CHAPTER SIX: SORROWFUL NEWS

I scratched my forehead in frustration.

"Seriously sick," I repeated to be sure I heard correctly.

"Yes, I know you don't know this but…" Lunaria stopped halfway through her words.

"I know, when the king dies, the three sons will have to fight mercilessly for the throne," I whispered in fear.

"Yes, but that's not what's bothering me the most," Lunaria replied, holding my hands.

"While some brothers secretly save themselves, sending the brother who lost away from the kingdom and helping them get out from this cruel culture, I strongly believe they will kill my son," she added, tears whelming up in her eyes.

"Have you seen your son fight?" I asked Lunaria with a smile.

"I have, so I know he can't be defeated by anyone easily. Plus the king won't die yet mummy, not now. All those troubles shouldn't start now; they can't," I protested.

"Don't tell Kethan about this yet," Lunaria pleaded.

"Why? If his life is in danger, should he not know about it first so he can start training or preparing in advance?" I asked, confused.

"You are right," Lunaria slowly replied.

I stood up from the chair and walked towards the door, pretending to be strong while my heart was beating faster than a vampire detector.

I got to the dining hall but didn't bother picking up dinner, I was no longer in the mood to eat, so I just went into our chamber.

"Kethan?" I slowly called out to him but got no response.

Walking to his side of the bed, I bent my knees, brushing his hair with my fingers.

"Don't get hurt Kethan, don't scratch this cute face of ours," I warmly declared.

Sinking into the bed, with a distance between us, I stared at Kethan before drifting into sleep.

**************************

When I woke up Kethan wasn't in bed, and for the first time in a while, I didn't wake up in Kethan's arms.

I crawled out of bed in search of Kethan when I bumped into Caspian.

"Good morning, lady Agatha," he lowered his head in greeting.

"Good morning, Caspian. Where's my husband?" I blurted out, curious.

"He's with the king," he responded promptly.

"Why is he with the king this early, did something happen?" I asked anxiously.

"The king got into an emergency condition in the middle of the night, the three sons were called due to this emergency," Caspian replied.

I rushed towards the king's royal bed chamber, attempting to find Kethan and news about the king's health when the guard standing fearlessly at the entrance to the king's royal bed chamber stopped me.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you can't go in, lady Agatha," he protested.

"My husband, Kethan is in there," I argued.

"I'm sorry, please wait for him in your chamber," he bluntly replied

Slowly, I dragged my feet down the hall, fear, and worry bolding communicating with my inner self.

"The king can't die now, he shouldn't," I murmured, panicking.

So, a shadowy figure of Kethan walking towards me caught my attention, and I quickly ran towards him.

"What happened?" I asked, meeting his cold gaze.

Kethan kept mute, walking past me like I wasn't even there.

I trailed behind him, restlessly.

"Kethan please answer me, what is going on?" I asked again but still got no response from him, instead he walked into our chamber and slammed the door.

I ran after him in fury.

"Can't you tell I'm worried? Rather than a response, you simply kept mute and left me guessing. I am part of this family now so I demand to know what's fucking going on; please!" I yelled out in dissatisfaction.

"Get prepared, we will all be called into the throne room for an announcement soon," he blurted out.

"Announcement," I repeated, twitchy.

 "That's not what I asked, is the king alive or nah," I added to myself, dissatisfied.

I quickly went into the bathtub to get ready for the alleged announcement Kethan spoke of.

A few minutes later, I was done. And Caspian came to inform us we were needed in the throne room for an announcement, Just like Kethan predicted.

I looked at Kethan's emotionless face, Walking up to him.

"The king would be fine," I whispered, stroking his hair.

"Even if he doesn't die now, he will die soon," Kethan brutally declared.

"Why would you say that Kethan? We can still buy sometime before this heartless fight," I consoled.

"It's not the fight I'm worried about Agatha," Kethan blunted out, lurking around me.

"If you are not worried about the fight, what then are you so worried about that you got so cold towards me as soon as we returned from the war?" I retorted, confused.

"I'm worried about you…and…my mother, I'm worried your life is in danger in this kingdom. We are not welcome here," Kethan softly replied.

"You are right, I would rather be with you in war than in this palace. We are not in danger until the king dies right? And the king is not dead, or is he? I asked, frightened and unsure.

Kethan met my questions with silence, making me even more frightened.

"Kethan the king is not dead, right?" I asked again, for the optimum time.

"Let's get to the throne room Agatha, you will find out soon," Kethan said, dismissing my question.

I obediently trailed behind Kethan to the throne room, the king wasn't in sight, and the only people present were the family members, except the king. The king's royal men, the palace attendant, and a few guests.

"We gathered you all for a quick announcement and just a little change concerning the kingdom in the meantime. As you all know, the king unexpectedly got very struck with sickness and would no longer be able to perform his duties as king. So after a lot of consideration, we decided that the first son of the king, Lord Drystan would govern this kingdom until the King felt better. I must warn you that anyone who disobeys this order or disobeys the acting king will face the consequences, punishment may include a sentence to death; you are dismissed."

I froze on the spot, unbelievable.

"How can he be king? No, not now," thought bitterly.

The king's men left the throne room, and so did Kethan.

Taking a deep breath, I proceeded to follow Kethan out of the room.

"Stop there, Agatha," Drystan ordered.

I became paralyzed under the sound of his stinky stinking ugly voice.

"I warned you not to pick Kethan's side over mine, I knew you would regret it sooner," he blurted out, walking towards me with a sarcastic laugh.

"I'm sorry lord Drystan, but I still don't regret it," I retorted.

"You will soon enough."

"Guards, take Agatha here to the palace kitchen, as from now on; she's a slave in this kingdom."