Chapter Text
Deep within the stone castle walls, past red carpets and beautiful tapestries, is a palace of luxury. A storm was brewing in the king's bedroom. Maids were frantically sprinting about, the sounds of their feet resounding through the dimly lit halls and whispering amongst one another as quietly as possible.
"Oh goodness, should we stop them!?" one murmured, holding her hands close to her chest.
"No! Are you insane!? We'd be punished!" whisper-yelled another, raising her eyebrows in fear.
"Ladies, ladies, calm down. The King and Queen quarrel often, just let it subside," expressed a more experienced maid.
Nonetheless, she failed to calm their pounding hearts, all the maids knew something about this particular fight was different.
"Why!" shrieked the queen in anger, throwing her hands into the air. "You're terrible!" The Queen cryingly howled, attracting the anger of the King.
"Cease this at once Annora, I've told you many times, this wasn't my fault!" The king roared back. His broad shoulders brooding and his nose flaring.
Unfortunately, his attempt made the Queen even angrier, "You expect me to believe that? You pulled her onto your lap! Right in front of me and the entire court!" The queen was livid.
The King shook his head and said, "No, Annora, she only fel-."
"Bastard! Rot in Hell !" the Queen screamed at the top of her lungs, despite her corset fighting the expansion.
She persisted in her screaming, even starting to throw things. Her black and gold adorned dress ruffled as she frantically ran from object to object. Still, the Queen wasn't foolish. She knew that if any of her throws struck the king, she would be hanged. Once the Queen was pushed to her limits, she spared no one in her path, this has been the same ever since she was young, and although her limits were thin, the only reason within her during these sessions was the fact that she'd like to spare her life.
The Queen held many insecurities, and unfortunately, the worst of them was so well known. She had gained her position through—for lack of better words—slutty acts. Starting as a mistress is not ideal for a queen, as they're held in the utmost regard despite their utter lack of power.
Her sleek blonde hair was a mess at this point and her brown eyes were trembling in anger.
When the King heard these words, his face turned cold. "Who the hell do you think you are?" he spoke, stalking closer to her. The Queen halted in surprise; he's never reacted this way before. "I provide for you! You have everything you've ever wanted here, Annora! So, what if an insignificant whore lays on my lap? I am your king; silence!" The king's face got exceedingly red as he pointed his finger in her face, looking down at her. His green eyes were quivering, and his short gray beard was filled with spit from yelling.
"I- How dare yo-you uh?" The Queen stuttered relentlessly; her embarrassment exceeded what she felt during the spectacle the King made at the ball. She never foresaw the king's anger. The previous times the King had a woman on his lap, comically enough, only a week ago, she would always explode in anger, yet he would comfort her. The Queen realized something was wrong; her favor was on the line.
She held her head in her hands and wept. "I'm sorry-" she attempted to say but was cut off.
"This is why I cheated on you, you're such a manipulative, coldhearted bitch," the King muttered, with no regret...at first.
When the King realized what he had said and, even worse, that she had heard what he said, he immediately looked at the Queen with his green eyes bulging.
"Annora...I didn't mean that," he said with a fake smile, trying to conceal his lie. He reached out to her, but she moved away.
The Queen was confused. Did he have...with another woman?
She stammered, her eyes blank. Gaining the courage to look at him, "You had sex...with another woman?" She looked up, staring into his eyes.
There was a deafening silence. She was stunned. The silence was his answer. They had three children together, they ruled a kingdom together; if he had another child with that woman, then her reputation—no, she didn't even want to entertain the idea. The Church expected monogamy; this would shake our entire kingdom. But she had to know. "Did you have a child with her?" she asked, clenching her fists with a look of malice.
"Yes..."