Betrothed (The Selection series and Red Queen Fanfic)

Chapter 88 - The Queen

This is for lxm_miere 😚
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The next morning, I woke up in the loving arms of my husband. Cal was still asleep when I woke up, he felt warm around me, I could still remember how we ended up knotted in these sheets last night. He was amazing and gentle, I felt my heart swell the moment he opened his eyes and met my gaze.

"Good Morning, wife!" He greeted, his voice was raspy and his eyes were lazily opened.

"Good morning, My King" I kissed his lips that made him tackle me down.

I laughed very hard, he was tickling the hell out of me. The time he stopped, we were both out of breath and decided to start the day.

"I could get used to this everyday" He commented, he was eyeing me as I walked towards my suite only with the sheets covering me. I sent him a playful glare before bolting out of his door.

My maids were waiting for me the time I entered my room. I quickly entered the bathroom to avoid further ado. They were quick to put on a dress that fashions the House Calore colors and my crown that has the Gardenian and Norta designs on it.

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I was in my personal study, starting to work on my 'Queenly duties', when a sentinel informed me of an urgent matter. I found myself running in the hallways towards the arena.

Two bickering ladies from House Merandus and House Jacos were there. Along with them was Evangeline whose siding the lady from House Merandus.

"What seems to be the problem?" My voice now held the authority I gained yesterday. Norta's Red Queen.

They sunk into a curtsy, except for the Samos girl.

"Keisha Jacos is nothing but a traitor, Your Majesty. She is funding the rebels!" Merandus said.

"Me? I'm loyal to the crown! Look at you, you're the one who's been funding the rebels. You said it yourself!" Jacos defended.

"You sang to me! Which was against the rules!"

"Yet you almost got me killed. By whispering your way into my head, wanting me dead!"

I was getting enough of both of them.

"ENOUGH!" The two ladies looked at me in horror. "Since the both of you broke the rules about using your abilities against the other houses, you will be competing for your life. One will die, one will succeed" I said.

"Does the king knows about this?" Evangeline interfered.

"I know what I am doing, Evangeline! Don't you dare question my questions, Lady Samos. Or you will find yourself in Corros by dawn!" I snapped at her. "Everyone. Dismissed" I said sternly.

The sentinels escorted the three ladies out of the door. After a couple of minutes, Cal entered the arena, I wasn't able to get out the arena right away, because I want to leave the area once I calmed down.

"I heard you sent the girls into a competition?" Cal asked, his voice held a question.

"Yes, I did," I answered. "It was by the law, of course. I'm not going to sent people into a competition willy-nilly"

I heard Cal sighed a loud, knowing it was going to be a bloodbath again.

"It's a treason that they committed. And for once, they will witness the punishment" Cal said.

"Please don't tell me, it's the first time this happened?" I asked, my eyes were confused.

"It's not the first time someone used their ability to an opposing house. Look at Elara and my mother," He looked at me. "However, this is the first time someone will be punished by it. Let alone a House Merandus and House Jacos, it seems that I will be watching my mom and Elara fight"

"Do think I made the right decision?"

Cal nod at me, he knows the Laws of Norta better than I do. I've been working on it for months and goodness! There's a lot of them, and more coming.

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"Keisha Jacos, House Jacos and Skonos," The patriarch announced. "Singer"

The girl with long wavy brown hair and dark eyes entered the arena, she wore an armor colored according to her house colors. Yellow and Gold.

"Alexandra Merandus, House Merandus and Welle," They announced. "Whisper"

The Merandus girl was a bit chubby, she has curly dark hair, slitted eyes and was clothed in an armor colored with Merandus colors. Navy blue and White.

The two girls collided, one held a sword the other held a dagger. Merandus waved her sword at Jacos, however, Keisha Jacos was fast. She dodged the incoming blow, sliced the skin of her hand, for the finale, Keisha Jacos tackled Alexandra Merandus to the ground and took out the air out of her system.

When she was finished with her prey, she stood up, gave a final curtsy and proudly walked out of the arena.

Healers crowd the fallen Merandus girl, after a few minutes of reviving her, they pronounced her as dead. No one was to blame, it was treason to everyone. A strike for a strike, Ability against ability.

And Evangeline Samos will get that if won't straighten out her attitude.

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"What a great fight to start my reign as queen" I said, to no one in particular.

Anne was brushing my hair for the evening. A routine she loves since I was a kid.

"I have no doubts about your reign, Miss Delancy," Another stroke. "You will be as great as your mother"

"Thank you for telling me that," I said. "Oh! I believe you have to retreat for the night, ladies. You've been working all day"

The three of them gave me a one last curtsy before going to their chambers.

"Ready for bed, Del?" I turned to see Cal smirking at me. He was standing at the doorway.

"Where will I sleep?" I asked.

"My room" He pulled me to his room and the long night began.

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"Tomorrow night, you won't sleep alone. We will sleep together, in one room, one place, one bed. I won't leave you alone" Cal kissed me again. "I love you"

"And I love you too"