BLOOD OF KHARIS

CHAPTER 38: QUESTIONS

Kharis wipes her tears, frustrated that more keep emerging from her eyes. Leonidas did not answer her question before he left, and the thought that his answer could be 'no' made her feel hopeless. It had been a year since she came into this manor, and despite being the lady of the house, there was a limit to what she could do.

"At least he warned me to stay away from him. I'm sure it was to protect you since was very upset," she says, caressing her bump signifying her 3-month mark. Luckily her morning sickness stopped, and though her usual workload had not been reassigned to her, she was grateful she still had Greta and Esme to help.

Leonidas' jaw ticks as he mounts his stead. How could she ask him such a question? Her glassy eyes, as he forbade her from reading those books again, would not leave his mind.

Her questions were valid, she had every right to worry about inconsistencies, but her curiosity knows no bounds. In the kingdom of Bethillore, curiosity indeed kills the cat but not just a simple death. It is a slow torturous, and gruesome one. One where you wish you were never born, where you wish you never went snooping around in the first place. The thought she could be in that position is frightening.

The wearh had come in earlier to tell her he was summoned by the king, only for her to begin questioning him. He had a feeling he knew what the king wanted to discuss, but now more than ever, he needs Kharis to be as silent as a graveyard.

Leonidas arrives at the castle, his footsteps echoing as he walks inside, the guards bowing their heads in acknowledgment.

The familiar throne room greets him, Oleander sitting on his throne looking at him. "Supreme Commander," he greets.

"King Oleander," Leonidas says, standing tall, his eyes going to the three advisors: Khan, Nedial, and Xander.

They bow to each other, their attention going back to the king. Nothing about this arrangement is welcoming, so he locks his gates, ensuring that they would see zero reactions from him.

"I apologize for calling you out unexpectedly Commander but this could not wait."

He nods, his eyes still on the king.

"I had been talking with my advisors, and finally came to a conclusion."

Leonidas' heart rate is steady, his face stone cold as he waits for him to continue.

"Prince Callan sent a message to me when he left your manor. You had attacked him because of a human. He claimed that the human in question is the lady of the manor."

That bastard.

"..."

"Of course, I would not care about what he says because he is the enemy, so I dismissed it. But imagine my shock when Thana, a warrior that has stood by you for years told me the same thing."

"..."

"You are my favorite, Commander, and you know that. I asked you about the woman that managed to get you to feed from her, and you told me she was not important, yet you brought her to the ball?"

"It was an embarrassing act-"

"Silence Nedial!" Oleander orders, the bald man closing his mouth. Turning his attention back to Leonidas, he asks, "Who is she?"

"My woman, King Oleander," he replies.

The king smiles, throwing his head back in laughter. He turns to his advisors, "I had told you he would not abandon her. You seem to forget who he is"

The men remain silent, looking ahead.

Oleander's eyes meet Leonidas'. "Very well, I have no intention of retracting what I said at the ball. I received word that the Southern border is secure, but the humans have taken the failed reconciliation to heart and sailed to the Eastern borders. Of course, the reconciliation would have failed regardless of what happened when they visited, but I want you to be at the front of that battle as soon as possible."

There it is. 

Leonidas had so many people skilled enough to fight in that battle. He only went when it was absolutely necessary, or if they were unsure of what to expect. He already knew of the ships and had thus been planning with the generals on how to move troops there to protect it.

Oleander would never meddle in war strategies, it only meant one thing...he wants Kharis gone.

"Very well. I do have a question."

"Go on."

"The Nyland and Bethillore history books...don't bother, it is a trivial issue."

"If you say so"

"If that is all, I will be taking my leave, King Oleander."

"Yes, that is all," he says, his smile dropping as Leonidas disappears from his sight.

If there is one thing the supreme commander knows, it is that Oleander is a selfish man. He did not doubt his woman, but he needed to make sure. It was clear the advisors' hands were clean, but not his. It was just a moment, a millisecond if you may, the king's heartbeat stumbled upon the mention of the history books...something is indeed amiss.

The silence in the throne room is deafening. The advisors feel the king's anger from their current standing.

"He will not back down, Your Majesty," Advisor Khan says, breaking the silence.

"I know that."

"Why would he suddenly bring up the history books?" Xander asks. Oleander snaps his head to him, "Have them bring me that of Bethillore and Nyland."

"I am afraid that of Nyland can only be found in Nyland, Your Majesty," Nedial says.

"I SAID BRING ME THE BOOKS!" 

The bald wearh bows immediately, scurrying out of the chambers.

Oleander is breathing hard and fast, anger washing over him. Since he has known Leonidas, he believed him to be a man of war. He enjoys bloodshed, ripping people apart, and strategizing. He is definitely not someone that will take interest in history, especially that of Nyland.

"That woman," he says, gritting his teeth, his fingernails digging into the throne. Leonidas was never one to take interest in having a woman to himself. Yes, he satisfied his urges but there were never emotional attachments involved. He had no time for them until recently. The gift he gave his favorite turned out to be a curse in disguise.

"If she is indeed causing you to be in such distress, perhaps she should be used to our advantage," Xander says

"No. I want her dead."

IT IS A SHORT CHAPTER...I APOLOGIZE

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