The whole palace was in deep congratulatory mode. Everywhere Isabella turned she received smiles from left and right. More noble women wanted to keep her company...
Being the general's wife and soon to be queen is quite an honor.
Couple with the fact that both of them are compatible individuals driving the kingdom to what it is now, nobody gave them any objections.
"The role of a wife!"
"Night with your husband!"
And other books have been sent to Isabella's study. She now have special maids and guards who dedicated themselves to serving her
Alexander on the other hand wished hs had acted sooner,he didn't expect the whole kingdom to give their support like that
Except one person
"You can't do this Alex!"...Her whining is really getting on his nerves but she's still the queen and her blessings would be required for his union with Isabella
"I already did.!"
Alexander didn't understand why she was so adamant! At least she should be happy to have her daughter around her after marriage. "Why are you against this anyways?"....
"Isn't it obvious...? You're trying to manipulate my child!"
Her reason wasn't reasonable enough... Alexander just waved her off. She stomp away but he knows she'll be back.
Everybody knows the queen is against the marriage....her reason for opposing isn't clear but some say maybe she wants the general in her bed just like Jerald.
The news soon reach the queen's ear and she was more than furious
"Isabella!!!!" She yelled... walking straight to Isabelle's room
Without a knock but a terrible bang
" Isabella!....you can't do this?"
She begin to form tears... wailing on how she had suffered so much to raise her...and yet someone as malicious as Alexander wants her
"You should be with Ronald or Eliot instead of him. Anyone but him.!"
Isabella could definitely see the anger and resistance in her eyes... but why?
" If you can give me one valid reason aside from all these on why I shouldn't marry him...then I won't marry him!"
Isabella knew she had nothing to say
"He's your uncle!"
"But mother... he's not! Father isn't his brother anyways. This is the only way to protect the royal bloodline and father's legacy."
Repeating what she had heard from the meeting,yet keeping the real reason away from her
"Really...? What foolish legacy are you protecting? Who asked you to do that?"....her tone changes unexpectedly. Isabella knew she was angry...she didn't say a word
"You won't marry him... I won't allow it!"
She turns to leave, Isabella stopped her
"What if I love him? What if I'm okay with marry him?"
The queen's heart stopped.... Love?
With distain in her eyes "You love him?"
"He had been with me since I was a child... I would be damned if I didn't had a bit of affection for him. And when father died,he was all I could see. Taking care of me, making sure I didn't die in my sleep."
"Alex...is just the man I need... uncle or not!"
Isabella's confession reached Alexander ears.
He stood outside the door, grinning in satisfaction. He knew she loved him too. And now nothing can waver him
"Good luck then!"....that was all the queen said. She walked away,not sparing anyone a glance.
Isabella fell to her bed feeling devastated
"Just let her be! She'll come in terms with it soon!"
Alexander tried his best to comfort her, but he couldn't wipe away the sadness that's deep in her heart
*We'll marry and no one would stop us!" He knew what was in her mind. He's not going to let her change her mind.
...
Two can certainly play the game...the queen thought
She's the master of games and she would take back the scores one by one. Satisfied with whatever she cooked up she called in the maids to clean up and set her bathe
Perhaps set her plan in motion.
The day was terribly long and exhausting.. Isabella could feel her knees trembling slightly
The ground almost welcomed her but a catch was made
"Thank you!"...a somewhat familiar face but she couldn't place her finger on it. She was curious about the man and he knew it too
"Good evening your highness...my name is Salvador. I'm one of your new guards in the shadows!"
Isabella smiled...it has to be Alexander's handiwork
"Thank you for your help and nice knowing you Salvador.".... closing in the conversation..she remembered something. "Are you from here?"
"No your highness. My hometown is far away but this is my safe place!" He didn't lie about it, there's no need to. The goal is to make her curious and guessing.
He escorted her to her chambers, turned and left
"It should be ready soon!"
"I saw her.... I saw Audrey!" Tears brimed in Salvador's eyes. He's a tough man with a soft interior
"It's sooner than I expected. How is she?"
He recalled her exhausted state and frown
"She's too stressed out. Do you have something that might cheer her up?"
The other man raised his chin slightly "Well I have something she'll like and something she'll remember!"
"Mango cake and some milk pudding!"
He said in satisfaction.... Salvador laughed remembering how they would sneak to the kitchen to get her mango cake and milk pudding at night! She had been a foodie since birth
"You're really smart Derick!"
They planned to make the cake just the way it should taste.
Taste like home!
....
In a dark room... different weapon of torture hanged on the wall. Blood splatter and screams echoing
"Please..... stop....son!"
He said something abominable... Son...!
"I'm not your son!".... placing the hot stab on his lap...the man screamed in pain
"Please... please....for Audrey sake!"
Now he just pissed off the beast in him
"How dare you? You don't deserve to mention her name.!"
"I would have loved to cut your tongue but I still want to hear your pathetic scream!"
The pain kept going on...the man tied to a chair passed out in pain.
"Fool!"...
Feeling disgusted at the sight of his blood on his hands, he wiped it off with a rag
"Brother!"...a call came through
"I'm coming...!" Still maintaining the appearance of a innocent man,the smile didn't reach his eyes
"I've got news!"...
In a room gently lit with sun light...
"They're with her as her Shadow guards. Salvador told me he already talked to her and they're on good terms."
"That's fine. They can bond with her for the time being!"...
"You want to go too... don't you?"
The man nods... He as well wants to see his little sister. It has been a very long time
"It's going to expose us all in one swoop if we charge there. Just wait. We can take turns but Lucien isn't the type to wait for very long. Tell them to be fast about it!"
"Yes brother Roman! And the old man?"
"Taking his very own medicine!"
"Can't you just end it?"
"Not yet... for every pain he cause mother,and every pain we got whenever we steal our own food trying to feed Audrey... he's going to pay for it for the rest of his miserable life!"
Hatred filled the room, their eyes cold and hot at the same time. If looks can kill,no one would be spared.
"Make sure Lucien stays put while I move on to the next plan."
"Yes.... brother!"