After visiting Esther, king Theron returned to his study and busied himself with work to get rid of any disturbing and hurting thoughts. After a while, a knight announced his mother's arrival.
The older lady arrived to see his son.
"Mother," he bowed to her.
Accepting the greeting, she sat in a chair and Theron went to sit in the chair next to her.
"Did you go see Esther?" she asked.
He simply nodded.
"I believe you were good to her," she comnted.
"Apologies for disappointing your mother." He accepted that he was not good to her and the guilt was written on his face.
"I know you are hurt and so is she. The situation she is in, you need to be good to her. You know you have to raise that child as your own."
He simply nodded, "Even if I accept that child as mine and raise him, it will never stop reminding of my failure as a king. I can only accept him just because he was born from Esther's body. I will accept him just because he is a part of her."
"Son, I know what happened was sad. But she is expecting a child. Though it is not yours, you should be by her side and take care of her. She needs you the most now."
"Mother, I want to…I am not upset because it is not my child but…" he paused and his mother waited for him to talk.
"Mother, even if I raise that child, one day when he will know he is not my son and how he was born. When he knows I am the king who saved this kingdom by sacrificing his mother, will he ever think of as his father? If I am him, I will never forgive such a man."
"You didn't sacrifice her. It was her own decision."
"But I can't deny the fact that I was incompetent king. When I knew who and how she was, I should have stopped her from doing anything, instead of trusting that she will keep her promise and will wait for ."
"Till how long are you going to bla yourself? If you wish to make up for it, then be good to her. Be her strength when she is already going through a lot. When a woman should be happy with such news, she worries about how it would hurt you."
He closed his eyes to calm himself and heard his mother, "Think about what I said, son. I know you still love her."
"I will try, mother.
------
Lady Clarisa returned to the Vermilion Palace feeling shocked over what she had heard from the King and his mother. She found it impossible to imagine and the entire day was in the sa shock.
The sa evening, King Theron sent a ssage to her.
"My Lady, His Majesty wishes to have tea with you," her servant inford her.
Hearing it, Lady Clarisa felt shocked. Sothing like this had never happened before that the king would ever ask her on his own for the tea or to see him for any other reason.
'Is it because he knows his most loved wife had betrayed ? Is it because he doesn't love her anymore and finally realized my value?' A ray of hope appeared in her eyes thinking finally she had a chance to get affection and love from her husband.
Lady Clarisa, who had been quiet since she returned from the King's residence, finally cheered up and looked at her servant, "Make look prettier."
The servant nodded and started helping her master.
Lady Clarisa reached the King's residence where the king was waiting for her in his study.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," she bowed.
King Theron, who was sitting in his high backrest chair around the wooden centre table, gestured for her to sit on the chair next to him. He was never so sweet and affectionate to her so she didn't feel surprised that he treated her the sa. For now, being invited by him was more than enough for her.
Happily, she sat in the chair as the servant brought tea for them. The servant was about to serve the tea, but Lady Clarisa stopped him, "I will do it."
Nodding, the servant left and lady Clarisa poured the tea into the cup and offered it to her husband.
King Theron accepted it and continued sipping the tea as he didn't say a word.
Lady Clarisa had the tea for herself and thought about how to start a conversation as this silence was making her nervous.
"Ah, Your Majesty, apologies for being late. Congratulations."
"About what?" he simply asked as if he didn't know what she ant.
'There is only one occasion that everything is congratulating him, still, he is asking why. Is it that he will not recognise that child as his own even if it's not his? Did he realise she doesn't; deserve his love?'
"That…." she tried to speak but got interrupted by him, "My knight told that you were here before."
Hearing it she gulped, "I…Your Majesty, apologies for leaving without eting you. I got to know mother is here so I left thinking not to disturb you two," she pulled out a guilty awkward smile, "It was my mistake of coming here unannounced."
"Hmm," was his reaction.
She waited for him to say sothing but he didn't. Lady Clarisa got a little confident that she thought it could be a chance to get closer to him and earn his trust.
"Your Majesty, you don't look happy about such news when the entire kingdom is celebrating it."
"What is there to be happy about?" he comnted coldly and continued sipping on tea.
"True," she added.
He looked at her questioningly which startled her.
"I…an…" she inhaled deeply and said, "Apologies, Your Majesty…But when you were talking to your mother, I heard sothing."
King Theron was still calm and it boosted her moral thinking she was doing the right thing. Hearing what she said, he should have asked what she had heard and felt enraged about it but he was calm.
"I know how much you loved Her but she broke your trust. It was fine if she could not be a mother. Wasn't Keiren her son?" She waited for his reaction but it was still the sa.
She sipped her tea happily, "I am greatly disappointed that she went to another man and betrayed you, Your Majesty. When it hurt and disappointed this much, I can understand your pain. Though that is not your child, you still have Keiren and we can have many more kids together. I assure you that I am loyal to my husband only. I wonder who that man must be, who she found better than you, Your Majesty and I wonder whose bastard child it must be. I never expected her to be like this. Such a woman doesn't deserve your love and to be a Queen of this kingdom…Insolent...immoral woman ...."
Smash!
The entire wooden tray kept on the centre table, having a tea kettle and cups was smashed on the ground.
Lady Clarisa was shocked and looked at the King who was enraged and the next mont her neck was strangled in his strong's hand's firm grip.
"Your Majesty…Ughh…App..lo..gies…"
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