Wings of Ambition Shackled by Fate

On her way back to her room, Valeria's heart pounded wildly. The king was back—and in a foul mood. She had seen the bruises on Lara's neck, and a horrifying thought struck her. Oh Lord, he hit her. She knew he was a cruel monster, but the reality of it was still a shock. And now that he was back, it could only mean he would soon visit her chambers again.

Dread and fear clawed at her, tightening around her chest. What could she do? There was nowhere to run, no one to turn to. She needed someone to talk to, someone to reassure her. Where were Gloria or Beth? And why had a random maid been sent to bring her to Lara, instead of them? It was all too much—her fear was overwhelming her.

Then she heard his voice.

"Valeria, my dear. Where are you rushing off to like that?"

Her blood ran cold. Was it real? She prayed it was just her imagination, some twisted trick played by her mind. But as she turned, dread pooling in her stomach, there he was. The king stood behind her, tall and proud, his disheveled blond hair and rumpled clothing suggesting he hadn't even taken the time to freshen up after his journey.

For a moment, Valeria was too shocked to react. She stared at him, wide-eyed, like a deer caught in headlights. Cold sweat trickled down her back.

The king chuckled, and the sound jarred her out of her frozen state. "Don't look so afraid, my dear. I won't bite… yet."

She forced herself to bow her head, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're back, Your Majesty. I hope you had a good journey."

"Yes, I returned. I would have expected a bit more happiness from my new wife," he said, a note of mockery in his tone. His gaze remained fixed on her, piercing and icy. "And you haven't answered my question. Where are you going?"

Valeria tried to keep her composure. He couldn't hurt her for simply leaving her quarters… could he? "Lady Lara invited me to take a stroll in the gardens, Your Majesty. I was just returning to my room."

The king's cold, calculating eyes remained on her, unsettling her further. She could barely hold his gaze and quickly looked down. "Lady Lara, you say? So you've met my other wives. And who allowed you to leave your room?"

She began to tremble. She'd assumed it was permitted, that if Lara and the other women said it was all right, then it was allowed. But now… "I—I… Your Majesty, I didn't know…"

She stammered, feeling like a fool. Suddenly, the king burst out laughing, his laughter echoing through the corridor. "I was only toying with you, my dear. I already knew. I gave Lara permission to take you outside before I left." He leaned in closer, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. "You're incredibly cute when you're flustered."

Valeria felt her heart race with anger and fear. Was this man serious?

"Thank you, Your Majesty. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to return to my chambers now," she said, trying to keep the irritation from her voice.

"Not so fast," he replied, stepping into her path. "Since you took a stroll with Lara, it's only fair you allow me the honor of walking with you as well."

He extended his arm for her to take, and she knew she had no choice but to comply. Reluctantly, she placed her hand on his arm, suppressing the revulsion that churned in her stomach. They began walking, though she had no idea where he was leading her.

The silence between them was unbearable, but Valeria didn't dare speak. It was the king who finally broke the quiet. "I apologize for leaving so soon after our wedding night. We didn't have much time to… enjoy ourselves. But don't worry, we'll have plenty of time for that now."

She had to swallow down the bile rising in her throat. The thought of spending time with him, let alone in that way, was enough to make her feel physically ill. She forced a tight smile, her voice coldly polite. She still didn't knew what would expect her once she was alone at night in her bedroom with the king. "I look forward to it, Your Majesty."

"Oh, you should, my dear. But before we indulge in such pleasures, I have a surprise for you."

Something in his tone made her stomach drop. His grin was wide and cruel, and as she glanced around, she realized they were headed toward the throne room, not the gardens.

"A surprise?" she asked, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. "I thought we were going to take a stroll in the gardens."

The king smirked. "I never said we would go to the gardens."

Of course, she thought bitterly. Why had she expected anything different? Whatever he had planned, it was unlikely to be anything good. No, stop thinking so negatively. Maybe she was only assuming the worst. Maybe… maybe he wasn't as terrible as she believed.

But as they entered the throne room, her heart sank. Standing in the center of the vast hall was Gloria, surrounded by guards. She clutched a young girl in her arms—Selena, if Valeria guessed correctly, based on the simple, worn clothing.

Both Gloria and the girl looked terrified.

"I heard you grew close to this maid," the king drawled as he strode forward, his voice casual but dripping with menace. "That she kept you company in my absence. She even went so far as to smuggle things into your room, neglecting her other duties to idle away with you. So, shouldn't I reward her for taking such excellent care of my wife?"

A cold, sinking feeling spread through Valeria. The cruel grin on the king's face told her this "reward" would be nothing good. Her mind raced, panic bubbling up inside her. This is my fault. Gloria was in danger because of her, because she had foolishly drawn the woman into her life.

She needed to do something. She couldn't just stand by and watch.