Chapter 43

The servant took King Evander to the chapel inside the castle and stood in the door, pointing to a body on a table.
“Remington?” King Evander questioned, recognizing him where he stands, holding Queen Cerena’s cold dead hand.
“I came to kill you and your family,” King Evander said, walking over with his sword in his hand.
“I am ready to join her in the afterlife, are you?” Prince Remington challenged King Evander, in hope that King Evander will end him as he did not want to live without her.
“Your punishment for stealing her away from me is to live with the fact that you are responsible for her death,” King Evander said and bent over, placing a kiss on her lips. King Evander didn’t realize he was crying until he saw his teardrops on her face.
King Evander left Prince Remington staring blindly at Queen Cerena’s dead body.

Iris was standing at the tower’s window when she saw King Evander riding ahead of his arm, returning.
Iris felt relief wash over her and her mind filled with ideas as to how she was going to make him believe that she was the woman he fell in love with.

King Evander arrived at his room where the servants has already prepared a bath of hot water. After washing off, the servants brought him some clothing to wear for dinner, but King Evander was too depressed.
“Send for Marchelle,” King Evander demanded.
“Your majesty, she left to go back to the Valentina kingdom,” the servant informed him, her head low.
“Why?” King Evander wondered but thought, ‘coward sister of mine.’
The servant opened her mouth, but King Evander stopped her, “never mind.”
“Bring me a lady that is willing to warm my bed,” King Evander demanded.
“Your majesty, you send them all away for safety,” the servant reminded him.
“A bed slave then,” King Evander roared.
“You set all the slaves free,” the servant reminded him again.
“A servant? How about you?” King Evander walked over to her.
The servant fell to her knees pleading, “please your majesty, I am a married woman and with child.”
“The lady in the tower, bring her here,” King Evander ordered and walked to his bed.

The servant got to her feet and got out of there before the King made her his bed slave.
King Evander grabbed his bed robe and put it on before sitting on the daybed that was near a window in his room.

Iris knew what was coming when the servant fetch her from the tower and told her that the king wants to see her in his room. Even though she was eager to make love to King Evander, she was slightly disappointed that he would bring another woman to his bed so quickly after her so-called death as Queen Cerena.

“Your Majesty, you send for me,” Iris curtsey after entering his room.
“At ease, Lady Iris,” King Evander said, and looked over at her.
“Have you had sex?” King Evander asked.
“Just once, if you can call it sex. You saw me on King Gerald. Thank you for saving me from him,” Iris said, hoping that it was just the once but at the same time wondering, ‘perhaps it will be better for me if the princess enjoyed this body sexually.’

“I see,” King Evander pondered for a moment.
“Guard, send for some wine,” King Evander shouted, making Iris jump.
“Take a seat,” King Evander beckoned with his hand for her to sit across from her.
Iris sat with a smile.
‘She smiles just like Queen Cerena,’ King Evander thought, looking at her.
“I summoned you to my room because I am broken-hearted and need female companionship. You know, to take my mind off Queen Cerena.
“I am yours in any way you need me, your majesty,” Iris said and reached out and touched his hand.
King Evander pulled his hand from hers, “don’t think for a moment you are here to replace her.”
“Of course not, your majesty,” Iris said, withdrawing her hand to her lap.
King Evander averted his gaze to the window as a tear ran down his cheek.
Iris bit her lip, looking at him, wishing she could take the pain away by trying the truth again, ‘maybe this time he will accept it?’
Iris opened her mouth to speak, but a knock at the door interrupted her.
“Your wine, majesty,” the servant walked in and placed the goblets with the vase filled with wine down on the table in front of King Evander.
The servant was about to pour but King Evander stopped her, “leave us.”
King Evander stared for a long moment at the vase of wine, studying the floral engraving on it that matched the two goblets and the silver tray.
“Would you like me to pour you some wine?” Iris pulled him out of his thoughts.
“You may leave,” King Evander said in a silent tone.
Iris stood up, disappointed, and walked over to the door. With her hand hesitantly on the knob, she hoped for him to stop her and call her back.
When King Evander doesn’t stop her, she turns around and faced him before undoing her dress and letting it drop to the floor.
King Evander just looked at her for a moment and said nothing.
Iris stepped out of her dress and walked over to him. Iris poured him a glass of wine, “let me help you forget, just for one night.”
King Evander took the goblet from her and gulped it in one go before holding out his glass to her to refill.
Soon, the vase was empty.
“Should I send for another vase?” Iris questioned.
“No,” King Evander said and stood up, swinging to his bed.
Once he was on his bed, Iris sat next to him and opened his robe. She was about to reach for his chest to touch him when he grabbed her hand, “leave.”
Iris stood up and sadly returned to her dress, where she left it on the floor and slipped it back on. Iris made her way back to the tower as fast as she could, noticing all the guards’ lustful eyes on her.
“Take your eyes off my lady!” Iris heard one guard shout at the rest.
“Your lady?” A few chuckled and soon they were bickering about who gets to have her first.
Iris got to the tower and rushed to the room. She locked herself in again and leaned with her back against the door, catching her breath.

The next morning, Iris was woken up with a bang at her door.
“Why is there no guard outside her room?” King Evander roared.
Hearing his voice, Iris quickly got up and opened the door, “I can explain. He tried his way with me and so I convinced him that if he wants a lady, he needs to woo me, but it was only to get him away from me. I told him I love poppies.”
“But it is not the season for poppies,” King Evander said, walking into the room.
“I know,” Iris chuckled.
“Oh, I get it. I will sort my men out. I came to apologize for last night,” King Evander explained his reason for being there.
“I understand. No need to apologize. You did nothing wrong,” Iris said with a smile.
“But I wanted to,” King Evander confessed.
“And now?” Iris questioned, hopeful.
“I am going to honor my queen’s memory and respect the woman I surround myself with,” King Evander said.
“You will only do me honor by sharing your bed with me, your majesty,” Iris stated.
King Evander consider it for a moment, but then brought horror to Iris’s ears. “I will arrange a good marriage for you.”
“Marriage?” Iris choked.
“Don’t you wish to be married?” King Evander questioned.
“I wish to serve you at your court, your majesty. I made Queen Cerena a promise,” Iris said in a hurry.
“A promise?” King Evander questioned.
“That I will serve you and take care of Prince Evander as if he is my own,” Iris explained.
“Very well then. We are leaving today for the Valentina kingdom. You can follow me around since it appears I cannot trust any of my guards,” King Evander said.
Iris hid her relief and followed the king.
“Have you had breakfast?” King Evander questioned on his way to the dining room.
“Not yet, your majesty,” Iris said, remembering she didn’t have dinner last night either.
“Good, then you can join me for breakfast,” King Evander said and walked into the dining room.
During breakfast, Iris caught King Evander looking at her several times.
“You and Queen Cerena must have spent a lot of time together. The way you eat and behave reminds me so much of her,” King Evander said when he felt caught out by her for looking at her again.
“We were like sisters,” Iris lied, not sure how else to explain it.
“Why did she then send you away from the castle when she pleaded her to stay?” King Evander questioned.
Iris paused, her fork mid-way to her mouth, remembering the time that Marchelle was in Queen Cerena’s body.
“Where is your sister?” Iris questioned, changing the subject.
“Fled to the Valentina Kingdom. She had no faith in me,” King Evander said.
“You should find her a good husband,” Iris suggested, wondering if Princess Marchelle would do harm to her son.