met-a-noia

Chapter 23

*⚠️TW⚠️: verbal and physical abuse will be mentioned, along with blood and mentions of death. If this is triggering towards you, do not read. Thank you.*

Tarian chuckled at the texts she shared with a certain journalist, whispering to herself, "This woman is something else", before a knock at the door broke her away from her moment of blissful peace. "Come in!", Tarian huffed in slight annoyance. Jorge entered the Queen's room, his face contorted in worry as he cleared his throat and announced nervously, "Your Majesty... The D-Duke of Salisbury has summoned you...".

Tarian noticed the man's fear and hopped out of her bed, walking over to the older man and asking, "Whats wrong Jorge? What did he do to you? Why do you sound so worried?". Jorge gulped, looking around making Tarian narrow her eyes at him suspiciously before Jorge whispered in a voice that only Tarian could hear, "Hes... in one of his moods...theres an article.. that was released and he's seething right now".

Tarian looked at him questioningly and asked, "What is the article about?". Jorge looks at her, his eyes full of sadness and worry for the young woman in front of him as he whispered, "You... and a woman.. a journalist". Tarian's eyes widened and she realized what dangers lied ahead.

Tarian took a deep breath and sighed, asking knowingly "Paparazzi found me and.. said journalist spending time together?". Jorge nodded, patting the woman's back as he said, "Good luck Your Majesty, I-Im sorry to ruin your night". Tarian smiled softly at the trembling man and patted his back, "Dont worry Jorge, I've dealt with that man's abuse for the majority of my life.. I can handle it now. And I know you hate it as much as I do, but its part of your job as our family's steward".

Jorge sighed and voiced his opinion, something he rarely ever did, "I wish we could do something to tell the public of his abusive tendencies". Tarian snorted and murmured, "If he didnt have the entirety of the Parliament and the majority of law enforcement tied around his finger, I wouldve years ago and that bastard wouldve been thrown in a bloody cell. Its ironic isnt it? Me, being the Queen of England, being praised left and right for having some sort of 'power' but in reality im as powerless as a bloke asking for quid on the streets". Jorge nodded sadly and said solemnly, "I apologize ma'am, but I have to go home.. my wife has fallen ill with the flu". Tarian nodded and said sympathetically, "Of course Jorge, take a vacation. Take care of her, alright?". Jorge bowed, thanking the young woman before he took his leave.

Tarian sighed, looking down at her right hand, gritting her teeth in irritation as she gripped her wrist with her left hand to attempt to halt the shaking. She tucked her phone in her pocket as she exited her room, closing the door behind her. She knew Aldrich would take advantage of having the majority of the Royal staff asleep or at home, including Ronaldo.

Tarian made her way to her uncle's room, stopping in front of the mahogany doors, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves as she knocked on the door. "Come in", Aldrich's voice froze her in place: he sounded calm, but venom laced his voice. Tarian walked in and was immediately met with a harsh punch to the gut, making her grunt as air left her lungs. Aldrich snarled slamming the door behind him. He left no time for the woman to recover from his last punch as he slammed his fist into her gut once more, sending Tarian to her knees.

Gripping her hair roughly, Aldrich yanked her head up as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and put it in front of Tarian's face, photos of Tarian and Amira together on the screen . "What... the hell is this?", Aldrich barked angrily making Tarian grit her teeth and say lowly, "None of your damn business". Her defiance only enraged the older man more as he kicked her in the back. Tarian clenched her jaw as her throbbing torso hit the harsh wood floor. Aldrich grabbed her by her hair once again, and shoved the woman into a corner of the room, her back hitting the wall with a thud.

Tarian groaned, as Aldrich read the information on his phone out to her, "This article  by The Sun, UK is named, 'The Royal Gossip: Is there possibilities of a new beau for The Queen? How will this affect the Royal Family? How will society react?". Tarian huffed, knowing where this will go as she stood up holding her stomach as she said, "Its rubbish uncle, its worthless gossip". Aldrich narrowed his eyes at her and asked impatiently, "Who is she?". Tarian met his impatience and snapped, "No one important. That article is rubbish". Aldrich threw a left hook at her, but Tarian was able to dodge it in time and catch his fist. Aldrich roared, infuriated as he went to slam his knee into her stomach, only for her to side step him and make him fall.

Tarian was functioning fully off of adrenaline as she bobbed and weaved around the infuriated man's ruthless punches and kicks, that is until she miscalculated: catching his foot in her hands before it hit her but unbeknownst to her he had picked up a binder with his right hand that he brought around and hit her upside the head with. Tarian's back hit the floor with a loud thud. "How dare you disrespect me?! You pushed your luck when you dared to fight me once, and then you lie to me! I gave you several chances to come clean about that whore, but now you wont have that chance", Aldrich hissed as he kicked her side making her cry out when a loud audible 'crack!' was heard. Tarian coughed a bit, a hoarse groan leaving her lips as she attempted to get on her knees, only for her arms to give out under her. Aldrich grabbed the front of her shirt and lifted her up, yelling in her face, "How many times will people die because of your selfishness?! Every whore, every misfortunate bitch like that damn good for nothing journalist you were caught with, will suffer the same fate as your beloved Devika". Tarian's heart hammered against her chest, her anger taking over as she slammed her head against his face, hissing at him, "Shut up!".

Aldrich let go of his grip on the front of her collar as he stumbled back, growling in pain. Tarian landed on her injured side, a jolt of pain erupting up her torso as she pushed off the ground and used her knees to propel herselr back up, standing shakily, holding her side. "Dont... ever talk about Devika.. you have no.. right", Tarian was able to groan out weakly. Aldrich seethed and yelled, "And you have no right to talk to me in such a demeaning way!". Tarian scoffed yelling back with the same fervor, "YOU have no right to talk or beat me, seeing as though I AM THE BLOODY QUEEN but yet here we ar-", her eyes widened when he lunged forward quicker than she could react, at least in her beaten condition. Tarian was slammed into the wall, trying to fight against the older man but in the condition she was in, she was easily overpowered. Aldrich slammed his fists ruthlessly into the woman's torso, kicking her in the knee sending her onto the ground on her knees. He kneed her in the face yelling, "You will focus on your damn role as Queen, and not on slags. You will do well to learn to respect your elders. And you should forget about trying to move on and find love. To be Queen is to be alone. You do not deserve love, and so you wont find it. I will force you to follow my advice and so help me God it'll be the end of your regime if you think otherwise. You may be the Queen, but I am the true sovereign. You are nothing but a weak, worthless skiver".

Tarian curled into a ball, covering the back of her head with her hands as Aldrich ruthlessly kicked at her back and sides spitting insults and curses venomously at her before leaving her with one last kick to the side, another 'crack!' was accompanied by a cry of agony. Tarian coughed, blood spilling from her busted lip and her nose. Aldrich scoffed before kicking her in the back one last time and spitting on her, muttering, "I need a drink" before walking out of his room, leaving Tarian groaning on the floor of his room.

Tarian grunted, fishing her phone out of her pocket only for it to tumble out of her hands and slide across the floor in front of her. With a growl, Tarian cursed weakly, "Damn it". Tarian crawled over to the phone, her breathing erratic and her vision began to blur. Grabbing the phone, she unlocked it and hit the green phone icon on her home screen, hitting Imelda's contact and pressed it against her ear.

"Come on... pick up pick up pick up!", Tarian snarled under her breath. After a few more rings, Imelda's tired voice sounded through the phone

"What?"

"..."

Tarian moaned in pain, whispering a barely audible, "H-Help...". Imelda's gasp was all that was heard before her eyes closed and darkness caved in.

To be continued...