Queen Mother's Secret
1293 Words
Vern
“It has been absolutely terrible.”
The Dragon Realm had been ravaged by the solar storms. For the first time in my life, I felt that my mother was scared and disturbed.
“Our dear half-uncle is to be blamed for the chaos.”
“Stop being biased against him, Vern. What did he do?”
This is what I disliked about my mother the most. She always favored the uncle who would always create troubles.
“And you stop covering up for his misdemeanors, Mum,” I said as I could not hold myself back.
"Check your tone, Vern."
“You’re good to him, despite his animosity towards dad.”
“Do not bring your father in this matter. Stop speaking in riddles. If you know something, be clear.”
Sometimes I really hated the way that my mother spoke up for my half-uncle. He had always tried to create problems for dad but, for some reason, she chose to overlook it. I never cared for a person who tried to make my father's life difficult. However, I was indeed surprised to know the nature of his injuries. And, that is why I cared to inform my mother about the same.
“My dear half-uncle is lying in a hospital in the Mortal Dimension.”
“What?”
“He was badly burnt.”
“Nonsense….. How can a dragon be burnt? Unless....”
“You have the answer mum.”
“You want to say that.....”
“He has done something to anger the Solar Deity, Brighid.”
I didn’t know whether my words had the desired impact or not.
“I want to visit him in the Mortal Dimension.”
I spat the water that I was drinking.
“You....”
I reigned my words, thinking that, it was my mother, that, I was speaking to.
“I have my reasons for doing whatever, I’m doing Vern. I’m not answerable to you."
My mother rarely left someone with a choice. When, I heard her final decision I simply ordered Ri to make preparations to escort my mother to the mortal realm safely.
Ri accompanied my mother to the Mortal Dimension, while I was left to deal with the aftermaths of ‘The Solar Deity’s’ anger in our realm.
The Mortal Dimension
"I know my way through the Mortal Dimension. Ri you are not supposed to speak a word of what you hear to anyone, not even Vern."
I made use of my authority as the Queen mother, to gag Ri's free will. I had no other choice.
"Yes, mother."
"I've asked you not to call me mother. Don't you care that, someone might know?"
Flashback
"Ming, I really love you but,..."
"But what?"
"I'm already engaged to your brother."
"Tell me, if I were the one to succeed the throne..."
"I can't betray my father."
"Think of us, of our love....You're my mate...."
"I'm sorry."
"Then spend this night with me."
I could not refuse my mate. When he used his charm, along with the mate bond, I was rendered helpless. I threw caution to the winds. For once my brain did not work and, every inch of my body screamed under Ming's caresses. I was cherished such that, I knew, none would ever love me, similarly again.
When morning dawned I realized that, I had let my instincts rule.
After that, I rushed to my aunt's place. A month later my worst fears were confirmed. I was pregnant with Ming's child.
My aunt took care and hid this matter from every soul in the dragon realm.
Ri, my oldest son was born in the mortal realm. Once, I returned and married the heir to the dragon realm, Ri and my aunt followed a few years later. By then Vern was born. I made an arrangement such that, Ri grew up with Vern by his side. Ri despite the grave injustice showered his care and affection on Vern.
I as a mother ensured that Ri was not shortchanged. However, I knew that I could never acknowledge him as my son publicly. He did not know that, his father was my husband's half-brother and Vern's half-uncle, Ming.
The only positive thing was that, Vern treated Ri very well, and Ri, he always took care of his younger brother. However, in Vern's eyes, he was a faithful guard- a thought that sometimes troubled me.
Present
"Welcome, your highness."
"Ming...."
"You shouldn't have come to meet me here. Aren't you scared that, you may be caught by your husband or your precious son?"
"Ming I...."
"I wish that, we had married and had our own child."
"Things rarely happen, as per one's desires, Ming."
"You never had a spine back then...you don't have one, even today."
"Ming..."
"I hate you."
"You knew that I'd be helpless Ming..."
"Save your tears. Someday your precious son will rebel against you."
"Ming..."
"There's no point in screaming at me. Your nemesis, your son's mate will expose your lies."
"I will never let my son find his mate."
"Really,.....Best of luck trying.....she is really powerful."
"Do you know her?"
"Even if I do, I would never tell you."
"Are you sure?"
"You have nothing that can tempt me."
"Ming..."
"She's pretty and many including I desire her."
"You are my mate..."
"And you never accepted our bond. You craved for power over love."
"I have never loved anyone apart from you Ming."
"And yet you had a child with my half-brother."
"I was duty-bound to marry him. As my husband he had that, right...."
"And our bond as a mate........Were we so weak?"
"Ming, please don't let your anger rule and destroy you."
"Stop pretending..."
"Why don't you understand...."
"What?"
"Your actions....they'll bring harm to the Dragon Realm."
"So the Dragon Realm's well-being is the reason of your visit."
"Ming...."
"You should not act humbly, Your Highness. Please leave. I am just an ordinary dragon."
"I came here as I heard that, you had angered the Solar Deity."
"I'm not stupid to anger the Solar Deity.....your intelligence surprises me."
"Promise me, that, you'd stay away from anything related to the Solar Deity."
"I have no reason to make any promises......"
"Think about your health, your well-being"
"Thanks for your superficial concern.... I am a free bird. I can do whatever, I desire."
"Don't destroy yourself Ming."
"Don't worry. I plan to destroy the dragon realm and ascend the throne with the help of your beloved son's mate."
"Stop being heartless Ming....."
"You had a chance to care for my heart two hundred years ago. You lost that right the day you conceived Vern."
"Why do you always rake up the past?"
"I did not come to find you. I think that, you came to the mortal realm to meet me."
"I heard that you were burnt...."
"So."
"I have always cared for your well-being."
"You should care more for your son and your husband."
"Do you really need to be so bitter."
"You don't need to face my bitterness. You may leave."
I knew that the conversation had ended- one could call it the mate bond that, still existed between us. Ming's words had left a lot to think about. As I left and Ri escorted me back to the dragon realm, I remained in deep thought. The secret was becoming too heavy for me to bear. I wondered if Ming would ever find out that, I had given birth to his son.
Our son Ri. No one apart from the aunt and Ri himself, knew that, I had given birth to a child before my wedding.
It was my biggest secret, a secret that, I would be taking to the grave with me.
- Writer
