Chapter 15

Chapter 15 When I woke up the next day, Argus was gone, well of course I knew he had left early in the morning. Former habits, just like the palace rule, I took a bath and had Pim dolled me up. King's wives or even any noble lady in the palace must be well groomed, fine, and elegant all the time. We must be constantly on our gowns, wearing accessories with our hairs well made. We can only rest from all of these during bed time. As usual, green is my color with a touch of gold for my status as second to the queen and so all my dresses and accessories are all green of any shades and gold. After I had arranged myself I went to Pim where he arranged for the maids to fix the king's offerings. Later I was surprised when the imperial guard from the royal palace approached me. He get down on his knees first to greet me before he talks to me. Imperial Consort Ling, the dear King is summoning you." His language is polite. What is he calling me?" I asked seriously. I'm sorry, imperial consort Ling, but I've already said what the dear King wants to convey." He just promised so I just shrugged before folding my arms. Then tell me I can't go." I promised so harshly that his eyes widened while Pim approached me."Imperial Consort Ling, what are you doing?" He remembered the promise. What are you waiting for, go back to him and say I can't come." I'm still used to it."but I will not repeat myself again." I cut him off and turned away. "Imperial Consort Ling, what are you doing? Don't you love your life anymore because it's just me then. " She remembered the promise again but I just hushed her and interfered with what my servants were doing. I was holding and critiquing a beautiful painting when someone came again. Imperial Consort Ling, there is another palace guard from the king's palace." Pim's voice was worried about me when I looked back at the one who came. Imperial Consort Ling, the king wants to see you today in the garden of the Mainland Palace." Its promise. And what does he want?" I just cold response. I'm sorry your majesty but this is the only message the dear King wants to convey." "Then no"Not what?" It was the sarcastic cut of the voice that startled me from the outside. dear King, why are you here?" I was just shocked by the promise before bowing in respect to him when he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me to where. Wait, your Majesty, where will you take me?" I politely promised because there were many palace guards and he was helping along while Pim just followed from not far away. "I'm hungry, I want you to join me for a meal." He later promised when we could enter the garden gate. But why me, it can be that queen alone" I couldn't continue what I was going to say when I realized that there were so many people around us and I'm being informal and disrespectful to the King. I even lost my composure so I immediately adjusted my posture, speech and actions.ehmmm …" I let go as I cleared my throat before I put my palm just on my lower abdomen and walked elegantly. "Forgive me dear King, I will not do it again." I politely and modestly promise but when I look at Argus he just holds back a laugh, probably because of what I did. We happily ate in a traditional gazebo by the lake while talking when we were both stopped by the arrival of the dear queen. He stopped walking for a few seconds while looking at us before he smiled and walked closer.Beloved king." He greeted Argus before bowing. While I immediately stood up to bow before her as my greeting. "Imperial Noble Consort Ling." He just spoke to me so I sat down. He also entered the gazebo. Forgive me for unexpectedly interrupting your reception of the imperial noble consort Ling, My Dear King." He modestly and politely promised Argus before he bowed slightly. My Queen, you have nothing to apologize for. I know you came here for a walk and didn't expect to see us here." Argus's response was calm.He is truly My Dear King." He smiled in response so I spoke as well. Your Highness, why don't you join us in the dear king's meal?" I replied.Imperial Noble Consort Ling, I would like to but I will not do that. You are the companion of my dear king because you are the one he wants to share. If I was the one he wanted to share, I would have been the one he called and faced now." She said eloquently as if she's teasing me or something before she smiled. I couldn't answer because of that and Argus was also quiet.Well, I won't be around much longer. Imperial Noble Consort Ling, My Dear King …" He promised and would have turned around so I stood up again to bow when he looked back at me again.Imperial Consort Ling, I look forward to your visit with me to the golden palace." He made a serious promise. Argus just looked at me while he was busy eating so I turned to the queen. I will be glad to visit you in your palace your highness." I made a few promises before releasing a forced smile.I'm good at that." He promised and left. You're being intimidated by her, aren't you?" Argus intriguingly said before grinning so I looked at him.Eh m-he looks angry eh …" I just informally promised "Why would she?" I mean, don't you seem to be being unfair to her?" What do you mean?" Well, since you married her, you kept on coming to me not even once to her. Although she didn't know anything about us, I still feel bad for her." I have few promises. Is that why you try to refuse my request to summon you a while ago." He said sarcastically.Well, yeah … I really had no intention of going to see you now so I ignored your messages so that you would be annoyed with me and just go to him or call him but that's not what happened." "Emperial Consort Ling, I've said this before and I'm saying it again. As the queen of this palace, more than everyone else she's the most thoughtful. She would understand every aspect of my actions. "Uhmm p-but" It's okay Sab, it's okay. Let's just eat now and enjoy the moment because I'll be out of the palace for a few days again. You see, I want to have a moment with you because I have to leave you again. Do you Remember the problem I'm talking about last night? I have to deal with it so I'll be staying there for at least few days and also … I have to go back to the Philippines so I' maybe I'll be there for a long time. "Philippines?" I was shocked to repeat what he said. It seems like I suddenly missed the Philippines and my family when I heard that. W-why are you going back there, m-is there an update on Prince Ri?" I add another promise."Hmmm well yeah. There's a clear trace of him now. My agents just need confirmation so I have to go there to confirm his identity myself." "I'm hoping you'll see your brother Argus." I sincerely said that's why he smiled at me. I hope I get back here, I'm with my brother." I wish the fulfillment of your wish, your majesty." I replied smiling. I'm so sorry Consort Ling …" He said later so I was surprised. Sorry? Sorry for what?"Sorry for always leaving you. Since you came here I haven't spent much time with you yet. I would love to take you around the palace and show you wonderful places in different parts of the palace but I couldn't for now "The former King has left me so much state affairs that I have to handle as soon as possible so I have to leave the palace often." He made a long statement. Argus … ah I mean, your Majesty, you don't have to say sorry. I'm all fine here. Besides, I'm enjoying each day of my life in green hill. My palace is big and spacious so that's why I have discovered many things and many activities I can do. I have learned a lot from Pim and my servants. Also, I know I did not come to take care of you because I am here to serve you. " I smiled so he smiled too. "I'm good at that. I'm glad you understand everything." He promised. I just nodded before smiling. The next day Argus had just left, the queen sent her steward to my palace summoning me to the golden palace, her palace. Holding my breath I stepped my feet into the gate of the queen's palace. I took a deep breath before finally heading to his office room or the spacious and large room that serves as the living room of his palace. A round table full of food came to me as soon as I entered. If my palace is green, his ornaments are golden. "Imperial Noble Consort Ling, sit down first, I'll just call the dear queen." Khut said before bowing in front of me and leaving. When he returned, he was with the dear queen who just looked straight at me so I was swallowed. Dear Queen." I greeted him before I bowed. "Imperial Consort Ling, I'm glad you accepted my invitation. Let's sit down and taste what I have prepared for your visit." Thank you so much for bothering dear queen, I will remember it." I replied. He just smiled and we started eating while talking when he said something that surprised me. Consort Ling, before the former queen offered you to the king, k-do you already know each other?" He suddenly asked out of nowhere. I don't know why you asked that but not dear queen. N-only now have we met dear king." I'm lying. I didn't mean to lie to her but I think it's better to do so.Why did you ask, dear queen?" I asked again. Nothing, I just didn't think that the dear king would treat you more than I thought." He spoke calmly but firmly before smiling "Ah m-dear Queen, about earlier" You don't have to explain. That's your right as the Imperial Consort. My only question is your connection. You seem to have a connection that's more than just people you've just met. Well, that doesn't matter anymore, maybe I'm just too much. thinking about things things.You should just be his chosen companion and not me because I stole the time that should have been for you yesterday, the day of your appointment as imperial noble consort.Maybe he thought to give you for a little while now to be with him. What do you think? "ah … S-she's a real dear queen." I just replied before smiling hard. After we ate we took a walk in the wide courtyard of the golden palace to freshen up especially and it was already night. Imperial Noble Consort Ling …" Suddenly he made a serious promise. Here I am, your highness." I responded calmly. The truth of the matter is, one of the reasons I called you was I wanted to make sure of something." He made a serious promise. I was swallowed because of that. She sounded inquisitive. What is your highness?" I had a weak response.As the queen of the palace, I know I shouldn't get involved in politics because it's my job to manage the entire imperial harem but … it's also my job to ease the king's will. Also, what I want has something to do with it. ask you in the imperial harem. "I'm sorry but-- I can't follow your highness." I was confused by the answer. He just smiled before speaking again. Imperial Noble Consort Ling, the king faces many problems regarding the care and management of the entire empire but one of them is troubling his heart and mind. It is something he still cannot decide because of a promise he made to someone who he doesn't want to destroy it. But in exchange for a good agreement to ensure the security of the whole empire. "What do you define your highness?" I know the dear king should tell this to me or you but I know a lot about the political affairs of the dear king. Now I want to tell you what I know to confirm something. The king promised a man that he would never marry anyone other than his two wives.But, for the good of the whole empire, he had to get on his side the War Prime Minister of the Grand Empire, one of the most powerful empires that could be partner of this empire. But-- he can only do that I will make him consort and third wife the son of the Prime Minister I am referring to. " He gave a long explanation so I was stunned by the last thing he said but I didn't show up because he was just staring at me. Now, what I want to know is I to whom he left the promise that prevents him from solving this empire's peace problem." The voice he promised before turning to me was questionable. Imperial Noble Consort Ling, we are still the wife of the dear king so I know most of all I can assume that he resigned to us but he promised nothing to me. Because he knows that I know that as queen is acceptable I said that he will marry someone else who will form the imperial harem that I will manage, so why would he promise me, right? Now I'm going to ask you, did he resign his promise to you? " She asserted logically and inquisitively reason for my eyes to widen looking at her. Dear Queen I'm sorry but I don't remember anything like you say." I calmly respond in self defense. Then who is it? If it's not me, and you're not who it might be the person I'm looking for." He frowned and made a serious promise. W-what do you want me to happen in case you find the person you're looking for?" I curiously asked. Nothing, I just want to talk to him and make him understand that above all, he must convince or support the remarriage of my king in exchange for the strengthening of the Mainland Empire in our neighboring kingdoms." He replied. I just nodded in response to what he said and after a while I said goodbye. To Be Continued….