DonnaHarvey is back!!!! [ch 8 pg 12] - Page 8

The royal couple managed quickly managed to return to the safety of their caravan. The emperor took no time to command the forces to get back on the road. A special carriage was prepared for the empress. The emperor figured a pregnant woman ought not to be exposed to the biting cold of a desert night. The empress mostly kept her head down and stared at her husband's shoes. This wasn't anything new. The woman had been reserved since the day he met her. Even with her head buried in his arms, he never could gauge what she was thinking. May be nothing at all. But he sure had a lot on his mind. His fingers traced along her neckline, pressing her chin up until she was uncomfortably trying to avoid his gaze.

"You know what you did wrong", he chided.

She kept silent.

"Aren't you going to answer?"

"No"

"No what?"

"No, I don't know what I did wrong. I have done so many wrongs Mr. emperor that I can't be certain which one you are punishing me for".

"Stop killing the mood". He ruffled his hair frustrated why nothing of value got through this stubborn woman's head.

"I am sorry for that too", she answered sorely.

"Spill it! Why are you so upset?"

"I am not upset", the empress turned to face the window.

"Look at me Madhubala". He put his arms around her shoulders and swiftly pulled her into his lap. With those dark button eyes staring right at her, Madhu couldn't help but blush. Her cheeks heated up the longer he looked. By the time he was done playing, she would turn out pinker than a pink on skillet. Quick, she had to distract him.

"When are we meeting your mother?"

"Who was that man to you?" He fired right back at her.

"Nobody you need to know", she answered. The emperor was not pleased with this answer. A sudden kiss propped open her lips. She was drenched in his taste, letting go of her senses until a quick bite brought her right back to reality. A fresh red remained were his mouth was. His lips were stained bloody and a dull pain radiated from hers.

"What did you just do?"

"You are mine", he answered with a smile. "This'll tell that bas***d".

"I am not yours. I am not an object to possess. I am not yours and won't ever be until you stop trying to own me".

"I already possess you. You are my wife, you are carrying my baby. You are mine".

"I am pregnant with my child. I am not a vessel for your heir nor a means for your ambition".

"Then, are you his lover?"

"What do you think Rishabh Kundra?"

The emperor held on to his last thread of patience. This woman had long crossed her limits but how dare she call him by his name!

"I think you should pray to the high heavens your fate with that man is erased because if I find out you really had something going with that bas***d, you'll be dead by morning".

"Then you better prepare for my funeral because here's the truth- I slept with him. He's seen me naked. Happy?"

"What?"

"Ready to kill me yet? You must want to. First the Maurya king, then your enemy, now you. I have been with a lot of men".

"Is the child mine?" Rishabh asked in a trembling voice.

Madhubala could no longer hide her tears as they streamed down her face until RIshabh could feel their wetness on his legs.

"If I had any doubt about your feelings toward me, I know better now. Thank you. I know my place well your Majesty. Don't worry, I can leave at any time. I don't treasure politics much. You know why I have been tolerating you? Because I worry about my people. You push me to my limit and I will disappear to a place you can never reach. So, stop messing with me. Alright?"

"So, is the child mine or no?"

"If I say it's yours, will you even believe me?"

"Just answer the question".

"Where do you think I would have met another man the nine months you've held me captive? Think about it".

"So it's mine. And who is that man?"

"He told you he is my ex-fiance. We were together before the king betrothed me to my late husband. Yesterday was the first time we met since I got married".

"Are you sure?"

The empress rolled her eyes. This man was hard to please.

"What did he say to you?" he asked.

"He asked how one could take you down?"

"And what did you say?"

"You don't have to know".

Rishabh decide not to push the issue too much. The wife was pregnant and angry. Plus, he'd made enough mistakes for the night. Their envoy reached the capital by the crack of dawn. With an orange sunrise, the newlyweds were welcomed into a decked out palace by the dowager queen herself. She looked pleased with herself for a minute seating on a high pedestal glaring down at the pregnant daughter-in-law. Wait, pregnant? The dowager mother needed watched in disbelief as the bump on the empress' stomach came in clear view. She signalled Madhubala to approach her bench. The graceful wife took small steps toward her husband, slipping her fingers into the hesitant hand he held out, and they both cautiously approached the dowager mother.

"Bless you both and the child in your stomach", she yelled for all to hear. Then, she continued the rest of the conversation in low whispers.

"How far along?"

"Four months".

"Already showing?"

"I stuffed my belly".

The empress came out with a truth that earned her angry glares from her husband.

"Smart move. Why?"

"Your grace knows I am ruler defeated. Had I been a man, I would be beheaded some time ago. If only to establish my stature in this foreign land, I must send a clear message".

"That you are the lawful wife, not a captive, not a concubine. Isn't that right?"

"Yes your grace".

"But are you certain about that? Will he treat you right?"

At this point, Rishabh had become a silent observer in this deeply engaging war of words. This is how true politics was played indeed. People killed while the sword is still inside the sheath.

"Nothing is certain in life".

"Do I scare you?"

"Of course not".

"Then what scares you?"

"That you will take my child away".

"What will you do to stop me?"

"Nothing. It is not within my rights to stop a dowager mother".

"Good answer. Go rest. We will have the official ceremonies later".

When the royal couple walked into their residence, the empress had not a sign of exhaustion in her eyes. But in her heart, she was afraid, terrified of this strange place and its strange people. She had lost far too much to give up now. But she didn't want to go forward either. If the politically minded mother-in-law didn't get her, this unfeeling man would. Plus, with an enemy threat looming around the corner, she couldn't afford to soften up or cry. She held her fears inside and smiled.

"You just put your kid up for sale and you can still laugh?" the emperor asked in spite.

"You think I want this?" she never said out loud.

"Indeed, you are just like my mother- cold. But hear me this, I will not let you use my child as a pawn".

"Thank you", she greeted him in her heart. Even if this was an empty promise nothing could have soothed her more.