Chapter 160 Leonore
AUDREY
Oh, "Thank you kindly"
"Audrey is it?" She asked, her gaze roaming about my form in silent scrutiny.
I nod, meeting her wandering eyes "Yes, Audrey Lockhart" I cringed inwardly when I saw a flash of something in Eloise's eyes. The once calm ocean blue hue had sparked into a sharp, burning sapphire. Was it really necessary to add Darius's last name to mine? It was only right, we were to be married at the soonest after all.
Her reaction shocked me a bit so I decided to tread carefully going forward.
"Yes, so I have heard. I was very eager to see the little damsel that had managed to entrap the heart of our ruler so fiercely, so tightly" a sweet smile stretched at her lips, but it wasn't warm or comforting or soft. No, it was challenging, tight lipped and vexed.
"You are as beautiful as they say, even more beautiful than the papers describe. If I may ask what sort of enchantment did you use to bewitch our King?"
"Pray tell"
I blinked, my mouth dry and my throat hoarse. What did she mean enchantment? What sort of reply would I give to that? Was that even a compliment?
"I beg your pardon?"
"Surely there is no way a girl of your low standing could capture the interest of such a powerful man. Talk less of a slave, a pack Omega to be exact"
A lump formed in my throat and dread soaked into my skin, along with it every bad memory that had managed to escape my mind resurfaced into the bare layers of my consciousness. I couldn't speak, no I didn't want to. What would I possibly say? She was correct, painfully correct...
"Do not fret, there is always a solution. Our king has been blinded by this mate bond you two are unfortunate to share" she pushes herself up and strides over to the end of the room where a large oil painting of herself and who I assumed was her husband stood against the wall. "Our king used to be a feared King, he ruled with an iron fist. He was focused, brilliant and tactical but ever since you stepped into the picture he has become soft, distracted. He has no concern for the kingdom he built, the empire he formed from the ashes of ruines. He gives us no mind and goes ahead to name a mere human his betrothed"
"He is so blinded and brainwashed by your facade of beauty and pretentious elegance that he is making a law against the slavery of humans. He threatens to change the line of succession, the destiny of the kingdom that had continued for centuries"
"Humans have been enslaved for the history of the kingdom and you deceive yourself enough into thinking that just because you have managed to seduce the king you think centuries of practice would change? If so you are more stupid than I thought"
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes and color my face with shame.
"You have to accept that you are just not meant to be in that position, you are not fit to rule beside our King. That is why-"
The door opens again and this time a young girl walks in. She stands beside Eloise with a sweet smile on her face.
"This is my sister in law Leonore Chandler" Eloise gestures to Leonore who curtseys. Her short blonde hair stops at her shoulders, her warm skin tone a gorgeous contrast.
"I appreciate what you're doing for the kingdom your Grace. It takes a good person to step down and realise when things are not right, that is how noble you are" her tone is filled with gratitude but I fail to understand why.
It felt like my legs had gone numb and heavy and I feared if I stood I would fall, that was the last thing I needed right now.
"What do you mean?" My voice trembled.
"My husband and I have agreed with the King that the best course of action is for him to marry my Leonore and leave you as his mistress. Worry not, it is not uncommon for a mate to be a mistress. Although you will have to leave the child bearing to Leonore seeing as it is only fair for his Highness to marry the daughter from the second most powerful name in the Empire"
"What!?" I pushed myself into a standing position and immediately regretted it as the whole room started spinning. "Darius would never agree to this!" Tears pricked my eyes and a heavy weight settled on my chest.
"Oh Audrey dearest" Leonore walks up to me and palms my cheek, her fingers caressing the skin as if comforting me but there was a veil of sweetness that masked the undertone of a wicked threat that blackened her lips.
"He has no other choice. His Highness will be my husband"
That was the last straw. It was like a bucket of ice cold water had been dunked on me. The air became hard to inhale and my throat tightened. On my unsteady feet I pushed Leonore away but she only giggled and settled beside Eloise. There was no way Darius would agree to cast me aside, no!
He would never agree to this, he promised forever.
"Get out of my way" I pushed past the two and stumbled my way out of the drawing room, hearing their haunting giggles following me.
I tripped on my feet and landed in Elijah's arms. He held onto me, trying to steady my shaky form but it was of no use, "My Lady is everything okay?" His worried face filled my blurry vision and it was then I realised the tears I had tried to hold back had begun to poor uncontrollably.
A sob left my throat but I shook my head, "Palace, please take me there" I managed to croak out through my constricting chest and heavy heart. It felt like someone had kicked me in the chest right where my heart was.
"Your Highness, what happened in there!?" His voice heightened, his eyes blazed with confused anger as he glanced behind me to see Leonore standing at the entrance watching us quietly.
"Please Elija- take me to Darius now" I sniffled and he stood there for a few seconds just studying me before he snapped out of it and lead me to the carriage where I got in without delay and he mounted beside the coachman.
The carriage rocked into a stride, the iron wheels riding on little stones and crushing them in a crunch. The carriage jerked and shook my troubled form, my heart aches and my head hurt from the downpour of tears that now stained my cheeks. I picked at my fingers fiercely, the poor nail beds chipping away at my constant merciless torture. Horrible thoughts ravaged my mind as my chest rose and fell in rapid pumps, the air still too thick to swallow.
What if Darius has indeed agreed to marry Leonore?