"King Elias, I beg you on behalf of Consort Talia. She was indeed disrespectful in questioning your authority, but beheading her is too severe a punishment. Surely, we can consider other options, my king," Veronica implored, kneeling to make her plea.
For the first time since arriving at the scene, Elias showed a reaction, but it was obscure. It was unclear whether he was displeased with his mother kneeling or with her pleading.
"That witch knows how to get to him," Elliot mused with a smirk. Elias might ignore everyone else, but he couldn't ignore Veronica. The influence she had over him diminished slightly when he met his wife, but it seemed to persist. What a wonderful connection they shared.
Speaking of influence, Elliot shifted his attention to Tessa, and he couldn't help but wonder how she might impact his life. Would she alleviate his suffering or add to it? The more he pondered, the more he believed it would be the latter. She seemed to be someone who cared only for herself, much like him. However, if love could change Elias, perhaps it could change her as well.
"Someone might think you are in love with our king's mate," Andrew teased with a snort.
"No one would wonder why your wife ran off with another man, though," Elliot retorted, walking away with a smile as he imagined Andrew's unpleasant reaction.
"And what punishment do you suggest?" Elias asked.
Veronica opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by Tessa.
"My king, forgive my intrusion. Since I was the one slandered, I believe I should have the right to choose the punishment," she suggested, awaiting Elias's response. When he remained silent, Veronica supported her, saying, "You are right, she deserves that right, my King."
"As you wish," Elias said firmly.
Tessa suppressed a devilish laugh, cleared her throat, and approached Consort Talia. Bending down to her height, she said, "I wish you a good life outside the castle. Find a better husband, please." Then she stood up and faced the crowd.
"Being called wolf-less and useless is something I am used to. Since my older wife spoke out of pain, I request that she be punished by banishment," she announced.
"What? Isn't that too harsh?" Murmurs spread among the consorts.
"She sounds evil,"
"Is she truly being understanding or cruel?"
"My lady, if I may?" Requesting for an audience, the youngest consort raised her hand and asked.
"Please go on," Tessa responded.
"As you know we are all the king's women, including yourself, no man would want to marry a woman who was once the king's, and Consort Talia would be forced to remain unmarried forever. That punishment seems a bit overbearing," she said, stating reasons why the punishment was unbearable. It was a known fact that no man shall dare covet the king's woman, and if she is banished from the castle, she would live a miserable life.
"Then would you prefer she be beheaded?" Not showing them any mercy, Tessa asked, staring at the youngest consort with a blank facial expression.
Here she was, offering them the better option, but they thought it overbearing. Ingrates!!
"We would go with Consort Tessa's verdict. If that's all for today, let Consort Tessa follow me in for her reward." Tired of the relentless arguments, Elias declared and went into his tent.
"Wait, what?! Why your tent, you dep…" she yelled after him, halting when she remembered she was about to insult him in front of her enemies.
Holding in her words, she grumpily carried her feet and went after him.
"I don't need a… wooo…" she was cut off when her gaze landed on his naked chest. Immediately, she turned her back to him and her body started heating up.
This was the second time she had seen his chest and it didn't make her feel less better.
"Others would think we are unmarried, quit the act." Elias calmly said and waited until she was now facing him.
"So…I…can you put on clothes please? That…is distracting," as she talked, her gaze would travel down to his bare chest and it wasn't helping her focus. She was right after all, he was always trying to seduce her at every given opportunity. Why was he unclothed knowing fully well that he was going to be visited?
"Why?" Cluelessly, he asked and it made her furious.
Was he seriously pretending like he didn't know the reason he had to wear a cloth in front of a woman?
"Why?! Who stays naked in front of a woman? That's shameless, is this how you go naked in front of other women?!" She snapped at him, dropping her hands on her waist which made her look cute.
Unknowingly, he chuckled and it further infuriated her, making her think he wasn't taking her seriously.
"Are you making fun of me?" Angrily, she asked.
"No, it is just that most of my maids have seen me naked before. It is not much of a big deal," he clarified but it only worsened matters.
For an odd reason, Tessa hated the way he said it causally. She wouldn't want other women staring at her man's nakedness even if they were maids, it was a big deal.
"So going naked in front of women is not a big deal? It is not a big deal if I go naked in front of other men…" before she could complete her statement, she was carried off the ground and tossed to the bed.
Hovering over her, Elias dropped his mouth on the bite mark and started licking it, causing Tessa to moan before she could fathom the situation.
"Eli…as…" she breathed, grabbing onto his back for support.