Episode 18

Teris

I stomped out of Gaius' quarter, hands crossed behind my back, fuming. I met Orien waiting outside by the door and he trailed behind me, quietly. He knew when not to ask me questions. There was no sign of grandmother. She must have gotten tired of waiting for the treatments to be done.

"Teris... ". Orien said.

"Cancel my meeting with the Clan heads and Head Merchants. Send an apology note to them and fix another date for the meeting. Assemble every maid, every one of them and every royal who has access to the kitchens in my Throne room. Send for Magus Adonis as well. "I ordered.

"Why-"

"Do not question me. "My voice boomed across the hallway. Not with the voice of a friend but of a King.

"Magus Adonis only comes once in four weeks. He will not heed the call-"

"Call. For. Him. "I said sternly. Orien was right though. He would not come but I would have him send word anyway.

"An hour, Orien. An hour to assemble all of them. Fix your nose before my meeting." With that, I took a turn to my study and shut the door behind me. I sank in the couch that stood a few feet from my book shelf. I closed my eyes and all I could see was her face. I did not know what to make of what I had felt half an hour ago. The fear and the way i felt my heart squeeze. I shook my head as if to shake the feeling that still gripped me. I'd almost lost her due to my carelessness. I had known it would not seat down well with a lot when I brought her here. I expected the hate and scorn and that's why I had stayed away and let her be. If I had showered her with attention which I doubt she wanted,they would have started acting. I didn't think my subjects would try to kill her though, not my family too but better safe than sorry. I felt they would accept her if they saw she was a good person and was not after my throne.

They went too far. She was my responsibility and they'd tried to harm her and my child and I, I had been careless and I had given them too much freedom because I did not want to be like my father. I did not want them to serve me out of fear but trust and loyalty and I had failed her in my quest to do that. Oh. They would pay. For her tears, they'd bleed red.

★★★★★★★★

"Which one of you cooked for my child's mother this morning? "I asked, staring at the forty kitchen maids who knelt before me, trembling. There were mumbles coming from the crowd that was gathered in my throne room. No less than two hundred. It seemed a lot of people had access to the kitchens. Mostly maids, a few knights and the whole royal family.

Mother watched me keenly, trying to find out what had occurred but I did not give her a second glance. My brother stood beside her, one hand on his sword's scabbard, another in his pocket. He looked bored. He'd just come from a meeting out of town, one that needed swords and knights. I debated sending him to his chambers but that would make me seem unfair.

"I did Sire. "One of the females before me said and I gazed upon her. An older woman who looked like she was in her late sixties.

"Rise. "I said and she did. The blue scarf on her hair that matched the color of the maid's uniform she wore did nothing to hide the grey hair that poked out of it.

"Who brought you here to work as a maid? "I asked her, my voice soft. One of the many rules I'd set was that no elder was to be made a servant or maid.

Her lined lips formed a thin line as she shook. "Her Majesty, your wife. "

I lifted my gaze and searched the crowd for her. She did me the favor by stepping out and bowing. Before I could scold her she cut in.

"My love, she begged for the job. Said she could not feed her children so I gave it to her. "Elpida said, voice unfaltering. Undermining her authority here by telling her never to do such things without consulting me would send the wrong message. Later then.

I waved a hand in dismissal and she bowed again before stepping back, gracefully.

I turned to the woman whose brown eyes now held tears in them. I felt bad for making her tremble the way she was but I had to get to the bottom of it.

"Do you still have a sample of what you cooked? "

"Yes Sire. "She said, tears now falling from her eyes.

"Orien. "I said. A silent command. Orien left and in a couple of minutes, he was back with a plate of beefed porridge. "Gaius. "I said again. Gaius emerged from the crowd and took the plate from Orien and sniffed it.

He looked at me and shook his head. I gave him a curt nod and he returned the plate to Orien.

I looked ahead now to everyone meeting their curious gazes.

"Someone poisoned my consort this morning and tried to harm my heir. "I announced. The murmurs grew. I looked back a the old woman whose face was now covered with shock.

"Who did you give her food to deliver it to her chambers? "I asked again.

She turned and pointed at one of the maids whose eyes was now widened with fear. She threw herself on the floor and grovelled.

"I did not do it sire. I handed the food to one of the guards stationed outside the kitchen to hand it to any of the maids that worked for her personally. I swear. I did not do it. "She cried.

"If the meal wasn't poisoned in the kitchen, then it must have been when it was being carried to her room. You have half a minute of shuffle out every damn person who held her plate this morning or I'll throw you all in the dungeons and make your families pay for your mistakes. "My voice boomed through the now quiet hall. Gasps followed. I had never spoken so cruelty to any one of them. Just kindness and mercy. Why then?

Mother stepped towards me. "Teris you can't -"

I held a hand up to silence her. "Fifteen seconds. "I warned. I didn't need to look at them to know they were gaping like Mother was.

When fifteen seconds ran out, I had five people before me.

The first who held the plate, the kitchen guard, two maids from Persephone's room and one other. I wrapped my fingers around the golden arm of the chair and relaxed in the chair now.

"Who did it? Confess and I'll spare you. "I surveyed all five. They kept their heads bowed and said nothing.

"No one? "I asked.

No one moved.

I waved a hand in Orien's direction. "Lock them up in the dungeons. If none of them says a word by tomorrow, starve them. " I didn't dare look at Orien, knowing I would meet his disapproving eyes.

The maids and guard were looking at me now with pleading eyes. "You have three days before I hand you over to the Keepers. You know what happens after that. "I said and with a wave of my hand, my guards dragged them while they pleaded.

I wore the bored and nonchalant look as they were dragged off. I hoped one person would confess because there was no way I was going to let them get turned into roasted meat. They could not have done it on their own. Gaius had said that the poison in question was not found near my city. It was far of in the East. Before coming here, I'd double checked and it seemed that none of the maids or guards had taken excuses to leave for their homes yet. A royal or an outsider must've given it to them. I just needed a name.

"Out. "I said and they left, except my mother, Elpida and my advisors.

"Teris... "Mother began.

"All of you. Out. "

Mother gave me a glare before storming out. Elpida bowed and took her leave. So did my advisors.

★★★★★★★

Elpida

I walked down the halls for a while and took turns, less people appearing on my way path until I reached the quiet, near isolated chambers. Countless rooms in this palace we're usually left empty for powerful hands in the Kingdom whenever important events took place. We would not be heard here. So I walked into the unlocked room and shut it behind me.

He sat on the bed, green eyes taking me in. His eyes lit with hunger and lust and my core heated.

"To what do I owe this visit, Elpida? "He asked, his voice rough from shouting.

I took slow steps towards him, unfastening the buttons on my dress.

"You went through so much trouble finding the poison and covering up our tracks too while at it. "

My dress slid down from my body, exposing my naked lush skin. His eyes rested on my breasts and his lips curled up.

"You've been gone so long Dameon. I could not help the urge to feel you once again... or do I not have the right to come find you again? Or has my body begun to repulse you now that I'm married to your brother? That did not stop you last month though. "I said.

He stood and closed the distance between us. I unfastened his belt and removed his shirt quickly as I felt him hard against me.

He smirked. "Who would think that after warming Teris' bed for years after you left me for that sack of bones and pretty face, you would come, pining for me? "

He lifted me and wrapped my legs around his bare waist. His lips crashed on mine, searching, devouring and my lips parted for him.

He carried me to the bed, hands on my backside, feeling, pressing. His lips left mine only when he laid me on the bed. He trailed kissed on my neck and trailed down to my nipple. He sucked and flicked it over with his tongue.

"Dameon.. "I moaned as his right hand went between my thighs and land on my core, teasing.

His mouth circled around my second nipple and I arched my back in silent demand. His finger slid inside me, obeying and I gasped. He took it out and put two in. I grabbed the sheets tightly as I gasped again. He took out his hands and replaced it with his full length. I moaned and his lips crashed on mine again, hungrier, hand on my breasts. He thrust in hard and I would have screamed with pleasure were his lips not on mine.

He pulled away slightly and thrust in again more rapidly. My hands left the sheet and wrapped around his warm body, needing to feel more of him. He paused and looked me in the eye. My eyes cracked open and I saw the cruelty that lay in them, waiting.

"Please Dameon. Please... More... "I pleaded. He smiled and thrust in again. Now more rapidly. He groaned and I moaned as I felt him inside, my whole body wanting him, aching. He was nothing like his stupid brother. Teris fucked well but he was... gentle. Like he was scared of hurting me. As if sensing my thoughts, Dameon bit on my lower lip hard enough to draw blood and licked it. It drove me nearly insane. He nudged my legs further apart as he slid in me faster. I grabbed his hair, as I felt myself about to shatter. He went in faster and groaned as he spilled in me and I hit climax too. He pulled out panting and staring at me widely.

"How's that, Elpida? "He smiled, green eyes glinting with evil. I panted, unable to form words as I stared at him. His fingers traced around my core and he put those fingers in his mouth to taste me.

"He's attached to the girl now. "He said after removing his fingers from his mouth. "I wonder how good she must be if you can't keep him with this. "

I moved to push him off me but he moved back a bit and flipped me over easily and kissed my neck.

"You want to run back to him now? "He laughed and kissed my back softly.

"You know he can't give you this. You know he won't look at you the same way he does her. "

He smacked my right butt cheek hard enough that I whimpered. My core heated again.

"You know he thinks about her when he's buried deep inside you. "Another laughter. Anger welled up inside me. "Let go Damien. "I ordered.

"Oh... My queen gives an order. What shall I do now? "He said, hand caressing my back side and it slid between them and into my core again.

I gasped. "Let go? "He asked, deeping his finger in again. I felt him harden against my back side again and I wanted him yet again.

"No. "I whispered.

He grabbed my hips, forcing me to kneel with my face on the bed.

He stood behind me, rubbing himself against my core until I was dripping wet.

"Our plan failed this time Elpida. He won't let her out of his sight again... "He paused. "Perhaps, all is not lost. We'll use this to our advantage. "

He plunged in and the questions that had formed on my lips fled my memory as I groaned loudly.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***