The truth (3)

The King called for a family meeting in hall. All his wives were summoned to attend the meeting. He had an important announcement to make.

The queen was the last to arrive at the meeting. She and her entourage entered the hall in an organised manner. The queen went to her sit next to the king and sat with her head held high.

She had a feeling that the king was going to get rid of his new bride and send him back to wear he came from. She just couldn't wait to have leave Zayion forever.

The King waited silently without saying a word. Everyone settled down and faced him to hear what he had to say. Marcus in the corner ass very nervous about the announcement the werewolf king was going to make.

The servants brought snacks for them per the king's instructions. He had made all arrangements for them to he comfortable.

The more he prolonged the matter and not letting them in on the reason for the meeting. The more anxious they got, even the queen was starting to question the reason in her mind.

She looked at him trying to read his thoughts, the king wore a bored and tired face that told nothing of his intentions.

"Now," he spoke. All went silent and gave him their full attention. "I have a few things to say and a few changes to make to the palace," he added.

Everyone held their breaths, his voice sounded cold and he looked hurt now.

"To begin the meeting I would like the queen to stand in middle of the room please," he spoke.

Reina glanced in his direction with worry. She didn't understand what the king was trying to do and why she was being asked to move to the center of the room.

"Morp~" the king raised his hand to stop her from speaking. This act shocked all the king's wives, never in their lives had they witnessed the king stopping the queen in her endeavours.

They gulped. Today, the sun seemed to have rose from the West and the signs weren't looking good for them at all.

Reina moved to the center of the room, her face had no emotion in them. She folded her hands behind her back and looked at the king directly in the eyes.

She could see that her position had changed, this were going to be different from then on. But she wasn't scared, she new every inch of the king's mind and heart and soon even the king will understand this.

"Do you know why I asked you to stand there?" Morpheus asked to her.

Reina nodded her head, "Because you have found out the truth," she replied.

"What do you have to say for yourself and what punishment do you think you deserve for this?" the king questioned in a chilling voice.

Reina remained silent for a while. She glanced around the room reading the faces of all the other queen's. All of them looked worried for her but she could discern how fake their worry was.

All of them were happy to see her losing favour with the king. But she was Reina and she didn't lose so easily, she looked over at Marcus. The boy had no ill in his eyes but rather fear.

She averted her gaze and returned back to the king. "I have made this mistake and I will make up for it," she uttered.

She knew from the way things were happening that their was no proof to prove that she had done anything wrong. The King was right that she was guilty but even he couldn't punish her without proof. And that was her triumph card.

The King raised his brows at her, he did not expect her to be so submissive. She was accepting her mistake even though he had no proof of her involvement.

All he was working on was a suspicion and he was ready to battle her with words until she admitted it but to his surprise she did so willingly.

Reina walked over to where Marcus sat and took him by the hand. She walked back with him to the throne and made Marcus sit at her place.

This act forced the jaws of everyone in the room to fall including the king. Reina gave Marcus a small weak smile as she removed the crown from her head and placed it on his head.

"For my punishment, I will give all my rights to Marcus and demote myself to an ordinary queen," she spoke.

Her words echoed through the room causing everyone's heart to stop beating. The decision she made left everyone tongue tied and speechless.

"My palace will be renovated in his liking as it would be his from now on," she stated. "All the privileges that I enjoy will be his right from now on," she added.

She walked back to the middle of the room and stood as before. She stared at the king awaiting his final verdict on the matter. The King had a hard choice deciding what to do.

He was going to ask to apologise to Marcus publicly for her mistake but what she had done had rendered him speechless. She had without a doubt given up everything that she loves to Marcus in exchange for the mistake that she had done.

"And I will apologise to Marcus before the whole court for my mistake," she added.

It felt like a dream what was happening. No one in the room could believe that the Queen was willingly saying everything with her very own lips.

The other queen's actions made them forget their joy of seeing her be punished for her mistake.

"Marcus," she started to say. Marcus looked up to her scared, everything that was happening was terrifying him to the core. "I am truly sorry for the difficult time you had to face because of me. I can't expect you to forgive me but I hope that you can try," she said apologetically and bowed her head.

She eyes had no regret in them. Only a fire of anger and hatred. For the first time since she had come to the palace as a queen, she had been put on trial because of Marcus.

She was forced to punish herself to avoid being punished by the king. It was all to maintain her reputation and her place as the true queen of Zayion. She has given her throne to Marcus but she was still the queen.

She had not lost but had won without anyone realising. The only reason she was powerful was with the king's favour. Only because the king trusts her and always dances to her tunes.

The King was more than capable of taking her life, she couldn't have him reign his wrath down on her, so she sacrificed herself.

But the anger in her heart was not at peace with how things played out. She was not feeling good about the fact that because of a man, a human. He had brought her before everyone to punish her instead of talking to her privately for it.

"It's okay, I forgive you," the prince said even though he had no idea why the woman was apologising to her.

Reina raised her head, she smiled at him. "If you have forgiven me then can I have a hug?" she asked.

Marcus nodded. She moved closer to him and embraced him. Every part of her wanted to tear him to pieces right there and then.

"Two weeks," she whispered. "Is all you have to enjoy everything that I have given to you. After that, I will take what it rightfully mine," she added and broke the hug.

The smile on her face never fading, she let go of Marcus and went on his knees before the king. "I apologise to you for the inconvenience that I have caused," she said softly.

She waited a few minutes for the king to speak but no word came from his lips.

"I know that it will take time for you to trust me again. But I will wait," she spoke. "By the way, the queen mother wrote this morning, Adria has fallen in love and is coming home with her fiancee. She wishes for all the wedding preparations to start," she added.

The King turned his head and faced her. The news she had given was not a light one, there was a lot that was not right in the palace for a wedding to take place.

"As the senior queen, it is Marcus's job to prepare everything. He is in charge of the palace now" she said backing away. "I will go and move out of the palace for him," she added and excused herself.

She walked on ahead towards the exit of the hall. The smile on her face had stretched from one ear to the other. She had given Marcus her rights but it took more than that to be queen and when he fails.

She will be more than happy to show him his place. "This will be fun," she uttered.