Chapter Eighty-three

Dagen's POV

The return to the palace had been a tiring exercise after having been on a journey for long. My business trip, which was supposed to be a few-week affair, ended up being a little more than two months. As my carriage entered the palace, I sighed tiredly, knowing that a fresh set of responsibilities was going to need to be attended to. I thought of Nydia, and of the baby in her womb and sighed. I still did not know how to feel about it, especially after Gina.

It's been long enough, but you're still thinking about her, Kane said, and I rolled my eyes, refusing to answer. I wasn't going to allow him to nag me.

The fear and uncertainty that followed me during my absence faded a little when I got down from my carriage and was walking towards the entrance with which I was familiar with. When I got there I gave my coat to the attendant who was waiting for me.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty," he said, giving a bow. "It is a pleasure seeing you."

"Likewise," I responded curtly and walked away and headed directly to Nydia’s room. I knew if I did not see her now, I would forget, and later, she would accuse me of neglecting her. I wanted to do anything to avoid her incessant nagging.

The corridors were more silent than usual, the clamour and bustle missing from the usual day. I moved up the grand staircase, rather stiffly and grudgingly, mumbling to the few greetings I received from maids who passed me by. They seemed surprised by the sudden return and then whispered amongst themselves and scurried off. Some of them seemed a little happy for a strange reason.

As I got to Nydia's Chambers, I reached for the door and stopped, listening a while and realizing that there was somebody inside. Not just somebody but two people, one sounding very feminine and judging by the heavy breath she was taking, it sounded very sexual.

My heart started to pound – a combination of disorientation, and fear rising in me. I opened the door with a little bit of force in case it was locked, and the metal hinges protested as it creaked. The scene that was revealed to me was like a stab to the chest. Nydia was embracing another man and in the act of making love. The two of them stiffened and their faces paled instantly as they realized that they had been caught and not just by anyone, but by me.

For about five seconds, there was pin-drop silence as people in the room looked shocked and terrified. Then my anger flared up in me, waves of anger and betrayal like a volcano erupting. In three large steps, I was in front of the man, and as I got close enough, I snatched his neck into my grip. His eyes opened wide with fear and I choked him, picked him up from the bed and put him in an upright position.

Nydia, realizing this, got up from the bed and left the room quickly, but I did not pay much attention to her. I nearly didn’t even hear her exit, my consciousness was solely for the man in my grip. "How long?" I asked, and it came out as a growl. ”How long have you been sexually involved with her?”

Forcing out another breath, the man was left speechless and stuttering incoherently. His breathing became ragged and in short gasps. "H-h-h" he choked, tears clouding his eyes.

An intense form of anger coursed through my veins. "Speak, damn you!"

He was trying to speak but he couldn’t utter a word. His fear is then portrayed well; his eyes open wide, knowing that death is around the corner. My fury burned hotter. "Is the baby in her mine?"

"I-i- your Majesty, forgive me," he managed to choke, but I had no mercy in me. Just pure undiluted anger and hatred for both Nydia and the man in my grip.

I drew in a breath and whispered in his ears. “You really are a fool. Forgive?" I cackled then tightened my grip. "Is it yours?"

A glance at the man’s pale face was all I required to know that Nydia's pregnancy was a result of this man. The fact was written plainly on his ashen face, in the intensity of those darting eyes, the pleading look in them. My fingers around his neck squeezed even harder until my skin turned beet red with the intensity of my fury.

I wondered what the goal was. To allow me to take care of a child and raise an heir that wasn't mine. Did Nydia have plans of killing me after the child was announced as heir and then marry this man who would act as king until their child was of age?

" You just sealed your fate you bastard,” I replied in a cold voice. With one, final, violent throw of his head, I wrenched the man’s neck in a sickening crack that rang through the otherwise quiet room. I then allowed the corpse to slide off my hand and onto the floor, my anger bottled up, barely contained.

Standing over the man I had just strangled to death, I could do nothing but look at him for several seconds, my heart beating erratically. How could Nydia betray me like that?

The same Nydia that was always trying to be there for me and acting jealous when I was with Gina was cheating on me with a nobody and was even pregnant with his child. How could she have the guts and effrontery to bring a mere commoner to my palace?

The room was really quiet, save for the heavy sounds of my breathing and the feeling of doing what I should not have done loomed heavily on me. I should have waited to execute him publicly. To shame him and Nydia publicly, but that betrayal, that anger, that sorrow were the forces that acted on my behalf.

Frowning, I averted my gaze and headed to the window, to look at the palace gardens in the fading twilight and allowed a tear to drop from my eyes. For the first time, I allowed myself to admit I missed Gina.