Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 22: YOU ARE A LIAR

After dinner Setherian stood up, Rebecca did not know what to do, whether to follow him or to stay seated, when he saw that she did not follow him he told her.

-It's late, let's go.

Rebecca said goodbye to Romano and followed Setherian, she was walking a few steps behind, when they arrived at the king's quarters, Setherian took off his jacket and loosened his shirt making himself comfortable, Rebecca stood still not knowing what to do, someone knocked on the door, Setherian opened it, there were two maids who were carrying the princess's sleeping clothes, Setherian let them in without saying anything and sat on the sofa while the maids took care of helping the princess. The maids were always rude to the princess, however, that day they were not, they must have been afraid of making a mistake and being punished by the king.

When they finished changing the princess's clothes they left almost running, Setherian was having a glass of wine, he offered one to Rebecca.

-Do you want some?

Rebecca took the cup that the king was offering her, when she tasted the wine she wrinkled her face and said.

-This tastes awful.

-Hadn't you tasted the wine?

Rebecca shook her head.

-I see, you must get used to the taste.

-I don't think I can get used to it, it's bitter, why does his majesty drink something like this?

-Because I like it.

-His majesty has strange tastes.

-If you drink it every day in small doses during meals, you'll end up liking it.

-I don't think so.

-The butler told me you started your lessons on the principles of magic today, how did it go?

-I suppose well, though I still think it's a waste of time, what's the point of my learning the principles of magic if I'll never use them.

-Yet you must learn them.

-I don't want to.

-What?

-I don't want to learn them, now I must spend more time in the palace, I don't like it.

-For a while now I've been wondering this, why do you hate the imperial palace so much?

Rebecca didn't know whether to tell the king the truth, although she doubted he would believe her anyway, she nervously waved her hands and said.

-He won't believe me anyway.

-Don't whisper, speak properly.

-I know I'm not welcome in this place, everyone looks at me with hatred and treats me with contempt, I don't want to be in a place like this, I'd rather be alone.

-I thought that had already been settled, I ordered them to be nice to you, tell me who has been rude and I will make them receive their punishment.

-I don't want that, I just want to go back to my little house, his majesty promised that I could be there until I got pregnant, but I've had to be in the palace all day, I don't want to be here.

-You have been living as you wanted for a while, but you must understand one thing, you are a princess, you can't live as you wish.

-His majesty promised.

-I'm sorry, but you must continue with your magic classes and wifely education, I will not discuss that.

Rebecca's eyes glazed over, she lowered her head and whispered.

-Liar, his majesty is a liar.

Setherian stood up, took her by the shoulders and said.

Why are you always mumbling? Speak correctly and look me in the face when you do.

Rebecca lifted her face and stared at him with tears in her eyes.

-Liar, his majesty is a liar, he has not kept his promise.

-You are a nuisance, you have lived without obligations for several years but that is over, in your free time you can do what you wish, but you must fulfill your obligations.

Rebecca continued to cry, Setherian was tired of her cries, he gave her a long, deep kiss that left her breathless and told her.

-Stop crying now or I will continue kissing you.

-Why won't you let me go? I'm a nuisance, aren't I, look for another wife who fulfills everything his majesty needs, someone who meets all the requirements to be his wife.

-Princess- said Setherian.

-Find someone else who can become your queen- Rebecca shouted in annoyance.

Setherian grabbed Rebecca's left hand on which was the marriage mark and said to her.

-You see this mark, this represents our union, don't think you can leave, that will never happen, you will be with me forever, until death do us part, so stop talking nonsense and lie down to sleep.

Setherian released Rebecca and went to bed, she did the same, that night she was slow to fall asleep, she kept looking at the marriage mark on her left hand, until that day she had not thought much about it, but that mark was like a leash that would keep her tied for the rest of her life, that day she realized that she could never be free, that no matter how much she wished it her destiny was to be a prisoner all her life.

From that day on Rebecca never complained again, she went to her magic classes during the mornings and in the afternoons she received her wifely education classes, although she paid no attention to any of them.

Fergal went to find Setherian and told him.

-This is not working, the princess is not paying any attention to my classes, she just sits there listening like a dummy.

Setherian understood perfectly what Fergal was referring to, since the day he had argued with her Rebecca had stopped talking to him, whenever he came to her chambers, she was already lying in bed and pretending to be asleep, Setherian sighed heavily and Fergal told him.

-It is easier to catch bees with honey than with ice.

-What does that mean?- Setherian asked.

-If you want her to cooperate with you, hadn't you better be sweet and loving to her?

Setherian stared at him.

-What I mean is that if she falls in love with you she'll do whatever you ask of her, she might even agree to help us win the war.

-Don't talk nonsense.

-It's just a suggestion, think about what I've told you.