Chapter 72: Shield-sister

Chapter 72: Shield-sister
Misarya’s eyes went wide. "Wait... Are you actually considering... leaving Jarek? Over this? But I thought you loved him. You told me you were happy!"
"I do love him, but I have principles, my Queen," Rhea said, her chin lifting with fierce Askari pride. "And I refuse to be a pawn in his political games when I swore my loyalty to you. I am your shield-sister. My oath to you means something."
Misarya was deeply moved, but the terror of ruining her friend's life rushed in. She grabbed both of Rhea’s hands. "Rhea, I do not want to put you in the middle of this. You are pregnant. You finally have the miracle you prayed for! You should be happy, and celebrating, and thinking only about your baby... Not about ending your marriage! This is absurd."
Misarya stood up, pacing the length of the rug, her mind racing. "I knew Jarek didn't quite like me. I knew he disapproved of the King's decision to marry me. But to go this far... Rhea, do you think the King might have confided something in him? About me? What if Ikarion is not... Satisfied with me?"
Rhea watched her pace, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. "On the contrary, my Queen. Jarek formally offered Maya's hand to the King." Rhea paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough. "And the King refused."
Misarya stopped dead in her tracks. She spun around, staring at Rhea. "He did?" The words slipped out as a breathless whisper. She couldn't contain the brilliant, blinding smile that broke across her face. "He refused? He refused a formal Askari offer?"
"Yes, my Queen," Rhea said warmly. "I believe the Dragon King is quite happy with you exactly as you are. He is not looking for a replacement. This entire scheme is entirely Jarek's idea."
Misarya stood in the center of the cabin, feeling as though a massive, suffocating weight had just been lifted from her chest. The Dragon King had said no. He had chosen her.
Her spine straightened. The insecure, fearful valley girl vanished, replaced by the fierce pride of the Dragon Queen.
"Well," Misarya said, her voice ringing with newfound clarity and authority. "Then I have absolutely nothing to worry about, do I?"
She walked over to the vanity, picking up the silver mirror Maya had left behind, looking at her own lilac eyes.
"I think I need to speak with Jarek personally," Misarya declared. "To be honest, I usually try to avoid speaking to men directly about things that do not concern me... But I believe it is finally time for me to remind the General that I am not just the Queen of the poor and the crippled. I am also Queen to the Warlords."
Rhea smiled, a fierce, approving light in her dark eyes. "You are, my Queen. I truly hope you can talk some sense into his head."
Misarya turned back to her, her expression softening with profound gratitude. "Thank you for telling me the truth, Rhea. Surrounded by all this gold and silk, your friendship is one of the most precious things I could ever own. But right now, I want you to go back to your tent, rest, and take care of yourself and your baby. Do not worry about Jarek or Maya anymore."
Misarya set the mirror down with a decisive clink.
"I will handle this."