Chapter 242: Meet The King
Shera's perspective
Alright. It's been a while since Reimi went outside for the region's surveillance. Currently, John and I are sitting together. We're on the worktable, having a short break because my husband is about to have a trip to Keris.
He'll join a "feast" which is curtained to be a future war meeting to meet with His Majesty. However, John hasn't departed from here to the Capital yet, we're still waiting.
WCA soldiers are now packing up the carriage. We'll wait till we get the signal that everything is done prepared. Maybe I should spend a little time to intimate with my husband, I think.
"John...". - I gently called John, pointing my eyes at him. "Huh? Ummm... what are you doing?". - Weird, my husband is pouring out the money from his money bag, he's even stashing some in another bag
Instead of replying to me, John keeps doing his work without saying. Nearby the dropped Gel coins is a teacup. I ordered Ilis to bring tea to us, I wanted to enjoy it with my husband but he seemed to have paying his time for other purposes.
I glance a little bit at the tea, it seems to be still hot. He hasn't drunk half of the tea, I want to know what my husband is doing. But should I...? I hope my action won't disturb him.
"Drinks... drinks...". - I gulped a little more tea before putting the cup on the table
"John...". - I called my husband once again while getting closer to him. "Hey... giggles". - I giggled, trying to have his attention
"I'm sorry, Shera". - He apologized to me, his eyes kept gazing at the money bag which money being poured in. "Gimme a second...". - He kept filling the coins in that bag, not even looking behind
I patiently wait till my husband finishes filling the money in the bag. Then he seals its cover by using a rope, suddenly handing it to me.
"What...?". - I was a bit confused. "For me...? Thanks". - I widened my hands, receiving the money bag that my husband gifted me
Not yet, my husband later gets closer to me. He holds my hand gently while using his other hand to pat my head. Hmmm... he wants to be intimated this time? So do I.
"That's half of my income last month, Shera...". - He spoke to me while patting my head. "Hope you love it".
"Eh?". - I looked up to see him, I had a bit surprised
"You don't go out to work... so only I make the money". - He kept saying, later hugged me. "But you run the family, Shera... housework can also be a job". "I mean... I don't want you to feel to be dependent and be disrespect in the family, your housework dedication should also be rewarded too".
"No need to be that formal, John...". - I tapped my husband lightly. "You see... running the house is women's work, I feel it's fine".
However, John doesn't reply to me at all. He just keeps patting my head while showing to me his expression, seems to be quite happy.
It's good when his broken relationship with Reimi doesn't bother him too much. Or that's what I thought, it hasn't over yet. This time, his emotions haven't shown yet, but they will when he meets Reimi directly.
To be honest, I'm very jealous to see my husband being sad with the one he loves but not his wife. Can't he love a single one? Loving only one woman is too difficult for him?
Tonight I must seduce my husband to forget Reimi and his memories with her. It's bad when his mind keeps thinking about the one who isn't his wife... it's unacceptable! Never I will!
"Anyway...". - I gazed at my husband while raising the money bag that he gifted me. "Thanks for your present, I'll surely use it wisely". - I should buy for my husband something good after this
Later I put the money down my skirt to store it. Both of us shortly go silent and I relax myself to feel my husband's touches... I feel so happy. Hmmm... seems like someone is breaking our good time, that's a WCA woman soldier.
"My Lord, everything is ready". - She came in from the front doors, announcing that the carriage had been well prepared for the departure
"Oh...". - My husband slowly got his hands off me, sadly that I couldn't feel his touches anymore. "I'll be there soon". - He started grabbing his things for the departure
"I'll be troubling you this time, Shera". - While grabbing his things, he reminded me
When my husband is away, I'll take his place to become the land's lord of Veta. It means that I'll be solving the paperwork reported by the Lord's Advisor - Hatano and Reimi. Sarah's unavailable, she's having a day off. So does my husband when he has to join the war meeting in the Palace.
John finally wears his green handbag. Inside it also contains two meal boxes which I made for my husband on his journey. In case he doesn't have a mood or interest in eating with the Lords and officials, he'll be eating the meals that his wife made for him.
"Have a nice travel, darling...". - I got up, wishing my husband a good day. "Kiss!". - I kissed him sweetly
"I will be home soon, honey...". - He later went out the front doors
I wave to my husband till he gets out of my sight. When he's gone away, I glance at his teacup and mine. In a blink of an eye, I pour all the tea from his cup go my cup, then I lick all around his cup's surface, from the inside to the outside.
"Haahhh...". - It was so exciting to taste his tongue's smell and scent... my husband's scent was the best!
"Drinks... drinks...". - Later I poured the mixed tea from my cup and his cup, to the deepest of my mouth. "Swallows... swallows...". - His scent mixed with mine had made a perfect taste
I wonder if should I make tea by using my body liquid to make John drink it. Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't. I know I should control my sick thoughts, but I always want to be one with my husband, from everything of ours.
"Ahem...". - I calmed myself down, also glared at the glances of the women soldiers who were guarding the room
These women are very annoying... I should ask my husband to live in a house that only has both of us. John doesn't add men servants in our castle. I know what he thinks, my husband's scared that I would fall into other men's hands if he does that.
Somehow I feel that thought is silly. Well... I respect my husband's decision, but I cannot stand it when our home is full of women!
Maybe I should stop arguing with my mind. Must check on my dear husband, he's about to depart so I must see him before he goes to the Capital.
Then I get away from the worktable, and approach the front doors. The women soldiers open the front doors. I head out. A long and wide yard is spreading before my eyes, in front of it is a green carriage, parked in there.
Around the carriage is a bunch of WCA horsewomen, surrounding it. They'll be my husband's guards in the departure, 30 of them, I think. John can be seen sitting inside the carriage. He gets his hand on the car window's rail, his face seems to be a bit... dull?
"Oh...". - My husband spotted me approaching him, he immediately put his hand down. "You don't restart to work now?". - His face returned to normal, my husband was trying to be "normal"
"You looked unwell earlier, John". - I spoke with him, lowering my face to see him. "Is there anything...?". - I put my hands on the window's rails, gazing at my husband deeply without blinking
John later doesn't reply to my question. Instead, he avoids facing me or something, while looking at a space inside the carriage, as if to ignore me. Looking closely... I can see some grumbles showing on his stout face. Honestly... my husband always shows this sign when he has problems, John needs help.
"How... do you see me?". - John asked me strangely. "How...? Tell me, all the things". - He raised his left hand to his face, later lowered it and started looking at me
"What do you mean, John?". - I asked my husband in my confusion. "What's wrong?". - I opened the door, later came in and got near him. John gave me a seat, and I sat beside him to comfort him
"Ummm... I'm very controlling, am I?". - He said, a bit tired while looking at me. "She hates me... I harmed her because of my selfishness". - Then he looked away. "I'm not good enough, Shera...".
Although being blind with the meanings in my husband's words, I've got it a little bit. Maybe he was confessing to me that he felt he wasn't good enough for the family. To be honest, I consider my husband to be quite controlling, selfish and a bit delusional in his jealousy.
But to me, that's the normal thing for a man. We women are just women, men decide everything in the family. John... he had a bad childhood, growing up in beating and scolded. However, he does his best to not repeat it. We rarely argue, and my husband and I always want to solve our things in peace, not loudly.
"Don't worry, John...". - I wrapped his back. "I don't have problems with it, ya know...". - Then I fell into his chest, doing my best to comfort my husband. "Please calm down, you can't find peace if your mind keeps having nervousness, John".
"Control your emotions...". - Then I got closer to John, wrapping his hand with mine. "Please let me hear you, say out things you're worried about, okay?".
From my life experience, I think men tend to hide, tolerate their real emotions. So does my husband, he doesn't want me and others to complain. However. I just want my husband to be happy, and he must love me, that's all I want from John.
Whatever he becomes, I still love my husband. John is kind, but his mind is full of unstable and nervousness. Not good. John cannot find his peace if he keeps thinking too much without stopping it.
"I'm here to listen to all the things you're worried about, John...". - Should I ask my husband to delay his journey? I hope I can. "Come here...". - Then I wrapped his back with my entire hands, I would try to relieve my husband
However, John only replies to me by using his silence and eye contact. It's not good.
"I want to be alone...". - Finally my husband replied to me, but his voice was very low. "Kiss...". - He kissed my forehead slowly. "I'm fine". - He avoided looking at me directly, he kept grumbling as if trying to stop grumbling. But doing that only makes John be more difficult
I don't say anything. I gaze at my husband, staring at his face directly to let him know that I'm worried about him. To be honest, I'm a bit frustrated. There's no difficulty to complain, there's no problem for him to say out his problems to let me know.
I'll help my husband, with everything I can. But he doesn't want me to know, that's why I keep pissed off.
"I'm not hating you, John...". - Then I wrapped his back. "Please...". - I whispered. "There's no need to hold back, I'll listen to everything you want me to". - Hmmm... I pressed myself closer to him. "Tonight... alright?".
"Nod". - He blushed a bit after hearing me
"Kiss...". - I kissed my husband to intimate with him... however, he only let me kiss him not too long
Later I get out of the green carriage and stand before the opened window. John tries to make some cheerful expression on his lip, but fails. Later, my husband looks at me with his hopeful eyes, and I feel so happy.
Tonight, I'll do everything to cure my husband's nervousness. He tends to think much and be concerned much, and it's bad for him. John should be more cheerful. And I'll help him.
"Oh, Sir?". - All of sudden, some WCA soldiers who were guarding the castle's gate made a talk
I look in the direction that leads to the gate. A tall and muscular... tiger? His body is full of stripes and dark tattoos. Two people, maybe women, can be seen sitting on the huge tiger's back.
"Grunts! Grunts! Grunts!". - The tiger kept grunting aggressively when some soldiers were pointing their spears at him
However. That predator stops doing that as a long fur person taps his head. A short moment after the previous incident, one dismounts from the tiger, she looks familiar. Hmmm... she is now pulling out something from a large green bag, strapped to the predator's back.
"They're your old friend, Shera". - Suddenly, my husband said to me. "You didn't say to me about this?". - Both of us looked at each other, feeling confused
"No". - My friends? But who? Raptu and Akane?
Replying to my husband not so long, I take a look at those two people. I immediately see both of them approaching me as I turn my eyes on them. The predator is now led by the soldiers. To the horse's keephouse to park him there.
"Long time no see, Mrs. Rigen...". - The dense fur woman approached me and greeted me. "Or you prefer to be called "Mrs. Shera", hmmm...". "You too, Sir Rigen...". - Somehow I felt that my old friend was having some hatred toward my husband, especially her previous secret glare
I make a slight nod toward my two old friends as a way to greet them. Akane later approaches us. She slightly bows to me and my husband. From what I see, my Ashuranian friend is sitting in a wheelchair. A white one.
It's quite strange. Because I didn't see that wheelchair previously, but not it oddly appears as her moving tool. Hmmm... although I don't know how she got it... but I think I should focus on something else.
"How did you two get here?". - I asked both of them, my hand put on the carriage's window stool
"Sorry for not messaging you". - Raptu replied to me. "Just accidentally got here... so we want to visit you".
"It will be late if I stay here for longer". - My husband said to me. "Don't worry, I won't mind if the work is late than usual". - He gazed at me, telling me not to be too serious with the paperwork. "Give 'em some tea". - Done saying, he raised his hand to order the soldiers to start the carriage
The wheels start rolling on the road. Following it is dozens of horsewomen, I keep staring at my husband till he goes away from my view. Although we don't have much time together, I wish he returns soon. My husband needs help with his mental health, and I'm the one who can only cure him.
"You should leave him". - All of sudden, someone tapped my shoulder from behind
Turned out that was Raptu's action. She gets her hand away from me, and starts looking at the castle's scenery. Akane does not comment, she is so silent. From her look, I can tell that my friend wants to go inside to have a talk.
"Well...". - I turned to them, saying. "Let's move inside, I will bring you some tea". - Maybe I should order Ilis to do this part. To be honest, it would be great to chat with my old friends after a long time without seeing
"You forgot something, Mrs. Rigen". - I was about to walk, but Raptu reminded me
"He is not fine, Your Highness". - She shook her head. "Look at you... he doesn't allow you to go out, or to have free time for yourself". - What does she mean? She's bad-mouthing my husband?
I don't reply, but stand opposite her. I try to calm, while listening to her words.
"He's quite controlling, you know you shouldn't be with him anymore". - Alright. "Look at me". - She pointed to herself. "I'd heard what happened in the battle... he killed his own men". - Then she approached me. "Luckily that I wasn't in Veta but sent to Jager". "Would you take it from seeing him kill your own friend, Mrs. Shera?".
"Let's talk when we get inside". - I avoided talking with her, and headed inside the castle
My friends are quite annoying this time. I know my husband committed bad things, but can't they understand him? Now I feel so tired. Somehow I feel like kicking them out of my house right now.
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John Rigen's perspective
"Pip! Pip!". - All of sudden, Advisor's alarm rang very loud in my right ear (The part that was wearing an airpod)
I immediately open my eyes, and start looking around. From what I see currently, no surprise when Advisor woke me up. The Palace is in sight, and my carriage is about to move in the entrance.
Later I overturn my right hand to see my green digital watch. This time is 10:49 AM. The departure from my house to the Palace took me about one hour and 12 minutes. Somehow I got here late more than in previous days.
"I spotted something odd earlier, Johnny".
"Go on, Ad".
"Well... no more carriages are found around here". "Only your car, I only see your car". - I tend to go early every time, maybe other Lords are now on their way
"No, it's not". - Advisor suddenly informed me something odd. "My sensor didn't spot even a single car heading here during the go".
"Stop right there, soldiers". - All of sudden, some voices ahead stopped my carriage
Turned out they were Warsaw guards. They ask my carriage to stop its movement. Then a man heads to the window, and looks at me while raising his palm.
"My Lord, today His Majesty only allows outsiders to go in if they have the paper".
"What...?". - I pretended to be surprised. "Not free going anymore?".
"Nod".
"Here". - I showed him the "meeting letter"
"Alright, my Lord". - The Warsaw guard later stepped aside, showing my carriage a long path to go through
I grab my green handbag, later open the door. I head out of the carriage and walk through the entrance, getting inside the Palace's front yard.
The carriage is shortly driven to the right side. It's parked there, in an empty yard side. Hmmm... I see that everything is so odd. Except for carriages in the yard whose insignias are His Majesty's, only my carriage is different.
"Hey...". - I tapped on that guard when he was about to return to his position
"My Lord?".
"When will other Lords come?".
"What do you mean, my Lord?".
"Today has a feast, right?".
"I... have no idea". - The man seemed to be confused. "Sorry, my Lord... we're not allowed to talk while guarding". - He silently returned to his position
Something is strange here, not good at all. Hmmm... I must be cautious about Hoster now. The WCA horsewomen, I cannot bring them in with me. Now I and Advisor will be on our own when we head inside the Palace.
"All units stay guard outside". - I ordered the horsewomen to stay guard outside
I see their nods before getting my eyes off them. I check on Advisor's screen once again to make sure there's no suspicious dot around me. Although I have no plan in my mind, but I keep moving to the Palace.
I head inside. And... I see that the scene before my eyes is a bit different than usual. Warsaw guards can be seen guarding around. Most of 'em are now armed with firearms, or I should say they're muskets taken from NMZ.
Right after the war, King Hoster made up a big reform in Kingdom. That's why these musket guards are now standing before me.
I see no servant like a clean keeper or a maid passing the hallway anymore. Only these guards armed with firearms, are standing in each room and corner to guard the place. Although the atmosphere is not unsettling... somehow I don't want to step more.
"It's alright to move, Johnny".
I hear Advisor's advice, but still considering whether or not if I should move. However. Later I keep moving and see nothing wrong happens to me. But it doesn't mean I won't be harmed.
Somehow my summoning order is full of suspicion, as if it is a set up. But I have to make sure that I won't expose my movement too much. Otherwise, I will be dead.
I keep moving in the hallway while trying to verify the meeting place's direction. From the thing mentioned in the letter, I need to head to the courtroom. I was about to step on a route of another hallway, but I later stopped.
I've just passed by Sherry's private room. I stopped moving because of the girl. Although I didn't look inside her room while passing it... but I hope I did not mishear.
She was sobbing or something. Her sob was very loud, so she pressed her face on the pillow to suppress her crying sounds. Hmmm...
"These men are watching you, Johnny". - Advisor alerted me silently. "Just keep moving, or they will suspect you". - If you throw the spear, you have to chase it even if your move is wrong, huh?
My pistol is now still with me. Although the ammo is low, but it at least can help me a little bit. Hmmm... I move on calmly although being watched by every guard.
I keep moving to the next hallway till I see the courtroom's doors. Two Warsaw guards open the doors widely, and it shows my eyes a long path ahead.
I head inside the courtroom without any hesitation. Then my ears hear the doors being closed by guards. I look around the courtroom slowly. Only me standing on the floor, no one else is on the "Meeting floor".
I see no one. My eyes automatically raise above, glancing at the staircase whose middle part is covered in a long path of red silk. From above, His Majesty is sitting on the throne. He tilts to the right, putting his elbow on the throne's right side rail.
"It's far enough". - Hoster told me to stop my movement
Then he sits straightly, gazing at me from above. His hands put on the golden throne's rails, as if to show me how powerful he is to be a King. He smirks. Later his smirk goes off and he looks at me with a serious looking.
"Come closer, my brother-in-law...". - He commanded me with a low tone, a bit cold
"Commander, you shouldn't". - Say it in more detail, Advisor. "Ten men, hiding on the throne floor". "They must be well armed, Johnny".
"Hmmm... I must refuse, Your Majesty".
"What...?".
"What is the real purpose of my summoning order?". - I raised my wide palm behind. "Where are the others?".
"Well...". - Hoster later got off his throne. "They're preparing for it... I invited you here for an important reason". - He slowly stepped down the staircase
"It?".
"My wedding...". - He walked a bit faster. "And I would like you to take my place... I want to have a vacation with her".
"With who?".
"Sherry". - As he finished, Hoster was now in front of me
"I had just seen her crying in her r-".
"Somehow... her parents died sadly today". - Hoster put his hand on my shoulder. "That's why I need to be with her... to make her happy". - He put his other hand on my shoulder
"What's about the feast?".
"The "feast" is actually my wedding day". - Hoster started walking around me. "However... I wanted to make you more surprise... so I decided to write like that". - Then he stopped before me
"Follow me". - Later Hoster grabbed my back, he led me up the stairs
"You know what, my brother-in-law?". - He kept his eyes on me. "Without you, there will be no me today". - He started looking at the path that leads to the throne floor. "From the beginning, I was a puppet of that old man and his clowns". "Thirty years of shattering... my parentsland had suffered enough".
"From this day forward... a new era will begin". - Then he stopped in the middle of the stairs, slowly gazed at me. "The era... of you and me". - He put his hands on my shoulders, tightly. "Although you are an outsider, but now you're part of our Royal blood". - He tapped on me slightly, as if to praise me
"What do you exactly mean, Your Majesty?". - I was a bit cautious this time. "Tell me". - He was trying to urge me to go faster, so I moved slower
"Two rulers of a nation... that's my goal". - He saw me stop walking, so he also stopped as well. "Would you mind... to sit on the throne?". - His Majesty raised his wide palm to the throne above me
"This is just the beginning...". - He looked at the roof, thinking about something far away, beyond my imagination. "When time goes on... every land of this continent will fall under our feet". - His hand reached the sky. "Farther to our descendants' time, we will take over the world". - His palm closed, as if it was a hint, this tyrant's expansion thought was bigger than anything else
"We'll surely die all before we can see it". - I tried to get Hoster's hand on my left shoulder off, but failed
"Then we will make the first step right now". - He later returned to look at me. "To do that, I need you to get on the throne... we will rule together". "Isn't that your dream when you married my little sister?". "I approve it now, let's rule together".
Honestly... I used to think about becoming a King, to stand above all. However... my marriage with Shera doesn't have any purpose of having power or anything. Just simple. I love her so I married her, I never think about using my wife.
"I must refuse, Your Majesty". - I got Hoster's hand off me
"I realize... if I have power but I don't have the responsibility, then... having it is just useless". - I walked down the stairs while explaining
I don't say anything else anymore. I walk down the stairs till I reach the meeting floor, I don't look behind. From what I heard when I was walking downstairs, he was grunting. Hoster must be very mad right now when he couldn't lure me to my death.
"Are you sure about that?". - I heard Hoster talking while going up the stairs. "Anyone who submits me... will be well treated... but those who da...". - Hoster suddenly went silent
"Fine... you're allowed to go".
The courtroom's doors are later wide opened. I'm a bit afraid because I don't know what is his next move.
"Ad... emergency message, now". - I ordered Advisor to take the action, somehow I felt that we need to escape as soon as possible right now
"All Kriegs, be advised".