The Manipulative Happiness Of May & December

Her Place In Herbs

It's been four months since Tiana has become Kabir's wife and Queen of Maldonia and everywhere he went, she went. Tiana was aware of his insecurities with the younger men and wanted to make sure that they knew he already staked his claim on her. While many women would find this trait flattering she felt that it was a pet peeve and a bit concerning.

When they arrived at the palace there were servants picking up what looked like food and empty champagne bottles. Along with articles of female clothing as well as shoes.

"Damn that boy!" Kabir cursed, accidentally stepping on a broken glass cup with his shoe. "Naveen! Where is that bastard!"

"Kabir we just got home!" Tiana said calmly. "Maybe you should rest up first—

"Like hell I'll do any resting!" he interrupted her. "The boy has been acting out since his mother's death! He needs discipline!"

"What he needs is for you to talk to him!" Tiana suggested. "My father and I use to—

"Did I ask for an opinion from you?" Kabir glared at her.

Tiana raised her brows. "No, I—

"Then you should know to remain quiet and return to my chamber. My son and I need to have a talk from one man to another and as a woman you do not have the mindset to even comprehend what should be done!" He said with no regret in his tone.

Tiana never felt more humiliated and did as she was told. It was the first time he yelled at her and insulted her intelligence as a woman and figured it was due to him being furious with his son.

As she stepped into her husband's suite, she heard him and Naveen in a heated exchange. Poking her head out she saw the men facing each other, Kabir was a tall man but Naveen had some inches on him yet both held their arrogantly stubborn stances and kept arguing.

"You bring in whores and ruin the palace! Do you realize how embarrassing this is for our family?" Kabir exclaimed.

Naveen laughed. "And the pot is calling the kettle black yet again! You should be ashamed of yourself for marrying a young girl!"

The king gave his son a convincing smirk. "You are angry that I got her first!"
"You're sicker than I thought if you honestly believe that is the reason why I disapprove of your...marriage to her! I'm into women who are the same age as I am! I wouldn't dare want to marry someone who is young enough to be my child!"

"She just turned eighteen!" he said almost defensively.

"Today is your daughter-wife's birthday?" The prince teased. "How sweet! What did you get her? A dollhouse?"

Tiana closed the door and sat on a bed bench after witnessing that heated exchange. It was unfortunate to see family fighting, even after a loss it still didn't seem to change anything between the two. She would give everything to have her father and mother be with her and there was Naveen, fighting with his father. She also figured that Kabir would be more sensitive about losing Nagina, even if like her they shared a loveless marriage he have to had some emotional connection with her. They did share a child together. The bottom line is, the king and prince still had each other. While Tiana had no one.

She wiped away the single tear that ran down her cheek. Life was way too short to be fighting with anyone If she'd known that the last moment of her father's life was going to happen the way it did she would've made sure to remind him how much she love and respect him.

"I apologize for yelling at you that way, my dear," Kabir said, walking into the room.

Tiana smiled and gave him hug. "It's all right. You were only being a concerned father."

He returned the hug, hearing the emotion in her voice. "And I know that you miss your father. He was a good man."

She closed her eyes. Not wanting to discuss her father with the king.

"But you must stay silent when it comes to my son's issues. It is between him and myself," he advised sternly.

"Yes, your majesty," she replied softly.

"Good," Kabir said, rubbing her side. "Have you seen your birthday gift?"

"No?" she said, confused.

"Then here..." he pulled out a box from his desk and handed it to her. "Open it up!"

Tiana opened to see a ring and gasped at the large stone. "Is this a real diamond?"

Kabir laughed out loud. "Why of course this is real! Forty-four carats real, my dear."

Tiana thought the ring was gaudy. "Its so heavy!"

"The best for my wife," he kissed her on the cheek. "You refused the celebration I offered!"

"Its not that important," Tiana then turned and wrapped her arms over his shoulders. "Thank you for the ring," And pressed her lips onto his.

"Mm...you are beginning to turn into my little vixen," he then chuckled.

She wasn't sure what he wanted, but hope that he was too tired to want it from her.

"Let us take your suggestion and rest," he gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I have a hectic afternoon ahead and sleep would do me some good."

()()()()

Later that afternoon Tiana was left alone to herself due to Kabir's busy afternoon and evening with a couple of his fellow allies in the smoking room and she definitely welcomed it. Planting flowers in the greenroom with some of the servants were a treat. Then sampling tonight's dinner and making small suggestions in the kitchen was a fun activity to do since she loved anything related to culinary!

"I don't want you getting into trouble for being around us commoner people. You know how the king is!" Janice warned Tiana who just stepped into the kitchen, holding a basket of parsley leaves she got from the garden.

"He won't know if he doesn't see me," Tiana set the basket on the counter.

"How was your walk?" she asked.

"Amazing!" Tiana beamed. "I really needed it after sitting in this palace all day."

"And I'm sure there are other reasons why the king have you indoors," one of the younger cooks teased.

"Tiffani you shouldn't speak that way to the queen! How disrespectful!" Janice scolded, washing the parsley leaves in cold water.

"I should leave...," Tiana said.

"I'm sorry Tiana!" Janice apologized.

"No, I stayed too long. I'll see you all later!" she hurried out of the kitchen and down the corridor before going up the stairs to one of the sitting rooms. Taking advantage of whatever time she had alone before returning to her chambers. She then took a seat at a golden chess table.

"Hiding from my father, I see."

She sighed, knowing who was behind the voice. "It's good to see you too, Naveen."

He walked over, taking a seat across from her.

Tiana looked over at the prince with annoyance and asked, "What brings you in this particular sitting room?"

"Why do you ask?" he picked up a golden chess piece.

"Seeing that there are more than enough sitting rooms in this palace and you choosing this one..." she then shrugged her shoulders.

"Perhaps I thought you needed the company, and play a game of chess," he said with a smirk on his lips.

Tiana rolled her eyes. "I don't play."

"My father never taught you? Hm. Shocking!" he said with sarcasm.

Tiana rose from the chair to leave the room.

"So how long were you sleeping with my father before he asked you to marry him?" Naveen asked bitterly.

She stopped by the door and turned to glare at him. "I've never slept with him before our marriage."

"Sure and I slept with a thousand women!"

"Why do you hate me?" she asked. "What have I done to you?"

"I don't hate you," Naveen got up from his seat, walking over to her. "I find it disgusting that you are an eighteen year old who is married to my forty-six year old father. My mother hasn't been dead for not even a month and he asked for your hand." He looked her up and down. "You could've said no."

"But I did!" she confessed.

He laughed bitterly "You refused my father and still married him."

"I didn't want to marry him or anyone!" Tiana revealed. "All I wanted was to work my way up as a head chef like my father, but your father had other plans for me..."

"And that's for you to be his wife," he said, remembering his father's warning at the gala in London.

"Well what's done is done...," She put her hand on the handle.

"Tiana..." Naveen began.

"Yes?" she looked back at the prince.

"Try to stay away from the kitchen," he warned. "My father has a dark temper when he's drunk that is far worse then sober."

"Is he drinking tonight?" Tiana asked, not aware of her husband's schedule.

Naveen nodded. "He had a small get together with his allies in the smoking room. I'm not sure if you're have an idea of how he is after several glasses. Especially when he invites friends over. Just follow my advice. I've seen the many faces he possesses growing up."

Tiana knew what he was telling her was the truth. "I'll consider it. Thank you."

"Tiana is that you in there?" Kabir walked into the room to find the two younger royals and smugly looked at his son. "Keeping my wife company?" he inhaled the cigar he was smoking.

"We just so happen to have cross paths while trying to each our destinations," Naveen said.

"In a closed door room?" the king asked, suspiciously.

"You should be questioning your guards as to why the doors were closed in the first place, father," Naveen walked pass the man. "If you'll excuse me I'll be heading to the kitchen where the real fun seems to always be."

"Don't chase after the younger cooks," Kabir said in sarcasm.

"Don't break your back trying to chase this one, old man!" Naveen said glancing at Tiana and back at his father before leaving the room.

"Come my dear," Kabir began walking out of the room.

Tiana caught up with her husband and locked her arm with his as they neared his chambers. "How did the evening with your friends go?" she asked as they stepped into the suite.

Kabir frowned. "I told you to never question my activities unless I bring them up! Its not a woman's place," he said sternly.

"I'm sorry," Tiana apologized.

"Enough about that," Kabir lustfully stared at her while letting out his cigar in the golden ashtray. "I might have lost the card game, but I've already won my prize..."

Tiana knew what his stare meant and began undressing. She's gotten used to his way of foreplay which was eying her body, gently caressing her from head to toe before finally making love to her. At least that's what he would call it. But she wasn't a fool. What they shared was something between a man and his woman. Not love. If it were the case she would feel light on her feet. A warm rush in her body, an overwhelming ease in her heart. And feeling like a woman, not a whore.

"You always make me feel like a young man," Kabir said after his climax.

Tiana remained silent as he pulled himself out, and within five minutes he was asleep.

She eased out of the bed to clean herself in the tub in the highest temperature she could handle. She's heard from many of the chamber maids and servants that this will help prevent pregnancy but knew otherwise. Because the same women who told her this already had a couple of children of their own. Some were also expecting new additions and that was the last thing she wanted.

Its been three months since her last visit with the midwife and with the king asleep she will have to pay the woman a visit.

After dressing in the most simple dress she could find in her own chambers she pulled on a cape and within minutes was out of the palace grounds.

()()()()

"I see the king is keeping his young wife busy?" said the red hair older woman.

"Very, Ziliah. He can't keep his hands off of me, and when he's drunk he can be a little rough. Tonight he was almost as painful as my wedding night!" Tiana explained.

"Old men always trying to prove something..." the woman muttered bitterly.

"He's insecure when it comes with younger men. Always comparing himself to his son especially. He has a nice body for a man of his age and there are times when I do enjoy his company but I can't help but to feel overwhelmed and remorse afterwards."

Ziliah pitied the young girl. "Have you rejected his invitations to his bedroom?"

"I didn't think I could," Tiana admitted.

"You have a mouth and brain for a reason. And if he doesn't accept then I'm afraid that it is up to you on what you should do."

Tiana sighed, knowing that if she ever refused to sleep with her husband that it wouldn't end well. "I don't think I can refuse him."

"You fear him?" the midwife inquired.

Tiana raised her brows. "He's the king!"

"And a man. They can be childish and want their way but you must be stronger and tell him no. You have the power as a woman believe it or not. Men can be trained," she handed Tiana the small bag of herbs. "You pour that into your tea and—

"Can I do it here? I always feel like something bad will happen if I do it at the palace," Tiana said.

"Oh, that's right," Ziliah smiled. "But remember to lay down as soon as you arrive back! You don't want to get sick on your old husband. Though the look on his face would be priceless."

()()()()

Tiana reached the palace corridors an hour later already seeing her husband's guards standing outside his chamber door. Just as she was nearing the room...

"Where were you?"

She stopped when hearing Naveen's suspicious voice.

Turning she faced the man. "What do you mean 'where have I been'?"

"I saw you walking into the palace with my own eyes and through the kitchen door of all places," Naveen walked over to her. "Who were you seeing?" he asked.

Tiana frowned. "Who do you think you are?"

"The prince of Maldonia now tell me where were you!" Naveen pressed.

"If you really want to know I was out in the garden! As huge as this palace is I needed the air!" Tiana said.

"In the middle of the night?" he crossed his arms.

"Yes!" she answered, annoyed.

Naveen didn't trust her but decided to let her go but not without a warning.

"If I catch you sneaking back in or out here without any of your ladies or guards, I will tell my father what I saw," he warned.

She didn't bother responding and eased back into Kabir's chamber and climbing back into bed once her clothes were off. She knew her husband's nightly routines and waited for him to wake up soon for a bathroom break.

And like on cue the king slowly rose from the bed and walked into the bathroom, nude and all.

Tiana pretended to be asleep when he returned to bed, but felt his mustache tickling against her neck. "Dear?" he whispered.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I've had the naughtiest dream of you," he kissed her neck. "Your beautiful breasts were bouncing in perfect rhythm while I ravished your entire body..," he kissed on her again.

Tiana could definitely feel his arousal and rolled on her back, opening her legs for the man to have her again. Refusing him at this point would be a mistake and if she got the chance she will try to stand her ground when everything didn't seem so rushed.

"Mmph," she grunted as he quickly thrust in and out of her. And was grateful when he was done.

"You are going to be the happily death of me, my dear," he breathed into her ear before pulling out and rolling to his side. "I needed another go at you after the evening I had with my allies in that blasted card game," Kabir moved to his side of the bed. "I lost twenty thousand dontas but will gain double back. I always do!"

Tiana was beginning to feel the only side effect of the herbs working on her and prayed that she wouldn't get sick all over the bed.

"Sleep well my dear. Tomorrow will be an intense day without me in your beautiful presence."

Tiana looked forward to the day. Her sour stomach was going to need the rest.