章 9: Evil Scheme
Alaric deliberately said those words to test Eve and see her hurtful reactions. He vividly recalled how scared Eve was last night when he brought up the divorce as if she didn't want to annul their marriage.
'Will she oppose my marriage to Thalia in front of the royal family?' He wanted Eve to make a choice.
Eve just stood there with her trembling body, her tears threatening to fall. 'Did I fail to do my wife's duties for him last night? Is he done with me? He doesn't want a mute wife.'
She had lost her confidence, blaming herself.
Meanwhile, Thalia's lips curled up into a satisfied smile, her eyes sparkling with delight. She immediately snaked her arms around Alaric's body and this time, he didn't resist.
Alaric still held a grudge against Eve for her betrayal so he wanted to show her that another princess was pursuing him, hoping to make her jealous.
"Oh, that's great!" Queen Amara's voice broke the awkward silence. "What is your stand about this, my King?"
King Solomon simply glanced at his daughter, a hint of pity visible in his eyes. "Like I said, this matter is concerning our daughter's marriage. I have to hear her thoughts about this."
The smile on Queen Amara's face disappeared instantly, displeased by the king's response.
"Princess Evelina, what is your decision? Do you want to divorce your husband?" King Solomon asked her.
Eve was taken aback since this was the first time her father stood up for her. He had always neglected her in the past. She raised her head and gazed at her father with hopeful eyes.
She shook her head frantically. Then Annie handed a quill pen and pad of paper over to Eve so that she could write her thoughts.
[ My King, I won't divorce my husband. ]
Eve's body was filled with tension, sweating profusely. Her hands trembled as she showed her pad to the king. Her answer was a clear defiance of the Queen's decision. She knew she would suffer a consequence after this.
"Eh. She can't speak. Your wife is a mute!" Thalia murmured to Alaric then giggled. She found it amusing that the Kingdom's hero was married to a disabled princess.
'Alaric's wife seems dumb and useless.' She thought, mocking Eve in her mind.
Meanwhile, Alaric furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief. He had no idea that Eve was mute. He just found out today.
'So that was the reason she never talked to me during our wedding ceremony… because she couldn't speak. I thought she just wanted to ignore me.' Alaric clenched his fists, getting a little bit confused.
"Prince Evelina has made her decision. Let's not pursue this matter." King Solomon declared with finality in his tone.
"If Princess Thalia wishes to strengthen our alliance through marriage, I propose a marriage between your brother, Prince Cassian, and my first daughter, Princess Alessandra," he added.
"I can discuss this with your father and brother once they arrive. They've already set their journey, coming here to Averion to fetch you, Princess Thalia."
Princess Thalia's face contorted in dismay. She was utterly disappointed. She wanted to marry Alaric that's why she brought up a marriage between the two kingdoms.
She didn't expect King Solomon to be so clever as to take this chance to match his other daughter to her brother, Prince Cassian.
'So this is the reason why King Solomon didn't support my proposition of marrying General Alaric. He has another plan. What a sly old man!'
Queen Amara peered at King Solomon. At first, she was upset when her husband supported Eve. But after listening to his last remarks, she immediately understood the King's motive.
'He wants our first daughter to get strong support by marrying her off to Kingdom Eldara's crown prince.'
"Shall we continue our meal? Prepare a seat for Princess Evelina." King Solomon commanded the royal servants.
Eve was still part of the royal family so he couldn't allow anyone to humiliate her in front of Princess Thalia and General Alaric. He had to protect his image as a generous ruler and a loving king to his children.
***
After the morning feast, Queen Amara invited Princess Thalia into her quarters. As soon as they settled down inside, Queen Amara gestured for her servants to leave them, granting them some privacy.
"Princess Thalia, I know you are disappointed with the outcome of our discussion earlier. But I'm afraid I can't change my husband's decision."
Thalia suddenly grabbed the queen's hand as she knelt with her pleading eyes.
"Queen Amara. Please help me. I am so in love with Alaric. The moment he saved me, I swore to myself that I was going to make him mine and marry him. Can you convince your daughter to divorce him?"
A cold glint flashed through Queen Amara's eyes when she heard the word daughter.
'That low life is not my daughter!' she thought to herself.
Eve's existence was a scandal hidden by the royal family because her mother was just a mere slave who seduced the king. To conceal this truth, the royal family made the people of Kingdom Averion believe that Eve was her youngest daughter.
"I'm here to share a secret with you. That mute princess is not my biological daughter. She is so stubborn and won't listen to me."
Thalia was dumbfounded after hearing the shocking truth.
"I knew it. No wonder she doesn't resemble you. She looks ugly!"
"I want to get rid of her. But I can't. I had an agreement with my husband. I can't kill her. But you… is another story." Queen Amara's lips curled up into a sly smile.
Because of her agreement with King Solomon, she couldn't kill Eve by her own hands. But she could bully and torture her whenever she wanted.
Thalia looked at her expectantly. "What do you mean, Queen Amara?"
Queen Amara used this opportunity to urge Thalia to eliminate Eve. "That woman is the only obstacle hindering you from marrying the man you love. You have the power to eliminate her for good. Once she is out of the picture, General Alaric will be yours."
Thalia put on a wicked grin upon hearing that. "You are right. I can do that!" She was so obsessed with Alaric that she was willing to do anything to have him.
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