Chapter 8

A loud scream that drew everyone's attention to the queen consort, prompted the king to run towards Antiope. His new bride was visibly displeased with the King's action, but in the heat of the situation she didn't bother to express her distaste. However, the Queen regent, ie. King Dominic's mother Aurelia, didn't show the same courtesy.

 "Of course she had to make a scene. She cannot tolerate someone else getting attention for even just a second" Aurelia scoffed. The other wives of the king silently agreed with their mother in law. 

"Mother, you know she has been sick for a while now" Dominic, who heard her snapped. He noticed the Queen's eyes were open, but at the same time they were lost. Was his mother correct to assume she was making a scene? He knew his mother and Antiope weren't exactly close, but in moments like these, they can be insensitive towards each other. Suddenly the Queen's body turned lifeless.

"If she was sick, my son, she shouldn't have come here at all. I made sure she was presented with that option. She refused only to create a scene, what logical explanation it might have"? Queen regent snickered.

"Antiope, My queen"! The king shook his first wife a number of times, ignoring his mother's words as he ordered the servants abound to get her a glass of water. No matter how much he splashed her face with water, or how much he shook her she wouldn't wake up. "Someone, call the royal physician"! The King screamed. Dominic almost lost his wife, his stone cold treacherous wife, a few days ago and he wasn't ready to lose her for good.

Soon enough, the royal physician appeared and examined the queen with utmost attention. He checked her pulse twice, and observed her pale skin and the undersurface of the eyes. "It appears she is in some kind of shock," The physician explained. "For now, I advise her to take rest. But once she wakes up, I would like to reevaluate and proceed further accordingly. It appears something is wrong with her, something else that we anticipated"

"What are you suspecting"? The King asked him in an apprehensive manner.

"It's unclear, even for me. Which is why we must reevaluate once she is awake. For now, transfer her to her chamber. She needs adequate rest" The Royal physician directed. The King arranged portable beds to transfer the queen, whilst completely forgetting about his own wedding. The king was about to blindly follow Antiope when a hand on his shoulder stopped him from doing so.

"Your majesty, the ceremony is yet to be over. You should be seated, it's getting late" Desmond, his big brother prompted. The King gave a subtle nod to his brother, took a look around the entire room noticing that the eyes that were gawking at his unconscious wife earlier were now gawking at him.

Regaining his composure quickly, he adjusted his coat and went ahead to sit right next to his new bride. Through the entire wedding King kept looking straight, staring, perhaps boring holes mentally through the front wall. Every time Ariadne would look over to her new husband, he would have the same blank expression on his face. It made her wonder, did she lose her husband even before she had a chance to have him?

After all the formalities were finally taken care of, the new couple were supposed to bow to the elders of their family. That is Ariadne's parents, the rulers of Calidon, and to the Queen regent of Scarpetia. As soon as they were done with their last activity both of them went ahead to their separate rooms. The King of course was headed off to his chamber, but Ariadne was directly brought to the room where the couple was supposed to spend their wedding night.

On his way to the room, the King drifted off his path. Consciously or subconsciously he found himself wavering off to the room of his Queen consort, Antiope. He was all by himself when he knocked on the door, "I am King Dominic, the first-born in the eighth generation of Cirillo. I am here pay a visit to the queen."

A moment later he was allowed in by none other than Queen's personal maid, Elijah. "Your Majesty" She paid her respect.

"How is she"? The King asked her flatly.

"She hasn't woken up yet. Her skin is not as pale as before, but Milady is still not waking up" dejected, Elijah replied.

Dominic nodded before ordering Elijah, "Can you give us a moment of privacy?" Elijah bowed before taking her leave as well.

Once the king was sure that they were all by themselves, he proceeded with his steps. Gradually he came to stand right next to the Queen and sat down in the tiny space right next to her bed. Even though Elijah confirmed, Dominic put his hand over the queen's scalp and palms and noted that her temperature has indeed risen.

There wasn't anything left for him to do, he had checked up on the queen, confirmed her condition, and yet he couldn't bring himself to go back to his own chamber. "My Queen…" He whispered, "Antiope, what have you done"?

As expected there was no reply, so the king continued with his monologue, "I have waited for you, from ever since I met you… and yet you never bothered to spare me a glance. A part of me wants to believe that your recent behaviour is spurred by my sudden wedding. That you're agitated I will be marrying Princess Ariadne, the most beautiful woman known throughout the kingdoms" King chuckled. 

"And yet, my eyes look for you and you only" The King sighed. "I have waited for you for ten years. But I can't wait anymore. I have always found an excuse to put up with anything you have ever done. Be it irritating my mother or overworking the servants. But you went ahead and sired a child of some unknown bloodline"? King declared, while a prickling sensation bothered his heart. "I love you, but I can't forgive you for this. Not really." King sighed.

"We might not have had that kind of relationship, but what you did is still a betrayal. I will find out who the man is, who dared to look at you like that, and I will make sure I kill him" Dominic scoffed. "I won't let the pregnancy thing spread, but I will kill your lover. I must, for he had committed treason to his King towards his kingdom" Dominic voiced. "I have been blinded by my infatuation towards you for long enough, but now, I will do what's right. I'll ensure that justice has been served".

Dominic raised his hand and traced the jawline on Antiope whilst removing the hair strands blocking her face. "My Queen, no matter how much I love you, I will never force myself on you" He brought back his hand only to intertwine his hands with the queen's hand. "But you are my wife, and what you have done is unforgivable. I can't punish you, not without bringing shame to our entire royal family. Your punishment will be the death of your lover" Dominic declared. 

His eyes were close to being filled with tears and a mix of betrayal and anger took over him. What frustrated him more that despite all the anger being towards Antiope herself, he couldn't bring himself to accuse the queen to her face because he would hate to see the queen hurt. Because his childish love prevented him from doing so. 

But he was not a child, he was a grown man and the King of Scarpetia for eight years now. It's about time he grew out of his infatuation and started to do the right thing. With that in mind, he got up and exited the chamber. The King headed off to the maid's chamber to inform of his departure to Elijah before he headed off to his own chamber, where he was greeted by his older brother.

"I have been waiting for you, your majesty," Desmond declared. "It's your wedding night, we need to prepare you," he declared.

"Then you should've known better and not waited at all," Dominic declared.

"You still won't visit your bride?" Desmond sighed.

"I refuse to touch a woman towards whom I have no feelings for" Dominic declared. "I will not compromise my morals"

"But, your majesty. The kingdom demands an heir. If this continues, Scarpetia will fall into the hands of the enemies, which we do not lack." Desmond expressed his concern.

"Do not worry, I won't let my dynasty end like this. My father never thought I would get to rule Scarpetia, but of many suitors it was I who got to marry Antiope and rule this Kingdom. I'll find a way to keep it. Eventually, I'll bear an heir" King snorted. "I am a man, remember? I do not have a ticking clock over my head"

"But, Queen Antiope-" Desmond began, but he was cut off by the king.

"Do not pry on my personal matters" Dominic declared sternly. "As a king I understand my responsibilities. As for Antiope, I will figure out a way to deal with her. She has done enough. Now, it's my turn" In a cold manner, the King declared.