Chapter 205 Chapter 204
"Y-yes your majesty... " She stuttered, her knees trembling. "I apologize."
Xenon hissed, readjusting himself on his seat. Ysolde's heart almost catapulted off her chest. Hades, but he seemed more irritated than before.
"Well, I'm here because of her. You moved her into your residence a while back. May I ask why?"
"None of your business."
Her anger flared but she kept I under control. "But it is, your majesty. I am your bethrothed and I need to know such details. May I remind you that we remind you that we came to the agreement that you find another female to satisfy your needs since our union didn't work out as intended?" She let out a breath. "I need to know if she has been doing that."
Xenon pinned his narrowed glare at her, and despite the fear sliding through her veins, she managed to hold his gaze, blood roaring in her ears.
"She has... " He finally mumbled.
Ysolde relief was shortlived. "If she has, why didn't you mention it earlier."
"Once again... " He snarled, his eyes flashing. Ysolde stumbled backwards in terror. "None. Of. Your. Business."
Ysolde didn't know how much of this she could take, but she was in too deep to back out now. "I apologize for trespassing. Nevertheless, it is good news. It means we can proceed with our union now that you've found someone."
"What union?" Xenon furrowed his brows.
"Uh, the coronation? I'm to be your queen, remember?"
Xenon leaned back, crossing his arms in confusion. "If you are to be my queen, what would Rayena become?"
Ysolde sighed, loathing the fact that she had to explain this to him. "For the sake of our relationship, she may be your mistress, sating your sexual needs while I handle administrative affairs."
"I'm doing no such thing." Xenon deadpanned.
"W-what do you mean?" Ysolde stuttered.
"Rayena is not going to be just my mistress, and you in particular are not my queen."
"What!? You can't say that, your majesty! We're bethrothed!" She cried, aggrieved.
"It was a bethrothal forced upon us by the royal council which didn't bring favorable results. I'm not honoring that." He shook his head, scoffing. "Queen? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard you say. I can barely stand you as it is, why would I want to permanently bind you to my side? Please get that notion out of your head."
Ysolde tilted, the room spinning around her. Her chest heaved like it would crack open, body trembling uncontrollably. She didn't understand the words the king had just said. Desperately hoped they weren't true. "You cannot do this to me, your majesty!" She screamed, unable to help herself.
"I have dedicated years of my life to serve you, I deserve to be queen!" The words tumbled out, panicked and fractured. "If you reject me now, what would become of me?"
"Nothing." He groaned, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "You'll find someone else you can be compatible with and lead a happy, purposeful life. But, I am not making you my queen. This is the end of this conversation. You're dismissed."
Ysolde's devastation transformed into rage. Eyes narrowed into slits, she spoke through clenched teeth. "Are you rejecting me for a mere human?"
Xenon paused, his head turning to look at her. He looked murderous. His eyes had switched colors, a furious growl building in his throat. Ysolde's knees buckled at the suffocating aura that filled the room, her wolf whimpering in submission inside her.
"She's not a mere human," he growled, authoritative. "She's Rayena, a human princess and the only woman I have found not to be repulsed by. Matter of fact, I'm so pleased with her I've gone on to mark her. She would never be just a mistress to me. Do. You. Understand?" He punctuated the words with an angry growl.
Ysolde should have said yes. Instead, with her quivering voice, she landed another blow. "The people will never accept her. They hardly accept you as it is."
"And I don't care," he deadpanned. "When my time is up on that throne, I'll step down and move far away with her. But I will never make her my mistress or you my queen. Do you understand that?"
"I..." Ysolde started to say, but he cut her off.
"Get out!" he bellowed, rigid with anger. "And I never want to see your face again!"
Angry tears spilled from her eyes, devastation whipping through her. She whirled around, racing out of the king's study, her cries echoing in the hallways.
Xenon hissed. Good riddance.
.
.
.
Rayena was busy with her embroidery when Xenon marched back into the chambers. The atmosphere instantly shifted, and she caught the stormy, deadly look in his eyes.
"What happened?" she asked, immediately concerned. He glanced at her, then strode to her side, burying his face into her neck, taking several lungfuls of breath. Rayena was startled, but she reached up to caress his hair. "What did Ysolde say to you?"
"She was just spouting nonsense."
Rayena scoffed, rolling her eyes. She didn’t expect anything less. But he still seemed agitated, judging by the way he was holding her. "What did she say exactly? I heard she was your betrothed. Why is that?"
Xenon peeked at her, eyes narrowed. "Has she been going about saying such?"
"To anyone who's willing to listen, yes," Rayena responded, grimacing as she remembered her days at the harem. "According to her, being betrothed to you puts her on a different rank from those that were promised or offered. Why was she betrothed in the first place?"
Xenon's head moved from her to her lap as he lounged on the couch, giving a cat-like stretch. Rayena immediately put her embroidery away.
"The Royal Council recommended her to me decades back. After searching for my mate to no avail, Ysolde was the one they had deemed most eligible to be my queen. We started courting, and that went well. She was well versed in the customs and ways of people, rather competent in administrative issues so it was only natural that we proceeded to the mating ritual."
"I'm guessing that didn't go as planned?" Rayena whispered.
"No, it didn’t. The night arrived, and she became repulsive. I couldn't proceed. Agitated, I took one of my beast forms and attacked her. If it wasn't for my quick-thinking soldiers, she would have died."
Rayena winced, momentarily feeling pity for her.
"It took her a long time to recover, and when she did, she was too afraid to attempt the ritual again. So she suggested I find someone to help with my sexual needs while she handled the administrative aspects of being my queen. I agreed, and the harem was born. Women from around the realm were brought to me for my pleasure; several others were also promised by their families once they became of age."