~{DEBORAH'S POV}~
*
"Lau-Lauren…" I stuttered foolishly but didn't make an effort to get out of the bathtub.
WHEN DID HE GET HERE?!
"When did you start calling me by my name? What happened to my king?" He firmly asked with a touch of irritation.
For a moment I wanted to be swayed until I remembered my past life and my plans.
"Why are you here?" I demanded coldly and saw how his left eyebrow arched in surprise.
I'm pretty sure he wasn't expecting such bluntness from me.
"What is wrong with you, Deborah?"
"I don't know, why don't you tell me," I shot back and it made him clench his jaw and I could tell that he was at his limit.
He was standing at the base of my bathtub, shamelessly watching me.
Thankfully the water was soapy, with a lot of lather at the water surface.
"I leave for two months and return to this. What made you this way?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes on him.
"I have always been this way, you just didn't notice." I answered and he narrowed his eyes on me as if trying to understand something.
"The next time you do what you did earlier, I won't take it lightly. Mark my words," he warned me and prepared to leave.
"Don't worry about that, darling. I won't be here for long anyway." I simply said and watched how his steps faltered before he turned to face me with his hard look.
"Whatever you are planning, I would advise you to end it." He warned me again.
"Too late, it's already in motion." I boldly retorted and he blinked in surprise at the way I spoke back with no trace of fear.
We held each other's gaze and I didn't look away because I loved the challenge until he took a step closer.
From taking a step, he took another until he stood beside my bathtub and sat on the stool beside it which my lady in waiting once sat on.
He was very tall and muscular, causing me to nearly cower at his proximity.
The hairs on my skin stood as he dipped his hand into the soapy water and took my right arm which was closer to him before bringing it out of the water.
When he did that, I tried to pull my arm from his hold but he held it firmly and threw a cold glare at me, which instantly put me in place.
Right now I hated how I reacted to him. I despised being near him because of how affected I was.
He ran his index finger along my arm and hummed before leaning against the side of my face and whispering these words, "You seem to forget who you are daring, Deborah. Shall I remind you?"
When I was about to make a remark, he swiftly gripped me by my jaw and forcefully made me look up at him.
"You are standing on ice and any moment from now it will break, so be careful what you say and how you provoke me." He warned me for the third time.
When I didn't say anything or challenge him again, he pushed my face aside and got up before walking away, making me feel small all over again.
I simply stared into space as I discarded every single plan from my mind with a new one resurfacing and that is to end this marriage.
I don't want to wait until he makes that vile woman his wife because it would happen very soon. Just a day from now.
With renewed confidence, I got out of the bathtub and put on my robe with my blood boiling in anger.
Who in his right mind pushes a queen's face?
This would be the last time he would treat me this way.
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~{LAUREN'S POV}~
"Has she suddenly gone mad?"
I asked the senior lady in waiting, Dally, because it was very disturbing.
Deborah was always gentle, obedient and careful with her words, so what changed?
"No, you majesty, not at all. She is perfectly fine." Dally responded but I didn't buy it.
She was always careful with how she carried herself. Making sure she doesn't ruin my reputation and hers.
"Why then did she run to the kitchen and outside like a deranged woman?" I inquired and Dally remained quiet, meaning she had no answer.
"Have the physicians check on her immediately and let me know the report." I instructed and she responded in understanding before I walked away.
But not long after I left Deborah's wing, I met my right hand man.
"Your majesty, the lady you brought back has been asking for you."
At that information, it felt like I suddenly came alive and I hurried to the place I kept her, away from Deborah's evil eyes.
It took some minutes to get there and I found her waiting outside her room with a guard by her side. She seemed scared but on noticing me, she suddenly relaxed.
"What is it, Peculiar?" I worriedly asked as I went to hold her on both shoulders.
"I am scared, my Lord. I can't sleep because when I do so I have nightmares of the war. The only person I can think of to help me through it is you. You are my savior." She confessed as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I know, my dear, and I am sorry." I apologized and pulled her in for a warm hug and she hugged me back.
"Why is the queen so cruel, your majesty?" She mumbled into my chest and I sighed but answered.
"I don't know but for now do not cross paths with her."
At my warning, she slowly pulled away and looked up at me with a slight frown on her ever beautiful face.
I still couldn't believe I had her in my possession. Someone so rare, so mind numbingly alluring in ways I couldn't express. Deborah couldn't even compare to her in the slightest.
"When will you inform everyone about our union?" She worriedly asked and I smiled as I leaned towards her to plant a light kiss on her forehead.
"Very soon, my dear. Just wait a little more." I assured her.
During the war, I happened to encounter her in one of the deserted villages. Her people were all killed including her family, leaving her bare and all alone.
At one glance, I was smitten by her beauty and decided to take her in just to help her but I ended up falling for her. And since she had no one to call her own, I decided to claim her as my wife right there in the midst of battle. But since we were back to my kingdom, I had to do it properly or she would be looked down upon.
Suddenly I heard loud footsteps rushing towards us and it made me nearly groan in annoyance because I knew they came to report about kingly duties.
What happened to reporting it to Deborah?
Wasn't that the way they did things while I was away? So why do they want to bombard me with kingly duties just after returning from war?
"My king! Something has happened!" The messenger hurriedly said while panting with difficulty.
"What is it?" I groaned in irritation without looking at them as I kept holding my woman who brought solace to my heart.
"It's th- it's the queen.." he stuttered and I frowned before slowly pulling away from my woman and facing him.
"What has she done now?" I demanded in exhaustion.
"She has escaped!"
"ESCAPED? HOW!" I raised my voice in anger.
"Th-through her window sir-sire…"