His Betrothed: An Arranged Queen

Chapter Three

King Michael’s Point of View.

Power. Authority. Respect. Loyalty. These are the things that I love more than anything. I love to be respected and I always demand respect from people.

“Your Majesty?” Lukas said as soon as he got to my room. I was putting on my armory ready to travel to the east Land because we had heard that there was some rebellion happening there.

“Oh, Lukas! Glad you are here; did you prepare for Alarenna? Have you chosen the men we will riding with?” I questioned him and he bowed his head.

“Yes, your majesty! Though there’s something that I question to bring to your attention” he said as I turned to him so that I can hear what he wanted to say.

“There’s a few uneasy feelings in the villages” He advised as I looked at him wondering what he was talking about because this was not like him not to say anything.

‘And what do you think is causing all this?” I questioned d him and he sighed heavily looking at me.

“Forgive your Majesty but people are worried about your lineage,” he said, and I chuckled softly looking at him.

“My lineage?” I questioned pausing mid-way as I sighed heavily turning to him

“Is this the lords again?” I asked him and he bowed his head as I let out a frustrated sigh. What the hell was this?

I could not believe that this was what he was talking about.

“They still insist that you take a queen to sit by your side,” he said to me as I looked out my window staring at the village, I have given my people everything that they desire but still they insisted that I have a queen whom to rule with.

“I just can’t take anyone as a queen. I already explained this and made it clear that Evelyn I cannot marry. What more do these people want? They have peace, they can easily trade and can get whatever they went without us collecting any tax” I said to him, and he just lowered his head.

“Who do they have in mind?” I questioned him knowing that he was the one who was insisting that I marry someone to leave an heir.

“They have been talking about your betrothment to Princess Eleanor, they think it’s for the best if while we travel to Alarenna, we also bring her with you to bore you a child,” he said to me as I sighed heavily.

“Princess Eleanor?” I questioned and he bowed his head.

“What if she is married? What about her life? Do you think any woman would be okay with a man that just shows up to her doorstep and announce that she is betrothed to me?” I questioned him and he just lowered his head without responding.

“She has no one in her life. Your betrothment to her you have known since her birth that she will be your queen” He explained to me as I sighed heavily moving again from the window to look at him.

“How do you know she has no one?” I questioned him and he looked at me, I could tell that there was something he was not telling me.

“Well, I have been in touch with King John. And when responding to the invitation I had requested to know if the princess is still unmarried” He explained to me as I chuckled softly looking away.

“I see” I sarcastically said before moving away.

“We will go to the eastern lands and check what is happening,” I said to him ignoring the fact that he had just told me that he had sent a letter without my consent.

I walked out of my room walking along the passage as people bowed to me. I walked to the front and got on my horse.

“We will ride there and be back just before dawn,” I explained to the knights who were riding with me. I always preferred that we travel just a few of us

We rod to the city as fast as we could without stopping. We arrived at Lord Vincent’s manor, and I got off the horse looking around my surroundings. It seemed like he had improvements and renovations t to the manor and carriage since a few months I was here.

“Your majesty! I was not aware that you were coming. Welcome!” He anxiously said welcoming me as looked around his surroundings.

“Have you been well? Is everything fine with you??” I questioned him and he bowed his head.

“Yes, your Majesty. I just was caught off by surprise that you were here, had I known I would have prepared something to welcome you with” he said to me as I walked in his manor looking around the house.

Vincent was my third cousin and I knew he was greedy, but I had to let him represent the people from this part of the country.

“Why do you think there’s so much Uproar in the villages?” I questioned him while walking around his living room. I knew he had something to do with this, so I was only giving him a chance to tell me the truth.

“Your Majesty, All I know is that people are protesting the new law that has been passed that people of high rankings should not be getting any more slaves” he explained to me as I nodded my head.

“Then tell me why you have gold pieces in that chest?” I questioned him and he swallowed hard.

“I… I can explain…” He stuttered sweating as I chuckled softly nodding my head.

“Search the entire house. Get rid of anyone who will try to stand in your way and bring me the chest” I commanded Lukas and his other three men as they bowed their heads walking towards the most valuable vases that Vincent had in his house,

“Please don’t touch that! It is...” he tried to stop Arthur from letting go of the chest as he dropped it to the ground. I looked at him as I started checking the documents in his house.

“Have mercy on me.!” He cried bowing down before me as I turned to him while he cried on the ground.

“What did you do?” I question him and he swallowed had failing to explain himself.

“I might have taken a few gold pieces from people,” he said to me as I sighed heavily. I could not believe that he would do this knowing it was a punishable crime.

“How foolish can you be? Taking things like this from people is not being a leader. You are just another one of those robbers that rob from them” I said to him, and he cried for mercy knowing that I could easily get rid of him.

“Have mercy on me!” he cried as I looked at Lukas who was bringing down the chests from upstairs.

“Here’s what I want you to do>,” I said to him, and he nodded his head.

“I want you to go back to those people and give them back everything you took from them,” I said to him, and he quickly nodded his head. I looked at him looking like an i***t.

“Make sure that he gives back to the people, also tell them that if they need other things, they should come to him,” I said to Lukas who bowed his head.

“Are you leaving already?” Lukas questioned me as I nodded my head.

“I have to go somewhere while I am here,” I said to him, and he moved away. I got on my horse and rode out to the one place I just wanted to be.

I arrived in the woods and brought my horse to a stop before I got off. I calmed him down before walking into the woods to see her. “I will be back for you boy” I whispered to my house before walking into the green woods

I stood at a distance as I watched her chase after her son. Victoria - my love. I truth inwardly as she chased after her boy. I was able to turn to leave when I hear her saying something behind me.

“Leaving already?” she shouted after me as I lowered my head.

“Victoria>,” I said, and she smiled vividly walking to where I was standing. “Your, majesty I didn’t realize that you would be coming over” Tim her husband said as soon as he came out of the house.

“Yes, we came to see what was causing the uproars so I thought I should come through and see how you are” I explained as I walked towards them.

“Please come in! Victoria just made some bread, and it would be nice if you can have something” He explained to me as I shook my head/.

Victoria was Lukas’s younger sister and someone I have loved ever since we were young. Tim was a knight but after winning the eastern lands he only asked for Victoria’s hand in marriage.

I had never confessed my feelings to her, but I always assumed that she knew. But when she agreed to get married to him, I found out that they had been seeing each other for a long time.

“No, I am well. I came to ask for a favor from you” I said to Tim who nodded his head leading the way inside his house. I got in and there was the strong smell of coffee and lavender.

“She just made this. Have some” he said to me handing me the cup of coffee as I shook my head.

“I am fine. I won’t take much of your time because I have to get back to the manor” I said to him, and he nodded his head taking the cup away.

“How can I be of help your majesty?” he said to me as sat back.

“I ride for Alarenna tomorrow,” I said to him, and he sat back looking at me with happiness.

“Are you taking your bride back with you?” he questioned me as I nodded my head.

“I need people that I can trust to ride with me. I have many enemies and they might attempt something knowing that I might have a woman traveling back with me” I explained to him, and he nodded his head.

“I will prepare and get ready to leave,” he said to me as I shook my head.

“I want you to leave a day after we leave. I want you to be discreet about it” I said to him.

“Of course, your majesty. I will gladly do that” he said to me as I smiled at myself. I was glad I was able to count on him.

“I will take my leave now,” I said to him as he stood up bowing his head to me. I sighed heavily walking away so that I can be back on time.

I walked back to the woods without saying goodbye to Victoria because every time I saw her, I was always reminded of what I would have had with her.

I got on my horse and rode back to the Palace. I needed to get ready for our journey tomorrow. I had no problem with riding back home because I knew in case of any trouble, I would be able to fight.