King Theron’s eyes were full of anger as he didn’t lose his grip on her neck as if to kill her by strangling her neck right there and then. Her back was pressed in the chair she was sitting in and his hand was tightening its grip on that delicate neck of her.

Lady Clarisa got the shock of her life. A while ago when she glanced at her husband, he was calm as if she was saying the right thing but just in a moment, he turned into a devil from that calm and cold person.

“Don’t you dare say a word about her.” Finally, he spoke under his gritted teeth.

“Cough!..Apo..lo….Ughh..”

He didn’t let her speak and strangled her neck even more harshly.

“The selfish woman like you can never understand her who thinks of nothing but to be a queen of this Kingdom and protect it at all cost. You can not understand her at all and you can never be like her.”

Lady Clarisa understood she had taken his silence as his approval and said what she should not have.

“If you ever say a word about her and her child, if even a word gets out from what you heard from me and mother, I will make sure you and your son will never return to this kingdom.”

‘My son? Not our son?’ The pain she felt in her heart was stronger than the pain she was feeling due to suffocation.

“If you ever say what you had said to me today and even a single word reached someone else, you will be held responsible and you and your son will pay for it, Lady Clarisa.”

Lady Clarisa? He was calling her just by her name since the day she had asked him to and now in a moment, everything changed. There was not a tinge of hesitation in his eyes when he again called Keiren as ‘her son’ only. Tears appeared in her eyes as they rolled down.

He loosened the grip of his hands but the anger in his eyes was still the same.

Cough! Cough!

He let go of her and walked away from her, facing his back at her as if he did not even wish to see her.

“A-Apologies, Your Majesty…Cough..”

“What I said just now, I mean it. You and your son both will pay for your mistakes,” he said coldly not looking at her even once as if she was not worth his attention.

“I won’t….”

“Leave!” He ordered without letting her finish. He didn’t wish to hear anything from her as what she had said before had already disgusted him. He knew she would not dare say a word to anyone.

Wiping her tears, Lady Clarisa left the King’s study.

———

The Things continued to be the same as Theron was busy taking care of the kingdom and solving multiple issues after the disaster while Esther was now two months pregnant and was taking care of herself and her duties inside the palace.

The previous King, King Estebsn’s health worsened in that month and everyone was worried about him.

Esther went to the Crystal Palace to see him as her in-laws shifted back to their residence because King Esteban wished to spend his last days in crystal palace.

“Father,” she bowed to him.

The weak looking man who Esther had seen once as a powerful ruler of this kingdom was now lying in bed while waiting for his last days.

He looked at her with a light smile and raised his hand gesturing her to come closer.

Her mother-in-law asked her to go ahead.

Esther did so and sat at the edge of the bed as she knew her father-in-law wished to talk to her.

She was embarrassed to face him after that night the curse was lifted from this kingdom but had to come to him before he won’t be in this world anymore.

“My son is fortunate to have you.”

She heard a weak voice of a man in between his heavy and struggled breathing.

“Father….Apologies for bringing disaster to….”

“You don’t need to…the disaster you call might be the start of something great. Nothing happens without a reason. You must have given us an opportunity to fulfil that cause…” the old man said.

Esther was grateful that they understood her and were trying to understand the reason despite not knowing what the future held.

“But, even after my death, I will always feel guilty for betraying my own son and letting his wife sacrifice,” said the older man.

“No father, as you said this was all meant to be. I am sure everything will be fine sooner or later,” she assured.

“I believe so,” he agreed. “My son is prideful and has always been strict towards fulfilling his duty as a king towards this kingdom and his family, even if it might cost him his life. Because of this, he might not be easy with you, but trust me he still loves you the same.”

“I know, father,” she said as tears rolled down her eyes. “Father, I am late, but can I help you…..”

The older man shook his head, knowing what she meant. “It’s my time to go now. No use in prolonging this life when it’s filled with nothing but guilt. I believe in my next life if I come across you and again there is a situation when you have to sacrifice yourself, I will protect you with my life. I owe you this life.”

“Father…You owe me nothing. I will always try to protect my people instead.”

He smiled, “I know you will. You have such a kind heart.”

After she spent some time with her father-in-law, the servant announced the arrival of King Theron.

“I will excuse myself,” Esther stood up and went out of the bedchamber but happened to come across her husband who she had not seen for a month now. She lowered her head and stepped aside to let him go further.

He walked a few steps further but stopped and said, “Wait for me to return to the place,” and left to go to his father’s bedchamber.

Esther could not believe her ears. ‘Did he just ask me to stay so we can return to the palace together?’

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