LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 13: Chapter 13
The guards led her back to her chambers, and as soon as she was inside, they locked the door behind her again. Great. She was trapped in this room once more. Valeria was beginning to doubt if she would ever truly be free from these four walls. Still, being allowed out for tea with the king's wives had helped; the isolation had nearly driven her mad. She slipped out of the uncomfortable gown and pulled a robe over her undergarments, then let herself fall onto the bed.
Her mind wandered back to her conversation with the other wives. She hadn't learned anything particularly useful. She still didn't know why the king was away, and even if she did, it probably wouldn't change anything. But the worst news was that he'd be back soon. She sat up, cursing under her breath. "Soon" could mean anything, but she prayed he'd stay away at least one more week.
Athea's words came back to her. Valeria didn't like the woman one bit, but Athea seemed to be the only one willing to tell her the truth before Lara intervened. A "thing" of a man… What did that even mean? And what could it possibly have to do with consummating a marriage? She was completely baffled—and the little she had learned only made her more afraid of what would happen once the king returned. Maybe, if she was lucky, he'd forget about her altogether. Then again, maybe he'd let her rot in this room until she withered away. She let out a long sigh and flopped back onto the bed. In the end, the only thing she'd really learned was that the king would return soon.
She resolved to keep her distance from the other wives. However, Aisha piqued her interest. There was something about Aisha… a flicker of emotion that flashed across her eyes when she thought no one was looking. Valeria felt a strange kinship with her, as if she understood the silent frustration and despair that Aisha carried, hidden beneath layers of quiet obedience. Perhaps, if she could just find a way to speak to her alone, they might understand each other. If Aisha felt as trapped as she did, maybe they could even find a way to help each other. For the first time in weeks, a faint glimmer of hope sparked in Valeria's chest. But first, she'd have to find a way to leave this room again.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. "Come in," she called, sitting up and tying her robe more securely around her waist. Gloria entered, carrying a tray of food.
"I brought your dinner, my lady," the maid said, bowing slightly, then smiled softly. "How was your meeting with the king's wives?"
Valeria sighed, got up from the bed, and walked to the window. "Not bad, but not great either. I learned the king would be returning soon, and the rest of the conversation was… well, just talk about gowns and whatever else is in fashion right now."
Gloria placed the tray on the desk, then looked over at Valeria. "What else did you expect to happen, my lady? Did you at least like the women?"
"I thought I might learn something useful," Valeria admitted. "As for the women… I don't think Athea and Lydia like me very much, and frankly, the feeling is mutual. I have no interest in meeting with them again. Lara seems kind, but I'm not sure I trust her. And Aisha… well, I wanted to ask you about her."
Gloria's expression softened. "There isn't much to say, my lady. She's very reserved, rarely speaks, and mostly keeps to her own quarters. Some maids even say she never learned our language after she was brought here, though that's likely just gossip."
So Gloria didn't know much about Aisha either. Maybe Valeria had been wrong to hope Aisha might be able to help her.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful, my lady," Gloria said, bowing her head.
"No, no, Gloria. You've always been a tremendous help to me." Valeria took a deep breath, then gestured to a chair. "Actually… could you sit with me for a moment? I wanted to talk to you about something."
Looking slightly confused, Gloria took the seat Valeria indicated. "You can talk to me about anything, my lady," she replied gently.
Valeria sat back down on the bed, taking another deep breath before speaking. "When I needed my mother the most, she visited me only once, and all she told me was to endure this… this hell. After that, she never came to see me again. I felt so alone and lost, but you were there. Your words after my wedding helped me hold on to hope. Since then, you've been here for me, someone I can talk to, someone I can trust. I just wanted to say… thank you, Gloria. For everything."
The thought of her mother brought a bitter taste to her mouth. All her life, her mother had promised to keep her safe, had whispered reassurances in the dead of night that she would always be there to protect her. But now, when Valeria needed her most, her mother had turned away, offering nothing but cold words about duty and endurance. It was Gloria, not her mother, who had offered her comfort and kindness when she felt lost. That knowledge weighed heavily on her heart, filling her with a quiet ache that wouldn't go away.
Without thinking, Valeria rose and hugged the maid. Gloria tensed for a moment, but then returned the embrace.
Gloria's arms tightened around her for a brief moment, and when they pulled back, Valeria saw something in the maid's eyes—a glint of unshed tears, or perhaps a flash of memory. Gloria reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Valeria's ear with a tenderness that warmed her heart. "I'm just grateful I could be here for you, my lady," Gloria murmured, her voice softer than usual. "No one should have to go through this alone. If my own daughter were in your position, I'd want someone to look out for her, too." The words lingered in the air, wrapping around Valeria like a gentle embrace.
They held each other in silence for a few moments until Gloria pulled back, remembering her other duties. Valeria couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the evening. She took her dinner and, as always, ate in front of the window, watching the sun slowly dip below the horizon.