"You know my Queen, what are you talking of?" Patrick asked Maya bewilderdly.
"Yes, my Lord." She told him.
Lady Edwina intervened once again. "But, my Lord, we have another pressing problem here."
"What's that?" Patrick asked her.
"After Sir Rex Hamilton's untimely demise, his state will never become your ally. And we can not afford to have another powerful enemy." She explained.
"Hmm. Delicate situation. But I don't find your Young Mistress gulity at all. As a host, I was bound to tolerate him. Unless I will kill him all by myself." Patrick told grumpily.
Then he signalled his soldiers to clear the blood and the deadbody.
Sebastian after such a long time opened his mouth and said - "I don't have any rights to say whether the Young Mistress is right or wrong. But I have an information that I want to share with you all. Sir Hamilton already had decided to become Sir David's ally and to marry his sister Princess Rena with him."
Patrick glared at him while uttering this "Why don't you tell me that before?"
Sebastian stood up from his seat and bowed his head to him while answering - "Forgive my imprudence, but My Lord, you did not ask for my opinion before sending him an invitation."
Patrick looked dissatisfied to discover his own fault here. "Hmm then what to do?" He rubbed his chin.
Minister Mandrek sighed hard while saying - "I think, My Lord, we cant be friends with the Hamilton family after that."
A shrill women voice rang in their ears all of a sudden.
"No. My Lord, you still have a chance."
All got stiffen instantly. Whose voice it was?!! Everyone was searching for the answer while looking at each other's face when a very slim young and beautiful girl came forward and bowed her head to Patrick.
She was indeed a ravishing beauty. Her pale fair complextion, small pouty red lips, pinkish cheeks, the straight hip-long black hair, broad shoulders, elegant manner and exquisite yet lavish gown made her look royal among others.
"Get up. Introduce yourself." Patrick told her.
She lifted her face. She had beautiful hazel big eyes with longest eyelashes. She stood up and gave her introduction -
"I am Rena Hamilton, sister of dead Sir Rex Hamilton."
All opened their eyes big by knowing her name. What she wanted to??!!
She continued again - "My brother was a very power-hungry man. He never loved his fiance. He never loved or respected any girl. He did not dare to challenge Sir David when he abducted his own fiance or demanded for me. He wanted truce. So he decided to send me at his palace to serve him and bear him a child. But before that he wanted to come here and make a blueprint of this mansion so that he can sell it to Sir David in high price. I refused to accompany him so he beat me like a dog." She showed them her shoulders fresh wound and continued again "He never loved her. He just toyed with her emotions. He also wanted to toss Sumona after his satisfaction of lust."
"What you want from me?" Patrick asked her.
"Protection of honor." She demanded.
"Ok. You can stay here if you wish. And if you want to leave, you can." He instructed.
"No. I want to marry you to secure my state's border. Its my duty." She replied proudly.
"Why me? Why not David?" He again asked.
"Because you respect a woman unlike him. I hope you will not consider a girl just as a womb for your child like him." She answered.
"Hmm" He looked at Maya, Susan and his brother Sebastian's face for approval. Seb and Maya nodded their heads in consent. Susan stood lifeless as a doll.
"Okay. I promise to protect your honor and dignity. And with the birth of our child, be it a son or a daughter, both of our states will be united together forever." He declared aloud.
The entire hall room erupted in happiness. But Susan shivered a little and Maya hugged her shoulders to comfort her. She knew this sad feeling. No woman would want to share her husband with any other woman. Susan was not an exception.
"Long live the King. Long live New Queen." Everyone started to encore and cheer around them. At last Hamilton dynasty had become a part of the Vangoughs.
....