BETRAYED QUEEN

CHAPTER 4

I knew I couldn't prevent Aldric from having a mistress, but that didn't mean I had to witness the two of them together.

"Clearly, you two need a moment alone," I hissed. I turned to Artemis and the others. "Shall we return to the conference? Some of us still have responsibilities."

They followed, but Aldric's voice rang out behind us. "Everyone. Stop."

I turned, expecting him to scold me . But no — his finger pointed at Laura, fixing her with a stern glare.

"Leave that one behind."

I stiffened as anger rushed to the surface. "And why would I do that?" His jaw tensed.

"I said: leave her."

"What do you mean, leave her ? She is my lady-in-waiting, and I will do no such thing until I know your purpose."

The frost-kissed silence in the garden shattered under my voice, sharp with disbelief. I stood, spine rigid, between the roses and ruin, unwilling to yield. My breath clouded in the chilled air as I met Aldric's cold stare, refusing to let my fury be silenced.

Next to me, Lady Laura looked as though she might faint. Her skin had lost all colour, and she clutched my hand with trembling fingers. On her other side, Countess Eliza supported her with a hand beneath her elbow, her eyes flashing with concern.

"What exactly are your plans with her?" I demanded. "I deserve to know, and so does she."

Aldric did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a slow, measured breath and stepped forward, his eyes glittering with suppressed rage.

"That woman," he said, each word clipped, "has insulted another person under royal protection in the most vile terms. Her behaviour is unacceptable."

"Her behaviour , Aldric, is born of loyalty," I retorted, holding his gaze. "And your precious mistress is hardly beyond criticism."

His eyes darkened, fury bubbling just beneath the surface.

"That 'precious mistress' was spoken to like a harlot in front of the Queen herself."

"She is a harlot," I said, my voice tight. "She's a runaway slave who caught your eye. That doesn't change what she is. And punishing Laura — publicly, I might add — will disgrace her, disgrace me, and cast a shadow on this entire court."

Aldric took a threatening step toward me, fists clenched at his sides.

But before he could say another word, Sir Artemis moved between us, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.

"Your Majesty," he said calmly but firmly, "I wouldn't advise you to act out of temper. I have sworn an oath to the Queen. You'll do well to remember that."

A moment of frozen tension passed. Then, with visible effort, Aldric pulled himself back, dragging his hand through his hair.

Meanwhile, my head spun.

All this — over her ? If Aldric could summon this much fury over a mere insult… what would he do in the face of an actual threat? Would he tear apart our marriage for her? Would he gamble the fate of the entire empire?

My gaze locked with his — and I saw it, clear as day. He would burn continents to the ground for that woman.

"She may serve in your household, Bronwyn," he ground out, "but she is my subject, and her behaviour is inexcusable. How dare she speak to another person like that."

My heart pounded painfully in my chest. "Then I will discipline her. That is my right." "I am the King ,"

Aldric snapped.

"I decide punishments ." He rounded on Laura.

"Lady Laura, I sentence you to the dungeon for three days, on meals of only hard bread and water."

I flinched as if struck. Eliza let out a soft cry, while the others looked on in horrified silence. Laura had gone sheet white.

The dungeons were for thieves and murderers, not outspoken ladies-in-waiting!

"Aldric, no," I breathed. "You're not thinking clearly." "Aren't I?"

His gaze turned steely.

"Then allow me to clarify. Five days."

I stepped forward, helpless to stop the tide. "This is madness . Over a single insult?"

But I could see it now — the hardness in his eyes, the arrogance of a man fuelled by pride and l**t. He wasn't doing this to enforce the law. He was doing this to make a statement. And his little slave-girl was watching him with those wide, adoring eyes like he was a hero in some fairy tale.

Laura, bless her heart, stepped forward, spine straight despite her shaking limbs. "I accept your sentence, Your Majesty," she said. Her voice was quiet, but resolute.

She curtsied low and turned toward the guards that had magically appeared at the garden gates.

I wanted to protest, but I knew defeat when I saw it. The gleam of victory that emanated off of Aldric was so thick, you could almost taste it.

It tasted bitter.

But that wasn't the worst of it. No, the worst was the way Rose's eyes sparkled with vicious delight, drinking in every second of my humiliation. There was something almost serpentine in her gaze—a predatory gleam that revealed this hadn't been mere coincidence. It had been her first deliberate strike against me, and she was revelling in her success.

As much as I wanted to scream, I knew it would only make things worse — I could see that now. So, I simply stood there, still as stone, forced to watch as one of my most loyal women was taken away like a criminal.

~~~~

Rumours spread like fire through dry grass.

The King had punished one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. And the mistress was behind it.

It wasn't long before the palace echoed with whispering voices and sidelong glances. Some claimed Aldric's actions proved his affection for Rose. Others claimed this was only the beginning.

In the confines of my chamber, even my own court began to show cracks.

"What if the mistress gains real power?" Eliza whispered to Verdi when they thought I wasn't listening. "The Queen cannot simply let this pass."

I heard every word. I always did.

I had to put a stop to this before the rumours spread beyond the palace walls; I had to confront Aldric. And if he wasn't thinking with his head, perhaps there was another way to convince him to come back to my side.

~~~~

Unfortunately, Aldric was not where he was supposed to be.

The King's schedule, once orderly — almost to a fault — now danced around Rose. She had become the new axis around which he revolved.

But I finally found him — in the library of all places.

He sat lounging in an armchair by the tall, leaded-glass windows, a book open in his hands. Sunlight filtered over his dark hair.

I entered silently. When I spoke, it was with deliberate softness. "Hello, Aldric."

Slowly, he raised his head and met my gaze; his intense stare sent a fizz of excitement through my body. I didn't bother to try to hide it; I wanted him to see.

"Bronwyn."

There was a pause.

I felt his eyes dancing across my body. Usually, this was a sign that he was ready to bed me, but today Aldric seemed to be questioning my purpose, trying to determine my true motive. So, you're still angry with me, then?

Good. Because I was furious with him.

I let the silence stretch as I approached. Then, with deliberate grace, I reached down, plucked the book from his fingers, and settled myself into his lap.

He didn't stop me. Not yet, anyway.

"What do you want, Bronwyn?" he asked with a deep sigh.

"I'm in no mood to argue."

"What are you in the mood for, then, my King?"

He didn't reply, but I felt the shift in his body. His arousal. The old fire that once burned between us.

I kissed him — deep and hungry.

At first, he resisted, but then I felt, as much as heard, his groan of desire. But when I reached down to unfasten his breeches, he caught my wrist. "Bronwyn," he said, pulling back. His voice was hoarse.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm your wife," I said. "I want you."

I moved again, but this time he pushed me off him. I stumbled, shocked. "Don't," he growled.

"I won't be disloyal."

He stalke d out, leaving me there in stunned silence. He was worried about loyalty…to her.

~~~~ Five days.

That was how long Lady Laura spent locked away in the dungeons. The king held true to his word.

Aldric — as stubborn as his wife was passionate — was not about to let Bronwyn's constant protests over the matter sway him. By the gods, he was the king , and an example had to be made where Rose was concerned.

He spent the week resolutely ignoring Bronwyn and her many attempts to sway him to let Lady Laura free. The very idea was preposterous. No, what he should have done was banish her from the kingdom for her crimes. She was lucky he'd chosen to show her mercy instead.

But when Lady Laura's five days were up, Bronwyn chose to make a statement.

Instead of sending a servant or a guard, she had chosen to embarrass him further and went to fetch Lady Laura herself.

Enraged, he sent a secretary to bring her to his chambers immediately.

"You summoned me?'she asked through gritted teeth. He took a deep breath to steady himself and looked up at her. The tension crackled in the air."Why did you choose to undermine my punishment by fetching your lady-in-waiting yourself?" he asked."She suffered unjustly."He grimaced in frustration. "You should have sent her away. To the countryside. Or farther. You should not be protecting her.""Like you are protecting that runaway?

"Bronwyn snapped back. Fire rolled through him at the implication. He finally stood, taking a step toward her."Bronwyn —""Laura stays."He stared at her, thunder in his gaze."Why can't you just be obedient to me for once?""Because I am the Queen. I will not bend."He chose his next words carefully."That may be true, but if you continue on like this, you won't be able to compare."Sure enough, Bronwyn blinked, obviously caught off guard."

Compare ? With whom?" "My mistress."