"Wine is better. I don’t need that," Lauren said and was about to reach for the wine glass on the table but Alec pulled her to the bed.
"What on earth are you doing? Why can’t just leave me alone!" She was frustrated. Her emotions were all over the place and this man’s presence wasn’t helping. If he pitied her for how helpless she appeared while she was haunted by nightmares, she did not want his pity.
"Sit and drink this." Alec glared at her. His dark eyes were telling her that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Lauren sucked in her breath and just sat on the bed. He put the saucer on the bedside table and gave her the teacup.
"Stop acting like a stubborn kid and do what I say. Wines could not help you forever. Your body will get used to it as time pass, so what you need is a proper drink that will help your body relax."
He forced her to hold the teacup and she just stopped refusing. Alec was the kind who would push what he wanted no matter what, and she was too tired for an argument.
"You shouldn’t have done that," she muttered under her breath while looking down at the cup in her hand.
"Shouldn’t have done what?"
"Don’t feign ignorance. I know I looked pathetic trembling and crying on the bed. I know I looked pitiful but you didn’t have to bring me to your arms and calm me down. I am used to it. It wasn’t something that would kill me," she said without looking at him while he remained standing in front of her.
"Yes, you did look pathetic. But you don’t need to think much about it. Everyone is dealing with dark things inside them, it is only a matter of how flawless could one wear his mask."
"Drink the tea before it turns cold and sleep. You can have the bed tonight," he said before heading to his desk.
The next day at the court meeting, the ministers pressed on the King to make a decision on who he would appoint as his successor because a lot of rumors had been circulating in the town. Back when the only prince was alive, the people didn’t think much about it, hopeful that Casper would recover in time. But now that he was dead and the continuous rise of black mages instilled fear and worry in the townsfolk, they wanted their distress to be appeased.
"Your Majesty," a servant whispered to King Martin that a letter from the Supreme House had arrived in the middle of the court meeting.
King Martin looked down at the letter with the Supreme House’s seal. He knew that the recent happenings in Evardin and the people’s distress must have caught their attention.
As the King read what was written on the letter, his forehead creased. Now even the Supreme House wanted him to choose a successor as soon as possible. With a black mage discovered in the royal family and the rebellion rising in the shadows, the power of the throne was unstable. He needed someone reliable enough who could help the court and at the same time appease the people’s doubts.
Putting the letter aside, King Martin looked at the ministers waiting in front of him as he sat on his throne.
He took a deep breath before he spoke.
"I have come up with a decision. I shall crown my son-in-law as my successor two days from now."
As much as the King wanted to be fair with his daughter Cassandra and would want to wed her off first to see if his husband was also deserving to be his successor, the people and the court affairs could no longer wait. At the moment, he only saw one person who was capable enough to be the crown prince, and that was Alec.
"Lord Everston has great contributions but most people fear him for his cruel ways, Your Majesty," one minister said.
"You have a point, Minister Finley, but what do you suggest? Do you want King Martin to choose between Princess Cassandra and Princess Lauren? A few lands may have crowned female royals as successors but I believe neither of the two princesses could handle the heavy matters of the court. They are still women, after all. Lord Everston had worked as the head of our land’s defense ministry for years and had great contributions to the council. It means he can also work perfectly on the court," said Minister Samuel.
"Enough of this discussion. I have decided and my decision is final. This meeting is adjourned," King Martin gave his last words before leaving the courtroom.
Hearing the news from the king himself, Queen Thalia went ballistic when she heard that King Martin was crowning Alec as the crown prince, which would automatically make Lauren the crown princess.
"Lauren is just your daughter to that lowly concubine, Martin! Our only remaining daughter Cassandra should be the future Queen of this land and not some bastard!" the Queen could not contain her anger.
The servant who served tea inside their chamber and saw the enraged queen hurriedly left the room.
"What do you want me to do, Thalia? The Supreme House had sent me a letter saying that I should crown a successor as soon as possible. If only Cassandra was married, I could appoint her husband but we don’t have time to find her a suitable husband right now. The court and the people cannot wait and I also need the best help I can get, and I know there is only one person who can give me that. It is Alec."
Queen Thalia’s eyes turned bloodshot because of anger. She threw the teacup across the room and it hit the wall.
"This is insane! It has only been days since two of our children died! I am still mourning and this news made me feel even worse! It is our daughter who should rule this land and not that wicked bastard!"
"Stop it, Thalia!" King Martin’s voice thundered. He stood up and went in front of his wife.
He held her shoulders to stop her from screaming and throwing things.
"Listen to me. I know you feel bad about this but you need to cooperate with me, darling. We will make things work out for Cassandra."
"What do you mean, Martin?"
"A king can have multiple wives, but the Queen’s position shall be given to the woman who is the first one to sire him an heir," the King said and Queen Thalia knew what he wanted to happen.