The Kings Mistress Chapter 171

[ … words ]

“It’s all so tedious, is it not? Always worrying and fussing about following decorum. But you have to admire them, never needing to worry about running out of coin sounds amazing to me.”

“I rather be poor than be stifled,” Sierra said without skipping a beat.

Even as General Leon’s daughter, she had largely lived a carefree life. She was taught etiquette, taught how to act like a real lady. But her father never forced her to abide by them.

Besides, none of it mattered on a battlefield.

Reminiscing about her father brought a soft smile to her face. But she also worried about his well-being.

“Do you travel to sell your wine?” Sierra asked.

“Yes, I spend half my time on the road.”

“Have you been to Cair as of late?” She asked eagerly, hoping Vannie might know a thing or two.

The young lady immediately knew what Sierra was getting at. After all, the reveal of her true identity was a hot topic of discussion amongst all the nobles in Drakin.

“I’m afraid I have not, but I have heard a thing or two pertaining to it…”

According to Vannie, the Kingdom of Cair was on the verge of closing its borders due to the ongoing conflict within its borders. Many traveling merchants have since left the kingdom, in fear they would be trapped.

“That does not bode well,” Sierra sighed as she clutched her wine glass tighter.

While the kingdom could sustain itself on its own without traveling merchants, it would not do so well for them in the long run. Inter-kingdom trade helped sustain the finances of the crown and affected its ability to support its subjects.

“It doesn’t, there have been rumors too. About the royal family.”

“What about them?”

Under normal circumstances, Sierra would not have cared about King Frederick and his daughter. But if anything were to happen to them, it was likely General Leon would be involved too.

Hence by extension, she had to know.

“There are rumors that the Princess will take the throne soon,” Vannie leaned in and whispered to her.

Sierra’s eyes widened in shock.

“That’s the look most people have too when they learned of it,” the young lady added.

Sierra wasn’t surprised, “Princess Felicity isn’t fit to be a ruler. She was never trained in kingdom management. Cair is as good as lost in her hands.”

The princess was spoiled rotten from the moment she was born. She got everything she wanted and more. No one would deny her. Not to mention, General Cedric had her wrapped around his finger.

Looking over at Alistair, who was speaking to some of his ministers, Sierra let out a sigh. Sierra wanted to return to Cair, to find out what had happened to her father. However, she couldn’t. Not right now.

However, it was as if the gods had heard her woes.

From a distance away, Ida ran through the ballroom towards Sierra. When she finally came before Sierra, she almost fell into her arms.

“Is everything alright?” Sierra asked, concerned.

“My lady… a letter… a letter from Bunty!” She exclaimed as she caught her breath, holding the letter up in the air.

Ida’s entrance had caused quite the stir, attracting many disapproving looks from the nobles and ministers around them. Vannie took note of it. She quickly pulled Sierra and Ida to the side of the ballroom, slightly out of sight of the others.

But not before Alistair caught sight and sound of what was going on. He excused himself from the ministers he spoke to and walked towards Sierra. By the time he got to her side, she was already reading the letter Ida had handed to her.

Alistair wrapped his arms around Sierra’s shoulder, hoping the news she had received was good.

“Is everything alright?” He asked caringly.

Sierra was surprised by his sudden appearance next to her. She had concentrated so hard on reading the contents of the letter. It was a long letter from her father. He wrote to her to inform her that he was alright and apologized for not having the time to write back.

“It’s all good. Thank the heavens,” Sierra sighed in relief.

She relaxed her shoulders, feeling as if a huge rock had been lifted from her heart.

Ida lit up too, “That’s wonderful news, milady!”

She knew Sierra had been waiting for this letter eagerly.

Alistair smiled as he planted a kiss on the top of her head, tightening his arm around her shoulder as he did so. Sierra blushed beet red.

“Everyone’s watching,” she whispered to him as her eyes darted around the ballroom.

“Let them,” he whispered back.

As the evening was coming to an end, Sierra wondered what would happen that night. After all, most Kings would choose to spend it with their new concubines. She glanced over to Alistair, who was chatting with Cassandra.

She pursed her lips, deep in thought, as she took a sip out of her glass of wine. It was likely that Cassandra would be the one to return with Alistair to his quarters. As for what happened after that…

It was known.

“Is there something clouding my Paramount’s mind? Perhaps… what is going to happen in the bedroom?” Alistair whispered to Sierra as he returned to her side.

Sierra blushed, hiding her face from him when he mentioned it. He knew exactly what was going through her mind.

“I was just wondering who…”

“Who’s the lucky one to join me in my quarters tonight?” He asked her in a whisper by her ear.

She could feel the heat of his breath on her skin. Sierra closed her eyes and let out a sigh. She turned to him, placing her hand on the collar of his shirt.

“I know you’re the King and all and you have a duty to your consorts…” she couldn’t bring herself to say the exact words.

She did not dare picture the thoughts that were floating through her mind.

“A duty?” Alistair knew what she was getting at.

He did not realize how important it was to her, hence he never brought up the matter. But since she did, he decided to let her know.

“Sierra,”

“Yes?” She didn’t dare look him in the eye, but he made sure she did as he spoke.

“I only want you,” he whispered to her with a smile.

“But…”

“I can have consorts in my court, and I have my queen. But only my Paramount has my heart,” he placed Sierra’s hand on his chest, over his heart as he continued, “And my body.”

“You mean it?” Sierra asked eagerly, worried he was only saying that to give her peace of mind.

Alistair lifted her hand in his and kissed the back of her hand.

“I mean it.”