Amelia had been under the impression that Bran had returned with Elric, since he had left the Queen’s side to go find the other woman. But when the Queen entered her court with a smile on her face and a question on her lips regarding her advisor – she had been told of his absence once again.

“What do you mean by him not being back yet?”

The maid bowed her head further as Amelia remained standing in the centre of the court room. She had wanted to let Elric know of what she had noticed around her aunt’s house, but he still wasn’t there.

“Your h-highness, he hasn’t returned.”

Amelia felt herself frown at the repeated answer, but she couldn’t do anything about it. She didn’t know where her advisor had gone off to, but she did know that Bran was back. At least she could rest easy knowing that Bran wasn’t somewhere other than in her castle.

“You let me know as soon as he arrives. I will be in my study till then. Send him there immediately.” Amelia ordered the maid, who nodded her head in understanding. “Where is the King anyway?” She questioned the maid before she could leave her to her own vices.

The bowing woman answered easily since this she did know about.

“The King is in the back gardens.”

That was all the information Amelia needed as she decided to question the other woman later. “Very well. You are dismissed.” The maid backed away from the Queen with her head still bowed, which left Amelia with multiple thoughts.

She wondered where Elric had wandered away and she also thought of what the reason for Bran could be to leave the castle. As she also went to exit the throne room – her journey was cut short when she found Elric walking over to her with worry clear on his face.

“Your majesty!” Immediately, Amelia’s eyes locked onto Elric’s. “What is it?”

“I have gathered some unfortunate information, your highness.” The sentence was enough to bring concern to the Queen, who nodded her head and begun walking. “Follow along, Elric.”

The advisor had barely reached her and was already following behind her now. He knew that they could not discuss anything significant out in the open, and from what he had found out – having a conversation in private was the best decision to make.

Amelia and Elric walked in silence as they passed by various rooms, guards, and maids on their way to the study room. That was the only room where they could have a serious conversation without fearing for eavesdroppers.

As they reached the room, Amelia pushed open the door and entered easily.

“Now.” Elric walked inside as well and closed the door quickly.

“Your highness, I suggest you rethink your union with Bran.” Amelia paused in her place right beside her chair, as she stared at the advisor with a frown. “This again.”

Elric stepped forward and nodded his head. “Bran is not who she has said she is, your highness. She has had ties with Pellin Jade[HF1] , and she was trying to humiliate you in front of your people after she won that arena battle.”

Amelia chuckled before she went to sit down. “Of course. I figured it out even before you mentioned it. Why else would she challenge me to do such a thing?” Amelia smiled at the man, even when she wasn’t being truthful to the man. She didn’t know Bran’s motives were simply to put her down in front of her own people. But that turned out in Amelia’s favour anyway, so she was willing to forgive the other woman for it without an explicit apology from her.

Bran was an important factor in Amelia’s life now, and she was not going to let her go for such a reason.

But Amelia did come back to the name that Elric had mentioned.

“But who is this Pellin Jade you mentioned?” Elric sighed loudly. He knew that the Queen would be unfamiliar with the name since everything regarding the man had occurred even before she was 10 years of age. But Pellin had been a person that Elric was greatly aware of.

“Your highness, you were fairly young when this had happened, but the late King had someone come for the throne once.” Amelia’s eyebrow raised in curiosity as she stared at the advisor. She did not know that, but she had so many questions immediately. But Elric gave her no space to ask her queries as he continued. “Pellin Jade was head of the guards then and he had committed the highest form of treason.”

Amelia frowned at the information. “Why was I not aware of this person?”

“Because he was banished before the news could circulate to the rest of the kingdom. This was a matter that was confined only to the castle.”

The thought of Bran suddenly crossed Amelia’s mind and she looked at Elric sharply. “Now, how is Bran related to this man?”

Elric didn’t have to be asked twice as he relayed all that he had seen and heard from his little visit to the city centre. There, he had traced all of Bran’s movements from the guards that strolled the streets.

It was fairly easy for the advisor to follow Bran and reach the vast woods of Geraldia. And there, he had come across a familiar face. One which had been aged by time and difficulties, but Elric had immediately recognized the man.

And he had listened to everything that had been said amongst everyone around Pellin.

Amelia’s face hardened as she patiently listened to everything that her advisor was relaying to her. The anger was rising inside of her but along with it, a need to take it out all on only one person. And that person’s name was synonymous with a type of bread.

…........................

I frowned as soon as I stepped inside of the chamber, not expecting to see the Queen there. She was sitting prim and proper at the bed’s edge as if she had been waiting for me. But of course, that couldn’t be the case.

Wanting to ignore her, I walked past her and over to the window since the seat right in front of it had become my place. I sat there and away from the Queen whenever she was also in the room with me.

“Where were you today, my King?” I halted my steps and looked over at Amelia, who had asked that question with a certain venom in her tone. Hm, that didn’t sound like her usual tone of voice. “Is there something wrong with your throat?”

Amelia narrowed her eyes as she grabbed at my wrist, and I felt burnt by her sudden touch. I wanted to take back my arm from her clutches, but she was stronger than she looked. “Where were you today?” Her voice was different, and I could tell that she, somehow, already knew of my whereabouts.

She just wanted me to tell her about it. So, I did, since I was going to get punished or something anyway.

“I went to meet my friend.” Amelia frowned as I paused to pinch her hand, so she’d release my arm. “Ouch.”

“His name is Felix, and we had a falling out. And then I met the old man who trained me for the arena battle, and he said I was of no use to him anymore since I was now King.” Amelia’s frown morphed into surprise as she stared at me. Not reading her expressions correctly, I puffed out my chest and stared at her with clear defiance as I continued without any fear. “I wanted to trick you into refusing to marry a woman – me – so I could humiliate you in front of everyone on how you didn’t keep your word, and then everyone would hate you just like me, and I’d --”

I was cut off when I had a hand covering my mouth suddenly. My eyes widened when the Queen stared at me with a burning gaze. “Do you even know who you allied with?”

Seeing how my mouth was covered, I opted to shake my head. I still didn’t even know the name of the old geezer since he didn’t want to share it with me. According to him, a person’s name is a privilege and you haven't earned it yet.

“Can you swear you don’t know this man on your life?” Moving my head so I could have my mouth be released from her soft hand, I squinted my eyes. “I don’t even know his name! He just came out of nowhere! I hadn’t even seen him before!”

Amelia’s eyes narrowed as if she was judging me, probably checking to see if I was lying or not. But I was clearly telling her the truth and I maintained eye contact so she would know of my honesty. I didn’t lie. I never lied. I just kept the truth hidden. Oh Felix.

I sighed depressingly, remembering how Felix had left me in the woods.

“I believe you.” My attention was brought back to the Queen, who went to sit down at the edge of the bed again. “But it doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

Sighing again, I slowly dropped down to my knees in front of her, getting a curious look from her. “I accept any punishment you have for me, your highness.”

I’m certain I sat on my knees for about an entire minute since Amelia was standing up again and pulling me up as well.

“Your punishment will be to remain King.” My eyes narrowed as I felt her hand tighten on my own. “That doesn’t sound like a punishment.” But if we were to see it from a certain perspective, it did seem like a punishment.

“I wasn’t done.” I silenced myself immediately as she turned to walk over to the seat which I usually occupied. She sat down on it easily as she regarded me with a sharp stare. “You are from now on, forbidden from leaving the castle.”

Alright, that sounded more like it.

“All informality has also been revoked from you. You are forbidden from referring to me by my name. I will be your highness or the Queen to you, and nothing else.” That wasn’t such a difficult task to do. But then she paused for a while too long and what she spoke up next, had blood rushing to my face.

“You are also commanded to sleep in the same bed as your Queen, and to have each meal with me.”

That was not a punishment. That was a luxury. But I think the Queen knew how horrible it was going to be for me which is why she repackaged it into a penalty for me.

I groaned as I shook my head, but her finger raised up to silence any of my developing complaints. “You are to behave in a way a spouse should, and I will try to forgive you for your crimes.”

Finally getting the permission to speak, the first words tumbling out of my mouth were ‘I hate you’, which were said with a desperation that only brought a smirk to the Queen’s face. What a sick woman!

“Didn’t you hear me, your Highness? I said I hate you, which means I should be thrown in the dungeon for life!”

I was prepared to be imprisoned for life or executed even. Anything but sharing the same space as her.

“We will discuss about your hatred some other time.” I opened my mouth to say something else, but she silenced me with a glare. For someone, who had an extremely feminine appearance and demeanour, she was certainly a scary person when she wanted to be.

“Now, tell me about this friend of yours. This Felix.”

It felt like my head was being whipped from one place to another as she changed the entire trajectory of our conversation by mentioning Felix. “He is my friend, your highness.”

The Queen looked at me with a lack of amusement. “Yes, as I’ve mentioned similarly. I’m asking you to tell me more about him.”

My eyebrows furrowed together as I failed to understand what she wanted me to say. Tell her about him in what regard? She frowned at my silence before shaking her head. “Leave it!”

I flinched at the sudden anger in her voice before she stood up and removed her mantle. I didn’t even notice her still wearing it. Removing her crown as well, she walked past me to hang the mantle on the wall by the door. She placed the crown by her bedside and looked at me expectantly.

“Come to bed now.”

My eyes widened when she got under the blanket and sighed with content. The sound did nothing to soothe my nerves and I felt a discontentment rising from deep within my soul. Her wanting to go to bed early meant that she had already eaten supper. I frowned at how I had also eaten dinner. I couldn’t even use that as an excuse to escape from this torture.

Seeing how I hadn’t moved from my place; the Queen spoke up again. “Come to bed right now, or do you want my help in removing your mantle and crown?”

Her question was as suggestive as her expression, and I sprang into action quickly. What kind of horrible punishment was this?

Sleeping with the enemy? Not at all figurative.

Sighing at my situation, I did all that she asked without any complaints since I didn’t want her to find out more ways to torture me. Why was she even punishing me in this way?

As I laid down in the bed, next to the Queen, I felt her arm come out to grab onto my own. Keeping myself on my back, I felt the Queen’s breath clearly on my shoulder as she spoke up. “I am so disappointed in you, Bran.”

I didn’t care about her feelings, but somehow her words felt like a stab to my chest as she laid her head on my shoulder. Her breathing was silent, and I didn’t need to look at her to know that she was falling asleep.  

She must’ve been exhausted from her day, just like I had been. Right before she said all that and caused my head to think of my actions. Not just towards her, but also with Felix.

I guess, I disappointed everyone today. Even myself.