Delvin turned on his side to face his window, he stretched his hand and it touched something. He sat up and raised the sheets only to find Belinda, asleep beside him.
"Guards?!!!" He shouted and three men hurried into the room. "How did this woman get in here?" He asked fuming. Sheila walked into the room with two maids carrying hot water and ointment. She looked up and her gaze met Delvin's. Belinda stirred in bed, she opened her eyes and smiled.
"Good morning your majesty" she said. "Get this woman out of my chambers and confine her to her room" Delvin ordered. Kanis and another guerd quickly grabbed Belinda and dragged her out of the room half dressed. Sheila surpressed her laughter as she handed Delvin a wet towel. He motioned for the other maids to leave the room.
" What's funny?" He asked. She looked away. He rolled his eyes and wiped his face. " Turn around" he said. "Pardon me?" She exclaimed.
"Turn around. I need to go to the washroom." He said. Sheila made a puzzled face. "Just go out and come in after fifteen minutes" Sheila bowed and turned to the door. Delvin threw off the sheets and walked to the washroom. Sheila turned around when she couldn't hear his footsteps anymore and began to dress the bed. "Burn everything!!" Delvin shouted from the bathroom.
"Pardon?"
"Burn it all" Delvin repeated. "The sheets, spreads, pillows and their dressings. Everything that she touched" he added. Sheila exchanged glances with the two maids. They shrugged and helped her clear out the named objects.
When Delvin emerged from the bath chamber, the room looked completely different. The servants had changed everything from the bed dress to the rug. A few other prices of furniture had changed as well. He walked into his dresser and put on his clothes as prepared for the day. Sheila came in with case bearing his seal and bowed
"You have to address the court today" she said
"Are you informing me or just telling me?" He said and adjusted the brouch on his collar. Sheila did not reply and just sighed.
"Let's go" he said and they exited the room.
....."the harvests this year are bountiful, we have all the resources we need, there will be no use for another alliance" the West Duke said. The minsters began talking over each other and the hall descended into disarray. Delvin placed his chin in his right hand and leaned his right arm on the arm rest. In his left hand he held a pocket knife, which he spun around his fingers. One minister lifted his hand to strike his neighbor when a sharp object flew past him and scarred his face. He dropped the raised hand and touched his cheek, the sharp tingle passing through his whole body. All the ministers looked towards the wall and saw a knife firmly driven into it. Then they looked in the direction it came from and met Delvin's menacing glare. They all fell to their knees, shaking.
"Apologies your majesty, we failed to maintain the sacredness and decorum of your presence" the chorused. Delvin chuckled then grinned.
"You apologize. You dare to apologize. I missed that ministers' neck and you dare to apologize. I want no apology, I want the head of that man on a platter" He said
"Have mercy your Majesty" the noble men began to kowtow and bow continuously.
Delvin smiled and sat upright.
"I will pardon your life, but have been demoted to assistant minister of foreign relations." He said and reached for his glass of wine. "Any other matters to attend to?" He asked.
One of the senior dukes crawled forward.
"Your majesty, the royal family of Sarkia has sent many letters of complaints."
" Is that so? My consort has not informed me of any grievances" he replied and took a sip of wine. At the word consort, the entire court room erupted in hushed murmurs and whispers.
" They said to have received numerous letters from her highness stating that you do not perform your duties towards her, both as the king and as her husband." The minister continued" we the members of court will like to know your reasons". Delvin finished his glass of wine.
" I believe all of us present here are men, masters of our homes and harems. Now just because a woman is a member of that harem does not guarantee that she will receive your favor does it. I'm sure we all understand." He said and scanned the room. " Court dismissed " he said and left the hall.
Time flew by in a frenzy, and before long two months had passed. Belinda called in a doctor for her checkup and found out she was pregnant. She was overjoyed and quickly wrote letters to all the noble men and even her family.
Unfortunately for her, the guards stopped her from entering the messengers quarters.
" His majesty ordered that all letters sent by his consort must have his permission to be sent out." One of the guards said. Although surprised at the development, Belinda motioned for her maid to follow her and walked straight to Delvin's study. on entering, she asked the maid to drop the letters on the table and leave. Then she sat down opposite Delvin who buried his head in files and documents.
"What do you want?" He asked without looking up.
"To tell you the good news" she pointed at the letters stacked on the table. "Those are to let the whole world know." She said. "What kind of news could that be?" He asked still not looking up. Belinda placed both hands on her tummy and smiled. " Your majesty, I am carrying out child." She said. Delvin dropped his pen and stood up. He grabbed the stack of letters and threw them into the fire place. Belinda tried to confront him but he grabbed her wrist and yanked her towards the door.
" This information will not leave the walls of this palace until I say so." He said " you are confined to your room till then" he said and returned to his table. Belinda tried to protest but two guards had already began to lead her away.