~{LAUREN'S POV}~
*
I waited patiently in the throne room with Fredrick on his knees below me, pleading for his life.
"Please, your majesty!!! I don't harbor any feelings for the queen nor are we secretly together… I am innocent! Please! I did nothing of that sort!"
But I said nothing as I waited for Deborah to arrive because I knew she would, after all it was the man she had been seeing behind my back.
I had purposely sent out my messenger to tell her I was going to have him impaled just to see what she would do or say. Strangely, I was looking forward to what she would do.
"The Queen has arrived!" The guard announced before she came into view and marched in since the doors were wide open.
On her arrival, I smirked especially when I saw the serious look she had on her face, meaning she was clearly infuriated.
I am sure she wasn't expecting me to find her secret lover so soon. How ridiculous.
She marched in along the red carpet with so much fierceness in her eyes as she locked them onto me, but the moment she reached where Fredrick was, she paused beside him and ordered in a firm tone.
"Get up."
I blinked at her in wonder.
Was she outrightly going against my order?
She didn't even plead with me or ask what the situation was. How very brave.
Fredrick on the other hand looked at her in fear before darting his eyes to me in conflict and I hardened my gaze at him, daring him to go against me and stand up.
"I am your Queen and I order you to stand up this instant, Fredrick!" She yelled again while fiercely looking down at him and it made me curious to see where this would head. I even leaned forward in interest.
When Fredrick didn't make an effort to get up, she marched back to one of the guards and drew out his sword, causing everyone to gasp in shock, especially her ladies in waiting.
I, on the other hand, didn't move. I just watched because I knew she wouldn't dare do it. At the same time I was curious about this new version of her I never noticed. Strangely, she lifted the sword with so much ease like she had been doing it often and that was an eye opener.
She marched back to Fredrick and before she could get to him, she lifted the sword while still having that dangerous look and it frightened him so much that he scrambled away from her but she kept coming close to him until he had nowhere to run to and she brought the sword to his throat and he instantly screamed in fear.
But as expected, she didn't do it, she was simply threatening him. I knew that already but what I couldn't understand was how a gentle woman could do such a thing.
"I will say this one more time, Fredrick. Get up." She coldly said and almost immediately, he shakily got on his feet.
When he did that, she finally looked at me and boldly pointed the sword at me with no ounce of fear.
"Your anger and lack of judgement will land you to your death, Lauren."
At her declaration, my eyebrows lifted in disbelief.
Who was this woman to say such a thing to me?
"Fredrick. Do you know what you just di-"
"He listened to the Queen. That's what he did!" Deborah cut me short with so much disrespect that it had me get up on my feet in rage.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO CHALLENGE A KING?"
"Who do I think I am?" she scoffed and looked around like I had just made a joke before facing me again with a face I had never seen her show before.
"I AM DEBORAH CHADWICK WYCHAVON." She boldly said, making everyone gasp in disbelief.
She had outrightly not only challenged my way of judging but she also used her family's name instead of mine. That was a huge insult that I couldn't take anymore.
I marched down my throne as I went up to her while burning in anger.
But before I got close to her, she raised the sword at me a second time in front of everyone, pointing it at my throat.
Instantly, all the guards surrounded her and threateningly pointed their sword at her.
She didn't even bother with them, rather her focus was on me and I could sense so much tension and there was pain in her eyes, like I had done something terrible to her.
Right now, I no longer suspected that she had a thing with Fredrick because one, he didn't show any boldness and still feared me.
Two, he was standing behind Deborah in fear, letting her protect him when he should be the one protecting her if indeed they were together.
Thirdly, she had more wit and posture of a fighter than he did. Meaning she didn't learn it from him but another person.
Who exactly was this person? Because he taught her well.
At that thought, I clenched my hands to fists and gritted my teeth in annoyance.
I couldn't believe she would meet someone else to teach her when I was here.
I moved closer, causing the tip of the sword to pierce the side of my neck but I didn't stop there. I kept inching closer to see if she would really hurt me.
Even though she doesn't love me, she should still fear killing me because I am no ordinary man.
"You will be punished f-"
"No such thing will happen. If you or your men dare touch me, there will be war. Mind you, I am still the daughter of a strong kingdom even while still married to you. I can simply ask for men to be imported here to defend me and believe me when I say that's not the way to go." She warned me and my anger only amplified but in the end, she was right.
I couldn't harm her no matter what she does, why?
Because she had a strong backing.
Her father was a fortress and her brother was a demon when it came to war.
I had seen firsthand how he scared off corrupt men who tried to woo his sister, Deborah. He had even killed for her and news spread from the south all the way to the east, west and north.
So in summary, they were people I shouldn't mess with.
How could I forget that?
Nonetheless, Deborah was stepping out of line and it was maddening.
If she kept using her brother to defend herself, then it would get ugly.
With that in mind, I signaled for the guards to put down their swords while still glaring at her.
Once that was done, she smirked and said, "Think again the next time you try to cross me, Lauren."
With that, she lowered the sword and faced Fredrick.
"Go and wait for me outside by my horse. I have a job for you." She instructed him and he fearfully nodded and bowed while still looking at me cautiously as he shakily left.
"Everyone leave us!" I announced and they were a bit reluctant but did as I instructed.
From her ladies in waiting to the guards and my right hand man, Thomas, who had been quietly observing everything.
Once the doors shut behind us, I moved closer to Deborah and this time, she let me come close while firmly holding my gaze until we were just an inch apart.
She was a small woman and yet this bold.
How could two months make her this way?
It still felt strange to me and from henceforth I had to be careful with the way I addressed her.
In the past, we would do our duties without coming at each other and she was very submissive but strict when it came to ruling. So what then did I do to make her this way?
Why was she irritated by me?
And just as I imagined, the sword dropped from her hand and she turned to walk away from me only for me to grab her by the arm and bring her back to me, causing her to crash into my chest with both her hands resting against my chest to shield our bodies from touching.
We had been married for three years and yet it felt like we were complete strangers. Why I say so is because I never touched her intimately. We never shared a bed.
Why?
Because I didn't find her attractive enough to bed, after all I had married her for kingdom benefits.
No one knew about us not being intimate except us, her ladies in waiting and my right hand man.
"Unhand me!" She hissed at me.
"Or else what? You will cry out to your brother?" I calmly asked while watching her closely.
"Mind you, before your messenger gets to your brother, I would have done what I wanted with you."
"But you can't, because you are being careful." She challenged me and I scoffed.
"Careful? No, I'm just being strategic here."
At my words, she scoffed and tried to pull away but couldn't since I had her firmly in my grip.
Looking at her closely, I was finally seeing a different version of her face. It looked more flawless or had it always been this flawless?
Over the past three years, I didn't look at her twice. In fact I rarely did that. But on returning, it became frequent.
Maybe she was mad at me for not consummating our marriage. She must be frustrated which is why she is behaving the way she is.
At that thought, I smiled and she frowned in suspicion.
"I think I know what's the cause of this ill treatment you have been giving me." I said.
"And what do you think is the cause?"
"The fact that we haven't consummated our marriage yet." I answered and her eyes widened slightly and I thought I had her until she burst into laughter and said,
"Tell me why I would sleep with someone like you when I can find a more able man from anywhere?"