1 Prologue

"She will be the key and the key must be sought."

"You know what needs to be done!"

A voice resounded all around her. The woman turned around but saw no one. She was not surprised as this was not the first time she had heard the voice, she knew it was an archaic*. Such messages were rare, but she knew it was from the oracle. The oracle was supreme in the Ant Kingdom. Many people in the Kingdom never had a personal encounter with it but they prayed and wished for things to the oracle, and one of such wishes was to be answered by her, but she still wondered why she was given this message.

"Why me?" she screamed out loud but as there wasn't anyone in the immediate vicinity, no one heard nor answered.

A cry from a baby brought her out of her thoughts as she turned toward the sound.

She entered the room of her small hut and picked up the baby. She cooed to the baby and had a look of nostalgia as she stared at her joy, her pride and everything. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she thought of what she had to do, especially after the reminder she had just received from the oracle. She never even got to name the baby!

She kissed the child and held her close as she tried her best to suppress her tears.

She used the darkness of the night as cover as she walked through the dead streets given the fact that everyone was asleep or retired for the night. She knew the people of the land and knew exactly where she was headed that night as she held her bundle of joy in her arms. She looked lonely and fragile as if she had the weight of the kingdom on her. The woman had wrapped herself with a shawl to shield herself and the baby from the night chills as she trudged through the misty night.

Upon arriving at her destination, she looked at the chalet in front of her. She looked left and right to make sure that she was truly alone and slowly walked to the doorway.

"The house of Moe does not have any children yet," she muttered to herself,

The oracle has indeed heard their cries and pleas and has blessed them through me today.

"This is by far the most difficult task I have been assigned",

"Why do I have to use my own to do this?", she talked to herself quietly as tears streamed down her eyes.

"Little one, your mother is really sorry",

"I have been useless and do not deserve you",

"But I take great comfort in the fact that you will surely rise up one day!"

"Hopefully!"

"I do not know the path laid down for you, but I do trust the oracle will always have your back!"

If one looked at the woman from afar, it would have looked like she was making an incantation on the baby or the chalet. Such was a bizarre scene to behold especially at the time of the night. Her cloak had partially fallen off revealing the beauty beneath. Flawless and pearly skin combined with lush eyebrows and eyelashes obscured her brown eyes. As the slight wind of the night blew her cloak, her shapely body which came to view would have put most women to shame especially if they come to the knowledge that she birthed a child but a few days ago and it would also put most men on their knees for her.

Coming back to herself, she wiped her tears and said,

"The oracle has heard your prayers and granted your wishes", then she laid her baby on the ground right by the door. Sensing the distance from the familiar warmth, the baby opened its brown eyes and looked at its mother. The look exchanged between the mother and her baby even though could not be put into words, said a lot.

The mother took out a lone stem of a blue rose, her favourite. "I love blue roses as they signify mystery or attaining the impossible",

"May you attain the impossible my daughter" she whispered,

"May you also live to fulfil your destiny",

"May you enjoy life to the fullest",

"I am sorry that I will not be with you through everything, but I will forever remain in your heart and guide you", she added and smiled. It was a sad smile that spoke volumes and conveyed the depths of the sentiments the mother had versus the actions she was undertaking.

She placed the rose on the blanket of the child, kissed her one last time and left her there without looking back once.

With each step, the mother took away from her, the child scrunched her face until she let out a cry that pierced the quietness of the night.

The door to the house opened and a man clad in nightclothes came out. He was startled on seeing the child there and quickly picked up the child. He walked a few steps out of the house while he shushed the child. He did not see anyone at all in the vicinity and wondered who had left the child there.

He looked back to the house and called out,

"Narin! I think you should see this",

He smiled at the child that had quieted down and cooed, "Hello little one!"

In the shadows, the mother watched this scene from a distance. She suddenly had a coughing fit and covered her mouth with her hands to make sure that the man would not hear. After the fit passed, she felt a sticky liquid in her palms and brought only her palms to the light to check.

"Blood!" she whispered out with difficulty,

"The guess the oracle knew that my time was nearly up"

"Be well my daughter", she said as she stepped back and blended with the shadows.

*archaic- a response or message given by an oracle, typically one that is ambiguous or obscure.

___

If you're NOT reading this content at webnovel.com, then the content is stolen!

Please support the author by reading from the original source at webnovel only: https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-king-is-in-love_22965954105305505

*********

Thank you so much to all who have voted for this book, sent your valuable Golden Tickets and also sent in gifts. I really appreciate it and I hope we can keep it up ^_^