Chapter 26

***Serafina's POV***

Is he telling the truth? Is it true that Cressida disappeared but why would that happen? Did she do something? Is she hiding from someone?

I don't know what to think anymore. My head hurts from too much thinking. I feel like I am on the verge of losing my sanity as I try to figure out everything.

"Don't worry our men are already finding her Serafina. The moment she returns I will let you see her but for now stop thinking about her and focus on yourself okay? You lost so much strength from that incident,"

I just nodded because I didn't have any choice anyway. I can't go against the King's words that's what they told me.

"I will bring your dinner here so you don't have to go to the dining room,"

Eating in my room sounds inappropriate but when I remembered how the servants looked at me earlier I just agreed with King Calixto's idea. If I could only lock myself inside my room and not interact with anyone I would probably do it.

"I will be back," he told me before walking away.

When King Calixto disappeared from sight, I stepped inside my room and waited for him to return. After a few minutes, I heard a knock and upon opening my door I saw King Calixto standing outside my room holding a food tray.

"Thank you, King Calixto,"

I was about to take the tray on his hold but he held it a bit higher and made his way towards my room. He took a seat beside my bed and placed the food tray above the bedside table. He turned his head on me and looked at me intently as if waiting for me to walk towards him so I did.

The moment I got closer he tapped the side of my bed urging me to sit in front of him. I can feel my heart beating in an abnormal rhythm because of our position. I was sitting in front of him and we were too close. Our faces are on the same level making me feel even more nervous.

I thought being too close to him was already torture but he took the food tray and started feeding me. I felt my body freeze in place confused about what I should do.

He moved the spoon closer to my mouth so I had no choice but to eat the food he was offering. He is treating me like a baby by spoon-feeding me.

"I can feed myself, King Calixto,"

I tried to steal the bowl from his hold but he moved it away.

"Just let me Serafina," he insisted.

I want to disagree but he looks determined to feed me so I have no choice but to agree on whatever he wants. We were silent the whole time and the moment I was done eating he put the food tray above the bedside table again and focused all his attention on me.

"Does your body still hurt?" he gently asked.

I can already feel the beating of my heart in my throat. I have no idea he can affect me this much. He is too much for me to handle. I feel like I would explode at any moment by just looking at his eyes.

"I feel better now King Calixto," I nervously responded.

There goes his eyes again from staring at my face intently making me wonder what runs inside his head. Does he find me pretty or does he think I am disgusting because of the rumour spreading around the Kingdom?

"Did you already claim me, King Calixto?" I asked out of nowhere making him cough even though he wasn't drinking anything.

He was taken aback by my vulgar question but I feel like this is the perfect moment to ask that. I felt like once I know that I am claimed by him it will lessen the disgust that I am feeling towards myself if ever it is true that I sold my body to those rouges.

I want to know that I am claimed by the King first so in case the rumor is true there is still a small amount of self-respect left on me because I gave my body to the King before they could even touch me.

"Yes Serafina I already claimed you," he responded which somehow lessened the heaviness in my chest.

At least I offered my body to the King first. At least I was claimed by him before those rouges took me.

"Why did you ask?" he questioned confusion filling his eyes.

Instead of answering his question I shook my head and smiled at him. "Nothing. I am just happy that I was claimed by you King Calixto,"

I don't know what has gotten into me but I found my hand slowly undressing myself. I can't ask the question directly so maybe through this, I will get an answer. I want to know if after what happened to me he is still not disgusted to claim my body.

"What are you doing Serafina?"

His brows furrowed while looking at me but I ignored his question and continued untying the dress I was wearing, before it could even fall on my body he held my hand firmly to stop me from whatever I was doing.

"You are still weak Serafina. I want you to recover first before doing it,"

The tears that I had been suppressing ended up falling from my eyes and I saw panic written on his face when I started crying in front of him. "Why King Calixto? Are you disgusted?" I asked my voice laced with bitterness and pain.

His brows furrowed even more looking at me confused. "What are you talking about Serafina?"

I forcefully brushed off his hold and the dress that was covering my body fell on the floor. I stood before him bare and when my eyes landed on my body that's when I finally saw my scars. It looks like I had been tortured and I saw his gaze lingered on those scars as well. Rage filled his eyes while looking at my body and I have no idea if his rage was directed on me or to whoever scarred my body.

Instead of uttering a word he picked up my dress that fell on the floor and covered my body once again but I pushed him away refusing to get near him.

"Admit it King Calixto I know you are disgusted. I was claimed by a hundred rouges. I am fucking dirty. I am a whore!"

He shook his head and tried to get near me but I took a step back refusing to be close to him. "That's not true Serafina. You are not like that," he gently uttered trying to soothe me but I am already blinded by pain and bitterness.

"That's what the whole Kingdom thinks!"

"But that's not what I think!" he shouted, cutting me off. "You are not like that Serafina. I was with you in that forbidden forest. Those rouges did not claim you,"

I feel my knees weaken but before I could even fall on the cold floor King Caluxto held me and pulled me into a tight hug. I buried my face on his chest while he caressed my back.

"Tell me who put those lies inside your head. I will fucking cut their tongues," he ruthlessly uttered.

I shook my head refusing to drop any names. "It's not important. The rumor already spread. I am no longer deserving to be your Queen,"

I broke off the hug and wiped the tears that fell on my face. I looked at him directly in the eyes and the moment our eyes met I saw his gaze soften. He held my face and stared at me intently. "I won't be mad at you if you replace me, King Calixto. You can throw me away and find another Queen who deserves to stay by your side like Cressida. They told me she is perfect for the throne so find her and make her your Queen,"

His eyebrows furrowed again. He firmly shook his head. "No one can replace you Serafina,"

"But I am not deserving to be your Queen," I insisted.

"You don't get to decide on that,"

"Your Kingdom thinks I am too dirty to be your Queen. I already lost my dignity and self-respect," I uttered my voice breaking while saying those words but instead of agreeing to what I wanted he shook his head again.

"I don't care about what they think Serafina,"

"But they are your pack. You might lose them if you keep me,"

He sighs and gently caresses my cheeks while looking at me with his eyes filled with gentleness. "I would rather lose them than lose you, Serafina,"