ROYAL BLOOD

Breaking the alliance.

Jazell sat on a rocky chair in her room, her eyes fixed on Berth, who was touring around the garden with elegance and grace.

"Who is she? Jazell asked, peering through the window. Linn, her personal maid, who was massaging her feet, paused for a while….

"I do not know, my lady… The emperor brought her in this morning." Linn said and then continued what she was doing.

"I try to get rid of some women in the harem, and Ragaleon keeps making things difficult for me by bringing in new ones almost every day; it's as if he knows it's driving me nuts! Jazell furrowed her brows in disdain as she rose to her feet.

"Has Ramah gone to visit her brother lately?" Jazell asked, making her way to a jar of wine on a table beside the bed. She pours herself wine into a golden cup and sips from it.

"Yes, my lady, she was seen going to visit him at noon; she didn't look happy when she stepped out." Linn said, slowly rising up to her feet. She had been crouching on the floor while tending to Jazell's feet.

Jazell smiled, then sipped from her wine.

"It serves them right, doesn't it? They would think twice before trying to mess with my authority next time." Jazell gulped down the whole wine in the golden cup and then dropped the empty cup on the table.

"Where is Racheal? Take me to her!

Racheal was seated on a swing in the garden; her son was seated beside her, cuddling his mother. The five-year-old has brown hair with a hazel pair of eyes.

"Mother, does Father love me? The boy suddenly asked, and Racheal was stunned.

She looked around her before shifting her gaze back to the little boy.

"Amilek, why would you say that?" Racheal asked, making her son face her; his head has been on her lap all this while.

"He doesn't talk to me, nor does he play with me like my first father used to. I miss my old father." The boy said innocently, and Racheal's eyes bulged out in shock.

"Don't ever say that, Amilek. Who have you been talking to? Racheal asked, peering at the little boy.

"Nobody, I don't have any friends." The boy answered innocently.

"Your father loves you a lot, Amilek; he is just a little bit busy. That's why he doesn't have time to play with you." Racheal answered, stroking his hair. She looked ahead and saw Jazell making her way towards them.

"Amilek, go and meet Rosa to give you your afternoon milk." Racheal said to send the boy away, knowing very well Jazell and she would need privacy.

The little boy took his leave, but not before Racheal planted a kiss on his forehead.

Jazell gazed at Amilek as he ran towards the opposite direction before she calmly took her seat beside Racheal on the white swing.

"He took his good looks from you." Jazell started off after she sat down and crossed her legs elegantly.

Racheal scoffed, then took the glass of juice on the table in her hands…

"Take your eyes off my son Jazell; the last thing I want is you saying anything about him." Racheal said before taking a sip from the glass of juice.

"I have nothing against your son, Racheal. He is not a threat to the crown; he has his father's name, Amilek Benaiah. As far as he doesn't have Ragaleon's last name, he is safe." Jazell said, taking a banana from the fruit basket on the table.

Racheal gazed at her, then focused her gaze back on the juice she was drinking.

"You look horrible; you must have been thinking too much, about Ramah, about the new girl, about how to…eliminate them? Racheal dropped the glass of juice on the table.

"You are right, I have been thinking too much, and it's beginning to show on my face." Jazell bit her lips bitterly.

"Whatever you do, you can't change fate. Jazell, if you are destined to wear the crown as queen mother, then so will it be. But if you are not destined to bear Ragaleon's heir, you will never be queen mother, no matter how you try." Racheal said, entwining her fingers together, she placed her hand gracefully on her lap.

"I believe my destiny is in my own hands. Racheal, I own my fate…I write my destiny." Jazell looked confident as she took a bite from the banana in her hand.

"And how has it been going so far? If you are indeed writing your story, I am sure you don't see Ramah getting married to the king or a new girl showing off, do you? Racheal said with sarcasm.

"All these people you named will come and go. They are all just distractions, distractions from what really matters. I would bet it right now that the new girl and Ramah won't last up to a month in this palace." Jazell, taking the last bite from the banana, placed the banana peel on the table in front of her.

"Don't freak me out by trying to bet people's lives, Jazell."

"What was it like before you came here? Jazell asked, taking another banana from the fruit basket. Racheal gazed at her, then sighed heavily.

"What do you mean?

"Your first husband, what was he like? I am curious to know how lovely he must have treated you for you not to have any care in the world." Jazell said while she peeled the banana in her hand.

Racheal was quiet for a while; her green eyes seemed distant.

"He was a good man; he loved me and his little boy, Amilek. He treated me like the queen I was…" Racheal paused, then sighed.

"Then all of a sudden he died. Left you alone in this world. Then you returned to your parents when his brother overthrew you because your son wasn't old enough to rule as king. Then suddenly Ragaleon came out of nowhere and made you his first wife, and not even for a minute have you ever wondered…why?" Jazell was aiming at something.

"You cunning fox, what do you want from me? Racheal asked, using her finger to tick out a tear tugging at the corner of her right eye.

"Your son, Amilek, will never be king, and you know that. Yet you chose to accept Ragaleon's proposal. Why? Jazell asked again, taking the second bite from the banana in her hand.

"Amilek, he needed a father figure, and if Ragaleon was going to marry me even after knowing I had a son for another man, then why not? Racheal shifted uncomfortably on the swing.

"Hhm, a father figure, that's a good excuse; you are a bad liar." Jazell said with a smirk, and Racheal shot her a deadly glare.

"Don't you think you are a little too old for the king? Jazell mocked, and Racheal's pupil dilated.

"You make it so hard for me not to hate you."

"I actually think you enjoy my company, but again, I do not need friends because I know I will end up stabbing them in the back before the friendship even begins." Jazell said, rising to her feet.

"I don't even know what you are; your creator must wonder every single day how you ended up like this." Rachisaid and Jazell smiled faintly…slyly.

"It was a good talk." She said she was about to take her leave.

"For what it's worth, I am only two years older than the king." Racheal looked angry as she said those words.

Jazell gazed at Racheal, then smiled before slowly parading out of Racheal's sight…

"I definitely hate you." Racheal said before taking hold of the glass of juice, she gulped down the whole content.

....

"My lady, the king has summoned you to the meeting room." A maid said, informing Ramah, who was seated in her chamber getting a leg massage from another maid.

Ramah shot her brows up before rising to her feet. She slowly made her way towards the meeting room escorted by two royal guards but bumped into Berth on her way.

"Ramah, it's a pleasure to meet you." Berth took the initiative to talk.

"I won't say it's a pleasure to meet you, because I do not know who you are." Ramah was straightforward.

"I see…" Berth bit her lips bitterly.

"For someone who is yet to be a queen, you are indeed cocky." Berth said innocently.

"And for someone without a title, you are indeed doomed if you remain in this palace. But don't worry, I will find a place for you. I heard you are not a noble; you will do fine brushing my hair every morning or getting me ready for the emperor every night." Ramah said that last part in a whisper so that the guards beside her wouldn't hear it.

Berth laughed bitterly….

"It's not nice to look down on people." She said, clenching her fist.

"And it's not nice to get ahead of yourself, now move! Ramah pushed past her, making her way to the meeting room.

Ramah was a bit stunned to see her parents in the meeting room.

"Your Grace." Ramah bowed, showing her curtsy to Selena.

"You sent for me." Ramah said, feigning a smile, For some reason she didn't seem to like Selena.

"I did." Selena said, taking her seat at the head of the table.

"I have summoned you here for an important discussion, and I want you to know that whatever my son decided was in everyone's best interest." Selena said, looking authoritative; her dark hazel brown eyes and black hair made her look domitable.

Ramah glanced at her parents; they showed no sign of having an idea of what Selena wanted to talk about.

"I am sorry to say…but the wedding between you and Ragaleon has been called off." Selena calmly released the bombshell.

Ramah scoffed, then let out a small chuckle before finally laughing.

"Your Grace, telling jokes doesn't fit you well; you are not supposed to look this serious….

"This is no joke. Ramah, the king has changed his mind for a reason best known to him, and the best thing to do will be to abide by it." Selena interceded calmly. The hall was silent for a while, everyone taking in what Selena had just said.

"Moab, Ramah's father, violently rose to his feet, pushing the chair he was seated on backwards.

"Your grace, this is unacceptable. The wedding is in three days time; what will I tell my family? You have decided to shame us in front of the whole public." Moab said with gritted teeth.

Ramah seemed too shocked to say a word; she was quiet, and she placed her hand on her chest.

"It was not our intention to cause such distressing news. The wedding will take place, but your daughter will not be the bride; your family is welcome to the wedding ceremony." Selena said with a smile.

"My son almost lost his life while we stayed here as guests, and this is how you choose to repay us? Ramah's mother said with a dreadful gaze.

"And you will be well compensated for that; after that we owe you nothing." Selena said, rising to her feet, she gazed at Ramah, who looked like she was having a heart attack.

"Ramah, your things will be shifted to the guest house; you will dwell there with your parents, and of course you are also invited to the wedding." Selena said mockingly.

"Where is the king? Ramah asked, not sparing Selena a glance.

"He is very busy and doesn't like any disturbance."

"Tell him I am grateful for his benevolence; he didn't shame me and my household in public; instead, he made his intentions known privately." Ramah said her eyes were devoid of emotions.

Selena was quiet; she glared at Ramah and then left without saying a word, accompanied by two knights.

Ramah clenched her fist; she shifted her gaze and saw someone gazing at her.

It was Berth; she had a sly smug on her face. The latter quietly left without saying a word.

"We leave for Bethalone first thing tomorrow morning." Moan announced, making his way out of the room.

"I go nowhere, Father." Ramah said coldly, reclining on the chair she was sitting on.

"The king made a promise to find the person that tried to kill my father; I will remain here until he fulfills that promise. Besides, I would like to see who this new bride is; she better prepare herself for what's coming."