The number of issues plaguing the kingdom was the same, yet King Theron managed to finish the royal court session early that day. Seeing him leave the throne room, his subjects could not help but talk among themselves, wondering if it must be because he was eager to go to his new concubine and no one questioned it. They still remembered how King Theron was paying more attention to his wife when he married their Queen.

Inside his study, there was a pile of scrolls on his work table but King Theron simply could not pay attention to any of it. All he thought was when he would get to see his Queen. She didn’t send him a message that she was returning nor did she say that she wished to see him.

Just then, Sir Galien entered the study and looked at his dazed King who looked sad.

“Your Majesty, Queen Esther is here to see you.”

With this King Theron looked at Sir Gailen questioningly, “What did you say?”

“Her Majesty is here to see you,” Sir Gallien repeated.

Prince Theron stood up from his chair, “Then get her inside right away. Does she even need my permission to enter my study?”

Sir Galien understood and left to get the Queen.

Meanwhile, King Theron contemplated how to react when Esther came in front of him. ‘Shall I just hug her? Or let her come to me first? What should I say to her when I see her? Maybe ask- How is she? Then say – I miss her. I can then hug her. It’s been long since I had held her closer. Hmm…seems fine.’

Just then Esther entered the study. Seeing her in front of him, all his thoughts and the plan he had, frozen to not come into action. He saw his beautiful wife standing in front of him which seemed dreamy to him and no word could come out of his mouth.

Esther walked towards him as he simply looked at her, not letting his gaze move away from her in a fear that she would disappear from his sight. She walked straight towards him and even before he could understand, she hugged him.

“I missed you, Theron,” he heard her saying.

What he wished to do, his wife did it first. He simply smiled and hugged her back, “I missed you, Esther.”

She felt at ease once she felt his warmth and realized everything was still the same between them. She was scared that he might change as she had hurt him by forcing him to marry another woman.

She looked at him, “I am sorry for hurting you. I won’t say forgive me but ….”

“As long as you are with me, no pain can last long. Don’t worry about it,” he interrupted her with a smile.

Seeing him smiling, the tears she was holding back, rolled out as she felt more guilty about how she had hurt him while this man was just ready to forgive her.

“I will never do anything to hurt you again. If I do, I will think I don’t deserve to be with you and to be loved by you. I will leave…”

“Shh! Don’t even think about saying it. The only thing that can hurt me is if you are not with me. If you leave me, that day this Theron won’t be the one that you see. I won’t lose only you but I will lose myself. So don’t ever leave me,” he said.

She hugged him back and asked in her crying voice as she buried her face in his strong chest, “Why do you love me so much? It only makes me feel guilty.”

“If you feel guilty, then there are ways to make up for it,” he said and she looked at him with a questioning gaze.

He smirked and kissed her. He parted away shortly and said, “I will like it if you try to make up for your guilt this way.”

Esther lightly hit on his chest, “You can never be serious.”

“I am serious,” he said firmly and asked as his thumb touched her moist lips intently, “Shall I ask Gailen to not let anyone enter the study and I would like to spend some time with my wife?”

She smiled shyly, “Not now. I have a few more things to take care of as I was away.”

“Then, I will take it as my wife is inviting me to her chamber tonight.”

“Maybe,” she said and stepped away from him. “I will take a leave.”

Before he could even permit her, she left and he smiled seeing her running away from him. ‘Tonight, you won’t have any way to run away from me.’

Both were relieved that everything between them was fine and there was nothing to worry about.

——

As the king and the Queen were happy together, soon those days of the month arrived when Theron had to visit his concubine.

That day Esther left to visit Crystal palace and stayed there a few days as she knew her presence in the palace would make it difficult for Theron to go to his concubine.

Finally, that night came and Sir Gallien came to inform, “Your Majesty, your carriage is ready.”

The king didn’t look like he was even willing to go and heard his knight, “Your Majesty, it would be better to follow what Her Majesty has decided. Once Lady Clarisa has your child, you won’t have to do it again.”

King Theron heard what his knight said and knew he was right. Once he impregnated his concubine, he will never have to do it again and he will be happy with his queen. He stood up and left his study to follow the arrangements.

For Lady Clarisa, these few nights were no more different than her wedding night when her husband didn’t even look at her and only did what he needed to get a child from her.

She felt heartbroken but was sure once she conceived and gave birth to a child, things would not be the same.

—-

Lady Clarisa missed her monthly cycle. The royal physician was called to check on her as Esther waited to hear the expected news. As much as Lady Clarisa herself, Esther was praying to get good news.

The royal physician informed that Lady Clarisa was expecting and the entire harem was happy to hear this news as they would see the next heir of this kingdom.

Esther herself was happy while King Theron didn’t know how to react. All he could think was now he didn’t have to spend another night with Lady Clarisa he won’t feel any more guilty towards his wife.

If it was Esther who was pregnant, his reaction would have been different and he would have acted as if the happiest person in the world.

During Lady Clarisa’s pregnancy, Esther made sure to pay attention to her needs and arranged everything best for her that will keep the baby and the mother healthy. While not even once did King Theron go to see his concubine except for the one time when he was forced to go there out of his duty to congratulate his concubine.

The months passed by when Lady Clarisa was happily seeing her belly growing larger and started feeling the movement of the baby inside. She looked like the happiest expecting mother.

Once Esther came to visit her. As they had the tea, suddenly Lady Clarisa whined in pain, “Ah..”

It panicked Esther, “W-What happened?”

Lady Clarisa smiled, “I-It’s nothing. Baby’s movements are stronger.”

It amazed Esther, “Did it move?”

“Yes,” Lady Clarisa said happily and again the baby moved.

Though Clarisa didn’t like Esther, she knew this Queen was doing her best to take care of her and her baby. She knew Esther would not harm her. Moreover, Lady Clarisa was so happy with her pregnancy that she forgot her disliking towards Esther and welcomed her goodwill.

“Here,” Lady Clarisa touched her belly as it moved again, “Try touching here.”

Without much thought, Esther stood up from her chair and touched Lady Clarisa’s belly where she told her to. Under her palm, Esther felt the gentle movement of the baby and felt amazed. Smiling widely, she looked at Lady Clarissa, “It really moved.”

Lady Clarisa nodded happily and said, “I wonder if His Majesty will ever get to feel it.”

Esther could understand what Lady Clarisa was feeling and stayed quiet but she also thought if she felt this happy by feeling the baby’s movement, then how happy Theron would feel.

Esther returned to her bedchamber and thought about how she could get King Theron to experience what she did that day. Standing by the window, she looked at her palm which just felt the baby’s movement and tears appeared in her eyes.

“Seems like I am not that fortunate like Lady Clarisa. I can never give him a baby and that happiness,” she closed her eyes feeling hurt about her failure towards Theron and mumbled, “I wish if I could…” words stuck in her throat. “Seems like I am not destined to have a child ever….”

Tears rolled down her cheeks which fell on the flower that she placed in the window. That Ashrin flower absorbed those tears and it shined wherever those fell on its petals.

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