The Betrayal Of Maldonia
The Heir Pt. 1
A Month Later -
"You are with child!" Dr. Kei announced to the royal couple.
"I knew it!" Nereus beamed and gave Tiana a kiss. "There's to be a celebration!"
Tiana frowned. "Nereus I would much rather us just celebrate alone," she didn't need another party whenever something happens.
"Nonsense! We will throw a celebration for the ages! My son is growing in your womb and he will be here in eight months!"
"What if it's a girl?" She asked and gasped when he glared at her.
"He must be a son or there will be death upon the female first child," he warned.
Tiana raised her brow. "Death?"
"I come from a family of men who makes first born boys. My father, his father and his father before that supports my case."
"But I'm carrying the child," she pointed out.
"Do not contradict me, my rose or I will have to shut that pretty mouth of yours the best way I can..." he lightly patted on his crotch area.
Tiana turned away, disgusted as he chuckled.
The physician witnessed the exchange and was equally disgusted, but he didn't dare share his true feelings. What mattered is that Tiana and the baby were safe.
"I want to thank you, Dr. Kei for this news. I unfortunately must return to my duties. I am a king!" He then placed his hand on Tiana's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I will see you later."
Tiana didn't respond as he left the room.
Dr. Kei waited until the king left before saying, "I know the child isn't his."
Tiana looked terrified at the doctor who gave her a reassuring smile.
"I will not share it with Nereus. I respect you and king Naveen too much to do such a thing."
Tiana sighed relief. "Thank you, Dr. Kei."
"Fortunately for you and this child is the timing. You're very early in your pregnancy and the timing of the birth won't be concerning."
"But the gender will," Tiana added.
"I will promise to save your child if it's a girl," he vowed.
"How?"
"I have my connections. Do not worry. Near the end of your pregnancy you will know."
Tiana saw his smile and could tell that he meant every word. But concern still filled her heart. "If Nereus learns..."
"He will not," Dr. Kei. "I promise."
()()()()
Later that week a huge party was thrown in celebration of the pregnancy. Tiana was welcomed by any of the guests who wanted to see the newly expectant queen. All wanting to get a piece of her. She would never be this bombard with people if Naveen were still alive. They wouldn't even be having a ridiculous celebration such as this.
Nereus was drinking away not having a care in the world with a few women surrounding him. All concubines but all he could focus his eyes on is his wife. She looked ravishing in the black lace gown she was wearing even though he preferred her in red. He will of course request her to wear the colour later when he's having her. He could already envision the red see-through gown she'll be barely wearing. His erection pressed against his trousers at the thought of tightly tying her wrists by the rope and the pain in her eyes after each of his rough thrusts. To see her in any pain during their intercourse was what he hunger for and he will enjoy it until until he notices the flaw that his heir will create as he grow bigger in her womb.
"You keep staring at her, your highness," spoke a jealous concubine. "What about me?"
Nereus ignored the woman as he watched Tiana now in a conversation with a male guest. He grew jealous. "Who the hell is that?"
The king's guard was nearby and answered, "Duke Henry Barrington of Ronu, your majesty."
Nereus now recognized the man and name. He was his twin brother's closest friend and ally. He didn't like how close he was to his wife and stood up, knocking two of his concubines over as he marched over to the two.
"How are you?" The young duke asked Tiana. "My apologies for not attending the memorial service. It was in such short notice."
"It's alright, everything was in short noticed," Tiana hinted.
Henry understood. "So Nereus made you marry him?"
Tiana sighed, ashamed to answer.
Henry shook his head. "I know he did and if there was anything I could've do-
"Whatever you have to say to my wife you can say to me, Henry," Nereus interrupted. "Women meddling in men's business is quite inappropriate. Don't know think?" He put an arm around the queen.
Henry nodded. "I do not agree with that assumption, Ner...your majesty. If anything, a woman's opinion is quite important. And I'm surprised that you feel this way with one of your ancestors being a woman who once ruled this very kingdom."
Nereus chuckled. "We tend to try ignoring that part of history. At least I try to."
"I do not see why, Nereus, um your highness," he knew the dark king hated being called by his real name. "I've known the queen for a while now through your wonderful brother, the former king Naveen..."
Nereus exhaled, annoyed.
"...and have always found her opinion very important. Tiana brings up excellent points on the citizens who are the reason why we're in the position we're in. We lead them while they help us all grow for the better. Like family!" Henry explained.
That caused Tiana to smile. "Naveen had that same analogy and..." She quickly regretted mentioning her first husband's name. The squeeze from Nereus hand letting her know how angered he was.
Nereus smirked despite now feeling furious at his wife mentioning his brother's name. It seemed as if dead or alive Naveen still had power he couldn't posses.
"Tiana, my rose, will you excuse us? I'm sure that you're exhausted with you know, your condition and all."
Henry frowned. "Condition? Is the queen ill?'
"Of course she isn't! She's only expecting my heir!" Nereus said proudly. "Have you not notice the stork ice sculptures around the ballroom?"
Tiana's eyes widen, obviously upset that the king shared her pregnancy in the first place. "I really wanted us to keep this to ourselves."
"What is the point of this ball?" he asked, humoured. Then raised his hands. "Everyone! I'd like to announce to any guests who ran late with extreme pleasure on new edition to the royal family!" He wrapped an arm around Tiana. "The queen is pregnant with my heir!"
A roar of applause and chant went off for the couple.
Tiana sighed and put on a fake smile as the women all surrounded her with praise and congratulations once again.
"It took you no time!"
"I'm so happy for you!"
"You're glowing!"
"You're beautiful!"
Tiana thanked the women and excused herself outside away from everyone. Turning back looking in she spotted Nereus dancing and drinking with everyone. It was absolutely disgusting how he would drink as if it were water and not care who even serve it to him.
"Drink up, everyone!" the king exclaimed while the guests cheered.
She eased her way back in the ballroom and out of it, thinking no one noticed, but of course Nereus had his eyes on her before he continued on with his hard partying.
Tiana made it to her room where she changed out of her gown and washed off all the makeup, tobacco and liquor smell off her.
As soon as she was done she got into a white night gown and fell asleep. She didn't bother brushing her hair as she too exhausted to do so...
...
'Tiana...'
'Tiana...'
She slowly opened her eyes and found herself in the king's bed in white satin sheets.
'Tiana...'
The young queen turned to the voice expecting Nereus but gasped when it was her husband.
'Naveen?' she exclaimed in disbelief 'Naveen...' She got off the bed to see her husband who looked puzzled.
'Where are we?' he asked
Tiana shook her head and had to feel him so she pressed her lips on his.
Naveen circled his arms around her, returning her kiss, knowing that this wasn't a dream. It felt too real to be a dream.
'Naveen, I love you...'
'Don't leave...,' he said.
'I won't,' she promised, kissing him again. Missing his lips on her. 'Just as long as you don't leave me again.'
'I won't.'
...
"Your majesty!"
Tiana was startled wake to a frantic Lydia. "Huh?"
"Nereus is furious! He wants you in his suite immediately!"
Tiana was confused by her vision or dream and but knew to never let the dark king wait so she pulled on her robe and rushed down the hall until making it to his suite where she found him nowhere in sight. "Where is he?"
"He's being dragged up. He passed out on the floor!"
Tiana rolled her eyes in irritation. "I'm not surprised."
The doors opened the two large guards, one of them being Lydia's husband escorting the king into the room.
"Where's my fucking wife? Tee...yanna!" he slurred.
"I'm here," Tiana said, sitting on the bed.
Nereus waved off at the guards. "Leave us!"
She sighed as he tried sitting up but fell back.
"Ugh!" He brought himself up. "You left the celebration!"
"You suggested that I should," she reminded him.
Nereus then coughed out at her. "Where's the wine?!"
Tiana was disgusted but had to play the concern wife, "Would you like some water instead?"
"Why in the hell would I want...," he stopped as he coughed again.
She then gasped when he threw up all over her lap. "Ah!"
Nereus then fell onto the floor, passed out.
She didn't have time to clean herself and called out, "Guards! Help!"
The men bust into the room to find the queen getting on the floor with Nereus.
"Call the physician!" she ordered.
()()()()
"The king should be fine with him most of the alcohol from his system," explained Dr. Kei.
"I know that this isn't his first episode," Tiana remembered Naveen sharing a story about his brother's past experiences of alcohol poisoning.
"No, and unfortunately it may not be his last. Nereus is a wild one and the only person who held him back from over indulging was his brother."
"Naveen," Tiana nodded, knowing. "He was his brother's keeper."
"He was-
"Tiana!"
The queen sighed. "I guess he's awake."
"Where is my wife!"
She rolled her eyes before going in the room to see Nereus who watched her every move as she neared him.
"How are you doing?"
He smirked, putting his hand over hers. "My rose..." and closed it around hers. "You are already making me feel a lot better."
"You had too much to drink. You would've died and where would that leave our son?" She hated referring to her and Naveen's child as Nereus'.
The dark king heard the concern and closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head. "I've been an idiot I will admit." He gazed at her. "Tiana?"
She looked at him. "Yes?"
"I won't ever do that again." He then kissed her hand. "A vow I will keep for both you and our heir."
Tiana stared into Nereus' blue eyes and for the first time saw Naveen in them. It would usually happen whenever Nereus put his guard down. It didn't last, but when it happened she welcomed it. She could only hope that the king keep his own promise and go by his words from a month before:
'All men change for the better.'
()()()()
Giodonian Palace -
Facilier watched the vision from his smoke and groaned furiously.
"Damn drunk! He almost ruined my plan of taking over Maldonia!"
A concubine laughed. "How does keeping Nereus alive prevent you from ruling Maldonia?"
"Because the damn pendant he's wearing protects the kingdom from being taken over! I've already lost the pendant from his dead brother whose body is still mysteriously missing!"
"It could've blown up in that awful explosion."
"Then I would've also had his soul by now!" He exclaimed, irritated by the woman.
The concubine snorted. "Some leader you are!"
Facilier glared at the woman before calling in his guard.
When the man came in, the king evil nodded and left the room.
As he was walking down the hall he heard his concubine screaming and went on about with himself. "It's time I pay a visit to pretty boy Nereus."
()()()()
Maldonia – The next evening-
"Facilier, what a great surprise my friend!" Nereus shook hands with Facilier.
"I had to see how my good friend King Nereus was doin'!" Facilier said before putting a cigar in his own mouth. "Seems like things have gotten a bit quiet here in Maldonia."
"It has," Nereus admitted.
"And how is that lovely little wife of yours?" Facilier then blew out the smoke.
"My lovely little wife," Nereus answered. "She's also been my lovely little nurse, bed warmer..."
"Seems like ya a happy little couple."
Nereus didn't like the sound of Facilier's sarcasm. "She's doing her job. Why are you at my palace again? And before dinner."
"To remind you on our deal.."
"Our deal was completed the moment the crowns touched our heads, Facilier."
"There were the laws, according to Giodonia's newly updated constitution signed by your dear daddy, Maldonia still rules ninety percent of my kingdom."
Nereus shrugged his shoulders. "I'm already aware of that."
"And you didn't bother changing that?"
"Why should I? Both kingdoms are doing financially well, crime is low, the people seem by my ruling."
Facilier raised a brow, before bursting into laughter.
Nereus smirked. "Why is that funny?"
"There was another part of the deal-
"There wasn't another part. I have no other debt to you or your friends!" Nereus said.
"There was the incident with ya daddy and-
"I did all of that on my own without you!" Nereus reminded him, now irritated.
"I can also make that evidence come out!" Facilier snapped. "Do you honestly believe that you got away with killin' ya daddy without them checkin'? I made that happen!"
"Bullshit!" Nereus spat back. "And what sort of evidence do you honestly have? Maldonian families do not touch the body unless it was damage due to an assassination or an accident. Based on what they witness, my father died naturally."
"You really believe that you got away on ya own!" Facilier then laughed. "You are a fool!"
"I'd hold my tongue old man...," Nereus warned.
"We made a deal!"
"What deal? We've both gotten what we wanted! We're both kings to our kingdoms, I got my prize and my life is complete!"
Facilier just blew out the smoke. "So I heard ya wife is expectin ya baby."
"My heir," he corrected.
"Is it really yours?"
Nereus frowned. "Of course its mine! What kind of fucking question is that?"
Facilier knew that he touched a nerve. "I'm sure that ya precious rose was on her back screwin' ya brother before he died in that awful bomb accident..."
"You keep my family out of this!" He warned, now facing him.
"Oh no, they were always a part of this plan!" Facilier stepped away. "Or have you suddenly grown feelings for ya prize?"
"It isn't any of your fucking business how I feel about my wife!" Nereus couldn't deny growing fond of the queen. "Now I would appreciate it if you leave my study and palace-
"I can take all of your hope and dreams away!" Facilier said.
"I'd like to see you do that," Nereus interrupted. "Now get the hell out of my palace!"
"My pleasure!" Facilier tipped his hat as he walked toward the door before stopping. He then turned back to the king. "But don't forget that we made a deal, and if you don't fully follow through with our agreement then let's just say that I will be the least of ya problems, pretty boy." He then left.
Nereus glared at the back of the man as he walked further down the hall. "Guards!"
Two large men came into the room.
"Take care of that fool," he ordered.
The men wasted no time in obeying their king.
Nereus stood by the window and watched as his partner finally got in his car and soon two flashes went off in it. He watched as his guards tapped the back of the car before it drove off.
A few minutes later the guards returned. "It's been handled, your majesty."
Nereus darkly smirked. "Good."
()()()()
Later that night Tiana lay in Nereus' arms falling asleep. She could hear the slow and soft snores from the king letting her know that he was already asleep.
Tonight he wasn't so rough as whatever tension he had was gone. The news of the death of King Facilier put him in a very good mood during dinner and as evil as it sounded, she too was thrilled to learn of his death. The same man who killed her own father was now gone for good.
As she closed her eyes, dosing off into a slumber, Naveen's face appeared then disappeared...
...
'Tiana...' his voice called out in a whisper.
She looked around for her love. 'Naveen?'
'Tiana, where are you?'
'I'm here, Naveen?' Tiana could hear his voice as if they were in the same room, but couldn't see him. 'Naveen?'
…
Tiana's eyes open into the darkness of the night and the realization that it was a dream or vision broke her heart again. Her eyes watered as she mourned for her first husband all over again.
"Why do I keep dreaming of him?" She asked before crying herself to sleep once again.
()()()()
Outside The Border Of Maldonia...
Naveen tossed and turned while mumbling in his sleep as the older woman watched him with releif.
"If you wake up then you will be able to tell me if you're the real king of Maldonia," she wiped a warm sponge across his face and neck.
"Grandmother, how soon will the man awaken?" asked a young boy.
An young and attractive woman with long brown dreadlocks stepped into the bedroom with a bowl of water. "How is he, grandmother?"
"Still asleep."
She set the bowl down on a nearvy table. "How soon will he wake up?"
The older woman glanced at both her grandchildre feeling optimistic. "Soon, I hope."
()()()()
A/N: It was very obvious that Naveen is still alive. I can't ever kill him off!
