My Request...

Emperor Sargon's POV.

"In Camelot where you come from, didn't your parents teach you how to knock?" Queen Valeria asked.

Queen Ariadne just stood there watching, she was scared of moving further. Am sure she didn't know that Queen Valeria was here, even though I wasn't expecting herein to be my room waiting. All of a sudden, Queen covered her face with her hands.

I smiled, this was the funniest thing I saw today. The kind of position she saw us in, was not decent and I felt Queen Ariadne was doing the right thing by looking away. Only a reasonable person will do that.

"Please uncovered your self Queen Ariadne," I said. She turned and dropped her hands down slowly.

"I didn't know you were here Queen Valeria" she replied.

"It doesn't matter princess, you have to knock before entering the king's room" she snarled.

"What do you want queen Ariadne?" I asked.

"I wish you grant my request, your highness," she said politely.

"Why is it so important to you?"

"Because tomorrow is the day I lost me..." She stopped and stared at me. I felt her behavior was quite strange at the moment. Why was she keen about the temple worship tomorrow?!

"Who did you lose?"

"Your highness... I..."

"Yes go ahead" I urged.

"I lost my brother many years ago" she began to sob

"Oh, I wasn't aware of that. sorry for your loss".

"I will be happy if you grant me the request to go to the village temple and visit the poor, sick, and refugees. I will love to spend time with them" she explained.

There was something about her that made her unique. The other queens come to me for their selfish reasons, but she was different. She wanted to go and visit the people of Akkad, which was what a good queen would do.

"There are a lot of temples here, why go out of the palace? If you have other reasons why you want to go out tomorrow, do let us know" Queen Valeria chimed in.

"I have already told you why I want to go to the village tomorrow, am not hiding anything here" she defended herself.

I noticed that Queen Valeria's questions angered her the more and she was reacting to it. There is nothing I could than to claim the whole situation down.

"Let me do the talking Queen Valeria"

"Am sorry my king" she apologized.

"Queen Ariadne, if you want to honor your brother by going to the temple tomorrow, then it's fine by me.

"Really?" she uttered with excitement.

"Yes, you can go tomorrow" I assured.

"Thank you, your highness, am very grateful" she bowed and left.

I was already missing her. Queen Ariadne was such a sweet girl. Anytime, she was around I felt like all my worries were gone. I needed someone to talk to. It seemed like she was the right person.

"Why did you give her the permission?" Queen Valeria interrupted my thoughts. I have forgotten, that she was still in the room. The look on her face showed that she wasn't happy with what I did.

"Because I wanted to, I don't owe you any explanation I removed my necklace together with the rings and dropped it on the table in front of me.

"You shouldn't have," she said.

"Why? It seems you two don't like each other, but it is obvious on your side" I ran my hand through her hair, and she kissed my palm gently.

"Am the one who rules the women's quarters and I know your Queens more than you do".

"Oh, I see... Then, I don't know you. Is that not what you are trying to say?"

"No, not that my king".

"I have been suspicious of Queen Ariadne. She has a strange behavior."

"I didn't notice that, Queen Valeria. She is humble, meek, courageous, and respectful."

"It's seemed you like her already."

"You don't have to be jealous Queen Valeria, I have not met with her yet."

"What??" I looked at her in the mirror and nodded. This sounds shocking but it was the truth.

"Yes, Queen Valeria. You are the only one that is telling this to... I hope you keep it a secret."

"What are you waiting for? I mean... She is your wife."

"For no reason, I don't feel like laying with her. She looked fragile to me, especially on the wedding night. And also the circumstances we find ourselves is quite different."

"If You don't want to have her, then it is fine my king. There is nothing wrong with it" she said.

"You think so, Queen Valeria?"

"Yes, I know so."

I was happy, that she understood me and didn't oppose my feelings. Queen Valeria had always been supportive since the day we got married. The women's quarters were governed by her and she did well when it comes to administration.

More often, she represented me in Meetings outside the kingdom ( the meeting deals with women only) and people said she was good at it.

Queen Valeria was the lioness I needed and she matched the qualities of a true queen that was why I gave her the title Empress. Only she could coordinate the women well.

"So, why did you come to see me?" I changed the topic.

"I came to spend the night with you, Emperor."

"But the list shows that am supposed to spend the night with Queen Aries," I said. There was a list made for the Queens showing the days each got to spend with me. Although the list was posted in the women's quarters, it was barely followed. Queen Valeria spent most of the nights with me instead.

"I changed the settings" she smiled.

"Hope she is not going to be angry with you?"

"I have spoken to her, Sargon. There is no need for worries".

There was more as to the reason why I liked Queen Valeria. Apart from my mother, no one in the entire kingdom dared to call me by my name "Sargon" including my siblings. She was the fearless woman I cherished.

"Okay, then allow me to take my bath"

"I will join you, my king"

Indeed, she was fearless!

Queen Ariadne's POV.

What was wrong with Queen Valeria? She hated me for no reason. Everything I do was angered her. Even today, when, I went to ask for permission, she wanted the king to decline it. That was not fair at all.

Tears flowed down my cheeks like rivers, as I came out of the king's room. The king favored my demand despite Queen Valeria's opposition, so why was I crying. What for?

I felt quite jealous when the king touched Queen Valeria in that manner. He liked her and it was obvious that we weren't important to him. If he was happy with her, why then, did the king marry so many wives? This was confusing to me!

I stopped at my mother's room on my way back. She wasn't happy that I was crying. She asked if the Emperor granted my request to go to the village temple. Yes, of course, I narrated everything to her though I omitted the part Queen Valeria played because I didn't want her to be scolded. Mother also asked why I didn't spend the night with the king.

"Mother, Queen Valeria is spending the night there," I said.

"She still behaves like she is the king's new wife. You also should be given the chance to try."

"Is okay mother, I need to go and prepare for tomorrow. I only came to inform you that the king had given his permission".

"Sleep well, my child."

"Good night mother."

I locked the door behind me as I made my way to my room with the hope that tomorrow, I will go to the village temple as planned.