The Cruel King and The Captured Queen

Chapter 11 - Part 2 - Tapestry

We enter a room, and his hold tightens slightly. Quickly, realizing Thaddeus lets go of me and allows me to wander to the center of the room. I look around taken back by the cold appearance. Even my room hadn't been this bare, this is my dungeon because he can't trust me. The desk was void of any material, the table had no apples on it like in my room. I can feel the coldness of the tiled floor as there is no carpet placed down. All that hung were a few paintings that clearly were always hung there. The bed had high posts surrounding it like a box. This is a cage in disguise.

"Everything is bare," I whisper in shock.

"I had the servants clear everything out. Redesign it how you will," he instructs coldly.

Back to his emotionless personality, I shiver. His hold had tightened just slightly once we entered the Queen's chambers and that small action spoke to me. He is apparently still upset about the current situation between Queen Katherine and I. It is evident from his cold demeanour when it came to her.

"Will you kill her?" I ask again nervously. Both of us refusing to look at each other.

"Yes."

"Please reconsider," I whisper refusing to make eye contact as I turn to at least face his presence.

"Why?" he hisses.

King Thaddeus probably blames himself for this outcome as I blame myself for my families. The only benefit I have in this situation is I'm not sentencing them to death, whereas he will be. He shouldn't have to go through that, I need to convince him otherwise.

"She is only a fearful woman like I was, she shouldn't be punished for defending herself," I begin to defend her actions.

"She attacked you, knowingly attempting to kill my heir," he snarls at my comment.

He felt betrayed by a woman that had been by his side for a long time. Even though he slept with, as she explained many others, she was right, none of them stayed. She was his constant, and she had finally betrayed him. It is my job now more than ever to not let him down. Who knows how he will react if another person so important to him betrays his trust. He can hardly control his distrust for me already.

"She felt threatened by me, is there a way for her to live?" I plead with him.

We remain silent as he rubs his stubble, mulling over the thought for a moment. "I'll think about it," he mulls over an idea.

"I'm not marrying you, that is my only bargaining tool at present," I remind him.

"We can discuss that when you are feeling better," he gives me a stern look before turning towards the door as it opened, "The maid's prepared tea for you knowingly."

Slowly, a lady walks in caring a tray filled with tea, placing it down on the bare table I smile as I enjoy the sight of a full tea set sitting on the table. Maybe that's how I'll redecorate the table.

"Thank you," I acknowledge the lady and watch as she curtsies before quickly leaving.

Curtsy? I'm not a lady, why did she act this way? Oh, right. I'm the mistress who just moved into the Queen's chambers. No one will understand why I am really here.

Turning towards Thaddeus, I continue our discussion, he can't make a decision without at least hearing me out, "Where would she go, though?"

"I might send her to Caprese, it's a small kingdom far enough away and the King there is an ally. He will be able to keep a watchful eye on her," he immediately responds.

He knew full well I wasn't going to let the subject go, and was already planning her arrangements while I was distracted by the maid.

"Just like you're doing with me?" I remind him that I am in the Queen's Chambers because as he said explained he couldn't let me out of his sight.