The Kings Mistress Chapter 185

[ … words ]

At that moment, he recalled a distant memory. They were both on a cliff, overlooking the lands far beyond that of Drakin. He had once thought of leaving Drakin behind and leading a different life with Sierra.

He recalled what she had said to him in return.

’Say the word, and I’ll go where you wish to go.’

Why couldn’t he do the same for her?

Alistair opened the letter and read it. He’d already predicted what was written in it. Once his sweetling had set her mind on something, nothing and no one could change it.

Not even him.

Reading the letter only made him feel even more guilty than before. She was apologizing to him for going against his orders to remain in the castle.

How could he have been so blind as not to see?

Alistair delved deeper into his own thoughts. He wanted to know why he had been so against her going. Was it really because he wanted to keep her safe?

No.

It was because he could not follow.

“What are you going to do now?” Roxine asked as she watched Alistair return the letter to its original envelope.

He looked up at her with an unreadable expression, which only ticked her off.

“Have you gone mush in the head, my King? Go after her!” She exclaimed.

“But Roxine… I…”

Roxine let out a sigh as she shook her head. She reminded him of the man he had been just a few months ago.

“Are you not the same king who left the castle in secret on a whim for days to go explore the forest on the outskirts of the Capital?

Are you not the same king who fought wars that bards are writing songs for?

Are you not the same king who fell in love with a knightess, and broken tradition just to give her a name and title by your side?”

At that moment, it was as if a match had been lit in his heart and mind. Alistair covered his face with his hand. How had he become so… so weak? Roxine was right. All this time, he had thought it was his ministers, the royal court, who tied his hands.

But in reality, he tied his own hands.

“I am that same king,” he replied with vigor.

A smile returned to her face. She raised her hand and cupped his cheek.

“There’s the king I know. There’s the friend I once knew.”

She had always admired his bravery, his despondent attitude. He never cared about what others thought of the decisions he made. But falling in love with Sierra had made him fearful. The fearless King was afraid of losing the love of his life. In a way, she made him cowardly.

But that was not the whole truth.

He had let fear govern his decision-making. But now, he saw the error of his ways. It was time for Alistair to be himself again. The look in his eyes was unmistakable, Roxine knew she had gotten through to him.

“Now that I’ve gotten to you, it’s my time to shine,” Roxine mused.

She had hidden a tiny pill underneath her tongue, waiting for this very moment. She bit into it and swallowed it. Alistair wasn’t looking at her, not until a few moments later. His look of confusion was within her expectations.

“You’re speaking in riddles, Roxine, what do you mean?” He wondered.

A faint smile flashed across her face as she raised her hand for a second time to caress his cheek.

“I’m sorry it has to be this way,” she said in a soft whisper.

“What?”

His look of confusion soon turned to one of worry. It was the first time in a long while since they had been so close to one another. Was it just his imagination, or had Roxine lost quite a bit of weight?

Her hand that touched his face was a little chilly when her hands used to be warm like a blanket on a cold winter day. Her skin looked tired and dry, her eyes seemed to have lost the sparkle they once had.

“Alistair…” she called out for his name.

Her lips were pale.

“Roxine?”

“Catch me…”

Her hand slipped down from his face. Her eyes rolled back as her body began to crumble to the ground. Alistair held onto her tightly, not allowing her to touch the ground.

Everyone around them gasped in shock and horror when they realized what was going on.

“The Queen has fainted!”

“Sent for the royal healers at once!”

Alistair did not understand what was happening. One moment she was fine. In the next, she was pale and her hands were growing cold. Alistair carried her up in his arms.

“I’m bringing her back to the King’s Quarters, send the royal healers at once.”

Alistair instructed as he made his way back to his quarters at once. Miss Marionne traced closely behind, not saying a word. As soon as they got into Alistair’s bedroom, Miss Marionne closed the door behind her and locked it.

“What are you-”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty. These were Queen Roxine’s orders,” Miss Marrionne said as she curtsied before him, keeping her head low. Her heart was palpitating in her chest as she went about her task.

Alistair was at a loss for words as the Queen’s most trusted maid quickly made her way to Roxine. From her pocket, she retrieved a small vial. She uncapped it and brought it close to Roxine’s nose.

In an instant, the Queen awoke.

“Roxine,” Alistair went to her side immediately, clutching her hand.

“Are you alright? What happened? One moment you were alright and the next…”

Roxine placed her hand on his lips. Her lips were still pale and her breathing was shallow.

“I know… you have a lot of questions. But right now, I need you to listen.”

“Roxine…”

She shook her head, placing her finger over his lips again, “I need you to listen carefully. We don’t have enough time.”