12: To be the one

Thud!

A glass of wine dropped to the ground with a thud. Attracting everyone's attention to the door. Javier hastily stood from his seat, his jaw dropped as he locked eyes with Soren.

He froze.

The imperial queen mother, the queen, and her mother stood aghast at Soren's arrival. They didn't expect him to be back till dusk.

His return threatened to ruin everything that they had worked so hard to achieve. Queen Tamira became bold, she hooked get an arm around the crook of the king's arm. "I'm so happy to see that you standing with me, my king," she spoke sweetly.

Javier glanced down at her hand that was holding his. He felt his heart sink.

"Soren, it's good you are here. We were just talking about you," the imperial queen mother ushered the male to come into the room. Soren remained put never breaking eye contact with the king.

"Soren dear, you should join us," Tamira's mother invited.

King Javier was speechless.

'How terrible is it to love something that belongs to another,' Soren spoke through a link only the king could hear. He turned around and headed out of the throne room.

Javier yanked the queen's arm away and dashed out of the room. Queen Tamira remained standing in place with a bleeding heart. She got so close to getting the one thing she desired the most in her life. And Soren had to come back early and ruin it all for her.

For the first time, the king held her hand in public and stood by her. For a moment she truly felt like a queen with the king by her side. It was a dream that spoke of forever but reality hit her too soon. Reminding her that her dream was never going to be a reality.

Her hands remained in the air. Yearning for the one she was able to hold today.

The imperial queen mother frowned. She had worked so hard to come up with this plan. Sending Soren to fetch the slave and keeping Javier busy with work to watch over the carriage Soren was expecting. Providing them the opportunity to steal it.

Thereby giving them that window. Sending Soren out of the palace in search of his cargo and granting them the chance to reach the king alone. To sway him to their side and away from Soren.

The imperial queen mother hated the importance Soren had in her court. When it came to Soren even she faded in comparison. And she was incapable of saying anything out of fear for the dragonling and her son.

Soren was a dangerous force to fight against and her son besides the beast became the devil. Difficult to approach and reason with. Hence forcing them to resort to such measures to reach him. For her to regain some of her authority in the palace and the kingdom of Arendar.

The queen was easy to control. Which was why she decided to give her support to Tamira.

However, she didn't anticipate Soren's quick return to the palace foiling her plans.

The council watched the scene puzzled. They had been convinced by the king's mother that the king had developed a soft spot for his queen and would support her. They were of the idea that the king had grown out of love for Soren. All they had to do was stand with them. Yet, what they saw proved otherwise.

They wondered what chaos would ensue in the palace due to that one meeting.

"We will take your leave, your highness," they bid farewell to the imperial queen and the queen and exited the throne room.

"Why did he have to come back so soon?" the queen snapped. "Arghhh," she groaned in frustration. She came so close to having it all. Being a true queen and having the king's backing. Javier had looked into her eyes and saw her as his. Not just a woman who wears a crown beside him.

"There is no need to lose your temper," her mother said.

"Then what should I do, Mother? I have tried so hard to be the one Javier looks at. To be the one he adores and loves," she cried out. Tears streamed down Tamira's eyes. "I've been married to him for years Mother with nothing to show for it. He is my husband yet Javier has never once touched me," she added.

"Quite," the imperial mother shouted. "The walls of the palace have ears. Mind your tongue," she scolded.

Queen Tamira rolled her eyes. She didn't see the need to hold her tongue. Those who resided in the palace knew of her truth. How could they not when the king has never visited her at her palace?

He spends most of his nights in the Jasmine palace with Soren forgetting that he is married to her. It was no secret his fancy for Soren, people were simply too terrified of the king and his lover to say anything.

"What difference will it make if I keep quiet, mother-in-law?" she asked. "I've fallen so hard that I am to share a bed with a slave," she summed up in anger.

"Adnan will not warm your bed. He is here for one reason, to attract Soren's attention to him," the Imperial queen spoke. "Adnan's duty is Soren," she reminded the queen.

The slave wasn't going to give the kingdom its heir. That was the lie she sold to her son to convince him of the idea. But Adnan was in the palace for one person and it wasn't the Queen. She had the plan to help draw Soren and Adnan together.

"You can still win. Javier will be yours if you stay calm and do as I say," the imperial queen said. "Today was victorious for you, he took the first step towards you. You didn't think that one day would erase years of love for Soren in the king's heart, did you?"

Queen Tamira calmed down. Her mother-in-law was right. The King wasn't going to fall in love with her in a day. It was going to take time for her to own his heart and cast Soren aside.

She wiped her tears. Today the king took her hand and made a decision that would force Soren's hand to stand with her. A step that would start to drive Soren and Javier apart and thus lead the king into her arms.

"Our plan is a long-term plan but rest assured. Javier will belong to you soon," The imperial queen mother assured.

"You should listen to your mother-in-law," Tamira's mother let out.

Tamira took a seat. She couldn't wait for the day Javier will hold her hand and never leave.