Chapter 43

Kiara:

“ALL HAIL QUEEN KIARA!”

I walked out the door as Lorenzo announced my arrival to the guests who attended the gathering that we were having. Grace was already with the guests who stood up and bowed to me when the announcement was made. I smiled and nodded at the rise before going to sit in my place beside Grace. The ball was enchanted to bring out couches where the ladies were to sit. However, these couches would be disappearing when the ball officially began.

Fixing the dress I was wearing to make sure that it wasn’t wrinkled, the dress was royal green. My sleeves reached my elbows as my chest and collarbone were exposed. The dress reached my knees and I wore stockings beneath it covering my exposed legs. A simple crystal necklace hung from my neck reaching my breasts. It was one that Niklaus made for me, specifically for this ball. He urged me not to take it off even when I would be going to Lorenzo and Giovani, I didn’t question his request and promised that I would do as he asked.

It was a while before the men started assembling in the gathering. As they were with the king in the garden while we ladies settled in the ballroom. The gathering was supposed to be an all-women gathering. However, Niklaus worried about leaving me alone with someone who was practically a danger to me. Then there was the fact that I didn’t even know who the witch was. He could easily catch her scent, I wouldn’t be able to do that, and even if I was able to catch her scent. I wouldn’t know who she was, having never seen her and with the many witches around. Yeah, there was no way for me to know who she was.

“ALL HAIL KING NIKLAUS!” Lorenzo announced and I looked up at the door where my love was coming in. He stood in front of the door and everyone bowed to him, I smiled and bowed at my love who walked down the stairs and cupped my cheek wanting me to rise. He kissed my forehead and I smiled at him as everyone in the room rose to their full heights looking at the two of us. Murmurs could be heard from jealous women all around us, and though none of them spoke of what they had on their minds out loud. Both me and Niklaus could see their jealousy and envy in their eyes. I couldn’t blame them for it. Niklaus was sure to show off his love for me whenever he had the chance to do so, it was to mend what was broken in me. I truly was thankful for that.

"My love” Niklaus whispered. I smiled at him and took his hand in mine intertwining our fingers as the two of us walked toward Grace and Ian who stood by one another’s side. He looked at a woman, his eyes landing on hers for a second before she looked down at her feet. I frowned in confusion and Niklaus nodded at me before kissing my temple.

“I’ll be back baby” Niklaus whispered to me and I nodded as I watched my husband walk toward the redheaded woman. Her hair was curly, she didn’t even bother fixing it. She wore a white dress, red heels matching her flaming red hair. Her eyes met mine and she raised an eyebrow. Her eyes were sky-blue. She seemed to be taunting me with something, her eyes creeping into my soul making me frown in confusion.

“I believe that our brother has found the woman,” Grace said and I frowned in confusion as Niklaus approached her. The woman bowed to Klaus who stood in front of her for a second, his eyes studying her expression “her name is Rosetta”

“Well, I most certainly don’t blame Verone for falling in love with her,” I said keeping my eyes on my husband who took Rosetta’s hand in his and kissed her knuckle. His eyes met mine and I raised an eyebrow at them feeling my chest clench for a second before taking a deep breath relaxing I looked at Grace who raised an eyebrow at me and Ian who smirked.

“You’re cute when you’re jealous by the way, you should let Niklaus see you in this state” Ian commented wrapping his arm around my shoulder and I raised an eyebrow at him, I raised an eyebrow at my husband’s brother who was fighting back a laugh.

“Well, he is saying the truth,” Grace said teasing me. She pinched my side and I rolled my eyes at her. The two of us looked at one another and I pulled away from Ian’s arms who laughed biting his bottom lip as he fought laughing loudly in front of everyone.

“You two are plotting your death,” I said glaring at the two siblings who laughed shaking their heads at me. I rolled my eyes at the pair before taking a step away from them and smiling at a couple and their daughter who came to greet and congratulate me for the wedding.

“I do hope that you would accept this present from us, it is not of your league our Queen, but…” the young duke’s daughter said handing me a small box, I smiled and opened it. Smiling at the crystal necklace that was inside it, the crystal was the size of my thumb and the necklace.

“It’s beautiful,” I said smiling at the young girl who smiled at me. I cupped her cheeks and softly ran my finger over her soft jawline before walking toward the present’s table and putting the box there. Almost everyone brought presents, I didn’t understand why. But I wasn’t surprised because they did so. It was the natural thing in every ball.

“I can smell your jealousy a mile away my beauty,” Niklaus said wrapping his arms around my waist from the back. I smiled leaning toward my husband’s touch who kissed my cheek before resting his chin on my shoulder. His arms tightened around my waist and I turned around in his arms wrapping my own around his neck “you know that you don’t need to be this jealous baby girl”

“She’s beautiful, I have to admit”. I said avoiding his eyes and Klaus smirked. A small dimple showed on his cheek as he leaned closer to me.

“Is that worry and jealousy that I hear in your voice baby girl? I saw it in your eyes. But now hearing it in your voice?” Niklaus asked raising an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes.

“Well, you are mine. Can you blame me?” I asked my husband who smiled at me. His lips kissed my cheek and he leaned to my forehead kissing it softly, then my nose, and finally my lips. I smiled into the kiss and he tightened his arms around my waist deepening the kiss.

“You’re beautiful when you’re jealous. It makes me want to show you and everyone that you are mine and I am yours” Niklaus said softly “but you needn’t worry baby girl, I only have eyes for you baby girl”

“I know that you do Niklaus. But knowing that she’ll be here with you…”

“You will be safe at Lorenzo and Giovani’s place, their family would guard you with their lives and you would be safe there. Being here, you wouldn’t be a safe baby girl. Rosetta could easily hurt you and I cannot allow that princess” Niklaus said gently and I nodded at him not wanting to say a word despite not liking the idea. Klaus seeing my anger, kissed my cheek and tightened his arms around me hugging me tightly, I laid my head on his chest and Klaus kissed the crown of my head softly “you’ll be back in my arms soon enough baby girl”

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“I’ll be checking on you every few days love. I’ll be sure not to stay away from you for long, and we’ll be back together soon enough” Niklaus said looking me in the eye. His arms were wrapped around my waist and his lips kissed my forehead “you’ll be back home soon princess”

“I will count the days and minutes for that love,” I said smiling and Klaus nodded at me before pulling away from me and opening the car door for me to get inside. This car was one of the fewest in the kingdom and even I didn’t use it much, I and Niklaus preferred to walk toward where we were going. I got in the car and Klaus closed the door after me, Lorenzo and Giovani got in the car after me. The driver started the car and drove off, my heart aching with every passing second knowing that I would be away from my love.

“Queen Kiara?” Lorenzo called me from beside me. I jumped being too distracted in my thoughts thinking how I would handle being away from my love. The idea of that alone killed me let alone me truly being away from him, I didn’t want to be away from my husband. I wanted to be beside him, in his arms, being cradled by him. After having found my love and home, I feared losing him. I feared losing the place I called home.

“Yes, Lorenzo?” I asked the man who was looking at me waiting for me to respond, his eyes met mine and he smiled softly. He could see the pain in my eyes as clear as day.

“You will be back to him Queen Kiara, he’ll be thinking about you every minute of every day. The love he has for you is not one that he’s ever had for another person in this whole world before” Lorenzo said and I nodded smiling at him. My eyes looked down at my lap as I avoided his eyes. He was right though, I knew that Klaus had eyes for me and me alone. I also knew that this was necessary for both my and his safety. The two of us needed this. He needed to protect the kingdom but he couldn’t do that when he was worried about me being around, he would be fearing my life with every passing minute, he wouldn’t be able to focus on the matter at hand, and as his wife, I wouldn’t be able to allow that.

“I know Lorenzo, let’s just hope that everything goes as planned. Only then would we all be able to relax” I said and Lorenzo sighed but nodded. He knew that I was right, I knew that Niklaus was a strong man. Hell, he was the high king for a reason, but knowing that he was with such a woman. A beautiful, powerful one. Not only did that make me jealous, the clench I felt in my chest was one that I never thought that I’d feel. But she made me worry for my husband who could be harmed by her at any given second. The woman could find a way to hurt him just as she found a way to keep his brother alive for all these years.

“Lorenzo, we need to go back”

“What do you mean, Queen Kiara?” Lorenzo asked frowning in confusion.

“Something bad is going to happen, Lorenzo, we can’t keep them alone. We have to go back” I said looking at Lorenzo my fears getting the best of me. A bad feeling settled in my chest knowing that the woman was there, Aiden too. I didn’t like where things were going, my being away would be saving me and not worrying Niklaus. But who would save him if anything happened to him?

“Queen Kiara, King Niklaus ordered that you go to Lorenzo and Giovani’s home,” the driver said speeding. I frowned at the man whose voice darkened. Looking at Lorenzo he frowned in confusion at the man who dared disobey a queen’s direct order.

“I said turn around, we are going home” I ordered. This time my voice was filled with anger.

“But my queen, the fun is just getting started”