Chapter 45

The kingdom of Alba…

Tobias 's pov;

I asked Ethera to dance with me because the air was getting tense and I didn't like how they were making her uncomfortable, I am really impressed by her strength though. She seems a lot more fierce than I know her for and she takes more initiatives in standing up for herself which I find impressive but also I am relieved she grew a thicker skin because the harem can be intense with all the competition between ladies. I know of that because my mother used to tell me stories and she told me to keep things in order when if I decide to have multiple wives hence a harem , it can bring a lot of headaches if there is no order and set of rules put in place.

So far I have not heard any complaints in the harem except from today when Ethera came to report this case to me. I am glad she did , of course the others might pick on her even more because of it but this needed my attention and I am glad to know about this so that now I can have my spies be more alert here.

"Um I would like to thank you for coming to my rescue today , your grace. It means a lot to me to have your support" Ethera says and I am brought back from my thoughts.

"Don't mention it . It is a pleasure to take care of this for you , I am sorry you had to deal with this for God knows how long" I say sincerely feeling bad for this seemingly fragile but sometimes fiery woman. There is something about her that makes me want to engulf her in my arms and just keep her hidden from all the evils of this world , like a cocoon one would say.

She sighs and rests her head on my chest "It is fine , it is really not that bad and now that they know you are against it, I think all will be well now plus I really want us all to get along like sisters , I don't want to drift away from them."

I continue rocking her across the dance floor and say "Well considering the stunt you pulled today , they definitely see it as provocation , I just hope they don't try being sneaky and take their revenge on you"

"I didn't mean it like that" she pouts adorably and hides her face in my shoulder.

I chuckle and pull her back a bit to push her hair behind her ear "I know sunshine . I will talk with the Queen about this , she is in charge of the harem and the well being of all my wives , she should do a better job at it." She nods and we get back to the table after our dance.

The party ends eventually and all the ladies are escorted back to their quarters after paying their respects to me , Ethera excuses herself as well and insists on going with her Eunuch even if I proposed to drop her off.

I ride back with Thelma towards the main quarters, the one we share because I told her we needed a talk.

We arrive shortly in our room and Thelma goes to change into night wear and I wait for her by the balcony window .

She sneaks behind me and hugs my waist . I turn around and gently move away from her embrace.

"Thelma we need to talk , serious things even . What have you and your new acquired friends/sisters been doing to lady Ethera?" She looks at me baffled and then she chuckles darkly,

"Oh so we are going to talk about your dear Ethera? Of course. After the way you both entered my brunch unexpectedly close, I expected nothing more" she says and rolls her eyes.

"Oh please spare me Thelma , you know this is not the subject here . I want to understand why she wasn't invited when clearly you invited all the other ladies of the harem. Why are you isolating her? Being biased isn't like you at all, what is going on?" I try to get close to appeal to her emotions. She is a close friend and my main wife so I need her to talk to me when things like this happen , especially when I know she is normally not like this. Thelma is a kind , social and respectful person , she would never do this without a reason.

I want to know that reason.

"You want to know what is going on? Why don't you start by explaining to me why you refuse my invitation to the brunch but then come escorted by another woman? Don't you feel like it is disrespectful to me? Even if the others didn't know about it but I did and let me tell you I don't understand that either so please enlighten me" she yells.

"First of all you shall lower your voice when addressing me , don't forget I am your superior. Secondly , I refused your invitation because I had work to attend and I really wasn't in the mood for such gatherings but I ended up going there because one of my wives was being mistreated and I couldn't just sit there and let it happen . I don't have to explain that because you started the whole thing" I say back and try to keep my calm .

She chuckles darkly again , almost mockingly.

"You want to know why I keep treating her like that? It is simple, she is taking you away from me . You have been spending so much time with her that I sometimes ask myself who is your queen me or her. You do things with her that you don't with the other wives , do you think that is fair? Do you think it is fair to them that you don't visit when they are sick or take them on horse ride dates ?" She asks accusingly. Okay I admit I messed up somehow with this but then again , I am the king and I decide who I spend time with when I want to , don't I?

"Look Thelma , all that I understand but isn't it with me they have a problem ? Isn't me who you are complaining about? Then why are you mistreating her? She didn't ask for anything. I am the one who goes to her not the other way around .

So next time any of you ladies have a complaint like this , come directly to me instead of bullying your fellow sister." I say in a final tone .

Thelma shakes her head and furiously storms out but not before saying "You have changed Tobias"

Why don't they understand it is also my first time having many wives? I am still learning how to manage my time and attribute time slots for each of them , putting into consideration there are some I like spending time with more than others .

Bias is bound to happen , I just have to keep it in control and moderation or else these ladies will one day set this palace on fire.

I feel like this is just the beginning of my troubles as husband to multiple wives .

Heavens spare me.

Helga 's pov;

We are all cleaning up the brunch left overs and just putting everything back in order . This was one heck of a long day .

The best part was when that mysterious girl Ethera appeared all of a sudden with the king when she wasn't invited in the first place , pretty badass if you ask me.

The vibe was very intense , the ladies were throwing mean sarcastic comments to Ethera and how they were trying to grab the king's attention but the man legit ignored them all . Slay.

"Helga, go bring back the flower pots outside , it is going to rain soon" Marylin tells me from the kitchen.

"Okay" I say back and I go to the balconies to collect the pots , when suddenly my chest starts to hurt like really crazy .

I fall down and roll into a fetus position holding my chest trying to calm down.

The pain just gets worse and worse until I black out completely.