It had only been a day since Esther left the palace, yet her absence had a tremendous impact not only to her husband and her people in the Queen’s palace, but also to the knights and palace officials serving the King. It was obvious that King Theron had been missing her presence, and his sour mood made everyone shaken, to the point they had to be careful of breathing unnecessarily loud during that day’s royal court session.

Though the young king did his best to focus on his palace affairs, his mind was troubled and couldn’t handle his work with his usual efficiency. His thoughts would always revert back to the conversation he had with his wife, and his face would put on a dangerously cold expression.

He was angry that his wife was pushing her opinion on him, but at the same time, he was worrying about her. Though the past few days he avoided visiting her bedchamber, he knew she was around, and he was complacent that she was safe within the walls of the palace. He could be at ease, but now, he was anxious that she was all on her own on the outskirts of the capital.

She was the Queen of Megaris! What if she was targeted by people with ill intentions? He knew she brought a knight brigade with her for protection but… What if she’s not eating well? Was she crying on her own? Was she staring in a daze by the window, unable to sleep at night?

That night, King Theron finally decided to see her.

“Galien, get my horse,” he instructed.

Without a question, the guardian knight arranged both his and King Theron’s horses, knowing where his king was intending to go this late in the night.

Their horses galloped at a speed that caused many onlookers to turn heads, but they crossed the streets of Blackhelm without being stopped and reached Esther’s manor on the outskirts of the city.

The guard at the gate recognized the King and let him enter, but when he reached the white mansion itself, he was greeted by the royal knight brigade in charge of the Queen’s protection.

“The captain of the Queen’s guards greets His Majesty King Theron,” said the leader of the knight brigade as he and his men bowed to him who was still on his horse. He accosted the greeting and looked at the manor that was unusually quiet in the middle of the night. All the windows were dark, not even a single lamp was lit.

He heard the knight captain clear his throat awkwardly. “Your Majesty, the Queen has instructed us to not let anyone disturb her during her stay, that she would not accept an audience with anyone, even if His Majesty himself comes.”

King Theron understood that she had already instructed her subordinates, expecting his arrival. It made him feel hurt and betrayed. ‘How cruel can you be, Esther? You do not wish to see me unless I agree to what you want? Won’t you even listen to what I want?’

He said nothing to the knight captain and simply climbed down his horse. It was an unbearably cold night as it was near the end of autumn, but he simply went to the tree nearest the mansion as if he could not feel the bitter night wind and sat there with his back resting against the tree, his eyes stuck at the window he knew was her bedchamber.

‘Are you standing by the window like you always do, Esther? Are you looking at me behind those curtains?’ he could not help but wonder.

Sir Galien was sad for his king but could do nothing to help. Such a strong man who held the highest position within this kingdom looked to be at his weakest and lowest.

“You can go back to your posts,” Sir Galien told the Queen’s guards and took both of their horses to one side, deciding to accompany his king in silence. He did not dare ask his king to return to the palace even though his wife didn’t wish to see him.

They spent the entire night sitting in front of the mansion. As soon as the sun began to rise, King Theron stood up and got on his horse. He left, not even turning to look back as he rode away.

“Your Majesty, King Theron has left,” her butler informed Esther and received a nod in response. The Queen was inside her bed-chamber, but she dared not stand by the window, afraid that her determination would waver the moment she caught a glimpse of her husband. She was sitting on her armchair quietly. Though she looked emotionless on the surface, she was hurting inside. The man she loved was out there the entire night and she didn’t even go see him.

A week passed by but Esther didn’t return to the palace. Gossip started to spread that the Queen was not in the royal palace and instead was residing in her private manor in the capital. Everyone started to think that the King and the Queen were not on good terms. The most popular stories circulating during the social events of the nobles were that the King had decided to drive Esther out of his sight because she had fallen out of his favor, and that he was disappointed she could not give him and this kingdom an heir.

The gossip became the favourite topic not only of the nobility, but as well as the common folks, to the point that it reached the ears of the servants in charge of the Crystal Palace. Hearing of the news, the previous queen decided to visit his son and came to the Grand Palace unannounced. King Theron was in his study when his mother came to see him.

He stood up in surprise. “Mother? What are you—no, wait, have the servants bring hot tea to my study,” he ordered one of his aides as he rose from his seat behind the desk. He then gestured for everyone else to leave.

Queen Theodora sat on the chair prepared for receiving guests and her son sat on the one opposite hers. Soon enough, freshly brewed tea arrived and the mother and son pair were left by themselves inside the King’s study.

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