449 [Bonus chapter]Not His Child
In the vermilion palace.
Lady Clarisa was happily preparing the gifts for the Queen who was now expecting a child. She ordered her servants, “Make sure to have everything without a miss.”
The servant nodded, “Yes, Lady Clarisa.”
Once everything was ready, the main servant of Lady Clarisa looked at her master who was happy instead of feeling worried that if the Queen would give birth to a son, prince Keiren might not be a king of this kingdom which was what her master desired the most.
“Your Ladyship, are you not worried?” the servant asked while helping her master get ready.
“Worried for what, Vena?” Lady Clarisa asked as she was observing herself in the mirror to check if she was properly ready.
“If Her Majesty gives birth to a Prince, then it might threaten the first Prince’s position as the next king of this kingdom,” the servant replied.
Lady Clarisa smiled at her servant’s useless worry. “Don’t worry about it. In Megaris, the king’s eldest son is the one who always sits on the throne and this never changed. Her Majesty is a true Queen and she will follow the tradition of this kingdom. I am happy for her because she is a good woman and deserved to get this happiness of having a child. I can not forget the way she took care of me always and loves Keiren just as I do. More than her I am happy for his Majesty who must be the happiest person to know that he and his most loved wife is finally having a child.”
The servant felt surprised by her master’s thought and said, “You truly have a good heart, my lady.”
“Though I can never be a Queen, I will be a king’s mother.”
Lady Clarisa knew even if her son became the king, her husband loved his first wife the most and she should not dream of becoming a Queen. She had accepted the reality long back which made her life easier, away from jealousy and hatred.
“Now hurry up. I can’t wait to share the happiness of those two,” Lady Clarisa said as she was ready to leave.
She reached the Queen’s residence along with her servants while carrying the various gifts for Esther.
Esther’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Saira informed, “Your Majesty, Lady Clarisa is here to visit you.”
Esther, who was standing by the window quietly since her husband left, nodded at what her servant said.
Lady Clarisa entered the Queen’s chamber, having a pleasant happy smile on her face.
Esther suppressed her sad expressions and smiled lightly at Lady Clarisa when she saw her.
Lady Clarisa bowed to her, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. I am happy to know that we will have one more child in our family.”
“Thank you, Lady Clarisa,” Esther replied.
“These are the gifts I have prepared for you, Your Majesty, I believe they are up to your liking.”
Esther nodded while Lady Saira instructed other servants to carry the gifts and said, “Please have a seat, Lady Clarisa.”
The Queen and the first concubine sat together as the servants served freshly brewed tea to them.
“Your Majesty, it’s your first time having a baby. Just like me, you must be worried and anxious as well. If you need any help or wish to ask something, I am always here to help you,” Lady Clarisa offered, her words were sincere.
“I will, Lady Clarisa,” Esther replied, pulling out a light smile.
No one could guess what was in their Queen’s mind as she knew her duty as a Queen and never let her inner thoughts be seen by others.
After chatting happily with the Queen, Lady Clarisa excused herself, “Your Majesty, I will excuse myself so that you can rest.”
Esther agreed and Lady Clarisa left. On the way back from Esther’s bedchamber, Lady Clarisa looked at the King’s residence that was connected to the Queen’s residence. Even after staying in the palace for so long and even after giving birth to the King’s son, she had never been to the king’s residence even once.
Other than the king’s mother and Queen Esther, no woman was allowed to go on that side.
‘Today is the happiest day for His Majesty. I should congratulate him personally. I am sure he won’t mind if I visited his residence today. I just wish to congratulate him,’ Lady Clarisa thought, ‘I heard from the servant that he is still in his residence.’
“You all wait here. I will return after visiting His Majesty,” Lady Clarisa informed her servants.
Once Lady Clarisa crossed the connecting passage of the King and the Queen’s residence, she saw the knight standing at the end of the corridor.
He bowed to her, “Greetings, Lady Clarisa.”
She accepted it with a light nod and asked, “Where is His Majesty?”
The knight was aware that no woman was allowed to be here except for certain two of them, and said, “Apologies, Lady Clarisa, but I can not permit you to be here.”
“I know the rules, but I am here to congratulate His Majesty on such a happiest occasion for him. I am sure he would not mind today if I visited him. I will take responsibility. Rest assured.”
The knight could not say no to her as she was the King’s concubine. Though the king only loved the Queen, all had seen how well the King treated his concubine as well and she was even the mother of his first child.
“His Majesty is in the study,” the knight informed.
Of course, Lady Claris didn’t know the way to study. Her gaze passed across that long corridor to check.
The knight was aware she didn’t know it and said, “Lady Clarisa, the study is on the floor downstairs. The second door on the right.” He gestured for her to show the way downstairs.
“Thank you,” she left to go to study.
No one stopped her as they understood if the knight in the corridor didn’t stop her that means she was permitted to enter the residence. They only bowed to greet her as she found her way towards the study.
She was surprised that there was no knight or any servant around the study room area but she didn’t mind it and walked ahead. Just as she reached the door of the study and was about to knock on the door with the help of a heavy circular metal ring attached to it, she heard the voices from inside the study and stopped.
The door was not completely closed, leaving a tiny crack that was enough for someone to peek inside.
“Even if I accept that child as mine and raise him, it will never stop reminding me of my failure as a king. I can only accept him just because he was born from Esther’s body. I will accept him just because he is a part of her.”
That was King Theron’s voice.
“Son, I know what happened was sad. But she is expecting a child. Though it is not yours, you should be by her side and take care of her. She needs you the most now.”
“Mother, I want to…I am not upset because it is not my child but…”
‘Not… his… child,’ Lady Clarisa got the shock of her life.
She was so shocked that she stepped back as if she had heard something she should never have and didn’t listen to the rest of the conversation between the mother and son.
She walked away from there in a hurry while her mind turned chaotic with so many thoughts, ‘His Majesty loves her so much…How…How can she do this with His Majesty? I respected her and I was happy for her but…. How can she betray His Majesty and hurt him? She loved him then why did she…Was that all fake and did she only pretend it all to become a queen of this kingdom….How much it must have hurt him…She…How can she…?’
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