You Fooled Everyone, But Not Me
The king was watching through the observation tower window as a group of Bodorians trained. But his sight was specifically fixed on one. This warrior was trying very hard to master the art of the sword. It was evident to the king that he had a motive, a purpose for forcing himself in such a way.
Not only his strength and passion with which he trained caught the attention of the king. It was his race. Undoubtedly, he came from Ruana or one of his parents. Pale, like his queen, and they also shared the same colour and shape of their hair. This intrigued the king, who continued to watch with interest.
Shadow, who was in the tower with him, approached the window, and seeing what the king was observing so carefully, said, “Sir Perseus, his mother is a resident of Bodoro, socially positioned, but his father is unknown. He was abandoned by his family when he came of age in Bodoro. Since then, he survived on the money he earned from street fights until he was mysteriously employed as a royal guard.”
The king’s head began to think about many things in relation to this person, coming to only one conclusion. He has to know more.
“Shadow, I want to talk to him, but I need absolute discretion. No one, and for no reason, anyone should find out about this. Go at once, and notify me of the result.”
The king turned, facing his spy, and said, “On second thought, I have a very important matter to attend to at the moment, but when I finish, I will see you here again.”
The spy nodded, and in a hurry, withdrew to do his king’s errands.
Meanwhile, King Alcott turned again to the window, and took one last look at the stranger, before departing.
On his way to his destination, Alcott was running through his mind all the events since he received the suggestion from the council that he had to give Mahala an heir more than a year ago, and having failed to do so after two years, an order was issued:
The king had to acquire a new wife, or more if necessary, for this objective to be fulfilled. And among all the candidates, Lady Abba of Bodoro had the most political force. Not only because Bodoro was a kingdom that could benefit Mahala immensely, but also because she was promoted by the nobles Olivansis.
The king seems suspicious about that now when none of that was highlighted before. However, Alcott needed more information. What he had at the moment were just loose pieces of the terrible puzzle he was putting together.
But returning to what he had to do, the king walked the last of the corridors that would take him to where the answers were. Standing at the entrance of his second wife’s bed-chamber, wasting no time, he entered.
Lady Abba was lazily stretched out in a recliner, enjoying the foot massage two of her servants were giving her. Raising her head to see who had dared enter without her permission, her eyes widened in surprise, and her mouth dropped wide open in fear when she saw the look on King Alcott's face.
Without giving her a chance to speak, the king said, without taking his eyes off of her, “Leave.”
Lady Abba for her part was perplexed. She knew that after the trick she pulled, the king would surely have something to say, and she would have to deal with whatever was thrown at her, but this visit was completely unexpected, with no time to prepare something under her sleeves.
The maids with their heads down, dropped what they were doing, and hurriedly left the place.
When she was able to react, Abba stood up and masked her face with a placid smile, also not forgetting how to fan her long eyelashes. “My king, you don’t know how happy you make me with your visit.”
She took a few delicate steps toward her husband, trying to decipher the hard, unemotional exterior he was putting on.
Reaching him, and with doubts about if her act was working or not, Lady Abba reached out her hand to caress his face, but before this could happen, the king intercepted her, holding it very tightly, making her frown. For the first time since she met him, she felt afraid. This moment made her think of all the sayings and stories about why he was considered the bloodiest king on the battlefield. Have her feminine attributes failed? Her beauty could move mountains, but not him?
No, that couldn’t be true. No one except one person, who was his father, was immune. Apparently King Alcott too.
“Oh! Husband, you hurt me.” She said, trying to get him to release her, but it had the opposite result. King Alcott squeezed her tighter, making her scream. Still holding her hand, the king pushed her down, until Lady Abba was on her knees. Subdued and at the mercy of the great king.
He, from above, looked at her with disdain, conveying all the rancour he felt for her. Abba understood at that moment that her life was on the line, whether it was in her husband’s hands, or her father’s. She was lost.
King Alcott watched her for seconds, wondering how this fragile person could do so much damage, but here she was without a doubt. The woman who in complicity with others had destroyed his marriage. And there was still more. Based on the king’s conclusions, Mahala was in danger, and Alcott would not permit it. It was fortunately for him that Lady Abba was the best candidate to begin his interrogation.
The king released her hand, and slowly, took a dagger from his pocket. Abba’s eyes filled with despair, imagining what awaited her at the hands of this bloodthirsty man. She began to shake her head vehemently. “No, my king, no. Don’t hurt me, I am with child.”
But the king laughed, hitting Abba’s heart even more, driving her to anguish. And with a cruel smile, the king replied, “Why should I care about the bastard in you?”
The blood in her entire body froze, disarming her with the little power she had. Does the king know? How?
Alcott, guessing her thoughts, responded like this, “You thought that I could possibly believe that story? You have fooled everyone, but not me.”
