The gathering carries on and people form groups, and they socialize. Some approach, but they don't come to talk to Shepherd, they come to ask how I am. And every time I get praise, I get a pinch from Shepherd, and they get more vicious as the night goes.

But even as I feel my hot blood sliding down to my hand, I say nothing. I make no outward noises or reactions. I know what awaits me if I embarrass him.

I just need to keep alive for as long as I can while I think of a plan, and I try to find the weakness in this castle because waiting him out is not going to help. They clearly intend to have Igor poisoned until it's time for me to give birth so they can kill all of us together.

Once again, I need allies. So, I make nice, even as Shepherd hates it. Sometime during the event, Shamus comes to whisper something in Shepherd's ear and Shepherd lets my hand go. It is coated with blood, and he quickly hides it from view. He looks my direction with a hard look before he goes, and they leave.

I am left standing there alone. Some reprieve. It is uncustomary for royalty to walk to people of lower ranking, but I don't quite care. I walk to the direction of the group that has the prime minister. The man I am after is in that group.

They all turn to me as I approach, and their heads bow in respect. I have to stifle an eye roll.

"Queen Aria." They look a little embarrassed that I had to walk to them and their eyes search for Shepherd.

"Your king is getting some air with the general." I tell them. I am also trying to gauge how much they know of that situation.

I see the prime minister tensing slightly. So, some do know. I wonder how much these people actually know and what all their game actually is. Is it a power game, a political game? Or is it good old fear?

"How are you feeling, queen?" the prime minister asks. I notice Hanser and his wife are as quiet as the silent night, and I see discomfort written clear in their eyes. I wonder what position Hanser held in this kingdom before.

Igor only told me he was a farmer. I wonder if this is his rise to the top. I wonder if he has always had his ambitions in that case or he saw an opportunity and he used it.

But I don't understand why he would betray Igor after he has been a part of his family for generations. For money? For power? I will be incensed if I find out that that was all it was.

But I remain in that group, and I engage with the people who may be my allies soon. I receive the compliments from the high society, and I play the game. After a while, the group gets smaller.

"Hanser, may I have your ear for a moment?" I need to talk to him before those two return. I feel it itching where Shepherd was pinching me, but I ignore the maddening itch to scratch it.

Hanser looks around and the ministers bow and give us space. Hanser remains, lucky for me his wife is in the restrooms.

We stand there for a moment and I gaze at the man me and Igor had our last conversation about. To say I hate him would be pathetic. I wish him a thousand lives so I can kill him in all of them.

"So, queen Aria you wanted to talk." He has a gloating look on his face.

"You betrayed us, Hanser." I am not here to play mind games.

His face falters a little, but he quickly masks it.

"I did what I had to do." He brings the glass to his lips, and he drinks.

"He trusted you." I say.

He shrugs. "That's his prerogative."

"You owe us." I say.

"Your husband compensated me very generously. How much do you want from the gold, queen?"

His answer infuriates me, but I need some answers. "Was it just about the money?"

He shrugs but doesn't answer.

"You need to help him." I demand.

He takes one step back. I think he is running from me, but his eyes look behind me and I know who is back.

"It is my honor to serve the kingdom, queen." He gives me a small bow.

The dark cloud that is Shepherd nears me and I feel him before he touches my lower back.

"Miss me, wife?" He whispers in my ear, and I smell the liquor on his breath.

I force a smile. "Always, darling." My eyes don't leave Hanser.

Shepherd returns his hand under my arm, and I take a steadying breath, preparing myself for the pain. My gaze is on Hanser, and his gaze is on Shepherd's hand. He brings it back to me just as I wince a little. I see understanding in his eyes, and he swallows.

"What were you two talking about, Hanser?" Shepherd asks. He is a little drunk but no less evil sounding.

"The queen wanted me to betray you, my king." He says simply.

My insides go on alarm, but Shepherd just bellows a loud laugh.

He grins and looks my way. "Is that so?" he brings his lips to the side of my face, and he kisses my temple. "And what did you tell her?" his eyes don't move from me.

"I am loyal to only you, my lord." Hanser says. I see now, Hanser isn't my way. he has no conscious.

"that's right, wife. Hanser is loyal only to me." he comes near my ear. "I will kill you if you try that again." then he pulls away.

The party goes on for a little while longer. I understand now that even with the small freedoms Shepherd affords me it's on purpose so he can prove to me that I have no allies, and no one here will help me.

Much like how one may unchain a bird in a cage. It thinks it can get through because it isn't bound. More despair fills my heart the longer the night goes. I am only relieved at the end of the night.

After the party, he lets my guards escort me. He and Shamus are going to his office. But I know what that means. They are going to bend each other over the sacred scrolls of this kingdom.

As I am leaving through the front, I meet Hanser with his wife and two children.

"Hanser." I call to him, and they stop. He looks my way and then to his wife. He looks at his children and I think he wants to tell them to leave. but he has no choice but to come to me.

"Y-yes, queen?" he doesn't move.

"Don't stand there, Hanser. Let me meet your family."

He hesitates but they all approach. I see the look on his wife's face. She doesn't want to do this, be near me in any capacity. I remember how Igor told me she didn't want me helped in the first place. I would be dead if it was up to her.

I think she should be a little grateful. It's because of me she even walks these halls. But right now, isn't about that. Right now, it's about me telling Hanser that I see him too. That he isn't as safe as he thinks. That he has a lot to lose too.

I lower my gaze to the children, and I pay the parents no mind.

"Who might these be?" I beam at the children. One is a girl who is around 10, maybe 11 and the other a boy, I'd say 7.

"I am Tate, your highness," the girl answers.

"And I am Rob, queen." The boy answers.

"Lovely names. You are here with your parents?"

"Yes."

"I haven't seen you all party long, where were you hiding yourself?" I smile. in truth I don't have a problem with them. They will surely survive this, but Hanser doesn't have to know that.

"We were in the playhouse." The boy beams.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes, queen. We played many games with the other kids." The boy answers again. I don't have to look up to see Hanser hates it, I can feel it.

"Hm, I didn't see you in the castle before I went away. Did you always come to play here?"

"No, we started coming a—"

"Sorry, queen, but our carriage is blocking the way." the wife interjects.

I want to tell them it can wait but I also have guards next to me and I know prying in such a public manner isn't good.

"Alright. It was a pleasure meeting you two, I hope you visit us soon." I straighten to my full length, and I touch both their foreheads, giving them my blessing. They beam up at me and their parents take them away.

But I'd say they got the message.

I head to my wing, and I change for bed. I lay on the couch like usual and the love birds don't return. I am ecstatic to wake up alone again. I know it's a bad time, but it feels like it's going to be a good day.

Waking up and not seeing Shepherd's sour face is already improved my day ten times. I take a book and I read as I wait for Hannah and Barbara to arrive. When they arrive on time, I don't have to be told. I get up and they follow me.

Barbara tidies the already tidy room and Hannah takes charge of bathing me. I have decided to give her some room. I came on too strong last time. Hannah has always been a jumpy thing even before she was beaten.

She was always mousy, and she looks like she would fear her own shadow. Her soft hands run through my body with a cloth as she scrubs the oils off my body with a soap.

"He is in the west dungeon, on the lowest level." She tells me and I freeze. I look at her, but she doesn't look at me or acknowledge what she just said.

I open my mouth to say something, and she shakes her head. I nod quickly.

Just then Barbara walks in and that moment is over.

I am shocked. And I am not entirely sure what is happening. She is giving me information on Igor? 

_________________________________________

After chapter thoughts?