Tamina felt a shiver crawl up her spine; she slowly sat back down and tried to compose herself.
"I have an announcement to make, and I need everyone to be present." Ragaleon said, giving everyone a fleeting glare.
Having heard that Ragaleon wanted to make an announcement, everyone at the table paid attention. Ragaleon was a man of few words; whatever he had to say was very important.
Racheal seemed to be the only one that was unbothered about Ragaleon's announcement. That was because she was already aware of what he had to say.
Racheal focused her gaze on the food she was eating, and her mind trailed off to last night when she was summoned to Ragaleon's chamber.
At first she had her hopes high; she thought Ragaleon wanted to consummate their marriage, but she was disappointed, and the disappointment loomed on her face when Ragaleon told her he had called her because he wanted to seek her wisdom.
Ragaleon was a nonchalant man, but he had eyes and ears everywhere. He has heard the nicknames people gave his wives. Racheal was called the queen of wisdom; she is like a wise owl, not just because she was belligerent.
They talked at great length; Racheal was the first person that found out about Ragaleon's intentions to take another wife.
Racheal suddenly jolts back to reality; suddenly she drops the spoon she was using to eat and raises her gaze. She wanted to see the look on her mates faces when Ragaleon made his announcement.
"There will be a new queen in Decreash; she will fill up the position Katie left vacant." He said calmly.
Jazell was about to drink a spoonful of soup but paused halfway, her face was scripted with disdain, and her blue eagle eyes suddenly became dark. She slowly puts down the spoon and tilts her head to gaze at Ragaleon.
Selena was stunned; she gazed at her son with a puzzled look, begging for an explanation.
Johanna simply scoffed; she had her eyes glued to her food as a smirk curved at the edge of her lips.
Helen and Leah were also stunned but couldn't utter a word.
However, William remained neutral; he only helped himself to more wine and gulped down the full content in the golden cup.
"What? Tamina couldn't contain her emotion.
"My lord, why the sudden decision? Tamina was bold but also foolish to ask such a question.
"Do you dare to question my decision, Tamina? Ragaleon's voice became cold.
"No, I just wanted to make an opinion…" Tamina was interceded.
"I didn't ask for your opinion; the next time you question my decision, things won't end well." Ragaleon said, giving her a warning.
"You are making a fuss out of nothing, Tmina, since Katie is no more. My lord has every right to pick another wife." Racheal retorted, in a supportive manner, before focusing her gaze on the steak she was cutting with the fancy cutlery, knowing very well all eyes were on her.
Jazell gazed at Racheal for some seconds before quietly reaching out for a napkin to wipe her mouth.
"Ragaleon, you already have enough wives; don't you think this is unnecessary? Giddeaon said, shoving a piece of beef into his mouth.
"When have I ever taken any advice from you, Uncle? Ragaleon's cruel words left Giddeaon puzzled; he signed before standing up and taking his leave.
"My decision is final." His cold voice underscored as he rose to his feet. Turning swiftly, he glided across the dining room, making his way out of the dining room.
"Mother, don't you think Veronn was too harsh on Uncle Giddeaon? Leah whispered, but Johanna cared less.
"Well, it's not his fault; after all, some women just don't know how to get the job done when training their son." Joanna said with sarcasm, What she meant was that Ragaleon had lost his manners; by choosing five wives, he not only proved to her that he was like his father, but he also emphasized that he couldn't set a good example.
Selena, who was drinking her soup, heard what Johanna had said clearly; she got the message of Joanna's words and felt insulted. If Ragaleon were here, Joanna wouldn't have dared to utter such nonsense from her mouth, at least if she valued her life she wouldn't.
"Are you questioning my son's upbringing? Selena fumed, dropping the cutlery she was using to drink her soup and abruptly putting her spoon on the table, which made a loud noise. This action of hers amused everyone at the table, but Johanna was yet to get what she was looking for.
"Well, the fact still remains that he has a high taste for women; like father, like son." Immediately after Johanna finished her sentence, she heard a loud bang from the table.
Gazing at Selena, she saw that she had just hit her fist on the table. "Well, at least he chose his wife; they didn't come running to him and begging him to accept them because they were pregnant."
Johanna's heart irked with pain when she heard Selena's words. She was about to shove a piece of beef into her mouth but paused halfway, her face becoming pale.
It was true that she had hooked up Harris with a child, but he had already promised to marry her before then.
She just had to go and say it when everyone was at the table; now everyone would know how she got married to Harris in the first place.
Johanna felt hurt and swallowed her anger as her gaze fell; her fists were clenched on the table as she cast one last glance at Selena, who was making her way out of the dining area after wiping her mouth.
William, who had been eating silently, suddenly readjusted in his chair. He felt his muscles constrict when he heard Selena's revelation. No wonder the old man never liked him; he was a mistake. He wasn't planned; it just happened. William felt so uncomfortable and suddenly lost his appetite; wiping his mouth, he left the table.
"Mother, is that true? Leah questioned with a wide eye. She found Selena's word intriguing, although she didn't want to believe her, but her mother's silence said otherwise. Just to confirm her judgement, she decided to seek her mother's answer, but how wrong of her to do so.
"Mind your business and just eat! The heaviness of her voice weighed down Leah's heart. Leah wasn't angry that her mother scolded her, although she did so in a whisper, but Leah could feel how hurt she was.
Leah heard someone chuckle loudly; raising her gaze, she met the smirk on Helen's lips. Her countenance suddenly became distorted, and she gazed at her with anger written all over her face.
"What's so funny? She questioned, abrasively eyeing Helen. Helen was the only daughter of Selena and Haron's only sister. A well-bred princess, only that she showed contempt to her rivals; Leah was one of them.
Just then Johanna wiped her mouth and immediately stood up to leave the table.
"Stepmother, you haven't finished your food." Helen said, almost in a chuckle, that the death glare she received from Joanna didn't prick her courage. Hissing aloud, Johanna strolled to her room, her long yellow gown rubbing the floor. She had a silver crown on her head, and her jewelry glittered and jingled as she walked.
Almost immediately Leah dropped the spoon she was using to drink her soup; wiping her mouth quickly, she stood up and went after her mother, but not before eyeing Helen and promising herself to deal with her accordingly.
Jia was the only one at the table that didn't care about what was happening. She continues to eat her meal silently, totally oblivious of her environment.
"What is wrong with Ragaleon? Selena cursed inwardly; as she had made her way to Ragaleon's chamber, two guards were patrolling behind her. He wasn't in his chamber; she turned around, knowing fully well where he would be if he wasn't in his chamber.
She found him at the courtyard reading through some sealed papers. There was a feather pen with an ink bottle on the table; he used them to sign some documents.
Selena eyed the two guards standing in front of her before pushing them away and forcing herself inside.
Ragaleon wasn't surprised to see her; in fact, he had been expecting her and began to wonder what was taking her so long. Contrary to what he told the guards, he knew his mother would be an exception in this case; he had already studied her countenance at the dining room and knew she was unhappy about his decision. It's not like her complaints would change anything; he just had to accord her the respect she deserves as queen mother.
"We need to talk! Selena said immediately she stormed into Ragaleon's room. She ignored the glass of juice a male servant offered her and fixed her gaze on her son.
"Mother, choose your words wisely; be careful not to upset me." Ragaleon said, not breaking his gaze from the paper he was signing.
"You have made me a laughingstock. In front of everyone, you make decisions without informing me." Selena retorted, pissed off that Ragaleon didn't inform her of his rash decision. For goodness sake, she was queen regent; if at all a decision should be made, she should be aware.
"I knew you were up to something when you took a three-day trip to Bethalone, Ragaleon. How could you?
"Mother, as you can see, I am very busy; we can talk about this later." Ragaleon said, not raising his gaze from the paper he was signing.
"You...why don't you just go ahead and kill me? Instead of being treated this way, I'd rather die." Selena said with a trace of anger laced in her tone. Selena felt that Ragaleon's attitude towards her was unjust, but the truth of it all was that this was the nicest he has ever been.
If Selena wanted to define unjust, she wouldn't even be standing in his room right now. She had the guts to force herself into his room and was seeking an explanation?
Ragaleon massaged his temples as he languidly dropped the feather pen in his hands, then slowly raised his gaze.
"I will see to it that you get compensated for this; you may take your leave." He said with a hush of finality, directing his gaze back to the paper he was signing.
"What? Selena muttered inaudibly, but before she could utter a word, she was already being led out of the room by the guards.
By the time Selena got to her chamber, she saw a pile of gift boxes awaiting her; she rolled her eyes.
"This is the compensation I get? She asked rhetorically, her voice laced with displeasure.
At first she ignored the gifts and trotted to the rocky chair beside her room window and sat down heavily, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair.
But soon curiosity got the best of her; casting a fleeting glance at the heap of gifts piled on top of each other in fancy boxes, she ordered the maid to show her the gifts.
The maid began to display the gifts Ragaleon sent to her; at first Selena acted nonchalantly about it, but soon she became cheerful.
"Show me that." She pointed at a diamond jewelry box, dazzlingly from the box of gifts. She smiled knowingly and shook her head from side to side.
"My son knows how to win a woman's heart; he must have learned it from his father." Selena said, allowing her hand to graze the jewelry.
The maids in the room glanced at each other and sighed knowingly. They won't have to deal with another angry mistress.
King Ragaleon definitely knows how to soothe his mother's nerves, they thought to themselves inwardly. Leah was passing through when her eyes caught something glittering; she paused and retraced her steps backwards.
Her gaze darkened when she saw Selena's face masked with joy as she took a look at her gifts displayed in front of her. She gritted her teeth while clenching her fist.
"How biased—he treats his mother with respect and spoils her, but he allows my mother to suffer?
"I hate you, Ragaleon."