"The Priestess is late."
King Gabriel stated as he checked his pocket watch for the time. He sat on his throne that wasn't lined with red like most Kings', his was lined with purple. A color of the Royals.
"Dear, her carriage must of been held up. You know they have to rest the horses."
The Queen wanted to reassure that the Priestess would indeed arrive.
"Excuses! Rulers cannot be late."
"You were late for our wedding."
Queen Circe bluntly called him out on his mistake. She was still ticked with him for the comment he made about her role in society.
He was taking to Lord D'Argencourt when she over heard the vulgar comment. She was done with him and his attitude.
"Queen? Queen's brith many heirs. Even women bare many children. She's not even worth the title of a whore."
King Gabriel was drunk when he made this comment. He didn't drink often but he was abusive when drunk. She had to hide the bruises from him, her sons, and her people. A weak Queen made a bad Queen.
He laid his hand on her knee as a apologetic gesture. She knew he wasn't going to give her a verbal apology. She moved his hand off of her. She needed to be alone.
The Queen usually slept in a separate room until the bruises faded. The King never remembered what he did to her. She thought he had enough to worry about with the Kingdom and all.
She sat on the end of the bed. Thinking about how in chess the strongest piece was the Queen. But according to the King she was just a pawn. She couldn't do this anymore. Tears of hurt left her face.
It felt good to cry. She hadn't done it for many years. Not since the first night he was so violent. She loved him dearly but she was living a life she hated. The only highlight was her sons who were nearly eighteen. They didn't need their mother anymore.
"Circe?"
The King questioned as he opened to the door to see his wife with tears on her cheeks. He hated to see her cry.
"Tell me what's wrong."
He ordered as he went to touch her shoulder but she jerked away from his touch.
"Circe?"
She didn't want to be touched by him.
"Circe?"
He asked this time pleading to tell him what was wrong. She headed to her other room but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. She wore a dress with a collar. Usually she would wear it until the bruises faded.
The King never questioned why. He always thought it was away of her signaling she was on her mensural cycle.
But she showed no signs. None of course but the dress. He fiddled with the back of the dress just enough so he could pull down the collar.
"Gabriel, if you love me you won't."
She begged knowing that if he saw what he did to her that he could never live with himself. He ignored her request and revealed the large bruises on her neck.
"I'm sorry."
He apologized as he embraced her in a hug. He couldn't believe he would hurt her. She was still shaking at his very touch.
