For Kingdom's Sake

Chapter Three: Unwanted (Part 3)

Without thinking, I dropped to the floor on my hands and knees. The sudden pressure on my abdomen forced out a small cry of pain the I couldn't suppress.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," I whimpered through the pain, feeling it shooting out despite the King's scent trying to tame it. "Please forgive my transgression."

I considered explaining myself and apologising more, but I decided that would just sound like I was trying to create excuses. If the King needed an explanation, I was sure he would demand one. If he did not demand one, he clearly did not require one to make a decision over my punishment.

"Miss Fidelia!"

I recognised Miss Clementine's voice, but kept my head down. The King had not given me leave to rise, nor had he dismissed me.

"You are the maid who collapsed last night, are you not?" The King asked coolly. I was surprised he was willing to acknowledge anything about the previous night, though I supposed that if he wanted to hide our mate bond, the best way was by hiding as little as possible. If people learned he was there and pretending he wasn't, that would just create more questions.

I wondered if he was genuinely unsure after hearing Miss Clementine call my name. Did he feel the sparks from the mate bond like I did, or did his rejection of the mate bond prevent him from feeling anything from it?

"Yes, Your Majesty," I responded, speaking into the ground.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," Miss Clementine pleaded as I heard her approaching. "Miss Fidelia was unwell last night, she must still be out of sorts, she would normally never be so careless. She is new, but she has been an exceptional worker, I was even considering putting her name forward to replace whoever become's your new Queen's lady's maid."

That was news to me.

"Is that so, Miss Clementine?" The King enquired. I felt like there was more consideration in his tone than there should be. It made me nervous.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Miss Clementine continued. "Of course, after this indiscretion I will no longer do so. Despite being unwell, she clearly needs more time before she is ready for such a role."

Ah, so that's what she's doing.

From what I could guess, Miss Clementine had not really been considering putting my name forward. She was using this as a way to suggest I was already receiving a punishment, while also trying to establish that I was not entirely in my right faculties. She was trying to protect me.

"There will be no need for that," the King dismissed. What did that mean? "I was present when she collapsed, I am surprised to see her out of bed today, I would have thought she would need more rest to recover. I expect you to still put her name forward if that was your intention, Miss Clementine."

Now what was he doing? Was I to receive no punishment? That seemed suspicious, would it not raise questions that he would not wanted answered?

"Rise, Miss Fidelia. Miss Clementine you may return to your duties."

I gritted my teeth and braced myself as I stood up, ensuring to keep my face neutral as internally I screamed in pain. I quietly took deep breaths of the King's scent thankful for how it removed the edge from the pain. I kept my eyes down respectfully as I stood, seeing Miss Clementine retreating nearby in my peripherals.

"Should you have returned to work today?" The King asked in a bored tone. "If you are not in optimal condition then it would be better to allow another to fulfill your duties until you may return at full strength."

"I am able to complete my duties as required, Your Majesty. I would never risk tarnishing the castle's reputation or your own by providing substandard service."

A long silence had me fighting the urge to look at the King's face to see how he was reacting. Was he looking for an excuse to hand out a more severe punishment? He could find a reason to have me removed from the castle if he wanted. He could find a reason to execute me. Though if that were his goal I was sure I would have lost my head by now.

The silence continued to stretch as I took note of Miss Clementine cleaning nearby. It was an area I had already cleaned. She must be waiting to see what happened to me.

"You seem to have much improved from last night," the King finally broke the silence. "But I wonder how much of that is an act."

I could claim to not be acting but then I would be outright lying to the Alpha King. That did not seem advisable.

"I would not wish for my condition to burden others. I have certainly begun recovering from my episode last night however, as I am certain Your Majesty has perceived."

"You do not wish for time to recover?"

"If I were to take recovery time my condition would become a burden to others that would need to fulfil my duties on top of their own, Your Majesty. If I took recovery time I may also be asked questions about my condition that I would be unsure how to answer. I would rather avoid those questions."

I hoped he understood that I was trying to tell him that I was trying to keep our bond a secret as he himself had requested. I was not sure whether I would have continued working if it wasn't a concern, but it was not something I needed to consider as it was not my current situation.

"I am sure there would be no questions, especially if your King clarified that I was aware of your condition."

"I would not want anyone thinking you were favouring me, Your Majesty."

What was he doing? Maybe trying to see how dedicated I was to keeping this secret?

The King let out a sigh.

"Very well." He sounded annoyed. Had I not given him the response he anticipated? "If you insist on working, so be it. I look forward to seeing your name on the list of potential lady's maids when the time comes. Though I hope your condition resolves before it does, hopefully before the ceremony this evening."

There was extra meaning hidden behind those words. He wanted me to accept his rejection before the ceremony.

Before he chooses a new mate.

"I will keep that in mind, thank you Your Majesty."

If I had dealt with the complete pain of the rejection, I didn't imagine him marking his new mate would be something that would bring me down. The idea of him marking someone else made my heart throb and burn. I wanted to tear apart anyone who so much as considered taking my place beside him, but obviously I couldn't do that to my new Queen, whoever she may end up being.

How did he reject me so calmly?

Though rationally I knew whoever he chose as his mate would make a better Luna and Queen than I would, emotionally I did not care. I felt like he was mine and that was all I cared about. How did he reject me, feeling like this? Perhaps he knew that the kingdom could not survive with a servant as a Queen.

"Very well. You are dismissed."

With that, the King turned on his heel and continued the way he had come. I curtsied his departure, looking up at him as I stood. I could see his hands clenched into fists as he continued on his way. It must be very frustrating for him to talk to his rejected mate who refused to accept the rejection.

"You better thank your stars for the luck they granted you!"

Miss Clementine gently smacked the back of my head. She must have approached as I was the King's figure retreat.

"The King must be in a particularly pleasant mood today with the ceremony approaching. To get away with no punishment at all! You are lucky I came to check on you after you disappeared last night."

"Thank you Miss Clementine," I smiled at her, rubbing my head gently though it didn't hurt, especially not compared to the other pain I was going through, already worsening as the King's scent began to slowly fade.

"Just do not make me regret putting your name in the pool for the promotion now. I do not exactly have a choice not to with the King expecting it."

We both knew though that I would never really be considered for the position though. I was much too new.