CHAPTER 6: NAIJA

"It's always nice to spend time with you Fatima, i wondered when you'd invite again since you've been busy with the ball preparations" Duchess Naija said as she took a sip of her herbal tea and basked in the warm sun

"Well, i would have invited you out if you were in good health, the duke told me your doctor said to take it easy with any movement" Fatima said as she reached out to touch Naija's big and round stomach

"I couldn't let anything happen to my godchild until the doctor gave you an all clear" Naija smiled at her friend warmly and nodded

Naija is the daughter of a wealthy count, and had made her debut into the higher society by the time Fatima had first came to Cathenna.

She was a vibrant and soft person, beamed and glowed like the sun, Her tall stature and goddess like presence catching the eye of Duke Neo, who was dark and scary compared to her.

People thought it was a marriage out of convenience when they first heard them announce of their engagement, but after seeing them together in many social events, the rumors changed as they seem that they were a passionate and loving couple.

Fatima was happy for her friend, yet envied Naija, she had a loving marriage and was about to have a loving family with her husband.

"I'm so ready to have this child out of me! They say the first pregnancy always takes long, although this was a pleasant experience, I'm over it and my feet hurt" Naija said as she rubbed her stomach and sighed, looking up and seeing Fatima, who grew quiet and her eyes were slightly glossy

"Fatima? Are you alright?" Naija asked worriedly as she grabbed Fatima's hands onto hers

Fatima smiled sadly and nodded "I'm just so happy for you, but I can't help but envy you, I feel like a terrible friend"

"No, you are not a terrible friend! It's completely understandable after what you've been through! It's good that you're expressing your emotions to me" Naija said emphatically as she pulled Fatima into a hug

"I wish I can just make that woman disappear for you! It's her fault you never got to have your children" Naija scowled as Fatima sniffled

"You know that's not possible, Naija, but I appreciate the thought" Fatima said as she smiled sadly at her friend, who could only nod understandably

"You are like my sister, and as your sister I don't want you to feel like this at all, Fatima, you are queen! She is a mistress, she would have been put to death for what she did!" Naija said angrily

"You know Helios would never let that happen, he is bewitched to the point of complete ignorance" Fatima said as Naija felt even more angry at the mention of his name

Even when to the outside world, Fatima and Helios seemed like a strong and powerful couple, Naija was one of the few that knew that wasn't the case at all, and witnessed the hell that Helios puts Queen Fatima.

"Let's talk about something else, I don't want to put you into so much stress and anger right now, you are practically fuming in flames at this point" Fatima said as she tried to calm Naija down

"That wretched woman, she better thank god that I'm pregnant, she would be in the ground" Naija lastly said as she took a deep breathe and exhaled

"Oh! I wanted to ask about you about Prince Ares!" Naija said as Fatima only raised her eyebrow

Everyone was always talking about prince Ares 24/7, she could not escape the topic of him at all.

"Neo requested if you could ask Prince Ares to my husbands next hunt? Neo heard that he was back in court for the ball and wanted to catch up with him, Neo hasn't had the time to personally ask him because he's too busy with work" Naija asked as Fatima only nodded her head and sipped her tea

Seems she still couldn't escape him

"You called for me, Your majesty?" Ares said as he walked into Fatima's library, where she spent her late nights when she couldn't sleep

The library was on the smaller scale but still spacious, dark as the dark wood shelves all around and a fire place was the only thing to light the room.

Fatima liked dark rooms and it helped make her feel much more relaxed, her eyes resting from the brightly lit rooms around the castle.

"Yes, i hope I didn't inconvenience you much as my calling was very short notice" Fatima said apologetically, Ares only chuckling softly and shacking his head

His chuckle was the most emotion that Ares gave her in their entire short interactions, the deep and silvery sound that caught Fatima unexpectedly and made her feel a weird sensation in her heart.

"You can call on me whenever you'd like, your grace" Ares said as Fatima could only nod and motion for him to set in the love seat across from her

"I suppose you know Duchess Naija?" Fatima said as she accepted the tea that the maids brought in for the both of them

"Yes, sadly I haven't gotten to meet her; me and duke are good acquaintances" Ares said

"Yes, well she informed me that the duke wanted to invite you to his hunting trip that is coming up soon, she asked me to ask you since the Duke is very busy at the moment"

Fatima was very pretty when she spoke, her full lips moved like clouds every time a word slipped out of them, Ares had noticed that as she spoke to him.

Her voice was very emotionless but he can see through it very easily, she was a hurt woman in the shell of a strong one.

"Prince Ares?"

"Oh, yes- Thank you for informing me, Your majesty, I'll send word out to duke Neo in the matters of my attendance" Ares said as he snapped out of his daze and Fatima smiled

"I also wanted to speak with her majesty if I may for a moment? If it isn't much of any inconvenience to you?"

"What is it?" Fatima said politely as she gave him a curious look, what could he want to talk about with her?

"It's about the rumors, I've talked to Helios about this but since it's involves your grace greatly, I think it's only fair to apologize to you as well, your majesty"

It was amusing to Fatima to hear Ares to call Helios informally, it shows how their relationship is and not in a good way, seeing as how Helios talks about Ares in a bad manner.

"Oh"

"I wanted to let you know that the rumors weren't from my part, my father is one to speak on anyone, so please don't take what rumors he spreads to heart, I want to apologize if it caused any trouble towards your highness" He said as he bowed his long body to her apologetically

"Please, don't apologize for the actions of others, it's not worth hurting your pride to do so" She said as she grabbed his shoulders and lifted him upwards

Because of this, her hands rested unexpectedly on his firm chest, and she stood close unintentionally.

Her piercing emerald eyes looked down at her deeply as she couldn't help but not turn away from his stare.

His chest was hard underneath her palm, and his heartbeat was steady compared to hers, who was beating rapidly to the point where it could stop suddenly.

"I wouldn't mind hurting my pride if it's for you, Your grace" He said lowly as Fatima grew hot in the face and stepped back away from him, as if being knocked out her trance

"Good, I'm glad we settled this, I really appreciate you putting me into consideration, thank you Prince Ares"

"I'll be taking my leave now, have a good night, My queen" He said with an amused smirked as he bowed to her and walked out of the library

Fatima felt like her feet could give out just from the look he gave her.

He was more flirtatious than Helios, his emerald eyes glowed of pure chaos and desire while his milky white skin oozed with effortless seduction, and sex appeal. His dark aura being the optimum of Sin, and Fatima prayed she didn't fall into temptation.

-TO BE CONTINUED