Chapter11- A small favor

Chapter11- A small favor
Tiana rushed in, breathless, her apron slightly crooked as if she had dressed in a hurry.

“My lady… you didn't sleep at all, did you?” she asked.

I shook my head slowly. “Sleep refused to come, I was lost in thought all night.”

She stepped closer, her eyes scanning my face. “The king sent word. He wishes you to prepare. He said he will come for you at sunrise.”

My hands tightened around the blanket.

Of course he would.

The dungeon.

The unhinged alchemist.

Tiana hesitated. “My lady… he sounded angry If what you told me is true, that place…then we need to spring into action immediately”

“I know,” I whispered. “But I need answers, Tiana. I need power. And a good plan, I'm just going with the flow now. But wait… what do you mean angry, why would he be angry, did I do anything wrong”.

She swallowed hard, then nodded and moved to gather my robe.

“I’ll help you get dressed, he sounded like it was urgent.”

She brought out a pink corset gown from my closet, tight on my upper body but free on my lower body.

My shower was quick, I was curious to know what was going on.

As she adjusted the collar, she paused and looked at me through the mirror.

“My lady… after everything you told me last night, I kept thinking about it.” She bit her lip. “Do you think… fate brought you back to stop what happened? Or to repeat it?”

I stiffened.

“I won’t repeat it,” I said quietly but . “Not this time. I can't”

Tiana exhaled in relief. “Then I will stand with you. Whatever happens today, whatever that man in the dungeon says, I will be here, by your side”

I gave a small nod. “Thank you.”

Just then, a loud knock echoed through the chambers.

Tiana startled.

“That must be the king’s guard,” she whispered.

I straightened, lifting my chin.

“Let them in.”

Tiana hurried to the door and opened it.

Two royal guards stood there, dressed in silver armor marked with black crescent symbols.

“The king requests the queen’s presence,” one announced. “before you are to accompany him to the lower fortress

“Tell the king I will be there shortly,” I replied.

The guards bowed and stepped back.

When the door closed, Tiana grabbed my hand one last time.

“My lady… whatever is down there… face it boldly. Remember, you have lived this once. You already know their tricks. They don’t know you’re not the same Annabelle.”

A faint smile touched my lips.

“That gives me the advantage.”

Tiana nodded. “It does.”

I took in a slow breath, steadying myself.

“Let’s go.”

And together, with determination ahead, we walked out of the room toward the King's throne room. Tiana was right. I knew their tricks now, but what if me changing decisions I made in the past would change some things in the future, what if their tricks were changing?

The walk to the king’s chamber felt longer than usual. Every step filled with my uncertainty, I haven't been certain about anything since I came back to life. He sounded angry.
But angry about what?

Two guards opened the tall golden doors the moment I approached.

Inside, the room was dim, only a few candles lit. The atmosphere felt tense

And then I saw it.

Abel was on the floor, on his knees, his wrists tied behind him. His head was bowed, hair covering part of his bruised cheek.

Adrian stood beside him, expressionless, unreadable, shock was an understatement for what I felt, what was going on.

Adrian was supposed to bring Abel to me as a bodyguard, so why was he brought to the king, why was he tied like a prisoner.

The king… he stood in front of them both, arms crossed, Tiana was right he did look angry.

My breath caught.

“Your Majesty… what is going on?” I asked carefully.

The king turned to me with those angry eyes. “Good. You’re finally here.”

I steadied myself. “Why is Abel tied up? What happened?”

Instead of answering, he rose and walked toward me slowly, his gaze never leaving my face.

“Annabelle,” he said, voice cold, “why do you want your former lover to be your personal bodyguard?”

My heartbeat increased, the sound so loud I thought the king might have heard it.

What?

“I…I never said…. Abel isn't”

“Don’t lie to me,” he cut in, stepping closer. “Adrian went to bring him from the outskirts. And the moment people recognized him, they began talking.”

I was Nervous to death, I wasn't expecting this.

“T..Talking about what?” I forced out.

Adrian exhaled harshly,

“Your Majesty,” he murmured, “the villagers assumed she requested Abel because they used to live together. They said he was the queen’s… companion before she entered the palace.”

The king’s anger deepened. “Imagine my surprise, Annabelle. I allow one stranger from your past to step into the palace, and I am immediately told my queen once shared a home with him.”

I swallowed, panic rising.
That life, my first life, was the one full of mistakes, pain, manipulation.But that didn't mean I was in full control here.

“That’s not how it was,” I whispered. “Your Majesty, I didn’t ask for him to be my guard because of love or anything improper. I only asked because I trust him, he is loyal. He saved my life once. ”

The king’s jaw tightened. “Saved your life? Or shared your bed?”

My mouth fell open slightly, my words were hesitant but I knew I needed to speak up, to defend myself.

“No!” I stepped forward. “It wasn’t like that. I didn’t… I didn’t have those feelings for him. Not then, not now. Abel was and is nothing but a brother to me and that's all he'll ever be, your majesty”

Abel finally raises his head, his eyes meeting mine, hurt and protective at the same time.I managed to hurt him every time I spoke.

“But the people think otherwise,” the king continued. “And I will not be made a fool of, Annabelle.”

I had never seen him angry before, never seen him speaking words that were not from his brother, but it wasn't just anger in his eyes there was something else, something like jealousy, but surely it wasn't he had never loved me,not then not now, so why would he be jealous.

Our marriage was nothing to him but obedience to his brother's words and a reward to me, so why was he Soo mad,

I drew in a deep breath.

“Your Majesty,” I said, voice firm despite my racing heart, “if I truly had improper intentions, would I stand before you now and deny it openly? I only want someone I can rely on as I face what is coming in the lower fortress.”

Adrian stepped forward. “Your Majesty, allow me to add something. Abel did not resist when I found him. He came willingly. Whatever the rumors are, he has shown nothing but loyalty.”

Abel bowed his head again. “My king, I and the queen never had any intimate relationship, he turned to me with pain in his eyes and continued she was only like a sister to me, we lived together because she had no one else and neither did i.”

Silence stretched.

Then the king looked at me, his expression unreadable, his anger seemed to have cooled “then why did you lie, why did you say you didn't know him.

I looked towards Adrian, he had told the king everything, very typical, I needed to be more careful with my words.

“Your majesty, I apologize. I guess I was scared of how you would react.

“Very well then ,” he said finally. “He will serve as your bodyguard. But understand this…”

He took a single step closer.

“If I sense even a little deceit between you two, Annabelle… I will remove him from your side permanently and you will both be punished.”

My breath trembled, but I held his gaze.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

The king nodded once.

“Good. Now prepare yourself. We leave for the lower fortress in ten minutes.”

Adrian gave me a look—half apology, half warning—before , walked towards me till he was only one step away then whispered in my ears “ don't worry my lady, I'll talk to him for you, but of course I would need something in return. That cruel smirk made its way on his lips again. “A small favor”