Nova’s POV
My eyes hitched, and my hands shook as I read through the case file of a pack I never knew existed in the nation. I might be a Princess from a glorious pack, but I could hardly mention five to six packs in the nation.
I tightened my grip on the pen as I approved the proposal of the underdeveloped pack that was asking for the King’s support on the development of the pack.
Hours on the case files and I hadn’t seen anyone who didn’t require His Majesty’s help I wondered if I was doing the right thing by approving every request without pending or rejecting any.
Who knows, they might be in dire need of help and it would make me a bad Queen if I reject the pack’s request.
“… and the last paper!” I grinned wildly when I signed the last file, I lifted it to my face and smacked my lips on it, giving it a grateful kiss.
I gathered all the files and placed them gently on the table, It wasn’t a big deal working on the case files from different packs, but reading through the report before signing their request was what tired life out of me.
“Oh, my!” I sighed, staring at my untouched lunch of hamburger and iced coffee that had already melted to water.
I picked up the coffee and lifted it to my lips, I spit it out, having a little drop of the coffee on the table. I was fortunate enough that it didn’t touch the case files.
“It tastes like a…” I hitched my neck, staring at the not-so-good coffee in my hand before dropping the cup back on the table. “Didn’t taste so good!”
I moved my gaze to the window, looking at the night sky through the parted curtains. My mind drifted off to Prescott and I let out a tired sigh.
“He still doesn’t want to see me.” I groaned, watching the night breeze move the curtains gently, My eyes lit up when I remembered his office was just a floor away from mine.
“Let’s go see my man!” I banged my fist on the table and stood up from the seat before walking towards the exit.
“The door opened from the outside as soon as the guard at the door sensed my presence. I walked out of the door only to bump into Shayna, my maid, and Rezso who had suddenly picked up interest in being my guard.
“What are you two doing here?” I questioned, my brows furrowed as I stared at Shayna who had a faint smile plastered on her face.
“Princess,” Shayna smiled, stretching out her hand to reveal a box of chocolates.
“Your Highness,” Rezso bowed, smiling as he straightened on his feet.
“Yeah, greetings.” I smiled, taking a wrap of chocolate from the box, I unwrapped it before throwing it inside my mouth. “What are you two doing out here?” I questioned, dropping the empty wrap back inside the box.
“We are here to guard you back to the King’s Hall.” Shayna grinned as she bounced back and forth.
“Oh,” I took a deep breath before flashing the both of them a toothy smile. “I don’t need an escort, I will head back to the King’s Hall on my own.” I patted Shayna on the shoulder before walking away from them.
“But,” I heard Shayna gasp before running after me, It was only her footsteps that could be heard, meaning Rezso wasn’t coming with her.
“But I want to walk you back to the King’s Hall,” she whispered as she finally met up with my pace.
“Huh,” I paused, making Shayna come to an abrupt halt. “I’m not heading straight to the King’s Hall. So, it’s not necessarily for you to walk with me.” I smiled, staring up at the floor I was going through the glass wall.
“Are you by any chance going to meet His Majesty again?” Shayna asked worriedly. Her eyebrows knitted as she moved her gaze to the floor I was staring at.
“Yes,” I mumbled, moving my gaze away from the upper floor, “I’m going to meet His Majesty and ask him to take back his order.” I smiled, moving my gaze away from Shayna to the maids who were walking out of the building with a tray in their hands.
“You head back to your quarter, I will see you later.” I let out, tried walking away but Shayna tugged at my sleeve and pulled me back to herself.
“His Majesty had ordered the guards to not let you into his office; don’t ask me how I got to know, Rezso told me,” she whispered, moving her gaze back to my office door but only the guard that was guarding the door was there, Rezso was no way in sight.
“Why would you still want to meet him, what if the guards embarrass you, my Princess?” Shayna mumbled as she kept flashing me a worried glare.
I couldn’t say anything for a moment, I only smiled and moved my hand to her shoulder, gently caressing her shoulder blade.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m the Queen and the guards wouldn’t be foolish to embarrass the Queen,” I uttered, Even though I wasn’t convinced by my response, I just hoped she understood how desperate I was to see his Majesty. Perhaps, he could take back his words of denouncing me as his Queen.
“You still want to go up there?” Shayna asked, pointing at the floor above us.
“Yes.” I nodded, gulping hard as I withdrew my hand from her shoulder. “Go back to your quarter, I will be going back to the King’s Hall once I have a word with His Majesty,” I explained, my hands clenched to my sides as I walked down the corridor, ascending the stairs to the upper floor.
I walked down the road with my gaze fixed on the door that was guarded by two guards. My hunch told me His Majesty was inside and I silently prayed to the goddess that the guard should let me in without much trouble.
My heart raced with fear as I slowly approached the closed door. The guards stood alert when they saw me approaching them.
“Your Highness,” one of the guards stepped forward, walking up to me before I could get to the door.
I gritted my teeth, knowing this was going to happen but I wouldn’t back down because I had determined in my mind that I would be meeting His Majesty today.
“What brings you by, Your Highness?” the guard asked, his eyes piercing into mine as if he were searching for his answer.
I cleared my throat before adjusting my jacket. “I need to see Majesty.” I smiled, sliding my hands into my jacket pocket.
“I fear his Majesty is not in the…”
“I know the King is inside the office, so you will move aside and let me in through that door.” I pushed past him, walking towards the door. I tried calming myself down but my heart was racing, which made it hard for me to walk properly.
I tried walking past the second guard but I felt a pair of hands wrapped around my arm, preventing me from going further.
My heart hammered in my chest as I turned to face the guard. His eyes were wide with terror, and his lips trembled as he tried to plead with me, through his worried stare.
“Let go of me!” I growled, It took me every courage left in me to walk up to this floor, how dare he try to stop me from accomplishing my goal?
The guard didn’t move, instead, his grip around my arm tightened and I felt anger surge through me.
“I swear to the goddess I would make sure you lose your job if you don’t let go of my arm this instance, and let me go through this fucking door.” I cried out, I was already getting tired of the situation that I might just have to turn around and walk away and never come back to this floor ever again.
But then again, I need to see him. I need to explain myself to His Majesty. He needs to know I didn’t do it because I wanted to.
“Your Highness, please you can’t go any further from here. I fear I will have to escort you back to your office.” The guard said, his voice came out unsteady and I yanked my arm off his grip.
“Who are you to tell me where I can go or where I can’t be?” I yelled, and my voice broke through the hallway. The guard moved away from me with his hands clutched to his balls.
“I…” the guard trailed off when we both heard a pair of heels clicking hard on the marble floor.
“And who are you to question the royal guard?” A voice asked, that voice was full of authority and I was forced to move my gaze towards where the voice was coming from.
It was that lady; it was Prescott’s best friend, the lady all the maids were saying would be a perfect match for my husband. The lady my husband had once sided with right in the garden. That fucking lady that was in his office made Prescott send me out of his office.
It was that lady! That same lady that I detest with all of my heart.
“Greetings, lady Ulrica!” the guard bowed to her, he scanned through the maids that were following the lady with his eyes before moving back to his position by the door.
The lady ignored the guard’s greeting. She walked up to me and stopped in front of me, The maids also came to an abrupt halt with their gaze on the covered trays in their hands. There was no doubt they were here to deliver food to His Majesty’s office.
“I will ask you again. Who the fuck are you to threaten a royal guard with his job?” she smirked down at me. Everything about her was so intimidating for me that I couldn’t bring myself to say a word.
I gulped nervously when I saw the maids grinning at her back. It was obvious they were enjoying what the lady was doing to me.
“You’re not that important because his Majesty made you the Queen out of pity. Your pack would have been demolished if His Majesty hadn’t taken pity on your kind and made you his Queen. You’re just a punishment his Majesty served your family, so, don’t think too highly of yourself because you’re nothing but a mere tool his Majesty used to obtain his freedom from the elders.” She smirked down at me, flashing me a devilish grin as she lowered her gaze.
“You may be the Queen by title,” she snarled, her hot breath was all over my face, sending shivers down my spine. “But to my king, you are nothing but a pawn, a tool he only needs to get to the elders. Get ready to be discarded now that you’ve served your purpose and you’re no longer needed.”
With a shaking hand, I struck her hard across the cheek, the sound of the slap echoing in the room. The clatter of broken dishes and glasses filled the air, as her words cut through me like a knife.
I didn’t know what was happening until I moved my gaze up to see my palm on the lady’s cheek.
Did I just slap her? The sound of the slap still rang in my ears, and I started at my palm on her cheek in horror. I hastily retrieved my palm from her cheek and moved away in shock.
“Excuse me,” I murmured, as I quickly pushed past the stunned maids. I felt their shocked gazes burning into my back, but I couldn’t face them. I couldn’t face anyone at that moment, for I was consumed by shame and remorse. I had lost control, I had allowed my emotions to get the best of me, and I had done something that I could never take back. All I wanted was to run, to get away from that hallway, from that building and everyone in it.