside Dargan is the only fun thing that has happened since I lost to my cousin.

They are all shocked seeing me healthy and beside their King. The murmurs though stop as soon as Dargan meets their eyes.

"My King. My Queen." Lord Fredini steps forward first and quickly gets followed by the others.

I smile at everyone's direction before tugging at Dargan's hand holding mine. Though the Lords have only come to welcome us, or more precisely, to welcome their King, I don't think they will scatter away to their work soon. And I want to meet, Nina as well.

What the hell is she doing with Eleanor though?

I tug at his hand again and he once again ignores me.

"My Queen." Roald greets me smiling before taking the back of my hand and placing it on his forehead.

"Roald, I thought we were over this." I narrow my eyes at him playfully.

"Old habits." He says throwing a glance at Dargan.

"Alpha." He bows to him before standing beside me at a little distance.

My eyes meet Nina's again and I see her pale face. But before I could catch her line of gaze, Dargan speaks up.

"Everybody. I'm aware the news of our Queen's sickness made the air around the whole Kingdom, tense. I believe this is a shock to see her beside me well and fit. But our Queen has her ways to pull jokes." He says looking at me.

"Now, that we know she is fit, there is nothing to worry about. Rosabelle just planned to pull a joke on her brother. It was her way to go there as an opponent and congratulate him in the mid of their challenge combat. She disguised her well which is a thing to take pride in for anyone."

The Lords erupt in little chuckles hearing the story of my little joke and I control myself by digging my nails in his hand.

"It is a pride thing for her and a shameful for us." Then Dargan speaks turning the hall in a pin-drop silence.

"The Queen of the Royal Kingdom flies away in midnight. From right under the noses of so many guards. She could have lost her way, or worse. She could have gotten into enemies hands while you all thought she was sick." His voice is low but dangerous than any dark night in the history.

"Of course, she wouldn't do it alone." He then says making my heart drop.

Is he going to punish Nina? No, it wasn't her fault. She tried to stop me.

My eyes search for Nina in the crowd and when I finally spot her, I see that she has the same expression as before.

"Following your Queen's orders is your duty. But if something can get her life in danger, and you help that situation to come to life, you should be punished." He says and it feels like the air has even stilled in the hall. As curious as everyone is, no one wants to turn and look at each other in fear of attracting the King's attention.

"The same has happened and I hope this once is the last one. As much as every guard on duty deserves the punishment, I know my Queen is just clever. But her maid, Nina contributed the most. She informed everybody about the sickness and I suppose she was the one who gave any kinds of updates regarding the Queen's health." Dargan says making me heart beat like crazy.

Where is he going with this?! He can't be serious!

"So, the woman would be punished. And after now, I hope the guards will stay attentive." Dargan says glaring at the Lord responsible for the guards's duty.

While I stand there in shock, suddenly Dargan starts moving. No addressing about the Lords getting back to their own works, no departure greetings. He just leaves with me. I watch Nina helplessly looking at my way. The concern is all over her face, but I know she might still be worrying about me talking Dargan out of his decision.

Dargan starts walking along with me and towards my chamber.

"Dargan, what are you planning to do with Nina? You now very well, she is innocent-"

"Innocent?!" He suddenly snaps turning me to him. I get jerked a little at his abrupt stop but balance myself just in time.

"Yes, she is innocent. She asked me to stay, but I was—"

"Then her blood is on your hands." He suddenly speaks cutting me off.

The blood drains from my face as I look at him with open mouth.

No, she cannot... die because of me.

Dargan starts walking again until we reach my chamber.

"Dargan, she helped me because I asked her too. It was my dream and she knew it. Don't hurt her for something I did." I plead all the while he glares at me. Then, Dargan suddenly makes a move and grips my jaw tightly.

"Your punishment is so much worse, Bella. You not just deceived me, but lied to me about your sick lover." He says through clenched teeth and tears spring my eyes unwillingly.

"Don't punish her." I manage to say and he pushes my face away to the side.

"Do you know I came to check upon you when I heard the news?" I sat quiet because I know very well that he might have come.

"I came here and your maid of a friend didn't even let me see you because you were just too sick! She made me fool and both of you are so wrong if you think you are going to get out of this!" He says.

"Just let her go. She is my only friend."

"You can live without a friend." He says grabbing my jaw and bringing his face closer to mine.

"People need friends, Dargan. No one can live without friends."

"I do." He says staring deep into my eyes and squeezing my jaw hard.

"Eleanor does. And we have been living quiet a comfortable life seeing we don't have friends." He says pulling away from me. My hand caress my jaw and my tears threaten to fall but along with them, I feel rage run through my body.

After all that I have lost, I'm not going to lose, Nina. No!

"If you never made friends, that is not my problem! It is not my problem that you are just too obsessed with yourself to give anyone a chance in your life! It is not my problem that nobody wanted to be friends with a you!" I yell at him.

"I had better things to do in life. If I wasted my time f*****g joking around with friends, I wouldn't have been here, standing as the King of the Royal Kingdom." He says through gritted teeth.

"And how do you feel to be the most powerful but lonely?!" I throw at him while breathing heavily to keep control over my anger.

"Good. And before talking about me, look at yourself! Didn't you do all this to get a throne?!" He snaps.

"I WOULD HAVE RULED AMONG MY PEOPLE! MY FRIENDS! MY FAMILY!"

"AND I'M HERE WITH MY FAMILY!"

"Are you? Ha!" I scoff af him, "Is this what you call a family, Dargan? Where no one knows what the other is doing?! Where a brother doesn't have time for his sister?! Where the mother doesn't have time for her children?! Where the mother just stays in hiding doing Goddess knows what?!—"

"NOT A SINGLE WORD AGANIST MY MOTHER, ROSABELLE!"

"AND NOT A SINGLE VERDICT AGAINST MY FRIEND!"

"YOUR FRIEND FOOLED ME!"

"AND YOUR MOTHER HURT ME!"

"THAT WAS JUST A RITUAL!"

"AND THAT WAS JUST A HELP!"

"YOU DON'T FOOL ME!

"AND YOUR MOTHER CAN'T HURT ME!"

That... shuts him up.

We both glare at each other while panting and this is the probably the first time, I don't feel like turning my eyes away from his. I need to save Nina. I need to stay strong.

"Your friend will get what she deserves. And I would like to see you try and save her." He throws each word at me like a dagger before leaving the chamber with long strides.

I turn around clutching my chest that feels so heavy with all the emotions. I let my tears fall before I remember my friend.

"Nina..." I mutter her name and turn around only to find Eleanor standing there.

I quickly turn around and wipe my cheeks before turning to her again.

"Hey, Eleanor. I'm sorry if you need to talk to me, but I must go—"

"She has been captured." Eleanor says cutting me off.

"Captured?"

"Yes, the guards took her away the moment you left with the King."

I swallow and make a move to leave but she holds my arm.

"I know you want to go see her but I'd prefer you do not do anything that makes the King more agitated. Moreover, you do not know where she is, neither do I. And no one would tell you as well." She says and apparently she is right.

"I need to go and find her myself. They could be torturing her!" I say with desperation clear in my voice.

"They won't do anything until Dargan orders them to. And Dargan is not here to order them right now. He is with Ma. I assure you she is safe."

"Why is he with her?" I say with bitterness.

"Because she is his mother and she wished to see him."

I look away hearing her and she lets go of my arm.

"Did you need anything?" I ask her finally.

Surely, she didn't come to check upon her 'Friend.'

"I have to come to ask you something, and I know it might not be a good time but it is important." She says having my full attention.

"What is it?"

"Did you consummate your marriage with your husband?"

What the hell?

"Why does that concern you?"

"It does. I have to answer Ma. She suspects you haven't consummated the marriage." I just stare at the wall with shock, confusion, disgust all in once, but all of them are directed towards Ma.

"Is that why she has called him?"

"I do not know."

"How does she even know?"

"I do not know." She says and I resist rolling my eyes or snapping at her.

"Well, we have. Tell Ma, that she shouldn't worry about the marriage consummation. It's done." I say looking at her.

"You are lying." I look at her with all seriousness demanding her reason.

"You wouldn't know what happened at my wedding night, would you? And I suppose the same for your mother."

"You just asked me how does she know. That means you haven't consummated the marriage." She says and I inhale deeply.

Dammit!

"I'm just here to let you know that you must consummate the marriage. Ma expects it tonight." She says.

"Ma isn't going to decide when I become intimate with her son, is she?" I ask with distaste in my voice.

"We may never know. She is Ma, after all." She says making me shocked, but I'm happy someone thinks she is crazy just like me.

"Well, tell her that she cannot decide my consummation."

"It's an order, Rosabelle. She doesn't expect you to do the deed tonight. She believes her son would follow her order. And trust me, it wouldn't be good if violence gets involved in all this. You know he'll take out the order anyway. So, just go with it. Tonight." She says before turning around and leaving my chamber while I just look at the door incredulously.

What do they think they are doing? First the son warns me against saving my friend. Then the sister warns me against about tonight. And their mother is out of my understanding.

This whole family just do as it pleases. They just come and order me. And I'm expected to follow the orders. What the hell is actually happening with my life, IN my life?

Why can't I just stay with peace? Why does there have to be so many problems? I'm already in a bad mood thinking about Nina and now I've another problem lined up for me. And I need to deal with it tonight.

No, I won't consummate the wedding. I don't care what their Ma says! I have the right to decide for myself! These insane people can't rule my life, I won't let them! And Dargan would know it tonight that I won't abide by everything his mother wishes me to do.

Marrying him is more than enough. I'm not going to consummate our bond.