Chapter 12: The Beast and The Lamb

Sage turned to Oona and raised her face up to him. "Yes" Erik arched a brow, everyone turned to Oona with expectant eyes.

"She was neglected by her family because she is utterly useless"

Oona felt a prick in her heart. "So I found her useful as a wife" Leander looked shocked and irritated by his words.

"the only gift she would ever have is bearing children for me" Oona had completely lost her appetite. Sage smiled at her coldly and left her face. She looked at her plate blankly while her hands balled into fist. She had to calm herself and digest the insults. Deep down it wasn't a lie, her father had to find a better use for her instead of death.

"You're mean you know that" Leander whispered angrily and ate his meal. Everyone on the table stared at Oona with pitiful eyes.

The one eyes she hated, growing up a few maids would look at her with pity but would do nothing about her suffering. Nohr had that look in his eyes, pity but couldn't save her from her world. Tears brimmed her eyes but she sucked it in, she didn't want to look weak in front of them. No, she didn't want to give Sage the satisfaction of her breaking down.

"Oona was it?" Oona looked up to see Manasseh with a bright smile. "You really did change this idiot " Sage's face twitched. "To think he had plans of dying alone in the most miserable way ever, you came along"

Everyone turned to Manasseh confused. Manasseh smiled coldly at her "you had better give him children though..." Anxiety gradually gripped Oona's heart, Manasseh's aura was suffocating. "Sage has a way of getting rid of useless things" he turned to Sage "Right Sage?"

Sage ate his meal calmly "Affirmative". Oona gulped in her saliva and turned to her meal. She had lost all zeal to eat. "That's why I came for your blessings mother"

The queen looked at the poor girl beside her son with wary eyes. "And if I decide not to give my blessings, would you set the innocent girl free?"

Sage turned to Oona and tilted his head "I'll kill her, originally that was the order. Right Niel?" He turned to Niel. Nielsen stared at his brother like a monster sat in front of him.

Oona felt like a livestock in a price market, whose life was not in her hand to decide. "Fine I'll give my blessings" the queen replied calmly. "But Sage on one condition"

She smiled reassuringly to Oona "please treat the girl well"

"I never said I'd be cruel to her did I?" Sage retorted. "The blessings"

All the wives stepped out of the dinning hall leaving the queen and the princes. Oona walked down the hallway she remembered. The other women stared at her with pitiful eyes, but one had anger in her eyes.

"Oona" Astrid called to her calmly, Oona looked up to see the angel.

"Good morning milady" she bowed sharply. "Sorry I wasn't listening"

Astrid smiled and held her hand. "Come on let's stroll a little bit" Callie held oona's free hand as well.

"I know what it's like to have a meany as a husband" she smiled brightly. "Most times they don't mean what they say entirely"

Oona felt like she was being coaxed and consoled. "Yeah, he's probably trying to say he loves you" Astrisd chuckled lightly.

Oona smiled warmly, though she still felt bad she appreciated the fact that they were trying to brighten up her mood.

"Wanna go to the garden fields?" Callie asked politely "Astrid usually goes there every morning for exercise "

Oona who had no idea what the garden was just nodded. "Are you coming Livia?" She turned to the lady who had daggers in her eyes.

Livia glared at Oona angrily and leaned on the wall. "I-i I'll wait"

Oona still didn't understand why this woman was being hostile towards her, but then again she didn't know why Sage had said such mean things to her.

Astrid narrowed her eyes at Livia for a while before turning to Oona. "Let's go" she smiled.

Livia watched them leave her behind. Her angry eyes gradually turned sad and calm. Oona turned back to take a quick glance at Livia.

Astrid and Callie kept chatting with each other and tried chipping Oona in their conversation but Oona was not quite good at women conversations. She didn't know how to answer some questions or suggest things.

While the women chatted nonstop, Oona used the opportunity to gawk at the shinny things in the castle. Her eyes took every spot, nok and crany in the palace.

"You seem to enjoy sight seeing" Astrid tapped oona's shoulder lightly, she pulled her hand towards another hallway. "This way"

"Sorry " Oona bowed and apologized. Astrid pulled her up and dragged her. "Aren't you supposed to be..."

Astrid turned to her and chuckled "don't worry I'm fine, it's just the first trimester of the pregnancy"

"Astrid doesn't accept the fact that she can't do tedious things " Callie was a step ahead of them. They finally arrived at the garden. Oona smiled brightly, she had completely let go of Astrid's hand and run into the garden.

Astrid and Callie looked at each other with shocked faces before laughing out loud. They tailed behind Oona who kept jumping from on set of flowers to another.

Oona had never seen such flowers, they came in different shapes, sizes and colors.

"The queen loves flowers" Callie led Astrid to a concrete bench at the end of the garden to sit.

"Really?" Oona turned to Callie with glimmering eyes. Callie was shocked by oona's facial expression but later on smiled.

"She is beautiful you know" Astrid giggled and fanned herself with her hands. Callie nodded slowly and sat beside her. They both watched Oona as she gathered some flowers in her hand.

THE DINNING HALL

The princes all had serious faces on. Sage narrated his entire encounter with the beast. Well not entirely everything, he did filter out the parts that concerned Oona.

Erik looked at him with a bit of uncertainty in his eyes. " Do you think it's one of the late King's experiments?"

"I doubt" Leander replied

Manasseh had veins popping on his sides.

"To think there was an opponent that would entertain me"

Nielsen was quiet and very angry. "It reawakened?" The queen asked Sage once more, she found it hard to believe.

"They're growing mother" Erik relaxed on his chair and sighed " Way faster that we thought"

"What now?" Leander asked "if they're already attacking other kingdoms is just a matter of time they'll target Annika"

"That's what we won't let them do" Niel turned to his brothers, his golden eyes glowed brightly "we survey, we track , we conquer"

"I believe it's for the best we deal with this creatures before it's too late" the queen added

"Then it's settled" Manasseh's fist banged the table. "We crush them before they go any further"

"Affirmative" Sage relaxed on his seat as well. His eyes had a nasty glint.

Oona didn't know how long she had been sitting on the ground. She was laser focused on the flower crowns she was weaving. She looked like a child who found a new toy to play with.

Sage who stood behind her watched her every move. He was usually irritated when he see women weaving flowers but right now he found oona's expression entertaining.

"Aren't you supposed to apologize to her?" Leander stood beside him with a stoic look on his face.

"Am I?" Sage sounded oblivious, he turned to Astrid and Callie who were watching Oona as well. "Where's Livia?"

"There" Leander pointed at a pillar not too far from them. Livia leaned on the pillar and watched Oona as well.

"I could watch this all day" Manasseh walked to them while he's eyes were glued to Oona "To think that was the same girl you trampled on an hour ago"

Sage rolled his eyes annoyed. He could still hear the word 'idiot' echoing in his head.

"I agree, she seems to be immune to your nasty and abusive mouth" Niel walked behind Manasseh. Though everyone was watching Oona, Niel was watching Astrid. He had his entire body itching him to stay by her side but he knew she wouldn't like his possessive side right now.

"It looks like my wife has become some sort of entertainment for you all" Sage sighed and walked into the garden. Oona had already finished two flowery crowns and was making the third one. She didn't even realize Sage was behind her, Sage wanted to pull her up and take her back to his mansion but he's eyes were glued to the last crown in oona's hand.

"I believe this is the one" Erik strode towards his brothers.

"I believe so too" Niel added and began to walk to his wife.

"Probably, but you know Sage. He'll mess it up himself " Manasseh sighed heavily.

"I doubt" Leander disagreed with his brothers " this one might be different"

"Why do you say so?" Manasseh asked

"Sage had treated all types of situations except one, one that he didn't even experience" Leander turned to his wife who had turned to him as well.

"Which is?" Erik looked interested in what Leander was about to say.

"Dealing with children " everyone gaped at him for a while but then again found common sense in what he said.

"True, Oona does act like a child " Manasseh smiled brightly "I have high hopes for this Lamb and Beast"