Messiah walked through the grand halls toward the queen's chambers, his footsteps echoing against the marble floors. Inside, the queen reclined in a sea of silk and brocade, her veiled canopy framing her like a portrait of fire and ice.
Her hair blazed like molten gold, and her ruby eyes glinted with disdain as she held their infant son, Prince Kultejin Messiah Abadon, who nursed peacefully at her breast. Her maidens surrounded her, tending to her every whim—combing her fiery locks, perfuming her skin, and adorning her with powders and oils fit for a goddess.
"Leave us," Messiah commanded, his voice firm. The room emptied instantly, servants vanishing like shadows before the sun.
The queen's eyes flicked up, sharp and unforgiving. "How is our little one today?" Messiah asked, though his tone betrayed little warmth.
"Like you care," she replied with quiet venom, her gaze never leaving the child.
Messiah sighed. Theirs was a marriage of ambition, not love. She had despised him from the start, a hatred that only deepened with every concubine he took, each one a dagger to her pride. Yet, despite their mutual disdain, they played their roles dutifully.
"I heard what you did," she said, adjusting the infant in her arms. "Wasn't she your favorite? If you can do that to her, God help the rest of us." Her words dripped with mockery.
Messiah's jaw tightened, but he offered no reply.
"Are you going to behead him?" she pressed. "Your precious son carries the ice curse. Will you expose your family—and the nation—to that kind of danger?"
He inhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging. "I believe we can contain it. I will not be a king who slaughters his own children... not like my father."
She scoffed, her laughter bitter. "Then you'll be the king who lets his children destroy him. Mark my words, it's only a matter of time before the council takes matters into their own hands."
Messiah walked to the bed and lay down, ignoring her jibes. "I didn't come here for your advice, woman. Come here and fulfill your duties," he said, his voice laced with weariness as he adjusted his breeches.
The queen sighed heavily, handing the child to a maid who scurried in and out like a frightened mouse. She approached the bed with reluctant grace, her movements taut with suppressed fury.
"Let this be quick," she muttered, lifting her heavy gown and straddling him, letting his manhood penetrate her.
Her body moved with precision, her expression unreadable, though her eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "If you don't deal with the boy now, it won't matter. The council will act, and when they do, it will lead to rebellion."
Messiah's gaze darkened. "I will not harm my child."
She laughed mirthlessly, her hips rolling as her fiery hair cascaded over her shoulders. "You seem unusually... engaged today," he remarked, his tone suspicious.
Her smirk was fleeting, her eyes darting to the shadowy corner of the chamber where a knight slipped silently away. "Perhaps I am," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement.
Moments later, Messiah finished and rose from the bed, adjusting his robes. "I will not allow any harm to come to the boy. You've been warned," he said darkly, his presence as heavy as the iron doors that closed behind him.
The queen exhaled slowly, her lips curling into a sly smile as she stepped into her bath. Servants hurried to her side, their hands skilled and obedient. She addressed one of them in a hushed tone. "Send a bouquet to the prince—dandelions, specifically."
The maid paused, her hands trembling. "Your Highness, the prince is allergic to—"
The queen's glare cut her off. "Do as I say," she snapped, her voice as cold as ice. "And make it quick."
The servant bowed and scurried away, leaving the queen to sink into the scented water. She turned her gaze to the shadows. "Sir Fred," she called, her tone soft yet commanding.
The knight stepped forward, bowing low. "Your Majesty."
"Once the pigeon has delivered my message, ensure it never flies again," she said, leaning back with a satisfied smile. "Dumb and lifeless. You understand?"
"Perfectly," the knight replied, vanishing as swiftly as he had appeared.
The queen closed her eyes, a contented sigh escaping her lips as the water lapped gently around her.