Eleanor exhaled when she saw it was Missy who was standing at the threshold with her head bowed in fear.
"P-Pardon me, Your Highness, but... the King… the King is visiting Lady Catherine's chambers tonight." she reported, knowing how much importance Eleanor attained to such news.
The room goes deathly still.
Eleanor's blood turned to ice. She rises slowly from the bed, clutching a nearby shawl to cover herself.
"What?" she snapped, eyes wide with fury.
"I heard it directly from one of our people in the King's palace," Missy explained quickly, trembling.
"He should be arriving any moment now."
Eleanor's breathing quickens.
"Are you sure?" she hissed.
Missy nodded.
"Very certain"
Eleanor turned on Cole with venom.
"Get away from me!" she shouted, shoving his reaching hand aside.
Cole stumbled back, confused and naked, grabbing the duvet to shield himself.
After seeing Lucas in such a position with Emilia yesterday, she lost it and paced all night, not getting any sleep.
She is barely relieved because of her father's words of comfort and now Catherine.
"How can he visit the concubine's palace and neglect mine?" She growled.
And worse—he's visiting Catherine? Of all the concubines.
She had already ensured the other concubines wouldn't have the ability to get pregnant forever, but Catherine is new.
Since she entered the palace seven years ago, Eleanor had watched woman after woman get married to the King… and she got rid of them all.
One way or another, they never lasted. But now, Emilia is walking freely in and out of his chambers, under the guise of punishment, and Catherine is about to be visited by Lucas.
What if both sisters became pregnant with a child? Then she would be really doomed.
"Your Highness," Missy called to remind her she was expecting her orders.
Usually they make sure to sabotage any woman the King goes to visit, but tonight the news came late.
"Get out!" she screams at Missy, who bolted from the room instantly.
Cole stepped forward again, wrapping the sheet around his waist.
"Please calm down, Your Highness," he pleaded.
"Why don't I help you take care of this worry?"
"I can help ensure the King dethrones and discard her," Cole suggests.
Eleanor stared hard at him, realizing what he was planning to do.
She used that trick with the first Queen crowned, having a servant seduce and sleep with her.
"Do you think Emilia is going to be deceived by such a trick?" Eleanor responded angrily and Cole cowers at her feet.
"Then we can get rid of the concubine and solve a part of the problem."
Eleanor scoffed in response.
"She is not worth it."
Cole remained quiet, watching her, and then she suddenly turned her rage towards him.
"Useless!" Eleanor roared, kicking him in the thigh.
"When would you ever do your job right?"
He dropped to his knees, scrambling to get closer.
She glared at him, rage simmering just beneath the surface. If she hadn't lost her child before… she wouldn't be this desperate.
Now, all she needs is a child. A child she can pass off as the child of Lucas.
Cole lifted his eyes towards her.
"Let me help you relieve your stress," he offered quietly. His words carry a dark undertone.
Eleanor paused. She studies him, then curls her finger in a come-hither motion.
"Come here."
Cole crawls back to her like a dog, and she grabs his face, kissing him with savage desperation, biting his lip until it bleeds.
He groans, not caring, and kisses her harder.
"Stay with me all night," she whispered hoarsely. She throws off the last piece of cloth still covering her body.
~
Days passed by quickly, and within a twinkle of an eye, Emilia had already spent seven days in the side chambers.
Georgina tried to talk Lucas out of letting the Queen stay in such a position, but all her words fell on deaf ears.
Emilia continued to work in the study hall every morning but didn't get to see Lucas on any of the days.
She felt relieved to be able to avoid him, but his actions also sprung different suggestions into everyone's minds.
The King had called her into his side chambers and yet refused to spend the night with her.
Some even debate if she would soon be dethroned after hearing of the King's behavior towards her.
Emilia tried to ignore whatever they were all saying about her, and focus on getting the work done.
After a long day of cleaning, Emilia slips away from Lucas's quarter to a pavilion behind the eastern wing of the palace.
The place is a vacant spot that has not been in use for a while and, most of the time, the servants relax from work there.
A thin veil of moonlight poured down over the lilies, casting consort streaks on the stone path.
She breathed deeply, the cold air easing the ache in her shoulders, and sat on the low stone bench tucked beside the rose arch.
As she rubbed her temples, the soft rustle of silk slippers on the gravel made her raise her head.
Two palace maids approached and also took a seat in the other part of the place, munching on something and chatting loudly.
"I heard His Majesty didn't leave Lady Catherine's chamber until the third hour of dawn," one said, her tone giddy.
Emilia tilted her head in their direction, surprised.
She had slept in the room next to Lucas for days but didn't notice that he had been spending the night in Catherine's quarters.
"He has been spending the nights at her place these days."
"They say she might already be carrying his heir," the second whispered,
"Isn't it shameful though?"
"The Queen resides in the same quarter, yet the King seeks warmth elsewhere."
Emilia scoffed, not believing her ears. She walked slowly towards them and stood behind.
"Maybe she has an illness?"
"Or why would the King totally abandon her here?" the maids went on, still ignorant of her presence.
"I really pity the Queen then. What use is a woman who can't win her husband's heart?"
"What do you think?" Emilia asked, revealing her presence there, and they froze.
"Your… Majesty"
They fall on their knees, trembling in great fear and hide their faces.
"Please have mercy, your Majesty, we are sorry," they begged.
Emilia's chest tightened. She knew there were whispers about her, but hearing them speak so casually infuriated her.
Her fists clenched by her side and she stared at both of them.
"Since you know so much about the affairs between the King and I then why don't I take some lessons from you?" She said sarcastically.
The maids stared at the ground, unable to reply and continued to plead.
Emilia thought about letting them go, but decided against it. If she doesn't do anything, then the others will also have the boldness to disrespect her more.
"Go and explain her wrong to Nathan and ask him to punish you accordingly." She told them, and they silently bowed, then got up and left.
Emilia's mood became foul even after they were gone, and she decided to return to the quarters but was interrupted by a familiar voice which turned up beside her.