ROYAL BLOOD

Royal Encounter

A maid suddenly walks up to Micah and taps her shoulder lightly.

"My lady wants to see you." The maid said, and Micah turned around to see who it was.

It was Hahn, Jia's personal maid. Immediately after she finished talking, she turned around to leave.

Micah inhaled sharply before following suit.

When she got to Jia's chamber, she looked around unaware.

"My lady, she is here." Hahn, who was standing by a corner, suddenly said, and Jia slowly raised her gaze.

She was seated on her bed; a maid was massaging her feet.

Jia gazed at Micah for a while before signaling her to come forward.

"What is your name? She asked, and Micah shifted her gaze back to the ground.

"Kamile." Micah lied; she didn't trust these people. She was afraid, not stupid.

"Kamile, I have never seen you around the palace before; are you new here? Jia arched her brows as she questioned her.

"Yes… My…my lady. I am new here." Micah lied.

"What is your duty post then?" Jia continued to push further.

"I…I do the laundry, my lady." Micah kept on spilling lies confidently.

Jia suddenly signaled the maid that was tending to her feet. The maid obediently stood up, did a curtsy, and took her leave.

"Shall I call the head maid and ask her myself, or will you start talking, you little liar?" Jia rose up to her feet and walked up to where Micah was, but the latter took some steps backward.

"Hahn here has been keeping an eye on you; you definitely don't belong here. You had better start talking before I turn you out to the guards." Jia threatened, circling Micah, her eagle gaze scrutinizing every inch of her being.

Micah shifted her gaze to Hahn; she remembered that she had seen her in the kitchen.

"My lady, all I have said is nothing but the truth." Micah stood her ground; she couldn't give up just yet.

Suddenly Jia grips Micah's face with one hand, clenching her jaws, and she tilts her head sideways.

"You are beautiful; I will give you that. Is that why you are here, to seduce the King? Immediately Jia said that she laughed at her own words.

"What am I saying? Ragaleon definitely has more taste; he wouldn't go for a commoner like you." She said, then walked up to her bed and sat on it, crossing her legs.

Suddenly indistinct voices could be heard from outside the chamber. Jia gave Hahn a sign to check up on what was happening. The latter left and soon came back in a split second.

All the while Jia kept gazing at Micah…

"It's the royal guards, my lady. May I let them in? Hahn said when she returned.

"Of course." Jia snapped, plucking a grape from a bunch of grapes on a table close to the bed.

The royal guards were let in, and immediately they set their eyes on Micah; they recognized her almost immediately.

"There she is! The guard who had stopped Micah at the gate and ordered her to take off her cloak suddenly shrilled.

In a split second there was chaos; Micah tried to run away, but the guards grabbed her by the wrist.

"What is going on? Jia questioned, rising to her feet; she had a puzzled look.

"She is a suspect and must be questioned thoroughly." One of the guards said, dragging Micah out of Jia's chamber.

"Let go of me! Where are you taking me?! Micah said, trying to wiggle out of their grip.

"Where your type belongs, in the dungeon." The guard said, dragging her away.

Jia could only watch in awe; she fondled the necklace on her neck, blinking her eyes rapidly.

"So she is an arrogant intruder? Jia scoffed.

"The dungeon! No, no, you are mistaken. I did nothing wrong; I only wanted to see the king and plead with him to let me keep my father's land. I…."

"Keep quiet! One of the guards said, and Micah became startled with trepidation.

"Please let me go, my father; he is really sick. He needs me. I promise I will never come here again; just let me go." Micah pleaded; just then, one of the guards struck him across the cheek.

"I won't tell you to keep quiet again." The guard who slapped her said. Micah's eyes became red as she gazed at the man in front of her with hatred; her hazel eyes became teary.

"Mister I am sure you have a sister; will you let anyone treat her like this? Micah's voice was trembling as she rubbed the cheek that was struck.

"Well, I am lucky then; I do not have a sister." The guard said, dragging Micah away. She didn't bother to resist.

But just then she looked ahead and saw a man in a royal outfit adorned by a long black cape; his black shoulder-length hair sinfully swayed as he walked with precision. The golden crown on his head was seated perfectly on his hair; he had his hands crossed behind his back as he walked, making his way in the opposite direction.

Behind him was another man; he was wearing almost the same outfit but had no crown on his head. He was the hand of the king.

"That's him, that's the king! Micah suddenly forgot she was supposed to be quiet.

"There he is; please let go of me. I need to talk to him." Micah suddenly got her strength back.

"This one is stubborn; we will have to break her." One of the guards said, gazing at Micah.

Suddenly Micah breaks free from their grip and tries to run to where Ragaleon is.

"King Ragaleon! She screamed when she saw she might not make it before getting caught by the guards.

Ragaleon halted in his tracks; he tilted his head towards the direction the voice came from and saw a lady running towards his direction.

Micah crashed down on her knees, her hair falling upon her face; she was now kneeling right in front of Ragaleon.

"Please save my father's farm, please, your majesty." She begged, tears streaming down her eyes. Ragaleon could barely see her face; her hair cascaded on her face and clung to her skin.

Suddenly the guards come running and violently grab Micah, making her rise to her feet.

"Your majesty, she is a traitor; she got into the palace by sneaking in. She might be an enemy from the opposing kingdom." One of the guards said.

Immediately Ragaleon snapped his head towards the direction he was heading before he got distracted.

"Lock her up in the dungeon until she starts talking; make sure to torture her." He said before walking away.

Micah's eyes bulged out in fright…

"No, wait! Please listen to me! She screamed, breaking down in tears. The guard grabbed her forcefully; one of them gazed at her….

"This time I am not going to take it easy on you, woman."

...

"The scorpion, the king of the realms, lord of the forest and seas, King Ragaleon Clegane." A man announced as Ragaleon made an entrance into the throne room where his guests were waiting.

He took his seat majestically on the throne and glanced down at his visitors, who were on their feet. Brandon was standing at his left-hand side; seated by his right-hand side was his mother, Selena, the queen regent.

"The royal family of Bethalone, thank you for honoring my invitation." Ragaleon said as he signaled them to take a seat.

"I assume my mother here has briefed you about the reason I sent for you." Ragaleon said, shifting his gaze to his mother, and she nodded curtly.

"What you have asked of us will not only bring over kingdoms together, it will solidify our relationship, your majesty." King Moab said, rising to his feet.

"It will be an honor to give you my daughter, to be your third queen, but as such it is only right to ask what she thinks of this matter, for it concerns her life." Moab said, shifting his gaze to his daughter Ramah.

She rises to her feet, the orange gown she is wearing dropping down smoothly. She wore a sleeveless dress, and her cleavage was in full bloom.

Her black hair was braided in a fishtail style, with a few strands left to fall on her face.

"It will be an honor to serve you as your queen, your grace. I accept your proposal." Ramah blinked her eyes seductively as she inched forwards and bowed to Ragaleon.

Selena had her gaze on Ramah; she seemed to dislike her but hid her disdain.

"Rise." Ragaleon said, and Ramah straightened up. Her blue almond-shaped eyes peered at Ragaleon.

"You have done well to accept my proposal; you will be given a chamber in the palace to stay in, and your parents will dwell in the guest house. We will have our wedding at the fortnight." He said, rising up from his throne.

"Thank you, your grace." Ramah's lips beamed into a faint smile as she bowed and made her way to where her parents stood and stood beside them.

Ragaleon made his way out of the throne room escorted by two knights. His mother, Selena, followed suit after giving Ramah a fleeting glare. Brandon was behind them but didn't spare anyone a glare.

When they were out of the room, Ramah smiled knowingly. Suddenly she shifted her gaze to the upper deck of the throne room. Gazing down at them was Jazell clouded in a green gown; she fixed her gaze on Ramah for some seconds before turning around and walking away.

Ramah didn't say a word about it to her parents, who didn't seem to have noticed.

"The queen doesn't seem to like you." Ramah's mother began as they made their way out of the throne room. A maid was leading the way.

Ramah had her sharp gaze fixed ahead of her, without sparing her mother a glance….

"I don't need her to like me, Mother; I only need the king to like me. Once I am married to his majesty, Selena will force herself to get used to me, because she will have no choice!