He smiled widely. “That will be very compassionate of you, Your Majesty, and I will appreciate it if you can do that for me.”
The queen's legs were killing her, and she could no longer dance. So she stopped. “It is alright.”
The nobleman took her fingers again and kissed them tenderly. “The dance was perfect, and I had a wonderful evening, all thanks to you, Your Highness.”
She forced a smile while all she wanted was to fling herself to the nearest chair. “The pleasure is all mine, Lord Riverdale.”
Pulling her finger away, she called the nearest guard and gave the command for a room to be prepared for the lord of Riverdale.
As Scott Riverdale walked away from the queen, he smiled like a man who won the toughest gambling game ever in Serna's tavern downtown. Maybe he did win this tough game.
Then he chided himself. No, he had not won completely. He would become the winner after he had successfully seduced the heavily pregnant but very beautiful queen.
Late at night, the queen stood at the window of her bedroom, gazing out of it. She was waiting for the herbal tea Baski told her she'd send in to help her sleep. As she waited, she couldn't help the sadness in her system.
The royal banquet ended a few hours ago, the silence of the palace soothing to her. Baski had helped her with soothing balms and massages that relieved most of the aches in her body. She'd slept, but her sleep was one of restlessness.
She'd heard what wasn't really surprising. The royal banquet would be rescheduled again since she's unable to pick a king tonight. Another unsurprising thing is the rumor that circulated the palace, and probably the whole of Mombana, about Lord Riverdale spending the night in the palace. Some rumored that he might be the man that pleases her heart, which is why she allowed him the courtesy. Some rumored that she extended the courtesy because she wanted him to warm her bed—as she is pregnant, her hormones uncontrolled. Some even rumored that they might already have a torrid affair going on.
What will King Lucien think of these rumors? She couldn't help wondering.
King Lucien. The father of her child was never so far away from her mind.
The cold night's air caressed her body, and goosebumps broke out. She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed rhythmically to ward off the chills, her eyes counting the stars. He was getting married to Kamara. The pain that never went away only rose higher, threatening to consume her.
Sounds came behind the door and movements. She turned and glanced at the door. A knock followed. She knew it wasn't from any of the guards.
Before she could give orders to her sentry guards, the door opened. It was surprising to see the man who stood there to be Lord Riverdale.
“I brought hot herbal tea, Your Majesty,” he revealed with a smile, raising the wooden cup. “I saw the maid bringing it here, and she explained to me that it has soothing ingredients for you. I couldn't resist bringing it to you myself.”
“Oh. Th-that is very kind of you, Lord Riverdale,” she managed for lack of a better thing to say.
“May I come in?”
She nodded, waving the three guards behind him away. They bowed their head and closed the door.
He walked inside and dropped the tea on her table. “You can drink it while it's hot, Your Majesty. I'm sure it will work better.”
She took the drink from him and downed the content. “Thank you for bringing the tea to me, Lord Riverdale.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty.” He glanced outside through her open window. “it is a beautiful night, aye?”
“Indeed it is. The moon is at its fullest. It is most beautiful. The stars are also breathtaking.”
“Aye, it is beautiful but not as beautiful as the queen of Mombana,” he drawled, staring at her meaningfully.
“You flatter me too much, Lord Riverdale.” She admitted that speaking with him was not so bad because his company kept her away from thinking about hurtful things—like King Lucien's upcoming marriage.
“It is not flattery,” he insisted with a smile.
The queen only shrugged, walked back to her window and continued gazing into the night. She expected him to leave, but instead, she heard his footsteps behind her.
“You shouldn't be here, Lord Riverdale. It is not proper,” the queen addressed bluntly at last.
“I mean no disrespect, Your Highness.” His deep voice was much closer to her from behind. “I will confess that I am overjoyed to be privileged to get this moment with you. I will also confess that I am very interested in you.” It shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. He continued. “I know you will think it is all about the crown, but that is not it, my lady. I am also interested in you as a woman.” His voice dropped an octave. “You are a very beautiful, wise queen and very strong. I know it is shallow of me, but I would really love it if you would give me a chance.”
Queen Danika turned towards him, and she opted for the truth. Her voice was gentle. “I will say that I am flattered at your compliments and pleasantries, Lord Riverdale, but then you already know that. But what you do not know is that my heart belongs to another man.”
“Another man?” He did not expect that. “Who is he?”
She glanced down at her protruding belly so lovingly. “The father of my child.”
The lord was not only surprised this time but shocked also. “But he is the king of Salem...the man that imprisoned you—”
She smiled. “I know who he is, Lord Riverdale. I do not need your elaborated description.” Her shoulder lifted and fell helplessly. “You can give all the descriptions in the world. It will not change the truth that my heart belongs to him. Please accept that.”
Lord Riverdale was sure that he could persuade her if she gave him a chance. He had great bedroom skills that impressed the ladies too. “Please, give me a chance, Your Majesty.” Desperately, he covered the distance between them, then lowered his head and kissed her.
Shock kept her rooted on the spot for a full minute while Lord Riverdale kissed her. And then the shock wore off. Her first thought was to tear her lips from his and push him away. But for a second, another thought invaded.
Would she feel anything from this man's kiss?
When King Lucien kissed her, she felt the world being swept off from under her feet; her heart raced and her world tilted upside down. Was it always like that with everybody?
So, she let him kiss her. His lips moved on hers for a few more minutes, but she did not feel a thing. And when he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she almost gagged with the revulsion from his invasion.
She tore her lips from his, her breathing shallow. Then she stepped back. “I don't feel that way for you, Lord Riverdale, or for any other man, because my heart already belongs to another.”
“But if you can just let me pleasure you!” He reached for her again.
“If your finger so much as touches her hand again, I will cut off your arms from the shoulder,” came a deep voice from the door.
The familiarity of the calm but volcanic voice hit Queen Danika full force in the chest. Sure her ears were deceiving her, her eyes raised and locked with the deepest blue eyes she has ever seen in her life.
King Lucien stood at the door of her bedroom.
.