CHAPTER NINETY FIVE

CHAPTER NINETY FIVE
Odessa's Pov

To make everything mine, all plans must be in place and working for my good. I had the upper hand, I had the victory, I cannot feel. Threatened by a mere slave girl. Who had the whole world against her? I have to ensure that she doesn't outsmart me.

As I stayed in the darkness, way behind the corridors of all. In the essential rooms of the palace, I waited for my guest. When the guards approached me, I sat up in the chair where I was.

"Here he is, my Queen" the guards pushed the farm boy's father toward me. His mutters of help made my ego grow as he sovbed at my feet.

"You know me, don't you?" I raised my keg and placed it on his back. "What my brother showed you today at your farm is little compared to the punishment you will receive if you keep treating that girl with kindness."

"I do not treat her with kindness my lady" his voice was trembling. "She is a witch who is trying to bewitch my son into being kind to her."

"And you are a weak father who does not have control over his child!" I hit his spine with the base of my feet and he grinned in pain, melting to the ground. "I'll teach you how to train a dragon."

I leaned to where he was, it was dark in here but we were both wolves and we had a little bit of improved sight. 

"You can leave your son to be kind to her. After all, you cannot chase the love a man has in his heart. But as his father, you need to refuse to decrease her punishment because you know your son would be of help" his eyes widened at my statement. "Isn't that what is going on?" He nodded like a lizard

"If your son insists on helping a damsel in disguise then you should insist on doubling their workload, such that there is enough to go around and he would eventually give up and stop helping someday."

"Ye. Yes. Yeah my Queen"

"Delora is in your care. If the guards report that she is free and smiling on the farm then life wouldn't be what you thought it would be." I smiled.

On the side of my chair was a big bag. "Otto mentioned you're good at your job, so I'll pay you some money." I threw the jingling bag of coins at him. "Do your work competently and you might get a raise."

"Thank you, my Queen. Thank you." He said with a lot of pace in his words.

After a minute of silence while I deliberated whether it was right to leave a scar on his face, I decided to let him go. I called on the guards to lead him out of the palace. When he was gone, I bashed out of the corridor, my feet stomping the hallway before I headed to the kitchen.

The kitchen was triple the size of a room were filled with maids. When I entered I noticed the smile on their faces slowly changed. That was the presence I wanted. They needed to do their job and not laze around gossiping about palace things.

"If dinner isn't served in ten minutes, you will all be punished tonight." My hard tone shook all the utensils in the kitchen.

"Yes, My Queen." They all chorused. I turned my back and left. I needed where to channel all my anger and I had done just that. That was what slaves were meant for, to take all of the aggressions of royalty. 

As I walked back to my room, I saw that the study room was open. I paused and peeped inside to see Luther with a guest, his friend Stanley. Without invitation, I walked in with a very bright smile.

I turned to Stanley, my voice raised with some flavor. "You must be so hungry. I have asked the kitchen to prepare something delicious"

"You didn't have to Queen Odessa. We could eat later."

"I want all of my husband's guests to be treated with great care" I had reached Luther's side of the desk and my hand went around his neck and settled on his chest. As I rubbed it gently, he didn't take my hand off and it made me feel very special.

"You've been taking all of my husband's time recently," I said with a full set of teeth, but the tone was direct. Luther had been occupied with hanging out with Stanley since he arrived.

"I apologize, My Queen."

"You do not need to apologize, Stanley." Luther started with the same direct tone I had used.

The sound of my saliva passing down my throat was heard, but then I leaned toward Luther, grazing my lips on his cheek. "My king, the baby needs you" a low-flavored voice in his ear. "I am ready and available in an instant."

Luther turned to look at me, at first when his eyes settled on my lips, I was hopeful, but when he moved my hand away from his chest, my brows furrowed.

"If you would excuse me, I have more important things to deal with" his tone wasn't as loud, but I was certain Stanley heard us.

With a forced smile, I gently walked out of the study room, pushing the door behind me with my feet. 

Was he still upset about me saying that Esau was the father of Delora's child? Is there any affection somewhere for the maid? Is their hatred just a pretense? My heart ached because I knew Delora's name was still on the marriage scroll with Luther and he was refusing to change it until the time expired.

But what if they had some other plan to let Delora take over before the time expires? What if Delora herself was playing us all and had something up her sleeve? I don't want to let myself fall short. I must be up ahead in all my plans.