Chapter 60
The king stepped into the room, and I took him in.
He was handsome. Even though he was most definitely in his sixties, you could tell he was still an attractive man and much more handsome in his younger days.
He had short blonde hair and a perfect jawline. His body was well-fit, and he was towering tall.
He rushed to the Queen’s side and completely ignored the rest of us standing.
“Fiona.” He said this as he gently rubbed his hand over his head and set aside the hair strands. “What happened?”
She gave him a light smile. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” He said
Then he turned to the rest of us in the room.
“What the fuck happened?” He demanded his eyes had become blazed with fury, and you could tell he was out for blood.
From his eyes, I could tell he was still in love with her. I am madly in love with her.
“Your majesty, she fell ill.” Hildegard began. “It was one of her previous illnesses. But Loren here has taken care of it.”
Loren bowed immediately, and so did I.
He turned back to her, and she gently held his hand close to hers to pull him back.
“I’m fine.” She said. “I just thought I had seen her again. That’s all.”
He didn’t say a word, then gently pushed a hair curl behind her ear and kissed her forehead.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He said it affectionately.
He held her hand to him and kissed it gently.
Then he held on to her.
“Your majesties, we would be on our way home.” Loren bowed.
The king turned around. “Thank you very much, Loren.”
Loren bowed politely.
I did the same and hurried to leave because I didn’t want the king to see me.
“Stop,” he said.
I froze in my place, even though I was almost at the door.
“You girl.” He said. “Come here.”
I swallowed, knowing it was me.
I turned around and walked up to him.
He looked at me.
He didn’t look shocked; in fact, I could not tell what he was thinking.
He just stared at me.
“What’s your name?” He asked me.
“Jasmine,” I replied. “Your majesty.”
“Who are you, and how did you come here?” He asked me.
I stuttered, and before I could even reply, Loren came in. “Your Majesty, she is the daughter of Alpha Bale. Alpha Xaden brought her here as an enslaved person.”
I was unable to say a word.
The King looked at me.
The Queen did, too.
“Oh.” She said. “You are Alpha Bale’s daughter?”
I nodded. “Yes, my Queen.”
Something was written on her face.
I couldn’t tell what exactly.
It seemed like disappointment that I was not the person she had hoped I would be.
“He accompanies me with my work,” Loren said. “I’m getting very old, and I need an assistant. She has been very good to me.”
I looked at Loren in confusion.
Why is he saying this about me?
When had he made me his assistant?
The King nodded. “You may leave.”
I curtsied and was almost about to leave when Princess Corral entered the room.
She peered over me.
“You.” She said it with all malice and bitterness. “What are you doing here again?”
I took a step back in fear of the woman.
She domineered over me with her entire status.
“She came with me to deliver medicine for the Queen, Your Majesty,” Loren said.
“What is your business with my family?” She demanded of me, blatantly ignoring Loren. “You’re here to cause more harm. Someone sent you, didn’t they?”
“No, Your Majesty.” I pleaded.
“Then why do I always catch you snooping around?” She asked me to walk closer.
I was terrified of her.
She scared the wits out of me.
“Enough corral!” The queen said. “She is only Alpha Bale’s daughter. She is a servant here. No one paid her to do anything.”
“How do you know that, mother?” Corral demanded. “And you brought in this fraud called Loren. I told you I was going to bring my healer!”
Loren became visibly upset at being called a fraud.
“Enough Corral!” The queen snapped even though she lacked the strength to raise her voice.
Then, the queen fell back down weakly on the bed.
“My love.” The king said he held her to him.
She massaged her temples.
“I’m fine,” she said.
And then the King glared at Corral, his eyes blazing with fire.
He rose to his feet, and we could all beat his wolf howling.
“How dare you?!” He demanded of his daughter. “Look what you’ve done to your mother.”
“You’re yelling at me!” She said it in disbelief. “Father me! Your daughter! You are taking the side of all these peasants! Over me!”
“They came to help your mother.” He said. “You ought to be grateful to them rather than ridicule them!”
“Mother always takes everyone’s side over mine!” Corral roared. “Ever since Scarelt’s precious daughter died, I haven’t heard the last of it! I try to help and protect my mother, but what do I get? Disgrace! Humiliation in front of some dirty peasants!”
“Get out!” He screamed. “Get out!”
“I’m already doing that!” She screamed.
And with that, she stormed out of the room and slammed the door hard shut behind her.
The whole room shook.
The Queen broke down in tears, and the King started to follow after Corral.
I was angry with Princess Coral; did she not see that she was hurting her innocent mother?
“I’ll teach her a lesson!” He promised.
“Don’t.”
The queen begged.
The king hovered around briefly before going to his wife’s side.
No one told Loren and me it was way past time for us to leave.
We turned and hurried out of the room, leaving only the King and Queen.
Hildegard shut the door behind her.
“I apologize for what happened.” She said.
Loren nodded. “I’ve never liked Corral. Neither have I.” Hidergard replied