Vandamonth Imperial Palace
Kora's long, slim legs were entangled under the sheets. Her cold, flawless face rested on Aaram's chest, his hand running through her long, thick, wavy hair.
This was one of the many times they had just finished having some of their heated sex. Making sweet passion behind the closed doors of Kora's chamber.
"You age like fine wine."
Aaram's deep voice whispered. Using his index finger, he raised her chin, his intense gaze locking with hers.
Kora smiled, then dropped her gaze. Using her finger, she began to stroke his chest slowly.
"You know how to please a woman."
She purred, allowing her fingers to run down his chest in light strokes.
"Well…" his deep voice dropped, "You simply put me in the mood." He said, tugging some strands of her hair behind her ear.
Kora smiled, inhaled his toxic scent, and opened her mouth to say something but paused halfway. A noise…quite frightening reached her ears.
She furrowed her brows before slowly sitting up on the bed, holding the bedsheet to her chest.
"Do you hear that?" She asked.
Aaram's eyes were shut tightly. It was early in the morning; he hardly slept due to Kora's incessant plea for sexual pleasure. He was already dozing off slowly.
"I don't hear a thing." He murmured, eyes shut, then turned away.
Kora shot a glare in his direction before groaning loudly. She swung a leg over the bed, followed by the other. Climbing down from the bed, she glided across the room, her blonde hair swaying, caressing her bare back.
The noise was now more lucid, drawing attention from even the maids and guards. She dressed up quickly before stepping out into the vast corridors.
The hastened steps of the servants were all making their way in one direction, to the garden located in the inner court.
Kora's eyes darkened, and she sighed… flicked her hair backwards, then began to sway her hips elegantly as she paraded the hallways. Her aura overwhelmed the atmosphere, and some servants running in chaos still stopped by and acknowledged her by bowing.
"What is going on?"
Kora questioned one of the servants, who just bowed slightly.
"There seems to be something happening to the king." The guard said, and Kora simply waved him off.
She barely stepped into the inner court when her gaze trailed ahead. Her husband, the king, was held side by side by the servants as he was being rushed to his chamber.
"Get the grandmaster."
One of the maids supporting Jarob said to another servant.
As the supportive wife Kora portrayed herself to be, she simply couldn't just stand there. She walked over to where they were, then held on to Jarob's hand.
"He is only drunk; why make such a fuss?" Kora questioned, her eyes darting around Jarob's face.
"Your Grace, he seems to be having a heart attack." One of the maids explained, and Kora's eyes widened in surprise.
"Well then hurry; he will die at the pace you are walking." Kora shot back angrily.
Jarob was rushed to his chamber and laid on his bed. His crown was taken off his head and placed on a drawer beside the bed.
He was a complete mess; he reeked of wine, and his robust face was as red as a tomato. His breath was unsteady, his knuckles white as his hand balled into a fist, clenching the bedsheets.
"I only had two cups of wine; I must have been poisoned!
Jarob said under gritted teeth, and Kora hissed, shaking her head from side to side in disgust.
She paced around the chamber for a while before the grandmaester rushed in to service the king. Kora stood aside watching his every move, her haughty eyes fixed on Jarob, a man who was only her husband by title.
He meant nothing to her, but her queenly duties demanded otherwise.
"Will he be fine?"
Kora asked after a moment of silence.
The Grandmaester lets out a heavy breath and then turns to look at her from where he is seated on the bed beside the king.
"He is ill; the symptoms are familiar. I will prepare something for him to drink, and he should be fine after that."
The Grandmaester said before rising to his feet.
"But as for now, I strongly insist the king should desist from drinking any more wine." He said curtly before bowing and then took his leave.
"No…no more wine?"
Jarob's laughter crackled in the air.
His royal outfit was drenched with wine; apparently he was at the inner court drinking to his satisfaction when the heart attack struck.
"You will pay heed to the Grandmaester's words and desist from any form of drinking until you are fine." Kora said coldly.
"You know I can't do that."
Jarob said, panting; his breathing pace was becoming unsteady again. He placed his hand on his chest and then clutched it tightly.
"Are you alright?"
Kora's brows creased as she peered at him. She quickly made her way towards him; she wanted to call out to the grandmaester but he signified her to remain silent by raising his hand.
"I am fine… Do not act like you care."
He said, dragging in a heavy breath.
"Act? You think I am acting? Fine! I do not care, but at least respect my efforts." Kora snapped before turning away from him; his mere breath made her stomach churn.
"You have had too much wine to drink. You are slowly draining away and have only started realizing it now."
She said before moving away from the bed. She stood across the bed, facing him, her hands crossed on her chest.
"Don't lecture me, Kora; send Hanah in to warm my bed." He said, in a lousy manner. Kora eyed him in a dreadful manner, annoyance evident on her face.
She scoffed bitterly.
"Not many people like you; even your own subjects despise you. Maybe your wine was indeed poisoned. You still have time; repent of your ways, and pray that the gods welcome you to the heavens above."
Kora remarked sarcastically and then started walking away.
"I won't die…not yet."
Jarob's voice reached Kora's ears from where he was on the bed. She halted in her steps, then turned around slowly, her gaze resting on him.
She didn't say a word; she allowed her devious eyes to do the talking. Her crystal blue eyes penetrated deep, as if she could see his soul.
She finally turned around and walked away, leaving Jarob to his misery. She made her way back to her chamber, her mood ruined.
She barged into her room, only to see Aaram getting dressed.
"You are leaving…so soon?" She muttered, lowering her gaze, and walked into the chamber, shutting the door behind her.
"There are pending matters seeking my attention." He said, then locked gazes with Kora.
"What happened to the king?" He asked, and Kora rolled her eyes.
"He had a heart attack. The Grandmaester feels it is as a result of his drinking habit; however, I feel… Let's just say the gods are thirsty for more souls."
Kora said, putting her words in the best way possible.
"You don't have to sugarcoat words when talking to me; he is old, spend more time with him; the gods might take his life any moment."
Aaram said, running his hands through his hair, as he peered at his reflection in a mirror. He adjusted his collar sharply before focusing his gaze on Kora.
"He didn't think he would remain young forever, did he? Reality must have dawned on him."
"That's good news."
Aaram concluded, strolling to where Kora was seated elegantly, her leg crossed.
"The earlier he dies, the better for both of us." He said, then smiled in a deranged manner; Kora, however, didn't look pleased.
"When will you be returning?"
She asked, fixing her gaze at him.
"There is no date yet, probably in the next three days." He said calmly.
"You must really hate my sanity. I will go nuts in this room…" Kora was still talking when he placed an index finger on her lips to keep her silent.
"Jarob is weak; now is the time to exercise your authority. Be the wife he never had, pet him, and refrain from laying spiteful curses."
"Should I also cuddle him, maybe seduce him?" Kora questioned mockingly, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair impatiently.
Aaram massages his temples and then slouches, leaning forward, his hot breath caressing Kora's face.
"Now is not the time to make sarcastic remarks. We should focus more on thinking of a way to get the king to pin his favor on me, if your son sits on the throne…"
"I am well aware of what will happen."
Kora cuts in roughly; shutting her eyes, she reclined on the chair.
"I have told you times without number. Jarob would rather be buried with his gold than ever change his line of succession." Kora muttered calmly.
Aaram leaned away.
"Then you must begin to plant seeds of that idea in his head. Let it be like a hymn you sing in his ears."
"And in return?" Kora fluttered her eyes open.
A cunning smile was now laced on Aaram's lips.
"In return your chamber will be filled with the moans coming out of your lips while you scream your lover's name."
Kora wasn't still impressed. She was terribly hard to please.
"You set out on a journey and won't be back for three days; now tell me, how do you expect me to cope?
"Think of me…" Aaram said, taking one of her hands and then slowly placing it on her huge assets on her chest.
"Then touch yourself." He whispered, his hot breath teasing her earlobes.
Kora swallowed hard; she quickly removed her hand from her chest.
"Don't take too long."
She whispered, adjusting her hair.
"I won't."
He said that and then took his leave. A leering smirk found its way to Kora's lips.
"I will be waiting."