The following morning came, and everyone sat in front of the king's tent as they awaited the result of the hunt.
Tessa could see the confident faces on most of the consorts, leading her to assume that they must have hunted enough to be prepared for the result.
She didn't care, as long as she wasn't the winner which is not possible. The boar attack had prevented them from hunting more wild animals, thus, it was guaranteed that she wasn't the winner.
But, the boar's attack stopped everyone from hunting further and there was a chance many were unable to hunt for animals. Whatever it was, she didn't want to think about it, going back to the castle for her plan was the priority.
"My lady, would you like to sit at the front?" Her handmaiden, who was displeased with her current position, asked, hoping she would oblige.
To her dismay, Tessa replied, "No, I had rather not gaze upon that ugly dude this morning." Raising her hand to back her rejection.
"But, you are his mate?" The handmaiden reasoned, trying to convince her.
"In name only, we don't even feel anything for each other as mates. And does that dude look like he needs a mate?" Rolling her eyes, she responded and sighed.
Deciding not to pester her further, her handmaiden backed off and respected her wishes, making Tessa happy. She wasn't about to deal with a maid that cared more about the king. The loyalty of the maids to their depressed king was something she wished her lackeys had, those foolish beings were only loyal to some extent.
As long as she maintained her stance and upheld her promises, they would keep on being loyal to her. At this point, she is hoping they assumed she was dead and not that she married a king she was supposed to rob.
Just thinking about it made her want to puke, who gets married to her victim? There has only been a case of the victim falling in love with the culprit, but the culprit marrying the thief? What shall we call that? Repentance syndrome?
Absentmindedly, she snorted, grabbing the attention of the envious consorts.
They couldn't believe she showed her face after causing harm to their king, such an impudent being. If they were her, they would have committed suicide for bringing harm to the hope of their people.
It wasn't that surprising given her reputation, once a retard, always a retard. Different repulsive thoughts went through the minds of the consorts and only if eyes could be read, Tessa would have loved to hear their words.
"Our king has arrived," suddenly, a guard announced and they all turned their attention to the voice.
"So much for someone who played dead," Tessa commented as she watched Elias walk up to his chair to sit. He didn't even look like he was attacked by a boar, he was still as ugly-looking and depressed as he always was.
"I won't be saying much since we already know what we are here for." Nonchalantly, Elias uttered, stretching out his hands without offering who he was addressing a look.
Quickly, a guard dropped a scroll in his hands and he untied it, then spread out the paper to read.
"Well, our winner is Consort Tessa." He announced and everywhere went silent.
"Unbelievable," with parted mouth, one of the consorts said and busted into laughter.
"Told you he was going to give her, he has fallen in love with her." The youngest consort among them muttered and it triggered the elder consorts.
"My king, if I recall, Consort Tessa barely killed any animal as she was privileged to ride with you yesterday. She is without a wolf and possesses no skills to hunt, how could she have won?" Abruptly, one of the consorts stood up and said, confronting Elias that didn't sit well with him.
As much as he had been a dormant king for years, no one had the right to question a king's order. Had they forgotten their manners because of his absence?
Though his expression remained the same, his heart was displeased with her response and he made a signal for a guard to come forward
"Behead her," once the guard was standing beside him, he ordered, causing everyone to gasp, including Veronica who had been quiet all along.
"My king!!" The consorts cried out, going to their knees to plead for his mercy.
"Please forgive Consort Talia for her rudeness but she never meant to be disobedient toward her king. Forgive consort Talia, my king," they cried out, taking turns to plead for mercy.
Elias already knew they would plead for mercy but he never took back his decision to punish someone, so he said, "Will you all sacrifice your heads for her instead?" And the consorts widened their eyes in terror.
The shock of disbelief on their faces was evident, and they would have never imagined their depressed king would one day go back to his real self. Everyone had heard of the ruthless king who murdered people mercilessly after the death of his wife, and while most of the consorts knew him during the death of his wife, the rest hadn't seen his ruthless side.
"Geez, what suddenly possessed that depressed king? He went from ugly to sexy, and I like this new side." Tessa watched as everything played on, not moving an inch to interfere in the matter.
She was about to voice her dissatisfaction when that annoying consort butted in, calling her wolf-less and useless which annoyed her. So, as much as she wasn't in support of the beheading, she derived joy from the misery of those consorts. Next time, they would watch how they utter words from their uncontrollable mouths.
"My lady, King Elias, was always this ruthless. As I heard, he would have killed you if his wolf hadn't detected that you were his mate." Moving closer to Tessa, her handmaiden enlightened her and it got Tessa intrigued. Now she wanted to know more about him though she knew she shouldn't, to avoid getting attached.
She didn't have much time to spare. Escaping with the crown was more important, and she could easily buy information about him from her plug.
But, her stupid heart inquired, "Tell me about him."