9 Beauty of the bold

"How long will you pretend? How long will you starve yourself? Your mouth runs saliva down your chin. Eat and finally become the demon you ought to be..."

"My lord" Gilbert went on his knees "I humbly ask that you treat your wife with care"

The king laughed, "I thought you were a man of your words Gilbert. You're supposed to mind your own business."

"You're different Wil-" before Gilbert could blurt out his name, the king ceased his air supply. Gilbert could no longer breathe.

"Don't say that name!"

"Why?" Gilbert crawled gasping but still tried his best to talk "why did you change?" The king didn't want Gilbert to die, with the rate he was struggling he was bound to.

King had to let him breathe again. "You still care for me. Why don't you care about others the same way? Don't you recall everything you said to me. The plans you had. What's making you act this way? Is it the crown? Or is it the mask?"

"I...I can't..." The man seated on the throne shook his head after he found it difficult to put his feelings in words "it doesn't matter. I should've listened to you. In fact I should've listened to my bad side and killed her the moment she was brought to Ekver."

"Why? I don't understand. Is that woman still tormenting you?"

"She haunts me. She tells me things I don't want to hear. This mask..." He placed his hands on the mask he wore "this mask..." He was interrupted once the door opened and Damien, the messenger walked in. He bowed then presented a letter from Viressis. Once he heard the name of that province he knew exactly what the letter would contain.

Viressis Satoria, Crowned Queen of Minar was visiting Ekver. King had forgotten to tell her - he's now married to someone, a spared race, and the very the last of her kind. How foolish was he to think he could save her race, he was part of the people that doomed it.

"Queen Viressis will be here in a few hours..."

Gilbert pondered deeply whilst Damien summarized the letter. Viressis was a big threat to the King's marriage, having her around would bring nothing but more chaos.

Gilbert moved closer to the king to whisper "I'm begging you my lord. You're married."

The king turned his head slightly to the side to speak "In Ekvar tradition, the king can have many wives, slaves, and mistresses. Gilbert you sound like a Christian. It seems like you haven't forgotten about your Christian roots. There's no need for us to continue this. Queen Viressis will stay for as long as she wants because I said so."

Once again, the king never failed to disappoint his friend. Gilbert didn't know what else to say to the King, he could do nothing but pity the poor girl that thought she'd be loved by getting married to a man she knew nothing about.

He decided to pay her visit and secretly warn her about the snake that would be coming.

Amal was at the back of the castle tending her garden, and writing notes in her scroll. She documented every progress her plants made, and experimented on seed samples.

"My Queen" she turned to find Gilbert approaching.

She smiled then greeted "Morning Sir Gilbert."

The man didn't know what to say. Amal could see on his face that something troubled him and she was scared for what it may be.

"All I have to tell you my Queen is that you should be cautious of everyone that walks in and out of the castle." Gilbert wished he could explain it better, but doing so will only get Himself and Amal killed. He also had his rules to follow, but just because he was the King's closest friend doesn't mean he couldn't face harsh punishments. The king made sure, his punishments were brutal because he expects him to be loyal and abide by all the laws.

"Viressis" Gilbert whispered as he walked. He didn't like that woman. He strongly detested her. No one could possibly handle her and Amal wouldn't be able to do so too. Viressis had the king's full support, nothing she did was ever wrong in his eyes.

He went back to the throne room but froze once he saw the arrogant woman sitting in the laps of the king. She diverted her gaze and her eyes met with Gilbert who was already burning with rage. "Greetings Gilbert" she waved before getting up.

She slowly walked towards him, hands wide to embrace him which she didn't hesitate to. She knew he disliked her, and she felt the same about him but that was her joy. She loved it when people hate her, most especially, when they're jealous of her.

"Poor Gilbert, do you still have grudges against me because I stole the heart of the man you once loved."

Gilbert smirked "his heart belongs to another. He's married now and wants nothing to do with you but to sleep with you. You have no other use in his life." She hissed just like the snake she was.

"Doesn't matter... As far as I have him wrapped around my finger everything will be fine. I promise you that." she secretly kissed his cheek and went back to the king.

Meanwhile, Amal had no idea of what was going on and didn't really take Gilbert's warning seriously. She ended her garden work and made her way into the castle. She bumped into a woman she was sure she had never seen before and they stopped for a second to analyze each other before walking away.

Amal found it rude that that maid left without apologizing and Viressis felt the same "I can't believe someone her kind can be so arrogant" Viressis mocked as she made her way to the King's private chamber and laid on his bed to sleep.

"Excuse me, who do you think you are?!" Amal was furious at the lady that was on her matrimonial bed. She looked like the same maid that bumped into her and left without apologizing.

"Why did you have to wake me up!!!" She growled angrily as she rubbed her drooping eyelids. She was peacefully enjoying her sleep until the woman in front of her had to barge in without permission "And who do you think you are to ask me that question?" Viressis said laughing at Amal whom she thought was a dungeon maid because of her appearance.

"I'm the Queen Of Ekver and you are?"

"Queen of Ekver?" Viressis burst into laughter, tears forming at her ducts. "What a joke of the century. You? Queen?" Viressis thought she wasn't hearing right. "Please repeat that" she said laughing in between each word.

"King of Ekver would stoop so low to marry someone as ugly as you? Do you know what you look like? Have you ever taken your time to find out?" Amal had never been that verbally insulted. She was close to tears but she stormed out before she'd have a break down. She didn't want anyone to see the emotional side of her. Especially the face she makes when she cries.

Rule number 8

Do not enter the throne room if you've not been given permission to-

Amal was going to defy the odds and barge in there because that woman can't enjoy the warmth of the bed that belonged to her husband and herself.

She opened the door and went in. The king was having a meeting when he spotted her approaching. The elders turned back to see their Queen for the first time. Gilbert could tell that she'd come face to face with Viressis and that's what brought her unannounced.

"My lord I ask that the three of us remain here whilst the Council elders leave for some minutes" the king nodded, waved his hands and the elders filed out.

"My Lord! I'm sorry for barging into your throne room but there's something important I have to say. There's a strange woman on our bed..." Amal tried to keep a straight face whilst she reported Viressis.

"I know"

Amal's eyes widened. "You know?" She shook her head. Maybe her ears were playing a trick on her.

"She's my guest. She's going to occupy your space in the bedroom whilst you'll pack out and live on the ground floor for the period of days she'd be staying."

"I don't understand. Where will you stay?"

"With her. Don't trouble yourself about packing out. The maids will do all that for you. They're already making the room cozy enough for you so there's no need to worry."

"But...we're married..."

"I keep saying - Our marriage doesn't mean a thing. Besides you should be happy that you'll get to sleep comfortably in a spare room. I originally planned for you to sleep in a storeroom. That problem has been solved so now you can leave."

A/n

King is his temporary name. Just wanted to make that clear