Always, For You

Chapter 9

The next morning when Camille wakes up, everything feels unreal. The maids tends to her as usual. Helping her freshern up and making her looking presentable for the day.

From the whispers and mumbles around the palace, she learns that the former emperor Alpheus is in dungeon. Meanwhile the empress, after seeing her own son die had lost her mind. She was shortly sent to a far place.

It is before afternoon when Kaizen comes to meet her. "We will be holding a banquet. Since you are the empress you will be preparing everything. My mother says she will help you." He informs her.

"Is it not too sudden after everything that happened?" Camille questions. "No. There will be various new nobles. We need it especially for them." Kaizen answers.

"Is this all we are going to talk about?" Camille asks. It makes Kaizen swallow. They have so much to talk about. He has so much to say but he doesn't know what to say at this point.

"Why did you not reply? To any of my letters for the last 3 months." She asked noticing his lack of response to her previous questions. "I was busy." Kaizen answers shortly.

"You could have written back at least once. Once. I thought something happened to you!" Camille says angrily. She couldn't understand how he could act so nonchalant.

"Because talking to you would have made me start re-considering everything. Talking to you would have given me second thoughts. Thoughts I couldn't afford to have." Kaizen answers looking at her.

She falls silent at his words. "Why did you even choose to marry me?" She asked in a small voice. Kaizen composes himself with a sigh. He sits down in front of Camille. His plam against her soft cheek, as he looks at her. A storm in his heart and love in his eyes.

"Everything I have done is for you Camille. Everything. I could care less about the crown. If you want it, tell me and I will give it to you. Ever since the day we first met all I have desired to have is every bits of you. And right now, if you have any thought of escaping this, escaping me and this marriage, drop it." Kaizen says.

"I will come after you if you ever try to get away. And darling, I don't want to show you how much of a monster I have become." He added, a crazed possessive look at his eyes.

Camille shouldn't. She really shouldn't feel this way. But she can't help the flutters she feels inside her when he speaks those word.

They don't say anything else. Kaizen pulls back as he stands back up. "You are the queen. You know your responsibilities. You can do whatever you wish to do." He says. "You are my equal." He adds looking back at her.

Then he is gone leaving Camille to sort out her own thoughts.

Kaizen walks towards the council room where nobles including his uncle, Fenric was waiting for him. "Greetings your majesty." Every greets when he walks inside.

Everyone sits back down on their seat once he sits down. His aide, Bairon, stands beside him with papers. Kaizen takes a look around. Most of the nobles here are new who will take the place of the nobles who were killed during the coup.

"I was told there was something important I needed to consider." Kaizen speaks up. Everyone looks a little nervous at his words.

"Your majesty... We know you have just sat down on the throne. But I believe it is important for you to start choosing concubines. Various noble ladies are waiting for it." One of the noble says, collecting all the courage he had.

"Yes your majesty. We know the queen is present but news has already been spread that your grace and her majesty did not share the same room. Having a heir as soon as possible would be very im-." Another speaks up but is cut off by Kaizen immediately.

He stands up. The heavy chair screeching against the floor. "Is this useless idea the reason I was called here?" He says. His face devoid of any emotion.

"But your majesty a heir-" They continue to say but a glare from Kaizen cuts them off. "The queen will have the heir when the time is right. One more word about concubines and I won't hesitate to repeat what I have done to my late brother." He says.

He walks out leaving the room with Bairon following him.

"According to the imperial law, a king shall have at least 3 concubines. It is understandable why the nobles are pushing for it." Bairon says.

"I don't need a concubine Bairon. I didn't take the throne to warm my bed with various women. I did it for one woman. And she is enough." Kaizen said sternly.

Bairon was someone he had met back in the north. He came from a family with 3 sons, being the youngest. He was smart and cunning but loyal which was why he stuck with Kaizen ever since they met and followed him to the capital. They were close. More like friends than anything.

Bairon sighs with a chuckle. "So why didn't you stay in the room with her? You have been missing for years." He said. It makes Kaizen falter.

"I fear she will hate me. I couldn't find the courage to talk about everyone." Kaizen says. His hands clenched into a fist.

Bairon smiles sympathetically. "It will take time. But it will be fine. I have never seen a man who has fought tooth and nails for a woman they love." He says comfortingly.

Kaizen smiles a bit. "Stop being all nosy. What about what I asked you to do?" He asked. Bairon hums. "Right. Ladies-in-waiting. I have chosen some noble ladies who would be perfect for it. Inaiya from House Agaire, Elaine from House Sterling and Maira from House Valeire." Bairon answers as he looks at the papers on his hands.

"Bring them." Kaizen says. Bairon nods as he makes a mental note to invite the chosen candidates. Kaizen hoped Camille won't be too lonely with the presence of the ladies.