In the evening, after Aurora finished with her duties, she was in her bedroom brushing her hair, and humming to her favorite song.
Today is one of her best days in life, having King Malik agree to her requests. She wanted to use tonight to carve a good imprint into the king’s heart, hoping he would never forget her name, even though she might leave the palace soon.
Dancing, brushing her hair, and humming, the door slammed open and Morena walked in.
“Morena” She called, looking back with a smile on her face, making it obvious that she was happy indeed.
“The king ordered me to give you this and wear it when coming, and he requested your presence at the meeting spot you agreed” She informed her with a concerned smile, she was feeling concerned for her, knowing about her feelings for the king, although she knows the king felt the same way even though he didn’t want to accept it.
This is the first time she will hear the king asking her to give a woman a necklace, although it’s their responsibility to provide his woman accessories of any kind they wanted, still, he had never given any a gift, not even his Xena.
Hearing her, Aurora’s heart skipped three beats, nervousness mixed with her happiness, as Morena removed the necklace wanting to put it on her neck.
“Morena?” She muttered.
The older woman walked closer and took the comb from her. She watched
through the mirror as she ran the comb through her long hair.
“I hope you have fun with the king.” She whispered and wore her necklace.
“Did you like it?” Morena asked, making Aurora open her shut eyes, her mouth parted in awe, seeing the beautiful necklace on her neck in the mirror.
“It’s beautiful” She muttered as her face clouded with joy, she hasn’t worn any accessories ever since she left her town.
“Sometimes your beauty made me doubt you, everything about you screamed royalty, your flawless body, your perfect structure, your shining hair, your walking style and the way you speak, everything, although I know I’m just paranoid, thinking you are royals” Morena uttered, and she took a last shot on the mark on Aurora’s neck, she always felt a connection to the mark, feeling as if she had seen it before.
“Maybe my forefathers are Royal but betrayed”Aurora said in a teasing tone filled with nervousness.
” Yes, maybe” Morena altered.
Aurora swiveled around and faced Morena, looking into her.
“Morena, did you think it’s foolish of me to ask the king for this?” Aurora asked, she felt she could have asked for her freedom.
Finally, Morena brushed her hair and packed it, then she clipped it behind her back, dropped the comb, and took hold of her hand.
“I know how much you love the king, so I think doing this won’t leave you any regret in the future, then asking for something else. Use tonight to settle the difference, convince the king that you aren’t his father’s killer, just as you can convince me and make me believe in you” She muttered, stroking the back of her palm.
Just then, Aurora removed her hand rather she pulled her into an embrace, resting her head on her chest.
“I love you so much Morena, without you, I might have ended up killing myself,” She said soberly, tears wanting to come out, but she sniffles them back.
After remaining for some minutes enjoying each other’s arms, Morena finally pulled her out of the embrace.
“The king won’t like to be delayed, finish your dressing and go and meet him, and come and tell me the gist tomorrow morning,” Morena said, patting her back before leaving her.
******
After meeting with the king at their meeting spot, both were strolling around, but Aurora couldn’t help stealing glances at the king. There was so much pain in his eyes, it made her heartburn.
Making her wonder if asking him to come out with her was a bad idea, she had thought the king would enjoy her company, relying on their history.
Unconscious to Aurora, her arm rose on its accord to rub soothingly on his back. She didn’t know where the courage came from, but she found herself patting him, hoping to soothe his pain away, even though she thought she was the cause of it.
Malik was so lost in thought when he felt a soothing hand caressing his back. Seeing many loopholes in the community account got him mad, he had thought his ministers had changed.
Discovering that they had embezzled a large amount of money riled him, he had known about their deceitful nature even before his father was killed.
Their love of money and power had made them hurt him beyond repair, remembers them rebelling against his mother just to make Jericho’s mother the queen, remembering the suffering they made his mother go through, remembering how they stood against him from becoming the crown prince.
Attaining his father’s throne, he wanted to punish them all, he wanted to remove them all from their position, he wanted to make them feel his wrath, he wanted to avenge them all, even Aurora’s sins made him want to make them feel his wrath.
But postponing Aurora’s death made him stop, he relented from hurting them, even after discovering his brother Jericho was gathering rebellion coups to hijack his thrones, but he swore allegiance and promised never to hurt him again
Although he didn’t believe in him, he just accepted him to avoid shedding blood, but he made sure his right-hand man Jaguar was keeping a close tab on him.
Right now, he wondered what his minister of finance and accounting department is finding, after all their wealth, their riches still they went ahead to steal from the community money, after knowing the king’s plans to gather money to build and create some investment for the less privileged in the community.
Right now, in his cold heart, the knowledge of their atrocities hurts him.
Aurora’s soothing hand on his back dragged him back from pain, It was as if all the pain vanished and his head was clear again.
He swiveled his head and stared at her, Aurora had concern written all over her face, her eyes filled with warmth and concern, but she quickly snatched her hand away, to keep from getting punished and she bit her lower lips.