It was only until the moon fully lit across the dark sky had I reached the ball.
I saw Alice looking frantically everywhere. Not wanting to worry her any longer I approached where she could see me.
When finally she laid her eyes on me. She said, "Your Highness, I have been searching for you everywhere. Where have you gone? I was worried sick!"
"Do not fret, Alice. I was just outside in the garden." She looks at me sadly, her eyes wandering anywhere but my face. "Why do you worry to tell me such things when this was bound to happen? This marriage was only for politic gains. There was no love since the beginning."
"Still, I am worried for you your Highness. Will you live the rest of your life like this? Overshadowed by that whore?"
"Leave it be, Alice. She is just a concubine. Let us go rest now."
"As you wish."
I wondered as I laid on the bed about the strange man I met in the garden. I had never seen him before. Was he a thief or an assassin? I had barely gotten away. No wonder he had been so persistent for me to stay. I had even asked him if he wanted his head cut off.
What have I done? I sigh.
A knock came from the door. "My queen, the king has come to visit you."
At this late hour? Was he here to talk about the new concubine?
I get up.
"Let him in."
The door opened and he stepped in regally. How long had it been since I last saw him? Must have been a month. Yet, he looked like a different person. A person I have yet to meet.
"Derek, what work do you have here?"
"I am here to discuss something."
"Could you not wait or is this an important matter that is to be quickly taken care of?"
"It seems like you have been informed. So, I will just cut to the chase. Jessica will be the new concubine from now on. I want her to receive the keys to the treasury."
I tighten my fists.
"Do you not know what this means. This is direct humiliation to me. The keys to the treasury is something given to me by the late queen. I will not give it to any random concubine."
He glares at me. "Try to understand. Rebecca does not have anything. Meanwhile you on the other have everything. What bad does it do to you to give just one thing in her control."
"It seems like you don't understand, my king. I will not give the keys to the treasury to her. Ask anything else, but this I will not do."
Sitting on the seat in front of me, he rubs his forehead. "Do not try to go against me."
"Good night to you, I wish to rest," I say while getting up.
"It seems like you have changed. I thought you would at least understand me."
I looked away from him.
"Have I changed your majesty or have you? Was I not always left behind here by you? This is the first visit you pay me and you speak about such things." So why does he try to make it seem like he's the one hurting. My husband was the one being stolen away.
"I will not rest on this matter today any longer. But, you shall give her the keys tomorrow."
Does he not understand? I am willing to give her anything else but the keys to the treasury. The key has always been passed down to each queen. Not in history has any king wanted to pass the key down to a concubine.
When the door finally shut close. I sat down on the bed. He came to talk about her and my stupid heart was fluttering for his lips to say mine. What did I have my hopes up for?
Don't you love her a lot.
"Adrian, tell Alice to schedule a tea visit to the concubine for tomorrow. Let me see what kind of person she is for his majesty to flaunt over."