His Cursed and Forgotten Mate

Chapter 7

(Zephry POV)

I groaned and sat up stretching.

"My lady. Please wake up", a voice rose as the door was being knocked continuously.

I only sighed, getting out of bed to open the door. But the moment it was open, a group of maids barged in.

"What the hell?!" I shouted as a woman, probably in her mid 50s walked in with a very elegant pose.

"A lady who is selected to be the mate of the king should curse like that" she said, staring at me as if I was some lowly pest.

At first glance, I didn't like her. I am definite that she will become a huge burden to me.

"Also, a queen should not sleep until this late. She should not walk around so casually in her night dress and open the door to maids. She should be elegant and composed and not messy and careless."

I didn't want to get in a fight first thing in the morning and I didn't want to embarrass Andrew, so I nodded my head agreeing to these rude comments.

"I understand" I said, walking to my bed.

I knew I slept through the morning but there was no need for me to be awake early in the morning. My team mate had gone with the king for protection and so there is nothing much for me to do.

It is rare that I can sleep soundly, so I thought of taking the opportunity.

"Let me introduce myself to you. I am Laurine, the head maid of this household. I was the previous Queen's personal maid and now assigned to be yours by the present king."

There was something in her eyes that I didn't like. The way she looked at me was full of cautiousness. It was as if she knew something.

Suddenly, a scream filled the room. I became alerted and turned towards my bed where the noise came from. My body was ready to attack in case of any threat but I froze when I understood it was not the case.

I couldn’t see what was happening since all the maids were surrounding something.

"Girls! Where are your manners? What is happening!" the elder woman asked as she walked towards them.

"This... this!" "Why is this here?!" "There is no doubt whose this is."

I was getting even more curious as to what was happening. But as I was going to step forward and investigate, the headmaid grabbed hold of a cloth before looking at it.

I froze in my spot knowing what it was.

"s**t", I cursed under my breath.

Her eyes widened, probably recognizing what it was. Her head snapped up to me and she stared at me with wide eyes.

"Lady! Isn't this the king's coat? What is it doing here?"

My eyes avoided her as I tried to come up with a lie. I crossed my hands over my chest and closed my eyes, turning my head to the left.

"It was something the king has presented me the first time we met. He covered me with this coat, seeing how cold I was feeling. It was a romantic moment for me and even though I should have returned it, it felt very precious. Besides, he wouldn’t mind me having it."

The maids started to squeal while commenting on how romantic it is. But the head maid was another news. Her eyes were fixed on me as if she knew it was a lie.

"My lady, it is not proper for the future queen to lie" she said as I raised one eyebrow at her.

"Oh?"

"The king wore this coat yesterday and I am sure about that because I was the one who gave him the outfit to wear."

Shit. I didn't think something like this would happen.

The maids had their hands over their mouths as they stared at the two of us. The atmosphere was awkward.

I could see the small smirk on the woman's face and I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all.

"Fineee you got me" I exaggerated a bit, shrugging as if it wasn't a big deal. "I met the king last night." I made sure to make a dramatic sigh, taking the coat from the head maid's hand and sitting on the bed. "I just didn't say the real reason because it's our personal secret"

"You met with the king in the night?"

"Oh yes. It has been our habit since we met. We can't seem to separate from each other. You know how a mate bond is right? It's too strong to resist."

"My lady, it is improper for a lady to go out and meet men!"

I looked at the elderly maid who was fuming in front of me. I knew she would find some other excuse to defame me.

"I didn't meet men, Miss Laurine. If I remember right, I told you I met the king who is my 'mate'" I made sure to stress on the mate as I stared at her. "It may be wrong to do so, but it is under the king's request. He wanted to meet me and I didn't object because I felt the same. So if you feel it inappropriate, go and tell him because I can't refuse him. He is my mate."

By now her face was red with anger.

It was a sweet success and I was enjoying her misery.

"I understand. I will talk to the king" she said, making me smirk.

"Aright"

After that, the maids bathed me and dressed me up in a simple yet elegant dress. In addition to that, I was given to wear a choker and, from the clear beautiful cut of the stone, I knew it must cost a fortune.

"Should we skip breakfast and go for lunch since its afternoon?" Laurine asked, refusing to look at me. After our conversation she only spoke when she must and I liked this version of this woman.

"Lunch"

After eating, they showed me around, taking me to the palace gardens and the stables.

Once I reached the stable, a sense of familiarity hit me.

I have been here before.

I glanced at Laurine who was busy showing me the vegetation. I looked back at the stable, wanting to visit the place. But seeing how she walked past it, without sparing a single glance, made it clear that it wouldn't happen.

So I sneaked out. The woman wouldn't even turn back to check on me, so I was sure she wouldn't notice me missing at least for some time.

"Are you lost lady?" a voice came as I entered the building. A man, probably a warrior, tall and well built, looked down at me with a smile.

"Oh no no. I was just looking around"

"Oh I see. Are you new here?"

Before I could answer his question, the head maid ran to me with a displeased look.

"My lady! How can you go be so improper and run away like that?"

I rolled my eyes at this woman, feeling annoyed.

"Miss Laurine, I am sorry, but it was a boring tour. I love horses, so I wanted to see around"

"What! Horse riding is for..."

"Men? That's a little sexist" I said as she glared at me.

"Miss, please don't fight. If it's alright, I can show her around."

"General Vitai! There is no need to alter your busy schedule for that."

I looked at the man recognising his name. He is one of the greatest and strongest warriors in the kingdom. A true and royal knight of the king.

"Oh, there is no need to worry. I had already finished my work and was just going to the ground to train since I had nothing to do."

After a little more pressure, she finally agreed to this. "Then I will wait by the vegetation" she said before turning and walking away.

"Thank you. It was so hard to lose her" I said to Vital the moment she left.

"She is a bit over handy indeed, but she has been here for years and is one of the most respectable. By the way, may I know who you are? If the head maid is escorting you directly, then you must be someone important and I don't want to cause any disrespect."

The man in front of me smiled and scratched the back of his neck as if he was embarrassed.

"Oh sorry about that. My name is Zephry. I am the king's mate."

I think I am starting to enjoy the shocked looks of these people when I say I am his mate. The man stared at me as if I was joking, but when he saw how serious I was, he bowed his head in respect.

"My la-lady! I did not know! Please forgive my haste behaviour"

"Don't worry. It's fine. I just want a small tour and see the horses"

The general smiled and nodded before taking me on a tour.

"And this is Maximus" he said, pointing at the last horse. This one was pure black and looked prouder than the others in the stable.

"Maximus" I said as I stared at it.

Andrew's horse. Of course, I recognise it by the name. I name it Maximus.

A smile made way to my face as I tried getting closer to it.

"My lady, don't. It's not friendly to strangers" the warrior said, but I ignored him. I put my hand out in front of it before scratching its ear. It only lowers its head, allowing me to pamper it.

I couldn’t help but smile. I had seen Maximus only a few times when I was really young. Andrew would often take me on rides.

Since it was too small, it couldn’t carry two people, so Andrew would let me ride it while he walked.

"Hey Maximus, long time" I whispered happily.

"Wow, miracles do happen" Vitai laughed as I looked at him with a smile.

"Guess it could feel the mate bond" I lied with a chuckle.

Later in the evening, I once again went to the stable. I had come here a few times when I was young, but it was not to visit the stables. Instead, there was a place under a huge tree that was special.

It was the place where both of us would meet. Since it was a bit up the hill no one would go there, so it was the perfect hide out spot for us.

The paths were clear in my mind, so it wasn't hard to reach the destinations. But what I didn't expect was to see the king there.

He was lying on the grass, under the shade of the huge tree. His face looked peaceful and his breath was slow.

He looked so handsome sleeping.

I thought of going back, since seeing him here would cause unnecessary questions, but I couldn’t. I silently walked to him before sitting down.

A hair was stuck in his face and I couldn’t help but clear it out of his face. He groaned, making me freeze. He turned his head to the other side before continuing to sleep.

I sighed and shook my head before getting ready to go. I should go before I make a move. I will regret it. I felt the urge to touch him more.

But before I could get up, a hand grabbed onto my hand as he suddenly sat up.

"Zaph, you came" he said, making me freeze.

"W-what?" I asked as I felt my soul escape my body.

What did he just call me? Did he remember me?

He suddenly frowned, letting go of my hand. He rubbed his forehead with a groan before looking at me confused.

"What did I just say?"

"Nothing, your majesty. You didn't say anything."

For a moment, I thought he had finally recognised me. The wave of happiness I felt suddenly shattered into a million pieces.

I forced a smile at him as if I was trying to prove myself that I was fine. But in reality, I am feeling nothing less than a terrible heartbreak.