Chapter 49: Make a choice
The door to the safe opened….
Amilek was already asleep in his mother's arms. Micah was watching the game of chess between Jazell and Jia.
Drigo, one of the members of the small council, was reading a book in his hands. Johanna was seated, her eyes wide open, but Leah's head was on her lap; she was fast asleep.
At the corner, Selena has been praying…for hours. Since she knelt down, she hasn't moved from that position, her knees arched, but she didn't flinch.
Even when the door to the safe keep just opened, she didn't move from her position; it could be bad news the guards were bringing…or it could be good news. If her son, Ragaleon, doesn't come back to her, she will remain like that.
"The war is over…. Decreash won." The knight announced.
The feeling of relief that washed over the room couldn't be exaggerated. They slowly got up from their seats; for the moment they were all just glad that they were alive.
"Where is my son? Johanna asked the knight.
"He is in his chamber; he was greatly injured during the war." The knight said Johanna didn't wait for him to finish talking before pushing past him.
Selena slowly rounded up her prayers, and for the first time in many hours, she raised her head. Micah was beside her; she stretched her hand towards Selena, and the latter took it and then slowly rose to her feet.
" Your prayers have been answered, queen mother." Micah said softly.
Selena smiled faintly before walking past her….
"I want to see my son; take me to him." She said to the knight, and he nodded and led the way.
Ragaleon was seated in the main court, the grand maester attending to some of his wounds.
"Ragaleon…" Selena called out and then made her way to him.
Ragaleon slowly rose to his feet when he saw the full household approaching. They were all in good shape; that was his main concern.
Selena hugged her son, tears stinging her eyes.
"Your third war since your father died; it is such a relief that you triumphed. I am proud of you, son." She said, and the latter patted his mother slightly.
"Congratulations, my lord." Racheal said, Ragaleon shifted his direction to her, then nodded curtly.
"Congratulations, my lord." One by one the other queens congratulated him; Ragaleon was greatly pleased.
"Brother…" Helena was suddenly beside him.
She hugged him, her frame so small in comparison to his. Ragaleon also patted her lightly and stroked her hair.
Ragaleon cleared his throat before saying, …"This calls for a feast tonight."
....
The harps were as loud as ever, and the melodious sounds of the flutes boomed in the air.
Clustered chatters, merry voices, and sounds of cups clicking filled the air.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty." Two noblemen said as they bowed before Ragaleon.
"Thank you, Duke Dickson and Lord Collins." Ragaleon said nonchalantly. Frankly, he had wanted a small family feast, but his mother just had to go and make it otherwise.
The royal family was seated on a high table three staircases away from the main party ground. Ragaleon was seated on his throne, his mother at his right hand side, and Racheal by his left. Then the rest of the queens were seated accordingly after Racheal.
Beside Selena was Johanna, followed by Helena and Leah. William was currently weak from the battle he hardly took part in.
"Duchess Pacih, what a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen you since the last time your daughter was involved in a scandal." Johanna mused when she saw the lady bowing to Ragaleon and congratulating him.
The lady turned to gaze at Johanna, then smiled.
"I heard your son was greatly hurt. The coward prince—that's what they call him." Pacih laughed, and Johanna's throat became dry.
Selena tried to hold her laughter, so she smiled cheekily and then sipped from the golden cup of wine on the table in front of her.
Click! Click!
Ragaleon used his spoon to hit his golden cup to get the attention of the guests, and it worked. Everywhere became silent.
"It gladdens my heart that you all put your activities aside to grace this remarkable event." Ragaleon began.
"Today is a memorable day, and I would like to make it more memorable by announcing the news of my unborn child from my fourth wife, Queen Tamina."
The crowd went wild, jamming their hands together. Surprise and congratulations filled the air as Tamina slowly rose to her feet and waved at the crowd.
She was in a daze; she hadn't seen this coming. Ragaleon had taken her unaware; she smiled and waved at the crowd before slowly taking her seat. She was wearing a red gown with long sleeves, her neck embellished with a silver necklace.
Her red hair was braided in a crown braid, cascading at both sides of her face. Her grey eyes swept across the crowd, who now had their eyes on her.
Tamina savored the moment, a proud smile on her lips; she gave Ragaleon a glance, and the latter returned it, his handsome face radiating under the oil lanterns in the room.
Racheal smiled faintly, then shifted her gaze to Ragaleon. Micah was calm; she really didn't care, but she was happy for Tamina, so she had clapped when Ragaleon announced the news.
Jia was nonchalant as always, her face void of any emotions. While Jazell was seething with rage, it was as if the chair she was seated on was on fire, but some how the countenance of her face was masked.
Jazell masked her face with a fake smile, her blue eyes darting to where Tamina was before slowly retreating.
Ragaleon used his spoon to hit the golden cup in his hands to get the attention of the crowd for the second time. The noise in the hall illuminated with candles slowly died down, and everyone shifted their attention to the king.
"Prince Vinson, the sea prince. A courageous man, I tell you, has earned my respect by going to war with me." He began his eyes darting around the crowd in search of Vinson.
"I would like to make a toast on his behalf and seal an alliance between him and my sister Helena as a tribute for his good deed." He said, and the crowd went wild for the second time.
Helena's cheek became red, Vinson was led out of the crowd, and a chair was added to the high table for him to sit on.
"You honor me, your majesty." Vinson said, raising a golden cup in his hands after he was given a chair at the high table.
"I would love to take Helena as my wife." He added, and the crowd clapped and roared with excitement. The toast was made, and clicking of cups could be heard.
"A dance, my lady." Vinson said, stretching out his hand towards Helena, who was taken by surprise.
"Of course." Helena said, taking her hand in his, they both made their way to the dance floor, going down the three staircases.
Once again the music began to play, and the people danced and danced and danced!
Leah's face was blank, not pale, not sad. She slowly stood up to take her leave, but Johanna wrapped her hand on her wrist, her eyes filled with worry.
"Leah…" Johanna knew her daughter was hurting.
"I will be fine, Mother." Leah said, loosening her mother's grip from her wrist, she turned around and walked away.
As Leah walked away from the feast arena, Helena had her eyes on her; she was dancing with Vinson, moving to the rhythm of the music.
Helena detached herself from Vinson and went after Leah. Vinson was a bit stunned, but then a brown-haired girl took his hands and began to dance with him.
"Leah! Leah! Helena called out as she raised her gown slightly, increasing her pace, but Leah ignored her and kept walking fast, her violet hair swaying as she walked.
They were walking along a dark corridor illuminated with a fire torch.
"Leah, stop!
Helena's voice was firm, and Leah suddenly halted in her tracks but didn't turn around.
Helena was relieved; she was tired of trying to keep up, and her legs were hurting.
"It hurts, doesn't it? Helena's voice was low, the candle stands on the wall reflecting on her face, as she slowly made her way to where Leah was.
Leah's face was calm, her hands crossed elegantly in front of her. Her hands were gloved to hide the thumb she pinched whenever she was anxious.
"Look at me, Leah." Helena finally said when she stood right behind Leah.
"I know how it feels….
"No…you don't." Leah's voice was breaking, her black obsidian eyes shining under the reflection of candlelight. She finally turns around to look at Helena; now Helena could see the unshed tears in her eyes.
"How could you possibly know how it feels, Helena? You have never had anything taken away from you; you will always be the legitimate daughter… the sister of the king, so you can't possibly know how I feel." Leah said in a whisper, her rosy lips pouting.
The corridor was quiet for a while…the winds blowing past by, and the candlelightdancing to its rhythm.
"We are still sisters…. Helena's soft voice broke the silence.
"Stepsisters! Leah corrected.
"That doesn't change anything
"Oh please! Leah rolled her eyes, wearing a bitter smile.
"It is the truth." Helena added.
"Is that what you tell yourself? How delusional." Leah scoffed, blinking back her tears.
"He doesn't love you; he loves me. Don't keep hurting yourself by fighting for what is not yours." Helena tried to take Leah's hands in hers, but the latter flinched and took a step backward to avoid her touch.
"Tell Ragaleon you don't want this, and I will believe you. I will believe that somewhere inside of you, you really see me as your sister." Leah's pupils dilated.
"I can't; I love him."
"So this is about you, not him, not me. This is about what you want…that is how it has always been." Leah bit her lips bitterly, then turned around to walk away.
"You…you won't understand."
"Then make me…" Leah whispered, her gaze distant.
"You will find someone better….Vinson is taken." Helena was tired of using soothing words; she wanted Leah to face the truth.
"He is taken? By whom? Leah asked, still backing Helena.
"Me… I want him. I love him. He is mine." Helena said those words too quickly; she was now breathless.
"Not so sister-like now, is it? Leah calmly said before walking away, her footsteps echoing in the cold corridor, her eyes vicious and drained of life.
...,.........
WARNING!!!
The next chapter is very sensitive and fictional, if you cannot handle extreme fetish scenes....DO NOT READ!!!