Chapter 5
Queen Mara swept into the concubine's chambers, the guards parting with a deep bow as she entered with regal poise. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of incense and sickness. The royal concubine lay abed, her face pale and wan, while the queen mother tended to her with a mixture of concern and calculation.
As Queen Mara's gaze met the queen mother's, the older woman's eyes flashed with hostility. She rose from her seat, her movements economical and precise. "Who permitted you to enter?" she demanded, her voice like ice. "You, a barren woman, have no business here."
Queen Mara's face remained serene, but her voice held a hint of steel. "I came to visit the royal concubine, to offer my congratulations on her pregnancy."
The queen mother's laughter was a low, mocking sound. "Or perhaps you came with a hidden agenda, to gloat or to scheme?" Her eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "Why do you persist in clinging to a throne that's already slipping from your grasp?"
Queen Mara's composure faltered for an instant, her eyes flashing with pain. "Queen Mother, why do you despise me so much?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The queen mother's response was a verbal slap. "Isn't it obvious? You're a fruitless tree, and a fruitless tree should be cut down." The words hung in the air, heavy with venom.
Queen Mara's face went white, her eyes welling up with tears. She turned, her movements stiff and mechanical, and walked out of the room, leaving the queen mother's triumphant gaze to follow her. The door closed behind her with a soft, final click.
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Queen Mara glided into the king's chambers, the guards snapping to attention and parting with reverence. The room lay shrouded in silence, the king conspicuously absent. A glimmer of mischief sparked in her eyes as she seized the moment. She retrieved the crystal, its facets shimmering in the dim light, and tucked it beneath the bed, her movements deliberate and calculated.
As the crystal's radiant glow dimmed, Queen Mara rose gracefully, smoothing her robes with a practiced elegance before arranging herself on the bed, exuding a blend of allure and poise. The door swung open with a creak, and the king strode in, his expression shifting to one of astonishment as he beheld her alluring pose.
"You've made yourself comfortable," he remarked, curiosity lacing his voice as he took in the scene.
Queen Mara's smile was a sophisticated dance of seduction and submission. "We had a pact, Your Majesty," she purred, her voice a sultry murmur.
The king chuckled softly, shaking his head as he moved towards the ornate mirror, his reflection revealing the sharp contours of his visage and that piercing gaze. He began to shed his garments, the fabric whispering as it fell away.
Before he could respond, Queen Mara's slender fingers glided down his back, tugging gently at the remnants of his attire. "Permit me, Your Majesty," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.
Caught in the allure of her presence, the king's eyes met hers in the mirror, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "A moment to bathe first, if you please, Mara," he requested, his voice low and rich with anticipation. Queen Mara's hands stilled, yet her nod conveyed a deeper understanding.
The king disappeared into the inner room, the sound of gently flowing water signaling that he had begun his bath. Moments later, he emerged, his skin glowing with a subtle sheen, a plush robe wrapped elegantly around his frame.
As he approached Queen Mara, a warm smile spread across his face, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He reached out, his hand grasping the door handle, and pulled it open slightly.
"Withdraw gentlemen..take a brief respite." he instructed the guards stationed outside, his voice low and authoritative.
The guards exchanged surprised glances, their faces a mask of impassivity. They bowed in unison, their movements swift and precise, before turning to depart. The sound of their footsteps echoed down the corridor, fading into the distance as they vanished from sight.
The king's gaze lingered on the door for a moment before returning to Queen Mara, his eyes burning with a soft, intimate light. He turned back to her, his movements fluid and deliberate, as he closed the distance between them.
Queen Mara settled onto the bed, her gaze fixed on the king as he prepared for their intimate encounter. She noticed the tension in his body, the subtle signs of anticipation and desire. She would shock the queen mother and secure her own position.
But at what cost? The witch doctor's words echoed in her mind - the child would be blind. Queen Mara's heart skipped a beat as she thought of the implications. Oh heavens, a blind prince? She muttered to herself, her mind racing with the possibilities.
Yet, she was determined to see this through. As soon as she became pregnant, she would seek out a solution, a way to ensure that her child was not born with such a handicap. The thought brought a determined smile to her face, and she relaxed, her body easing into the softness of the bed.
As the king mounted the bed, Queen Mara's voice was a sultry whisper, "Yes, Kyros, come to mama." The intimacy of the moment allowed her the liberty of addressing him with a familiarity she dared not exhibit in the light of day.
The king's hands moved with deliberate slowness, stripping away Queen Mara's robe and undergarments, leaving her skin exposed to his gaze. He leaned in, his lips tracing a path of fiery kisses along the curve of her neck, and Queen Mara's body surrendered to his touch.
The king's lovemaking was a masterful blend of tenderness and passion, his touch igniting a fire that threatened to consume them both. Queen Mara's senses were overwhelmed, her body responding to the king's expert caresses with a will of its own.
As they mated, Queen Mara's soft moans filled the air, a testament to the king's skill and her own desire. Beneath the bed, the crystal began to glow, its light starting as a faint ember before growing in intensity until it shone with a brilliant, pulsing radiance.