Sally rose from the bed, watching her husband still sleeping. She spent the next few minutes watching the rise and fall of his chest.
Her own chest constricted. He’d taken her to bed after her emotional breakdown and made sweet love to her. Her body tingled in places, her heart swearing with her love for him.
If only she could give him a child. Heavens, please, let me be able to have a child. We have suffered so much in this wicked world; don’t we deserve a small reprieve?
Her eyes stung, but Sally was determined not to cry again because it would only change her husband’s mood if he woke up and saw her this way.
She went to the bathroom and took her bath. Afterward, she reached into the cloth basket and picked out some clothes which she had put on. Then she made her way to the kitchen.
Time passed. She had finished cooking when Chad came out of the bedroom and stood in front of her door. He was smiling at her.
She returned his smile too. “I hope I didn’t wake you?”
He shook his head. “I was coming from the backyard when I saw a messenger bird hanging on the tree. It has a letter on it.”
“A letter?” she asked curiously as she walked over towards him and stared at the piece of the scroll he outstretched towards her. “What’s in it?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself? It’s almost unbelievable.” He was still smiling.
Sally reached for the scroll and unwrapped it. It was Remeta’s scribbling, she noticed immediately. The girl didn’t really know much about writing, but she tried to scribble down words, and Sally always managed to read them.
Sally began reading. Shock blanketed her features. She dropped the piece of scroll and glanced at her husband. “M-my princess is f-free again? A queen? My princess is crowned?” Surely she must be dreaming. This must be a dream.
“Yes. I think that’s what Remeta is trying to tell you in the scroll.”
Sally couldn’t wrap her head around it. She thought and thought and thought about it. And when she eventually wrapped her head around it, a huge grin split her face. “Oh heavens, oh heavens, oh heavens!” She stared at Chad expectantly.
Her husband didn’t need it voiced out. “I’ll go dress up. Wait for me.”
King Lucien stood in the middle of his library with his arms crossed. He was staring at that particular book his sister was holding before she was killed.
He couldn’t unsee it. Danika’s happiness when she was made queen. When she stared behind the crowd and saw her people.
His chest was heavy, and he wish he could unsee it, but he couldn’t.
But no matter how badly his chest hurt, he knew on a personal level that Danika did no wrong by being so happy about seeing her people healthy and eager to have her again. It was the princess in her. It was the heir in her.
He had the same feeling when he first led his people out of slavery, when he became their king. It was like coming home.
So, because he understood very well on a personal level, it shouldn’t hurt. And yet, it did.
That beautiful bright smile on her face—that joyful happiness that lit up her teary eyes as she raised her hand in the air and accepted her crown.
It’s worth the pain. He did the right thing by freeing her and giving her over to her people. He did the right thing.
So why was his chest burning so badly?
Suddenly, Danika appeared in front of his chambers. Two of his guards straightened to their heights and bowed down to her. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty, but the king does not wish to be disturbed.”
“But I really d-do want to see him,” she pleaded.
They looked regretful but wouldn’t budge. “I’m really sorry, Your Highness.”
She felt helpless; she really needed to see him now. As she turned to leave, she remembered that she was no longer a slave. She was a queen. Turning back, she faced them. “I need to see the king. Open the door,” Danika commanded.
They knew a command when they heard one. It was their turn to look helpless. “Please, Your Highness! The king will not be happy—”
“I will take responsibility for it,” she vowed. “I do need to see him now. Please.”
Finally, they nodded. One of them walked to the door and unlocked the bolt. He stepped aside and allowed her entry.
“Thank you.” She walked past them inside the bedroom and closed the door behind her, shutting the world out.
His bedroom was empty and so quiet. Obviously, the noise and happy cheers from the court weren’t reaching this part of the palace. It was so quiet.
She walked deeper into the room, and in more steps, she stood at the door of the library. She turned the doorknob. The door opened and she stepped inside the inner room.
There he stood in the middle of the room, his back to her, his arms crossed in front of him. He didn’t turn back to see who entered his personal space because he already knew.
“L-Lucien?” Her voice was barely a whisper.