Chapter 31

SABINA

The following three days were a whirlwind. Being in the company of four powerful kings was a lot to handle.

Aboloft’s constant attention was something I was slowly getting used to, even if it made me feel exposed. But having three more pairs of eyes on me made it hard to catch my breath.

They tried to be discreet. The three kings would act as if they were engrossed in their duties, but I could feel their eyes on me. It was like wearing invisible chains.

Even when I tried to stay in Aboloft’s chambers, he would coax me out, insisting he wanted me close.

I wondered how long the three kings would stay. How many issues needed the attention of all four kings?

Being under the watchful eyes of King Bancroft, King Eldon, and King Mavon made me feel like I was messing up just by existing.

To get some breathing space, I spent hours in the garden of bluebells, surrounded by my favorite blooms.

Every time I touched one of the fragile flowers, a cherished memory of my time with Aboloft would surface, leaving me with a mix of sweet and sour emotions.

Every time I was in the garden, I couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if I’d never left Aboloft, if I’d told him about the townspeople’s treatment of me.

I knew it was pointless to dwell on such thoughts, but I couldn’t help myself. It hurt to know that I’d caused pain to the man I loved.

“A penny for your thoughts.” I looked up from the book I was reading to see King Mavon, a small smile playing on his handsome face.

Since morning, all four kings had been occupied. I asked Aboloft what he was up to, but he just told me to smile and that the maids would be there at noon to prepare me.

I asked him what I needed to prepare for, but Aboloft just kissed me gently and said, “Your destiny,” before leaving me.

“My lord.” I stood up, not wanting to disrespect him. “How are you?”

“I am well, Sabina. How are you? The maids will arrive in twenty minutes, right? Why don’t we chat till then,” he suggested, settling into a grand, high-backed chair across from me.

Chat? He wanted to chat with me? Oh God, he was going to threaten me again. And we were in the library where no one could come to my aid. If I dared to disrespect him, Aboloft would be upset, and I wanted to keep him happy.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked, my fingers gripping the hard spine of the book.

“Aboloft told us about your past, why you left him.”

I wasn’t expecting him to say that. I’d asked Aboloft to keep my past a secret from his friends, but he hadn’t listened.

And now, King Mavon was going to accuse me of being a witch and a whore. He would tell me how I was unworthy of his friend.

“Oh, I see.” I lowered my gaze as shame washed over me. I was innocent. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but who would believe me? Except for Aboloft, no one did.

“Yes. I regret misjudging you. I understand why you left him. You wanted to protect your father’s reputation and Aboloft’s.

“Those monsters made you feel worthless when you are worth more than all the diamonds in the world. Forgive me for misunderstanding you, Sabina,” King Mavon looked at me, waiting for my response.

King Mavon had left me speechless. I thought he would accuse me and degrade me like so many other men, but he was apologizing to me. He, a king, was apologizing to me.

And he said I was worth more than all the diamonds in the world. Was he being honest? Was I really worth that much? A diamond wasn’t easy to come by. It required immense power and wealth.

“My lord... I... I don’t understand... I don’t know what to say,” I stammered. “You don’t need to apologize... your anger was justified. I-I hurt your friend. You have every right to be angry.”

“No, Sabina, we judged you without knowing the pain and suffering you endured. Those misguided monsters hurt you in the worst possible way. When Aboloft told me... I was horrified.”

His words brought unwanted tears to my eyes. I could handle their anger, but I didn’t need their pity. Pity was worse than anger. I survived the people of Wilsden. I didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.

“I-I don’t need your pity, my lord,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Sabina, you misunderstand me. I don’t pity you. I admire your strength and courage. I’ve never seen a woman so strong and resilient. I’m in awe of you, Sabina.

“Indeed, Aboloft is right to choose you. You make him happy, and you’re strong enough to help him rule this kingdom,” he declared.

“No, you’re wrong. I’m not strong enough. And Aboloft deserves much more.” I clutched the cover of my book, my heart aching for Aboloft.

“He deserves the best. You’re right. And you are the best. Don’t say that you’re not worth it, because you are.

“Those fools of Wilsden didn’t recognize your worth, but they will soon. We’ll make sure of that,” King Mavon vowed.

“What do you mean, my lord?” I asked.

“Excuse me, milady, but it’s noon now, and we must get you ready. Lord Aboloft has only given us two hours.” Seven maids stood with their eyes cast down.

Was it noon already? But I still had twenty minutes. But the hands pointing at twelve told me it was time. It was time for me to get ready.

“My lord, if I may ask, do you know what Aboloft wants me to get ready for? Is it a special occasion?” I asked.

“Sabina, it’s a special day,” King Mavon said, rising from his chair with a gentle smile. “Your questions will be answered soon. For now, I suggest you follow the maids. Aboloft wouldn’t be pleased if you’re late.”

Feeling a wave of confusion, I set the book down on the divan and stood. I gave King Mavon a quick bow and let the maids guide me out of the library.

Everywhere I turned, people were smiling. From the guards to the maids, everyone wore a contented grin.

Why were they all so happy? I was glad to see them cheerful, but I was curious about the reason behind their joy.

“Can any of you tell me what’s so special about today?” I asked the maids as we approached the bathroom.

“Oh, milady, today is the happiest day in all of Quopia. But we’re not allowed to talk about it,” the maid on my left answered.

“She’s right, milady. Lord Aboloft doesn’t want you to know,” the one leading the way added, glancing back at me.

“He wants to surprise you,” the third maid on my right chimed in.

What was Aboloft keeping from me? What was happening? Everyone seemed happy, so it couldn’t be anything bad or scary. But I still wanted to know.

I didn’t like being in the dark. Bad things happened when I was kept in the dark.

The maids in front opened the bathroom door and ushered me inside. They quickly helped me out of my dress and into the steamy bath.

After a quick soak, I was allowed to step out and wrap myself in a fluffy towel.

Once I was dry, the maids helped me into a dress that looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale.

The dress was the palest shade of pink I’d ever seen. It was so light, it could easily be mistaken for white. It was an A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline made of sheer organza.

The bodice was adorned with jewels, and the gown flowed down like a shimmering waterfall. The sleeves just covered the tops of my shoulders, and I wore a pair of arm-length silk gloves.

The maids took their time with my hair and makeup. They draped a stunning necklace around my neck. I couldn’t tell what the stone was, but it looked like pale pink diamonds.

Next, they slipped on earrings made of the same pink diamonds. After pinning up my hair, one of the maids placed a sparkling tiara on my head, the pale pink diamonds glittering brightly.

“How much time do we have?” the maid who had applied my lipstick asked, setting the tube back on the vanity.

“About ten minutes. We need to take her to King Aboloft as soon as she’s ready. Berta, bring her shoes, please,” another maid replied.

The maid, presumably Berta, brought over a pair of light pink glittering shoes. I thanked her with a smile and slipped my feet into the shoes, the heels giving me a few extra inches.

“If I may say so, milady, you look absolutely beautiful. I’m glad King Aboloft chose you,” Berta said, her blue eyes sparkling with sincerity.

Her words warmed my heart. These maids had seen my bare body. They’d seen the scars that marked my skin, the remnants of my past. Yet, despite all that, they said I was beautiful. They accepted me, flaws and all.

“Thank you so much. Your kindness means a lot to me,” I told the maids. I would always be grateful to these young women for their acceptance and kindness.

“We’re happy that King Aboloft chose you. Now, we must take you to him. If we’re late, he won’t be pleased.”

The seven maids led me to Aboloft. I had no idea where we were going, and the unfamiliar passageways only added to my confusion.

We climbed a flight of stairs, my shoes causing me to stumble occasionally. If it weren’t for the maids catching me, I would have surely fallen.

After a few minutes, we reached the top of the stairs, and I found myself standing on the highest balcony of the castle. Aboloft was there, smiling at me.

He extended his hand, which I took without hesitation. I didn’t know why we were on top of the castle, but I was glad to be there. The whole of Quopia stretched out before me, a breathtaking sight I’d never seen before.

I wanted to take a moment to take it all in, but the sight of thousands of people gathered below gave me pause.

It seemed like all of Quopia was there, looking up at Aboloft and me. Why were they all here? Had Aboloft called them? If so, why?

“You look beautiful, Bluebell, like a true goddess,” Aboloft said, kissing the back of my gloved hand.

“Aboloft, I don’t understand. What’s happening? Why are there so many people?” I asked, looking out at the crowd below.

“All in due time, my sweet.” With that, Aboloft turned to address the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen of Quopia, young and old, today you’re gathered here to celebrate momentous news!” Aboloft’s voice echoed across the crowd, strong and commanding.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their love for their king evident. Despite Aboloft’s stern demeanor, his people adored him.

It comforted me to know that no one would dare betray Aboloft. He was safe here.

Once the crowd quieted down, Aboloft continued, “You all know that there’s one thing our kingdom lacks.

“Quopia has everything a kingdom needs, except for one crucial thing! One thing that’s vital for our prosperity and survival.

“I searched and searched but couldn’t find it…until recently.” Aboloft paused.

Even though no one dared to make a sound, I could feel their anticipation and curiosity. What had Aboloft been searching for?

“But now, our wait is finally over! Quopia! Our wait is finally over!” Aboloft shouted, his joy and excitement echoing across the land.

The crowd exploded into applause and cheers again, but all I could think about was what Aboloft was hinting at. When would he spill the beans? Why was he making us hang on tenterhooks?

As the crowd hushed, Aboloft took my hand and guided me to stand in front of him.

“Ever since I took the throne, I’ve been on the hunt for my queen. I’ve spent years searching for the right woman, but it felt like a wild goose chase.

“But now, the wait is over. I’ve found my queen. Quopia, meet your queen!” Aboloft declared, his grip on my waist firm, as if he knew I was itching to bolt.

I’d been bracing myself for a lot from Aboloft. All day, I’d been playing out different scenarios in my head, trying to figure out what was so special about today. But I never saw this coming—Aboloft announcing me as the Queen of Quopia.

I never saw any of this coming. I never thought Aboloft would actually do this. I figured he was just pulling my leg by naming me his queen, but I was wrong.

Aboloft had really messed up. Didn’t he see what he was doing? No one would accept me as their queen. To them, I was a witch, a harlot. I was no lady of honor. I was not queen material.

“Aboloft, what are you doing?” I whispered into his ear.

“I’m giving you your destiny, Bina. You were meant to be a queen, my queen,” Aboloft responded, then planted a kiss on me for all to see.

I tried to push him away, but he only held me tighter, pinning me in place, and kept kissing me.

This was a disaster. The crowd was cheering and clapping below, but I knew they wouldn’t accept me as their queen.

~Oh Aboloft, what have you done?~