Lady Laila

Chapter 22: MOORE

Talking about how the other women of King Stephan left was more than she could take. That is why she chose to bring them to the stream within the castle walls. Everyone was certainly happy, and she too joined in the conversation, but things kept replaying in her mind.

King Xerxes had given Saya a royal decree banishing the tradition of women being illiterate. The man loves her so much that he would do this for her. He left Sheath that day of the celebrations, because of her safety, he accepted a child because it is from her. Saya has been through so much, she deserves all of this. So why does sadness fill her heart? She wants all of that for herself; to be seen as precious as the princess. She has nothing but love for Saya, but at this point, Arthur is the only person that can possibly give her what she wants, even though she does not feel the same way for him; she needs to try.

Enjoying the lake with Saya and her new friends gives her joy, but when they eventually leave, it will all be over. Should she accept the commander's feelings?

***

"My Lord, we have reclaimed the towns!" the commander tells Stephan who nods. It took almost a month for the soldiers to reclaim the main towns so that they could advance into the city and then the castle.

For the Resistance to have made it into the castle, in one day only means they were working with people from within the kingdom. Their numbers were way more than Stephan thought. Who knew there were so many people that hated them?

His forces had to retreat for about a week when a mysterious plague broke out among the Resistance. Making sure his men weren't infected was his top priority. He knew he could count on his twin brother to stay alive, amidst what was going on, but for some reason, he felt uneasy about everything that had been going on in his life.

He had forced a woman to get engaged to him, even though it was clear she did not want his diamond. No, she had confessed her love to him, and never stopped showing it...until recently. Is there a reason he felt upset that she was actually going to leave him that day? He honestly had no idea she was going to go through with it. If he did not stop her, she would have been out of his life by now.

Giving her the cold shoulder is never his true intention, but circumstances will not allow him to treat her, even at the level of his other women. Since he left, he could not shake off the lifeless look she gave him when he issued command after command. He was too angry to even comprehend what she had to say. She is HIS woman, he has every right as king to make her do as he wishes, even though she does not want to.

"You are just using me to make your beloved princess happy!"

"Correct"

Was that actually correct? Using her to make Saya happy?

Hearing himself talk about the need for her to stay because of the princess continues to give him second-hand embarrassment. What sort of stupid reason is that? He had to think fast, to figure out a way to make her stay. But he still can't understand why he wants her to stay with him when he has nine other women, most of which want his attention. She is the most basic out of all of them! Curse his prophecy! Curse his damned past

"Monster."

Yes, that is exactly what he is.

"My Lord," the commander calls the king out of his thoughts. The man before him also seems to have an interest in his woman...too bad, she does not belong to him.

"Are we to advance?" Arthur asks Stephan. The king nods, signaling for his men to follow his lead. Laila was not in her right mind when she decided to leave him. Forcing her to stay in the castle and be his betrothed would put her mind straight. She cannot leave him, especially for the commander. At this moment, he must put his personal feelings aside...Moore needs his help.