Will rather marry a crippled man than the King
Gregorio's Mansion
Davina Gregorio wakes up from sleep and stretches her body lazily, she looked out her window to see that it's noon and called out to her maids clearing her throat.
"June! Arya!" She called and goes to sit on a golden chair and close her drowsy eyes briefly forcing herself to fight off the sleep
Davina pours herself a glass of water from the golden jar in front of her and takes a sip after blowing gently on it, she cross her legs revealing her delicate and beautiful skin
Her maids run in and kneel down in front of her bowing their heads at the same time.
Davina nod her head at them and they stood up, Arya move close to her and start to massage her shoulders while June stood in front of her still.
"What is the time?" Davina asked
"It's almost one in the noon" June answered and took the empty glass from her hand then pours her another one
"My lady" June called and bows her head down scared to talk
"Just say it" Davina said
"We... We have just received news that the date of your marriage to the King has been fixed" June revealed to her and Davina stood up to her feet shocked.
"What!!" She exclaimed dumbfounded
"How could that happen?" She questioned but the both of them don't have an answer.
The fact that she will be getting married to the King is well known to the three of them after Queen Harriette died three months ago
Davina has requested her father to try everything possible just to make sure she doesn't have to get married to the King and didn't expect this to happen
"Where did you hear this information from?" she question her and Arya told her the servants were discussing it
"The Queen mother has also invited the whole family to a royal banquet tonight" June added and Davina seats back
She shakes her head in horror and disbelieve of her impending misfortune, she is definitely not going to accept this
Davina has been chosen by her father has the matriarch and the plan was for her to marry a matrilocal husband but hasn't been able to find a suitable partner...
Davina wasn't worried at first when she got to know her name is on the list of those who are eligible for the position of the Queen, since she is the last in line.
She also never thought the title of the Queen will ever get to her until she start hearing about the sudden death of the Queens and how they commit suicide.
Everyone believes the dragon is behind it but her own thoughts are different, the king is definitely responsible for their death
After a long minute of silence from their lady, Arya and June look at each other worried and June tap her gently
They are also afraid that their master will lose her life when she gets to the palace and they might also die but can't show their fear or they will agitate her more
"My lady, everyone is having lunch already and your dress to the banquet tonight is ready, will you like to..." Arya was saying but Davina cut her off
"I am not going to the banquet!" Davina voiced and stood up abruptly from her seat
"What?!" it is their turn to be surprised now
Due to how tight the time is for them to prepare, they haven't rested since yesterday and sew a beautiful dress for her overnight and have gotten everything ready for her but now she is not going
"May I ask for the reason why please?" June asked calmly in order not to offend her
"Do I have to report to you before taking a decision? I am not going simply means am not going understood!" she snap at her
"Okay my lady" the two stuttered then hurried out of her presence frightened
They can also understand why she is angry, after all no woman will hear that she is getting married to a place that will definitely cause her death and not panic.
Davina held her forehead and pace up and down in her room thinking of a solution to the problem on ground, she need a reason to escape this hell of a marriage that is in front of her
She is sure the King has something to do with the death of his Queen not can't figure out why, he is after all a wicked man who killed his blood because of the throne
Davina pick up her silver embroidered fan on the table and rushed out of her room forgetting to put on proper clothes then made her way to her father.
She entered the main hall and meet her father having lunch with the rest of the family, his three other wives and children.
Davina's mother died immediately after giving birth to her and after her death, her father step down from the position of the King's secretary and start the business of exporting and importing different goods
Davina rushes forward and stood in front of her father
"Father" she called to him, Gregorio looked up from his meal and is shocked to see Davina in her sleeping attire.
"Davina what did you think you are doing wearing that here?" he questioned surprised at her brazen act
"What is she doing now?" one of her father's wives Tasha whispered to the other
"Davina, you can't wear that outside your room, go and change into proper clothes" Maria, her father's first wife said and gaze at her maids to take her out
Davina used her long dark hair to cover her neck properly and flick the fan in her hand towards the maids.
"Don't even think about touching me!" Davina threatened and the maids back off.
Arya and June rush inside with a long blue robe in their hands and use it to cover her body before stepping back
"What were you two busy doing when your mistress left her room looking like this" Gregorio turned to her maids and they fell to their knees
"We are sorry My Lord" they both chorused
"Don't blame them" Davina cut in and walk closer to take her seat next to her father but her stepsister is already sitting there.
Jessica stood up slowly and reluctantly as Davina sat down on the seat she was occupying.
"Father, I want to get married" Davina suddenly said as they eat and everyone paused for a second, shocked.
Her father looked at her more shocked to hear the word marriage coming from her mouth; even her maids thought they just heard the strangest words coming from her but Jessica's face turn sour
Her father could guess that she has somehow heard about her marriage to the King in a few weeks but didn't expect her to want to get married to the King that easily
She is already twenty and should have been married for a long time now but because of the requirement she has placed for a husband, a lot of suitors has back off.
"Get married?" Maria queried concerned.
Gregorio married Maria two years after her mother's death but she was only able to conceive a female child, Jessica, and that has pushed her father to take in two other wives.
Both Tasha and Jane gave birth to two sons each but Maria's position as the Madam of the house wasn't threatened as she is from a very powerful family.
Maria also isn't happy that Davina will have to get married to a place where she could lose her life without them knowing the cause.
"I heard Cornelius asked for my hand in marriage but his proposal was rejected" Davina continues not minding everyone's reaction
She actually knows about Cornelius proposal in the past but doesn't want to marry him because of his reputation
He fell from the window of a married woman and broke his leg which has kept him in wheelchairs since then. His parents were willing to accept her condition because of it
"What has gotten into you?" Gregorio asked and touches her forehead to see if she is sick or if something is actually wrong with her
"Nothing has happened to me father but I will rather get married to him than marry the King" she said in a rather unruly manner and everyone is speechless
Although they are all aware of the rumors surrounding the King but they don't dare to say bad words against the king.
"Am supposed to be married already, just tell the King I got married before the decree came" she told her father
"Now you know that, you've kept your brothers from getting married because of your selfish behavior" Tasha scoffs
"What are you talking about? Jessica should be more affected by her selfishness don't you think?" Jane replied and they both laugh silently
"Hmm hmm" Gregorio cleared his throat and they stopped laughing
"You should discuss this first with your mother and I, let's talk later in the evening"
"No father, I already told everyone so there is no need to hide it. I want the process to start immediately and also I won't be going to the banquet tonight, I need to start preparing for my wedding" she dropped another shocking news before she stood up and left the hall leaving them speechless as her maids runs after her
If she wants to avoid getting married to the King then she needs to get married fast.
"Has she finally gone crazy? She has been willful all this time and now she actually wants to disobey the orders of the King" Tasha was the first to speak and Jane taps her gently to quiet down
"My lord, do you want me to take care of this?" Maria lean in to ask but Gregorio shakes his head no
"I will see to it myself" he said and called one of the servants
"Am leaving first" he said to them and stood up from his seat anxiously
"I need to fix this quickly" he murmured and left the hall without finishing his meal
"Mother, can I also be excused? I have some important business to attend to" Louis, the youngest son asked his mother Tasha and she looked at Maria to seek permission
"Everyone is dismissed" Maria said and the rest stood up and left except the wives and Jessica.