Chapter 16

The King spat out his drink after hearing this from the Queen. The government's men didn't conceal their shock either, their eyes widening as they turned to the top executive for answers. 

James yelled inside mentally. Of course, the first fucking sentence that comes out from the Queen is this. He raged to himself. Trying as hard as he could to collect himself and shot a glare towards the Queen. The Queen's ignorant behavior must be because she wants to agitate everyone, specifically the executive. However, the face of excitement he expected to see wasn't apparent. Instead, the Queen's eyes were focused on another, and her expression looked uneasy. 

...

'The Queen must not be feeling well, do you want some water?' Kira slowly looked at the Arisa. Seeing the Queen's face, her elegant aura mixed with wild colors. She observed the Queen's face for a while and widened her eyes as she spoke. 

Her words were completely different from what her face was saying. In reality, she would've liked to say, 'Not here your Highness, not in front of everyone.' She used her facial expressions hoping that the Queen would understand. 

The Queen turned her head in confusion. 'Is the concubine worried about me?' 

Kira's face reddened instantly. This Queen... how could she say stuff like this around everyone without a care? The concubine bit her lip and sighed in annoyance. 'Anyone could see the Queen isn't feeling well.' Well aware of how blunt this statement could be, Kira hid her legs away from the eldest concubine in front of her. 

Everyone else at the table felt this awkward tension on the table, some felt threatened by how at ease the concubine was speaking to the Queen, yet the Queen just laughed. The King joined in with her and so did the majority of the men at the table, even if they had no idea where the joke was in this.

...

The meal had come to an end and the Queen made her way to her library. Earlier, she could tell the concubine was avoiding her. It made Arisa feel nervous but she still wanted to talk about it so she called for the concubine to come to the library. She heard a knock and rushed to the door. To her surprise, it was the king. 

She furrowed her brows and spoke harshly, 'I don't recall asking you to come.' 

The King was used to the Queen's cold nature and just smiled. 'I know but as your husband, I wanted to be with you.' He then walked inside and looked around. 

The Queen mentally rolled her eyes and followed him inside. 'What do you want to talk about? Be quick and spit it out.' She pulled him into a chair. The King sighed and spoke.

'They're asking if you... if we've had a chance to...'

'Stop pausing, say it all at once.'

'They're asking if we've made any progress for our future child.'

'Ridiculous.' 

The King stood up from his seat and put his hands on the Queen's shoulders. 'How is it ridiculous, we are married and I do think we should...' 

The Queen stared into his eyes intensely. Just before she was about to speak, she heard a knock. The door opened shortly after and it was the concubine. Her face had reddened when she saw the Queen and King so close to each other. 

Kira bowed, 'Forgive this one for interrupting.' 

The Queen rushed to her instantly letting go of the King's grasp. 'Nothing to forgive since I called for you.' 

'What does the Queen want?' The concubine asked, looking down to the ground. 

The King had seated himself and looked quite annoyed at the concubine's arrival. Even if the concubine was the lady he wanted to marry, he was married to the Queen now. Although his feelings were all over the place, seeing his wife and the lady he thought he loved together... he didn't know whether he wanted the concubine out of his way or so greatly close to him. It confused him deeply.

'Your Highness... please say something at least.' The concubine stuttered out. She looked up at the Queen who was observing Kira quietly and became lost in thought. 

Their eyes met with each other and their hearts were beating fast. Remembering their heated moment, the concubine bit her lip instinctively and the Queen noticed. Her eyes flickered seeing this and she spoke after a while. 'We haven't finished our English lesson. Let's finish that first.' 

...

'How long do you intend on staying here?' The Queen whispered to the King but the concubine had heard. 

She noticed how close they had gotten to each other and she didn't know whether she liked it. The King and Queen were whispering to themselves and that only distanced the concubine more. 

Why did she even come? She knew it was wrong and yet she still came. What exactly was she expecting from the Queen? She sighed and stood up. Bowing to the King and Queen, she spoke. 'Your Highness and Your Majesty, this one is leaving.' 

The Queen's eyes widened but she was pulled back by the King. 'Let her leave if she wants.' 

The Queen watched the concubine leave and it struck her heart. She immediately let go of the King and rushed after the concubine. 

She stopped the concubine outside the library and held onto her arm. Kira didn't turn around to look at the Queen. 'Your Highness, I'm not feeling well.' 

The Queen held onto the concubine's arm tighter. 'We need to talk.' 

'About what?' 

'You know... when we-

'Your Highness, that was simply a mistake.'

'No, it wasn't.' Hearing that cold statement from the concubine shocked the Queen. How could she say this? Was the Queen wrong for expecting her feelings to be returned as well? 

'Please forgive this lowly woman.' The concubine responded.

'You did nothing wrong.'

'It indeed was wrong for me to do that, so please pretend it never happened.' 

The Queen's eyes widened upon hearing that, she turned to the concubine and saw her face. The concubine's eyes were red, her tears filled to the brim. When the Queen had seen this, the concubine covered her face instantly. 

'Your Highness, this is truly unfair. I don't want you to see me like this.' She sobbed. The Queen felt her heart being stabbed multiple times. Was the concubine denying her feelings because it was wrong? 

Arisa pulled Kira close to her and hugged her softly. Her hand rested on the concubine's head. She whispered as Kira quietly sobbed into the Queen's neck; 'I missed you.'