CHAPTER 16: Important Decisions.

7:00 PM 6/8/2024
Chapter 16: Important Decisions.
Sorry for the late update, guys. Had an exam last two weeks. Thanks for your understanding!!
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"LET GO OF ME!".

The Queen's chambers were in a mess. As of right now, Esmeralda was fighting with Cole.

"Esmeralda, just listen to me. I did it for your own good".

"My own good? My own good?!", she was raising her voice steadily. "Or you were doing it for yourself? What's your problem? Did you ask for my opinion? How could you put me to sleep? You promised, Cole. You promised".

"Esme, let's leave this problem for another time. Mason wants Claressa dead".

Esmeralda stopped panting and huffing for a moment. "Why does he want to kill my last remaining daughter? What did you do?".

"I didn't do anything. Claressa killed an entire village and Mason wants revenge".

"Claressa killed an entire village? Whose fault was it? Do you think I'm a fool? I may be tired and weak but I have ears. Everyone's saying that you caused it. That because of you she lost control. Who gave you the permission to marry off my daughter?".
In families such as this, where husband and wife were of equal power, the husband dare not decide important things such as marriage without the wife. Even though he's the king.

"Esmeralda, please calm down and let's talk calmly. I will explain everything to you".

"No, I don't want to hear it. In fact, get out of my room".

"Esme..."

"I said, GET OUT!". Esmeralda's eyes had already changed color to yellow. Her wolf had woken up.

Cole ran out because he didn't want to be a victim. Esmeralda's wolf was very powerful.
"Now I'm getting shut out by my own wife"

Just then a guard walked over.
"Your Majesty, you are needed in the council room".

****
In the council room,
"Your Majesty, are you going to kill your daughter?", Cedrick asked.

"That's a hard decision. Kill her, no war. She lives, a war. Do the people know about this?", Cole asked.

"I don't know how but there is a rumor going around. The people are already aware of this matter. The princess is well beloved by the people.
She is the apple of so many of their eyes. Areida's death hasn't even been announced yet. When are you going to do it?", Ava, a female minister asked.

"So many questions. Let me ask you a question. If you were in my shoes, what would you do in this type of situation?"

Gamaliel was the first to answer. “If I were in your shoes, I guess I would have done things differently. For example, not lying to my wife and
daughter".

"Watch your tongue! This is the king", Ava snapped.

"Actually, he's right. I started this mess. By the way, have you sent any dignitary to Azurethra to talk about marriage yet?"

"Not yet", came the reply.

"That's good. I don't think we should tell the people about Claressa's issue unless the need arises".
As the meeting was on, Horace ran in.
"Your Majesty, the people have surrounded the castle. They are looking for you. They are threatening to bring the gate down if you don't come out".

"Looks like the need you're looking for is here", Ava commented.

****
In the dungeon,
Esmeralda looked through each cell looking for her daughter. At the deep end of the dungeon, she finally found her daughter.
"Claressa".

Claressa looked up. Before her mother, all her defense and show of being strong came crumbling down.
"Mom".

Esmeralda reached out to touch her daughter's face. “Oh, my dear daughter. I'm so sorry".

"What are sorry for? I'm the one that got myself in this situation".

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you. Your father will get another earful from me".

"Mom, I’m totally on board with your plan to teach dad a lesson. But don't go too hard on him. He's your husband after all. My sister is dead, I
don't want this family to break up as well".

"I understand. I'll talk to your dad about the request brought by Mason. Before he's a king, he's a father".

"But he's still a king. And a king cares about the wellbeing of his people. If a sacrifice is going to prevent a war, then he's going to do it. Not that I'm okay with dying early, though".

"Claressa, mother will get you out of here", Esmeralda muttered to herself.

"Mom, what are you saying?"

"I've made up my mind".

Chapter end