Chapter 21

Neera’s lips opened, but no words could come out. How was she going to explain the fact that she had woken up on the king’s bed?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The look on their faces seemed like they had already judged her even before she opened her mouth. Neera stepped away from the bed;

”It’s not what you think,” she said with panic. What if they reported her to the king? What would he do to her?

Without saying a word to Neera, the girls started cleaning up the room. Neera stood by the side for a few minutes before she tiptoed out of the room, her head lowered.

What on earth was she thinking?!

Even if the grounds were cold, what would make her climb into the king’s bed without an atom of fear?!

Neera wanted to slap herself. The more she stayed around the king, the more mistakes she made. What would she do? It’s not like she had a choice. The king had asked her not to leave his side.

.....

Neera heaved a sigh as she walked back to the maids’ room and joined the others. When Penelope saw her, her eyes lit up.

”What happened? ” she asked, walking to her, her eyes wide with concern.

”Everyone is talking about what Zavian did at the party last night. What did he do to you? ”

At her words, Neera looked at her wrist. For a moment, she had forgotten what led her to that situation in the first place.

”What is everyone saying? He did not hurt me, but I’m in a far more serious situation now. ” Neera replied with a sigh.

”What serious situation? Is the king mad at you?” Penelope asked; eager to know what went on after Zavian took her out of the ball.

”First, tell me what everyone is saying. So I’ll know if I should hide till we leave this place.”

Penelope sighed; ”well, you guessed right. Your name is on everyone’s lips, and at this rate, the gossip will soon spread to other cities. ” Penelope said, a concerned look on her face.

Neera wanted the grounds to open and swallow her. Now she imagined what was on the minds of the maids that found her on the king’s bed.

”Oh God, I’m finished. ” she cried, tears clouding her gaze. Her hands covered her eyes as she tried to hold back her tears;

”Don’t worry. It’s not as bad as you think. I’m sure soon they would all forget about it. It is this way because it just happened yesterday. By the end of the week, they would all be talking about something else. ” Penelope said, trying to console her friend.

”Perhaps, the ‘something else’ would be the fact that the maids found me sleeping on the king’s bed!” Neera stated, and Penelope’s eyes widened in shock.

”What?! Please, tell me that is not true!. ” she asked, not wanting to believe what she just heard, but the expression on Neera’s face told her she was not lying.

”Why on earth did you climb into the king’s bed?! ” Penelope was stunned that Neera could even attempt something like that. Was she courting death?

”I don’t know! I just woke up on it! I’m sure that even in my wildest dreams, I can never attempt that. I don’t know how it happened. I wish I had woken up before the maids came to clean, but when I opened my eyes, it was already too late.

Now, before noon, the entire city would have another rumor on their lips. ”

Penelope was at a loss for words as she glanced at Neera, not knowing what to say.

”What if it was the king that carried you...” Penelope derailed, not wanting to complete her statement. The words she intended to say too heavy for her lips;

”It is impossible, and let’s not make such blasphemous words. I don’t want to get in more trouble than I already am,” she said, heaving a sigh.

Penelope kept quiet. Now she thought about it, it did not make any sense.

”Okay. Let’s stop killing ourselves about this and bother about something else. No matter how much we think about it, it won’t change a thing. What has happened, has already happened, so let’s bother about what the future holds. Now, what did you say happened when the king took you to his chambers?”

Neera sighed and proceeded to sit on the bed. Penelope sat down after her.

”The king asked me not never leave his side. This means that, wherever he went, I did too and this would attract more attention to me, and soon, rumors would spread around that the King is taking me to be his dead queen, and you know what that means. ”

”This is not good. ” Penelope shook her head;

”Not good at all. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t want to die simply because I look like a queen I don’t know a thing about.”

”The king won’t let you get killed. ” Penelope remarked and Neera shook her head;

”The king does not care about me. He just thinks I can be a way to get his wife back, and he doesn’t want to let go of the opportunity. Do you think he would even bat an eyelid my way if he finally gets his queen? Trust me, he won’t bother about me once I am no longer of use. ”

”Well, for now, you are still quite useful, so make use of it. For the time being, do whatever the king asks of you. If he says to stay by his side, do not leave his side. More people are getting to know of your existence, so more and more people would want you dead, especially after what the King did to that man yesterday, so you make sure you have the king on your side. That is the only way for you to live.”

”Where is the king? When I woke up, he was gone.” Neera asked and Penelope nodded;

”Yes, he set off with the other soldiers very early in the morning to check the neighboring cities for the soul eaters. They won’t be back till dark. Hope that old demon did not hurt your hand?”

Penelope asked, looking at Neera’s wrist.

”No, he didn’t. It was just a few claw marks. I’m fine. ”

Pen smiled; ”that’s good then. I have a lot of work to do in the kitchen. Come help me out. ”

”This is not what I came back for,” Neera said, chuckling as they stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

”Well, since you’ve been relieved of your functions, you can as well help your friend.”