Chapter XLII: Majesty
The king watched the maids clean and change Isabella. As they removed the sheets under her, soaked in blood and fluids, he decided she and the child should be moved to his own quarters. Lady Belet advised against it, saying a child could be very demanding and would probably disturb him. The king didn’t care, he picked up Isabella in his arms since she couldn’t walk yet and carried her to his room.
As they made their way through the harem, the atmosphere was tense, filled with silent glares and whispered murmurs from the other concubines. Isabella felt a sense of unease as she noticed the envious looks directed their way, but she held her head high, refusing to let their spiteful stares dampen her spirits.
As they settled into the king's opulent bedroom, Isabella couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions swirling within her. She was grateful for the king's gesture of moving them to his chambers, yet a nagging sense of insecurity lingered in the back of her mind.
The king gently laid her down on the bed, his eyes filled with tenderness as he tucked the blanket around her. Isabella watched him with a mixture of awe and uncertainty, unsure of what his intentions truly were.
"Are you comfortable?" the king asked softly, his hand brushing against her cheek.
Isabella nodded, offering him a small smile. "Yes, thank you," she murmured, her heart fluttering with a mixture of emotions.
Isabella relished the newfound closeness she shared with the king in the intimate confines of his bedroom. Despite his demanding responsibilities and frequent absences, their brief moments together in the evenings brought her immense comfort and joy.
As they lay side by side in the soft glow of candlelight, Isabella cradled their precious son in her arms, watching as he slept soundly beside her. The king's presence on the other side of the bed was a source of strength and solace, his touch gentle as he reached out to stroke their son's tiny fingers with tender affection.
Though their conversations were often brief and fleeting, Isabella cherished every moment they spent together, savoring the quiet moments of connection they shared amidst the chaos. In those stolen moments, she felt a sense of closeness and understanding between them that transcended their history, transcended his past despise and abuse towards her. She felt like that was exactly where she was supposed to be.
As Isabella cradled Ikkar in her arms to nurse him, cherishing the intimate bond they shared, Lady Belet approached, her expression thoughtful. "Lady Isabella, have you considered allowing the maids to care for Prince Ikkar? It would give you some respite."
Isabella glanced up, her eyes narrowing with concern. "I appreciate your suggestion, Lady Belet, but I can't bear the thought of him being out of my sight, especially back in the harem."
"But my lady," Lady Belet countered gently, "the nursery is well-guarded, and the maids would take good care of his Highness, the prince."
Isabella's grip on Ikkar tightened. "I don't trust the other concubines. I don’t know what they’re capable of. They might harm him out of jealousy."
Lady Belet nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I see. Your concern is valid, Lady Isabella. But I assure you, I'll take every precaution to ensure the safety of the heir. That’s my responsibility as well."
Isabella met Lady Belet's gaze, her expression thoughtful. "Thank you, Lady Belet. I appreciate your diligence."
"But there's another matter," Lady Belet continued, her tone hesitant. "As you're becoming fertile again, I worry about your intimacy with the king."
Isabella's brow furrowed with concern. "What do you mean?"
"With you attached to the prince all the time, it might be... impossible for you to be intimate with his Majesty," Lady Belet explained delicately. “And there’s nothing I can do if he seeks the company of other women in the harem.”
Isabella's gaze flickered away, her mind racing with the implications of Lady Belet's words. Isabella's eyes searched Lady Belet's face for any hint of the truth. "Has the king visited the harem since our son was born?"
Lady Belet shook her head. "No, he hasn't set foot there since then."
A smile tugged at the corners of Isabella's lips. But Lady Belet continued. “However, my lady, as I told you many times, things can change. I would very much like that you would secure your place in His Majesty’s heart. And in his bed.”
Isabella stopped for a few seconds, thoughtful. “Why do you vouch for me, Lady Belet?” she asked, genuinely curious. “Lady Theda never cared about me, much on the contrary, she seemed to relish on complying with Dara’s malice.”
“Theda’s support of Lady Dara was based on her own selfish interests, her own quest for the power she never had," Lady Belet explained. "Theda was one of the many concubines of the late king who never got to share his bed."
Isabella was taken aback. "I had no idea Lady Theda was a concubine once…"
"Most of the childless concubines had absolutely nothing after being released from the harem by the Dragon King… Theda managed to stay in court, cultivate some power. I do not share her struggle, Lady Isabella. I’m here with a very clear duty, not a personal mission," Lady Belet clarified.
"But why me? What difference does it make if it’s me or any other woman in the king’s bed?" Isabella pressed further.
"His Majesty, for a long time, desired to corrupt and break the spirit of the women he turned from princesses into… Well, into his whores. Most of them broke down, embraced their new position. You, however… You never did," Lady Belet remarked.
"But I did. I laid down with the king, I fell for… I fell for his affections," Isabella admitted.
"But you never let your head down, you never accepted to be stripped out of your Majesty, even under severe punishment and humiliation. It might not have been the king’s intention but, by doing this to his concubines, we were all able to see which of you were actually worthy of being consort. And you, Lady Isabella, was the only one who proved to be good enough for this role. And I strongly believe this is why it was your fate to give the Dragon King his first son," Lady Belet concluded.
Isabella pondered this for a moment. "Don’t you consider me a traitor for not renouncing my crown?" she asked.
"Your crown has been taken from you, Lady Isabella, by blood and fire. What you never renounced is your own Majesty. Theda, Lady Dara, the king himself… None of them were able to take it from you," Lady Belet reassured her.
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