The Devil In Guise - Chapter 153

**

Queen Ariadne’s POV.

“Greetings Grandmother” I greeted with a bow. She ignored me and turned to the Queen mother.

“Are you preparing for the celebration?”

I wondered what celebration she was referring to. Queen Valeria stood behind her with the same look. They hated me so much.

“Yes Grandmother. I am charged with the preparation, you don’t have to worry” mother answered.

“If you don’t mind mother , I will come back later” I stood up from the sofa and headed for the door. But Grandmother did not let me pass. She blocked the way with Queen Valeria. I remained calm to avoid falling in to their trap.

“Make way for her , queen Valeria” mother intervened. “The Emperor wants to see her.”

The envy in her eyes frightened me. She did not want to make way for me. Since, mother told her to , she had no choice but to give way.

“Stop right there Ariadne” Grandmother’s voice came. She looked at me and hissed. “You want to go and see your maid in the village tomorrow.”

“Yes , that right grandmother” I answered.

But why did she bring up the topic now of all times?

“Instead of coming to meet me, you sent Queen Vida and Alissa. You have no respect for me” She was angry, as always.

“No Grandmother. I was going to come to your room later.”

“I don’t blame you. I blame my grandson, he is the reason why you disrespect me all the time” She told me.

I didn’t know what to say. My palms were wet with sweat. Queen mother told me to go to the Emperor. I bowed and excused my self before leaving the room.

Once I was outside the room, I could breathe fresh air. Grandmother has decided to suffocate me in the harem. She made me shiver for nothing. But for long would this fear continue?

I wondered what they would do to me if the Emperor leave for the campaign.

“Queen Ariadne” I heard my name when I came out of the harem. Apart from the guards, men were not allowed to come close to the Harem without the Emperor’s permission. It seemed he was a jealous, greedy and stingy man. So many wives, yet you did not want them to find another husbands to make them happy.

If I was not his favorite, I would have been escaped the harem, few months after our marriage.

“Queen Ariadne, you are alone?” Prince Elvin’s voice kicked me out of my imagination.

“You scared me” I placed my hand on my chest and took a deep breath.

He was not as tall as the Emperor. His eye color was different from his. Prince Elvin had a thin lips and a fascinating Jaw that could made any woman want him.

But I wondered why he was single at this age.

“Forgive me for not being a gentleman” He bowed deeply. I laughed hard as he did that.

“Do not make me laugh like that again. It always get you in to trouble” I warned with a smile to show that I was not angry.

“The Emperor is like that. We don’t have to worry about him. He likes terrorizing.”

I laughed again but this time, I covered my mouth tight, so that no one could hear.

“Prince Elvin” I called as we walked down the long corridor that led to the men’s quarters.

“Yes my queen” He bowed again.

“Do you know what happened to queen Marlena this morning?” I asked him. The Emperor charged him to go after her when she took off. He should be able to tell what happened.

“Not really , my queen. It’s happened so fast that I don’t really know how she fell like that” He said with confusion written on his face. We checked the horse, but nothing was wrong with it. I used it this evening.

**

Emperor’s Sargon POV.

I waited for queen Ariadne for hours. The food was getting cold while I sat patiently. The maids told me that she left her room hours ago.

If she did then where she did go to? Who had the guts to keep her away from me ??

A knock came on the door and a guard walked in to the room. I sent him to ask mother if she was with Queen Ariadne.

“The queen mother said she left her room. a while ago” he told me.

Not knowing what to do, I stood up from my seat and wore a robe.

I could not take it any longer. Maybe something happened to her while coming to my room. She had an ill luck with witches.

When I got outside, I saw two people standing close to the flowers. They were discussing. I wondered who princess Morgana was with now!

When I went closer, I heard queen Ariadne’s laugh. With her was prince Elvin. They stopped talking when they saw me.

“Greetings your highness” they both greeted.

My hands formed in to fists. I told prince Elvin several times to stay away but he did not listen. Sooner or later, he would face what ever punishment I came up with.

My silence scared them. I turned to prince Elvin. He was still dressed in his training outfit. It seemed queen Ariadne was more important than taking his bath and having a rest.

“What are you two doing here alone?” I asked, as my fingers pierced my palm. They were hurting but I had no choice than to control my anger. I did not want to fight or better still beat my Elder brother.

“We were discussing” Prince Elvin answered. He looked at Queen Ariadne and she nodded.

“How many times have I warn you to stay away from my harem most especially queen Ariadne ?” I screamed at him. My voice was loud enough to bring the whole palace down.

“I was going to my room when I saw her walking alone” prince Elvin explained how they met. But I did not care about that.

“Ariadne, go inside and wait for me” I commanded. She looked at me but I looked away with shame and disappointment. Even if prince Elvin did not listen to me, I was expecting her to avoid him.

“You should learn how to take correction, if you want to stay in Akkad” I gave him the best advice as a brother.

Mother, Grandmother and queen Texas came to meet us. They heard my voice from the harem and they came to know what happened. I explained it to them.

“If the Emperor said , he does not want you close to his harem , why go against him ?” My mother asked him, politely. She held his arms.

“We were just talking Queen mother. He has a problem with our friendship” Prince Elvin defended himself.

“Are you sleeping with my wife? What friendship are you talking about??” I bawled.

“What are you saying Sargon ?” Grandmother’s eyes widened. She was shocked.

“Don’t blame me mother, step mother and grandmother” I said, calmly. “I warned him several occasions, but it seemed Elvin has become deaf.”

“Did you hear that Elvin?” His mother asked. “Stay away from Queen Ariadne. She is married to your brother. Find another friend please.”

“Mother I did nothing wrong. Sargon always think he is right and we are wrong. He claims to own everything including us” prince Elvin answered. He was also angry. Now, we were even. We both felt the pain.

“Keep quiet Elvin” his mom shut him up. “Go to your room now.”

“I won’t mother” he refused. I smiled. “Who do you think you are? The power you claimed to possess was stolen away from me. Everyone knows that the Devil cannot rule Akkad that’s why you usurp .

Devil? He crossed the line this time. The women were trying to stop him but it seemed Elvin was enjoying himself. I kept quiet for a reason. But calling me a devil was his worst mistake.

“Guards, lock him up till further” I ordered. Prince Elvin was surprised that I reacted.

“Who are you to disrespect me like that?” I shouted angrily. “Do you the implications of what you just did? Now, I won’t treat you like a brother but as an enemy. The devil’s enemy.”

Before mother could beg , I signaled to the guards who held him to take him away.

“Please don’t let him spend the night dear your highness” Queen Texas went on her knees as they dragged her son away. I was not feeling sorry for him at all.

Without answering them, I headed for my room. I heard their footsteps behind. When I got closer to my room , I had to stop them from coming closer. Queen Ariadne was still inside.

“Mother , what is it ?” I asked her. She was not happy with the way I acted. Her eyes were tearing , I had to look away.

“Release him to us. I promise you will never complain about him again” Mother said, with her hands clapped together in front.

My lips curved to a smile. They thought I was going to release him.

“No mother. Forgive me if I disappointed you. I won’t take any insult for granted again. Everyone has grown wings in this palace. It is high time I cut them one by one.”

“For the sake of your father , please let him go” Grandmother pleaded.

I laughed in my heart when she said. My mother was standing here yet I refused to listen to her. Did she think I would listen to the dead?

“Go back to harem and wait for my decision tomorrow” I entered my room after that.. They must be wondering if there was no remorse left in me.