Thirty-Nine

Tatiana I was still giving Chandler the silent treatment we got to his kingdom and he allowed it until we got close to his castle.

“Is this behavior of yours not extremely childish?” He started and although I acted like I could not hear him, he went ahead. “You are about to have a child; how can you still be acting like one. It has been ten days already, is it not yet time for you to start listening to my apologies?”

“And you lied to me for more than 100 days.” I returned.

“I did not lie to you. You were the one who arrived at that conclusion all by yourself, I did not support the fact that you did.” Chandler pointed out, acting completely at ease with making me doubt myself.

I glared at him. “You did not discourage that fact, did you? You were aware that everybody thought the child was yours and yet you did not correct their thinking or mine. I might not have been on good terms with you then, but you cannot deny that since then, you have not had a chance to tell me the truth. The fact here is that you chose not to.”

“I think I liked you better when you were terrified of me,” Chandler complained.

I would have replied to him if my attention was not taken by someone standing on the foot of the stairs of the castle looking distinctive familiar to me. He looked like my brother, but it could not be.

“That looks like…” I started, looking at Chandler who was smiling at me. “It cannot be, can it?”

“And that is your surprise, your family is around,” Chandler said and before he could add to it, I had already kicked my horse into a gallop, heading straight to my brother and ignoring the extra words which Chandler was saying.

When the horse stopped mere feet before Aiden, he reached up and dragged me off the horse and into his arms, and then I started crying.

“Why are you crying? A Princess should not…” Aiden cleans my tears, but I cut him short.

“I am no longer a princess; I am now a queen.” Aiden ruffled my hair and hugged me again, not saying anything about the length even though his hands lingered on it.

“If you are done hugging your brother, I suggest we have a judgment to seat in. You might want to rest but I believe you would rest easier and better if those who hurt you are condemned for their crimes…” Chandler stated, after he came down from his horse.

“You are such…” Aiden started but I hit him on his chest.

“He might be your brother-in-law but do not think he will condole your actions. He does not even let me get away with acting out to him and I am his pregnant wife.” I complained and Chandler shook his head.

“Excuse me but I think you get away with a lot of things already. I let you get away with not talking to me for ten days.”

“And I am sure that you will think of something inventive to hurt me.” I retorted and when Chandler did not reply, I knew I was right. Before I could start cursing him out loud, he moved up the stairs to Thann who was waiting for him.

“Finally, you are home. I knew that it will not take you too long.” Thann told Chandler who nodded like he was the one who found me by himself. I would say something about it but in a more inappropriate situation where he would be more embarrassed, and I was actually looking forward to whenever that will be.

“Welcome back my queen.” Thann bowed to me and I smiled at him.

“Prepare the tribunal, get the crown prince and Grimoult, and get Breena,” Chandler commanded Thann who looked uncomfortable “She is still weak, the birth was hard on her,” Thann stated.

“Then I would say that it is good she suffers then, because of her my wife and unborn suffered for a month, it is only fair if she suffers a little too,” Chandler said as Thann bowed and left without any other complaints. Chandler turned me to face him and with a sigh, he cleans my eyes. I was not even aware that tears were there.

“What did I tell you? As long as you are in my arms, nothing and no one can harm you.” Chandler said before he wrapped his arms around me, trapping me in his embrace. “Not your father, not my mistress, not my actions or yours. Absolutely nothing can touch you because I will keep you safe.”

*****************

“What happened to my daughter is between me and her and my kingdom, not a tribunal in another kingdom with no relation…” I watched as my father talked, choosing to ignore the questions thrown at him.

“But you sold me out to be raped, father.” I cut in and the whole room went silent.

“Tati…”

“I was raped and scared out of my mind and you hid everything, that I could condole but the fact that you were the one who sold me.” Tears fell from my face and Chandler placed his hand on top of mine. Our seats were different from everybody else own; this was after all Chandler’s throne room, which was barely used, and there can be just two thrones.

“Everybody makes sacrifices for their home, you never had to make any. All that was required of you was seven days and still, you could not even manage that. You have always been nothing but a disappointment right from your birth…” My fath… no this man who was wearing my father’s body yelled at me, and I knew that I was really blind to have ignored the signs. There was nothing loving about the man. He was a nightmare and monster throughout.

“Shut up,” Silas stated, and Father turned to look at him in surprise. “I could sit still when I heard about Esme, but I will not remain quiet when you blame Tatiana for her only error in life which was not even her fault. Her only mistake was having you as a father and that is a mistake I seek to correct.” Silas said and with a sigh, he continued. “King Grimoult, you have committed various acts against humanity, unforgivable act, I, your heir and successor of your throne, sentence you to death by beheading.”

“You do not have any power over me,” Father yelled but Silas ignored him and looked at Chandler with a nod.

“And Breena, for committing crimes against your kingdom, acts of treason and falsely blaming your queen, your sentence is ten years of hard labor then banishment,” Chandler said softly.

I watched as my father raged and Breena cried silently, numbed at the way that the events played out. Never would I imagine that my quiet brother who was extremely loyal to my father had it in him to sentence my father to death. Or for Chandler to punish Breena. Justice came in a different form from the one I had expected, but it surely does come.

“His execution will be later tonight; you are banned from attending.”

“Tomorrow, we will be heading back home.” Silas started, coming to stand close to us with Aiden by his side and we all ignored the man who birthed us who was being dragged away from the room along with Breena.

“We have been away from home too long and there are things which father did that needs correction.”

“We would like it if you come with us,” Aiden added.

“Trying to poach my wife in front of me?” Chandler glares at Aiden.

“Trying to return her home, to her rightful place.” Aiden returned and I sighed.

“Her place is beside me and this is her home, and we will be a family when our son arrives.”

“it could be a daughter,” I mumbled, and Chandler glared at me.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“What else is there?” I replied. “Tomorrow morning, I would know if I want to leave with my brothers or not.” And with those final words, I stood up and walked away with the three of them staring after me.

I already knew I was not leaving chandler, not when he has proved that he could be my home and not when our trails are finally over.

Chandler was my husband, forever and ever. In this world and the next. I was not going anywhere.

Not when tormenting him was going to be fun.

“Tatiana, wait up, what did you mean by your words just now.” I heard movements behind me and with a smile, I increased my pace.