Chapter 53

Kingdom of Alba…

Ethera 's pov;

It has been 2 days already ever since I was accused of hurting the Queen and locked up in my own house. No one has come from the palace with news and neither did he. The king.

I am getting more and more anxious with this situation and not knowing how it is moving is making it worse.

I already expect the punishment so let them do it so that I can get on with my life . This is so stressful.

"Ethera, come quick . There is something grave that happened outside" Heizel rushes me and we go see outside but we remain in the compound as by the command of the King.

We reach outside and see the servants cleaning the walls of the house as well as doors and windows, there are fruits , vegetables and eggs everywhere, splattered all across the walls.

"Who did this? How did this happen?" I ask the guards and they just shrug and continue to ignore me . Great , now what? They don't even do minimum security anymore?

I turn back to the maids and ask them "How did this happen because I know this is no accident"

One of the younger maids approaches me and says

"Your ladyship, it was some of the other consorts . They started early morning when you were still asleep and kept shouting slanderous words about you. I dare not repeat them"

"It is okay , just tell me. All of it" I encourage.

"They said you are a home wrecker , a witch for killing the Queen's baby and an angry and aggressive woman that should be kept under control" I take it the news has reached the whole harem , probably the whole palace.

"Okay you may go , thank you for your honesty" she nods and looks at me sadly with sympathy I believe. Everyone in my house has been looking at me that way ever since they knew what happened .

"I guess now I am the bad guy huh?" I wipe a tear that falls from my eye on its own and then more just run down my face.

It is just too much for me! The accusation , the assault and violence from the Queen , the king's cold shoulder and now this slanderous act done in my own home.

I just can't . I look away trying to not be weak in front of my staff and then Heizel comes to my rescue.

"Come on , let's go inside. You don't need this right now" she says as we go inside .

She holds me in a hug as I sob into her arms , all the emotions getting out of me.

I don't want to keep it in because it is too heavy and it might explode in the future.

The doors of the living room open and I look up to see Hygai standing there also looking at me with sympathy. How I hate that look.

"My lady . I am truly sorry this is happening . I don't understand how the guards just let them in and how they just stood there and let such a thing happen? This is in acceptable! The king must know of this"

"Do not bother Hygai , the king himself brought them here so I expect he knew this would happen and he let it be . Plus you can't leave the house until the king permits it , if you defy this you will be beheaded for disobedience and rebellion. Let us avoid unnecessary blood shed can we?" I plead with him while wiping off the remain tears I have.

"Royal decree! Royal decree! Please come out and take the royal decree!" We hear outside.

We immediately stand up and move, it is news from the palace so it concerns us or rather me in particular.

We reach outside where a royal officer awaits with royal guards.

I bend the knee as custom obliges when receiving a royal edict.

"Lady Ethera of the house Yuril , last and youngest wife of his majesty Tobias Vos iii . You are found innocent of the accusation placed upon you and you are therefore allowed to move freely out of your house . As for the compensation for the trouble this whole case has caused you , the crown offers you are 10,000 silver coins for your treasury , you shall be awaited in the throne room no later than today to receive it" He finishes and hands me the roll , I then stand upon my feet .

He bows at me and leaves with the rest of the guards.

"Silver coins? Is my suffering to be paid by silver coins? My slander and humiliation all disappear as I accept money?" I sigh and chuckle darkly . This is ridiculous and unnecessary.

I shall tell the king I don't need compensation for justice. I will not be bought to silence.

"Prepare the carriage Hygai , I shall go to the king at once"

"Yes my lady"

"Ethera maybe you should calm down first and then go later . It is not good to talk when wounds are still fresh" Heizel advices.

"No Heizel , now is the perfect time to talk , when my emotions are at most high and I can speak my whole truth" I reply as prepare myself to face the one man who hurt me in this whole situation.

I arrive in front of the throne room door and the guards open the door for me as I am expected by the king . Okay Ethera you can do it , just tell him how you felt to be treated like that and let out all the emotions inside of you.

After the small pep talk I enter the room.

"Ethera , you came earlier than I expected. Actually I didn't think you would come at all" his voice echos in the big room.

I look up to see him getting down the stairs from his throne up on the pedestal.

He reaches my level and we just stand two meters away from each other.

The air is thick , as it should be.

"I had to come . I had to say everything I have been feeling these past few days because if I keep it inside it will go out in ways I don't want to be responsible for" I start and he sighs as he just looks at me letting me talk , I know he won't interrupt me.

"You knew I was being bullied by the Queen and your other wives , you defended me on numerous occasions even right in front of them at some point. You know I don't like fighting or arguing so I normally just stay quiet but now I can't just keep it in when I am being falsely accused of child murder and physically hurting another human being.

What really hurts me is not that she lied and made me appear as a bad person but rather the fact that you didn't say anything in my defense when you are one of the only people who truly know me here.

I understand you are the king and you must do things in accordance with law and protocol and that is probably why you sent me away and ordered house arrest on me but all I wanted was for justice to be served . For the culprit which in this case is the Queen to face consequences for her lies.

Is this to much to ask?" He shakes his head and approaches me as I struggle to breath because of the intense emotions I am feeling right now.

"How did you even know I was innocent?" I ask.

He comes closer until we are at arms reach and he wipes my tears with his hands looking conflicted and sad?

It is almost like he hates himself for putting me in such a position.

"She confessed it when she finally calmed down. She broke down hysterically actually . She was laughing while confessing how she planned to make you look bad , she mentioned she hated you because you took me away from her and that she will not rest until you pay for that . That among other things" Wow , she really is crazy then. I mean who in their normal state hates another for no reason? Can I help if that he decided to marry other women? And why only me? He has 5 other wives but I am the only one being picked on .

I just nod as I wipe my tears again and again , they just keep flowing.

"I am so sorry Ethera . I really couldn't just leave her in that moment , she had just lost our child and was being unstable , I had to be there to make sure she was stabilized . In that moment I didn't doubt your innocence, I just sent you away to protect you from her wrath . She was agitated because you were there so I figured if I kept you away for some time she would calm down. It seems to have worked she is less aggressive and delusional now." I didn't think of it that way , it is true she just lost a child , I guess it is normal for her to go hysterical but it still doesn't justify her hitting me.

I will let it slide for now I guess , if she calmed down I just have to avoid triggering her.

"I understand that but I just needed to let this out and let you know of what was happening inside me" I say.

"I promise I will never make you cry again Ethera , even when I think I am protecting you . Sometimes I forget how emotional you can be , you take everything to heart too easily . This palace life is really a lot for you isn't it?" I nod and he smiles wiping the rest of my tears dry.

He then hugs me and I accept as I missed him a lot nonetheless.

He hurt me but it was to protect me. Do I like the method? No . But I can digest that and put some water in my wine.

That is how marriage works right?