The King's Forbidden Bride

Episode 2 -The King's First Choice

King Stephen fumed furiously, seeing Minister Gap in the capital brought some pain swelling in his heart. Minister Gap had turned his back on him when he needed him the most.

He had tried not to cast blame over the years and had allowed him to leave without broaching the subject once again. But seeing the family in the capital again was making his blood boil.

Minister Gap thought he could make fun of him, right? He had exiled himself to Burg, yet here he was.

Pain swelled in the heart of King Stephen as he thought hard of his beloved queen. She had wanted him to find a new mother for her children. One who would love them and care for them like her own. Many women were hunting for that position. The political factions in the palace were tearing each other’s throats because of it. The Queen Dowager was insistent on choosing someone who would be loyal to her.

All of which he had no say in knowing if the lady would actually love his kids. He had seen Shaon’s childlike nature and innocence and had chosen her; she had also been a close friend of Rhodesa. His stupidity in having broached the subject with Minister Gap had resulted in the man resigning the next day and declaring self-exile without any room for reconciliation.

Stephen had let him go. Three years had passed, yet the other politicians had not been able to reach an agreement on who should take the queen's position. Yet the grass on his wife's gravesite kept on growing. His children were growing up in the arms of nurses and eunuchs. He had limited time to pay them the attention they truly needed.

And he would never put them in the charge of a queen who could harm them. He knew how bad and wicked the system could be. An evil queen could poison his children just to put one born from her womb on the throne. He would be failing Rhodesa if that ever happened. No, he would never fail Rhodesa.

His body still trembles whenever he remembers her last words to him as childbirth took her life.

“I am sorry I am leaving you first, My king. Protect the children always. If you have to give your life for them, do so. I shall welcome you with open arms.”

Those words always ring clearly.

He had never accepted the choice of his ministers. Their every selection of finalists was always privately investigated by him. Their behaviour, background and strength. They always fell short. They had even nearly appointed him a thief the last time.

He slammed the book in front of him closed as a knock was sounded on his door. It was his personal guard. Well.

“Your Majesty. Minister Gap is here to see you,” he announced gently as he entered.

King Stephen scoffed. How dare that freaking old man?

“Do I let him in?”

“Why do you think he showed up?” King Stephen asked conspiratorially.

“Perhaps I think he is scared you might retaliate badly, he came out of his self-exile. He did behave badly as your subject, Your Majesty”

“Let him in. I am not a petty king. He is after all one of my people. Regardless of his status,” The king commanded.

Well hesitated a bit, “ Do you have any other thing to say?” The King asked

“Those assassins were not after your majesty. Miss Shaon and her maid were really lucky we came along that route. They would have been killed. Perhaps you should alert him,”

“We shall see,” King Stephen said dismissively.

The man would only think he was trying to revisit his plea for his daughter’s hand in marriage. But he would warn him and be done with it.

He still needed to go visit his sons. Their level of mischief was fast becoming alarming.

The gentle opening of the door ushered in the small old man, his appearance aged beyond his years, his greying white hair arranged neatly atop his head; he was dressed like a poor peasant.

But King Stephen knew better. This was just a disguise. The man had so much money.

“Your Majesty” he greeted.

King Stephen held himself back from retaliating angrily. This was a man he and Rhodesa trusted with their lives. They had won so many battles together. They had faced palace politics together and won. All of a sudden, he had pulled off the rug under him, leaving him to face the demons of the kingdom all by himself. To the delight of the Queen Dowager and the Prime Minister. A roguish, greedy old man, King Stephen, promised death by beheading in his mind.

“Why are you showing me your face?” He managed to sound calm.

“I have come to show my appreciation for saving my daughter's life.”

“You do not need to thank me. Shaon is lucky in her life “

An awkward silence reigned as both parties offered no more words, each scrutinizing the other, trying to gauge each other’s thoughts.

“Your Majesty, I…”

“You are free to leave.”

“No, I mean, I came to the capital only because of my ailing wife. She needs expert treatment so that she will be able to see her daughter wed before she dies, at least."

A subtle punch to the gut. King Stephen noted. “Your exile was self-appointed; you are under no force to report your whereabouts to me,” He returned, picking up a book that his son had dropped off that morning. For the life of him, he could not understand the thing.

“I did not come just to thank you, my king.”

Finally, he was dropping the bombshell. King Stephen straightened, staring hard at his disloyal subject.

“Pray tell me the reason for your visit then?” The king prodded sweetly, his patience wearing thin.

“ The assassins, my king. They were sent to kill Shaon, “ He stated gravely, a hint of anger in his voice.

Anger? At who?

“I know that Minister Gap. Which brings me to my question: who did you offend with your disloyal ways to have attracted the ire of someone to kill your daughter?”

“They know”

“They know what?” The king asked slowly, standing onto his feet and descending from his throne. He stopped a few paces away from Minister Gap, who was no longer looking at the floor and was now staring accusingly at the king.

“They know you have chosen Shaon as your future queen.”

“I haven't chosen her. You declined, remember?” The king replied, flabbergasted.

“The Queen Dowager knows, and the rest of the ministers. You have continued to reject every single woman presented to you because you have chosen Shaon in your mind and would not let go.”

“I have simply not met any woman who met my criteria. Do not flatter your daughter,” He replied pettily.

“You have never been curious as to why I left so suddenly, My king. The Queen Dowager visited me with my daughter’s life hanging by a thread. She doesn't know, but they were going to kill her that night. She visited me because she and my wife were once friends. She was repaying a debt. She had said. I left because that is my only child. You majesty”

“She heard I was back and resumed her attacks to kill Shaon.”

The king shook his head “The Queen Dowager would murder no one.” He knew her that much; she was calculating, conniving, and self-centered. But a killer she wasn't one.

“Maybe not her. But the Prime Minister would not hesitate to shed Shaon’s blood to put his daughter on the throne. And you know it?”

The king sighed. “Why didn't you tell me earlier? You know I was on my way to find out for myself if you were in town. I got the information and went out to check on you. Thank goodness I saw the girls in time.”

“Maybe she is fortunate now. What about tommorrow? When Shaon decides she is bored and wants to play outside. She is not the kind of child to sit still for long. She would be restless and wanting to see the outside world soon, then what do I do?” He whimpered, despair evident in his voice.

“My offer for her stands. If she becomes my Queen. I promise no harm will come to her,” King Stephen found himself saying before he could stop himself. His children really needed a mother.

Minister Gap’s guttural scream nearly stunned the King. “You don't love her!.”

King Stephen raised an eyebrow. Love Shaon? Childish, playful Shaon. No, of course he did not. But he would protect her and be faithful to her, he would respect her every wish.

“Love? Is this what all of this is about?”

“Yes. You loved Rhodesa all of your life. Do you think you could love Shaon even if it was just a little? If I believed you were capable of loving her, even if it is just a little. I would have said three years ago, despite their threats. Your love for Rhodesa made you protect her with your life. All the time. Had she not died by childbirth? She would still be your reigning queen. She still lives on in your heart. Will you love my daughter?”

King Stephen knew he could not promise that. He was no liar. He could respect and protect her. The girl was twelve years younger than he was. She was all giggles and laughter. A quality he knew would be infectious for his sons. But himself? He had never really thought about it.

“Your silence tells me everything I need to know, your majesty. My daughter spends her time reading romance novels. She watches puppet shows of happily ever afters. She spends her entire daydreaming of the perfect Prince Charming coming to marry her. The palace is a political war zone, King Stephen. “ That was the first time Minister Gap used his name. And Stephen could detect the hostility laced within them.

“It is a place where she may mistakenly drink the wrong liquid, and she is dead. Or be kidn*pped or assassinated in her room, and no one will know because you have not even visited her in months. “

“That's a very ugly picture you are painting.”

“Queen Rhodesa found the palace and its harsh realities livable because she had you!” he screamed. “Now my daughter is in danger and you don't love her, and I don't know how best to protect her.”

King Stephen watched helplessly as his minister knelt painfully on the floor, tears pouring out of his eyes. He was so infuriated. He must have tried his hardest to keep all of this away from him.

“So what do you want me to do now”? King Stephen asked his voice low.

Minister Gap did not mince words,” I want you to choose a wife who is not my daughter.”

Wincing hard at the subtle command.

“You seek to command me?” King Stephen asked, his voice rising.

His temper was fast failing. The man must think him a fool.

“ It is a plea, my King. I dare not command you.”

“ I did not become the king to cower before my ministers, Gap, nor have I come this far to bow to the whims of another. Since I now know this is your concern. I shall make proper plans to keep Shaon safe. You can be rest assured.

“I can promise to make the palace tolerable for your daughter too.” At least he could not deny his body’s reaction to her as she sat in his arms. He only controlled himself. He could not dishonour Rhodesa’s memory by lying with another.

But he needed to put an end to all this by choosing a queen. Taking one last look at the weeping Minister, the King made up his mind. The entirety of this matter lies with Shaon herself. If he got her admiration, defeating her father would be a walk in the park. And his fears of her getting killed would never come to pass. Not on his watch.