CHAPTER 10

Marcus opened the door and he let Mato into the room. when Mato saw his mother laying on his father's bed in a robe he became annoyed.

"What happened here".Mato asked trying to keep his anger in check.

"She came to poison me,it was a love poison the one you give your heart desire while making love. so she came here and tried to kill me when she found out that she couldn't she resorted to seducing me and gave me the poison before anything started probably she could feel that she was dying already. Immediately she gave me, she almost died so I called someone to heal her.Marcus explained.

Ever since he was given birth to Mato he literally told him everything and vice-versa so it wasn't a surprise anymore.

"When did all these happen?". Mato asked scrutinizing his mother while he sat down beside her on the bed.

"When do you think it happened?it was two nights ago".

"Is she getting better now?".Mato asked as he felt her temperature.

"She's fine, she'll wake up very soon".

"I see. What about you? You haven't eaten for the past two days and also you don't seem fine. You've not been sleeping right?".Mato asked as he scanned Marcus body.

"It's the side effect of the poison but I'll be fine though I feel weak it hasn't been fully cleansed but it's nothing".Marcus shrugged.

"Where am I?".A weak voice said. Marcus and Mato moved closer to her but Marcus moved back as soon as he moved closer.

"My son,have you been here since last night".Tonia asked.

"I just came and you didn't fall last night, you fell two nights ago but my dad was nice enough to take care of you".Mato said.

Tonia didn't say anything she just drew Mato into her arms. Later Mato withdrew from her and stood up.

"I think you owe my dad an explanation or rather an apology".With that Mato left.

"Marcus I'm..."

"Get dressed and leave".Marcus said not wanting Tonia to talk about what happened.

Marcus knew she hasn't forgotten what happened or maybe she wasn't drunk she just pretended to be. Tonia stood up she was barely limping when she noticed that she was in his robe she gave him a questioning look but he wasn't interested in talking to her. She had no other choice but to enter the bathroom to take her bath and got dressed after dressing up she got out of the bathroom and walked up to the dressed Marcus. She had a comb in her but put it away quickly.

"Thank God you're dressed, you should be home by tomorrow's sunrise. Extend my heartfelt greetings to your father. Marcus said and wanted to leave but Tonia drew him back.

"I'm sorry that I tried to kill you and caused you a lot of problems but please don't let me return to my father. I won't disturb you again I won't even try to behave like I exist please don't send me back".Tonia pleaded with him.

"I'm going to be late to my meeting at this rate. Get out of the room first I'll know what to do with you when I come back".Marcus said and left. Later,Tonia left to her room and she started packing her things. Tonia knew that Marcus not saying anything doesn't he already accepted her apology it only means he'll be back very soon. She packed all her things and assembled her guards.

"It's very likely we leave tonight. If you're going to rest rest now".Tonia said.

Tonia knew Marcus I a tough one. Right now, she has nowhere to go to her father already asked her to go back to her husband's house which she did but ruined everything because of her anger. What should she have expected?kings marry a lot of wives, a lot of concubines so why is she getting defensive?she can't still put it across. Maybe it's the fact that she trusted enough and he betrayed her trust or perhaps the fact that he slept with her handmaid.

Tonia had tried to kill the son but she couldn't do it so she tried to kill the king it was easier that way. She forgot that he was immune to poison but despite that if he still has something for her the poison will make it restless and weaken him. Everything was a waste, more like a futile effort. Tonia sighed and left the room to eat she met Mato at the dining hall.

"Mato".she called out.

"Your Highness".Mato bowed and left.Maybe he already didn't like her and he hated her more when Marcus told him that she tried to kill him.

Tonia ate in silence, she was still eating when Marcus came inside the dining hall with some ministers most of them didn't look surprised to see her so she guess he told them that she was staying in the palace for a while. They bowed and took their sit. Marcus looked at her and gave her the 'what are you doing here' look. She ignored him and when she was done eating she stood up, the minister of welfare also stood up held his cup and used his cutlery to hit it thrice.

"We are going to make a toast. A toast to the homecoming of the queen".Brandon, the minister of welfare said. Marcus and Tonia pulled a face while the other ministers toasted and laughed it off by drinking the wine in one go. Marcus looked alarmed when he saw that they were all staggering.

"Oh my God!!!That's an exotic wine. Guards get them out of here".Marcus stood up.

"Marcus". Tonia called Marcus neither stopped nor looked back.

"Your Highness or rather Your Majesty".then he left. Tonia closed her eyes in frustration and ran after him soon she caught up with him.

"Fine your Highness,please can you spare me some minutes".

"No".

"What about seconds".Tonia was desperate.

"Fine,what is it?".

"I'm really sorry about what happened. I acted on impulse and didn't care about your welfare please accept my apology but your Highness, I need your help I don't have a place to go to. Would you mind if I help me gather allies?".

"I would mind even at that I have a lot of allies. Have you forgotten that I have a lot of concubines so why won't I have allies? You need a place to stay?What about your father's kingdom?Tell him I no longer need his help".Marcus said.

"He's not going to let me in.He asked me to come here so I can't go back to him please let me stay here or maybe find somewhere else for me to stay even if it's the dungeon".Tonia begged desperately.

"Fine you can stay but this is the last time I'll condone your lame tricks. If you pull any tricks again it will be at the expense of your life. Trust me on that".Tonia bowed in appreciation and left there. She couldn't say that she wasn't happy because she definitely was. She stood up she was very happy she had the chance to be with him.

It was her only chance to make it right, to show him that she's no longer the spoilt Princess who couldn't even learn how to cook a proper meal for several years, the Princesses who couldn't do any embroidery because she was afraid that she might injure herself. She built herself and now she's ready to make a difference.

Days passed, weeks also passed soon it was already a month soon months turned into a year. Mato has gotten so close to his mother that he's starting to find her more interesting than his dad but Marcus didn't acknowledge Tonia he never has and might never ever. Sometimes Mato feels like his mother was always trying to hide it but she hid it so well that he almost didn't see it but reading her which was quite easy he noticed that her eyes watered anytime his dad enters the same space with her but doesn't acknowledge her. Mato remembered the time that the king had a ball and he took one of his consorts. Tonia drank the whole night without taking her eyes off them it was very awkward.

Mato met Percy once in the woods one day before they started meeting regularly, he hugged her and to his surprise she was wearing his chain. He never expected Harry to give it to her. She told him that her father sent forty guards with Harry and they are all back but Harry hasn't completed his mission so he's not yet back and her dad wasn't worried even in the slightest way. Their uncultured minister of war is also back. Percy had told him that it would have been better if the lousy minister of war never came back. Mato made a mental note to look for Harry but maybe their paths will never meet again because a thought occured to him Harry might never return to his father's land.