Betrothed To The King

Chapter24

We got back to Guham after a long hectic two-day journey. I quickly retreated out of the chariot, not wanting to stay any close to King Archer at all; I decided to go to my room instead, as I had not seen it for days now.

I got into my room to see it empty. I lay on my really soft bed. I have missed it a whole lot and wished to come back to it.

Staying in that room with King Archer will be disturbing, especially now that he is acting strange; he said he would let me go once I get better from whatever he thinks might be wrong with me, and I think I am strong enough to leave his room. He needs to release me.

I stood from my bed and walked to my crystal clear mirror, looking at the reflection of my freckled skin in amazement; how did those maids do the magic of covering it up so that nothing was showing at all?

“My queen, you’re back!” Sage squealed as she ran to me and almost hugged me when she stopped herself and bowed, still looking excited. I was really happy that she missed me to the extent of wanting to hug me, and I wished she had hugged me.

“Sage, how are you? You look quite pale. Were you sick or something?” I asked worriedly as I tucked her baby hair behind her ears.

“No, my queen, I am perfectly fine, just excited to see you because the castle has been quite boring without your presence,” she said with a smile, making me blush.

“Aww, I am sure you sneaked in here because I heard that you were warned not to come close to me, and by the way, how did you know that I would be in my room?” I asked, giving her a fake suspicious look.

“Well, my queen, I didn’t sneak in,” she said and smiled, looking straight into my eyes. “The king made me your handmaid again, and also, I came here because I felt like you would be here,” she replied, making me happier; I couldn’t hide my happiness about getting Sage back. At least my days of boredom will be over.

But why the sudden change of mind? I was sure of how strict he was with his decision, and suddenly he reversed it. Well, that’s a good one.

“I am glad to have you back, Sage,” I smiled and hugged her. I could see that she was uncomfortable hugging me; hence, it isn’t usual for a maid to be so informal with her mistress, but I don’t care. I want Sage to be my friend.

“I have a welcome surprise for you packaged by the king.” The king? What kind of surprise could that be?

“What’s that? Please don’t keep me in suspense,” I said curiously as the door gradually opened and revealed my two best friends, Seren and Rosamund.

What’s going on here?

“Seren! Rose! How did you guys get here?” I was surprised as I hurried to them and gave them a quick hug.

“Well, a guard came to pick us, saying that he was sent by the king, so we can’t tell the full story,” Rosamund said with a wide cute smile. “The good thing here is that we got to see each other, right, Seren?” I noticed Seren’s eyes on my belly; she will definitely have a lot to ask.

“Pearl, you look great as royalty, gosh! And you added so much weight. Your hair? Why is it black instead of red?” Seren is the very observant one, and I know that she won’t give me a breathing space. She will literally ask me all the questions on Earth.

“I will excuse you, my queen,” Sage said as my friends gave me that knowing smile.

“Yes, and please do well to come back. The dye on my hair needs to be washed off,” I said as she bowed and left.

I turned back to my friends, amazed by their sudden appearance; they were the last people I thought would visit me.

“Come on, girls, let’s sit and discuss,” I said, pulling them to the bed.

“Queen Pearl, is there something you ain’t telling us?” Seren started as I bit my lips.

“Something like what?” I asked, pretending not to know what she was talking about.

“Something like that,” she said, pointing at my bump as I sighed.

“Oh, this? Well, it’s a long story for another day,” I said as I lay tiredly on my bed.

“That day is today, so you are telling us why you are the only wife pregnant and why you got pregnant so fast. Sorry for sounding toxic,” she said as the both of them stared at me dramatically.

I sighed, not knowing how to tell them about my r**e story; that sounds insane, and no normal being would believe that.

“Well, I’m married now, so everything is possible; let’s just change the topic to something else, please,” I replied, frustrated by the thought of actually having a r**e baby.

“So, how has King Archer been treating you? Because he seems to love and care for you so much.” I sighed on hearing that for the second time.

“He doesn’t love me; stop saying that, please. He acts like a king that he is, for sure,” I said, not knowing if I was right or not.

I mean, behind all the ruthless attitudes, he still pays attention to what I need even if he does it anonymously because he doesn’t want to be seen as a caring man, but I notice it.

I guess he brought my friends to me because he knows how important they are to me, and he has also brought my handmaid Sage back too. Or maybe he is acting out of jealousy, maybe he is trying to hold me back from loving another man.

“You ain’t even sure of what you said. King Archer loves you, and it’s obvious; he might be acting all cruel and ruthless, but we all know it’s his lifestyle, and you can change him if you want,” Seren said as I bit my lips. She keeps on reminding me of words I have heard before, and they are all difficult.

King Archer is a crowned Casanova, and to change him is actually close to impossible. A man that fvcks every creature that has a v****a, even when he is married to five women, can’t be changed.

“You all keep talking about changing King Archer’s lifestyle when you know it’s impossible. He grew up with that lifestyle and the belief that women don’t deserve to be loved. His father shaped him into that already, and it’s stuck in his brain; I can’t change him. He has many wives, and none of them could change him. Then why do you all think I, the newest wife, would?” I was confused and frustrated.

“Well, I can help.” Rosamund gave me that knowing smirk as I rolled my eyes at her, knowing what she had in mind.

“No way, Rosamund. You don’t expect me to seduce him, right?” I retorted with a narrowed gaze.

“Come on! That’s not seduction! You are only luring your husband to want you and you alone, like to make him obsessed with you and only crave to have you.”

“You know that I am not his only wife, right? I can’t do such. I can’t make him stop caring for his other wives, that’s me being selfish, and by the way, I don’t love him, and I don’t care about who he fvcks,” I uttered bluntly as they all gazed at me in shock.

Well, I don’t care who he fvcks, as long as he doesn’t touch Sage. Again.

“You didn’t say that, Pearl! That is wrong; you can’t say that about your husband!” Rosamund said as she slapped my cheeks a little bit hard.

“Listen, Queen Pearl,” she started; the sound of the title sounded weird coming from them. “You are in a competition right now, but I am sure you’re just too blind to notice that. The king married four wives, including you, and they all wish to have the king’s attention one way or the other.” She bit her lips. Yeah, indeed, I am in a competition, especially with Zinnia. I don’t think I am in a competition, but Zinnia sees me as a competitor, so stupid.

“One day you will need the king’s love and attention, but you might not get it again because one of his wives will definitely win his heart. You have to take advantage of his growing love for you and get him at your beck and call. Do not consider the other wives; think of yourself alone. By the way, you have his child, so that’s a plus,” Rosamund said, and I was getting to understand the point she was making.

She is one hundred percent right. Zinnia definitely tries hard to get closer to the king because the king doesn’t pay attention to her as he might have done before; she was once the king’s favorite, and now she no longer gets the king’s attention.

I have noticed that she is trying hard to get me out of this castle as she sees me as a barrier.

And for Lula, she has said words to me that show that she also sees me as a competitor; she warned me strictly the first time she approached me. For Felicity and Snow, I think they might be worse as they are just too quiet, and it’s becoming suspicious.

By the way, I need love and attention, indeed. As a pregnant woman, I sometimes wish to make Archer suffer for putting his seed in me illegally without my consent. Sometimes I need a good massage from the father of my unborn baby and not from some soft handmaid.

Maybe Rosamund is right; I should win the king’s heart. I am married to him, and there is no going back, so I have to get his attention to enjoy this marriage better.