This is Part Four of the Royal Pains Series. I recommend reading from the beginning, so here is a link to Part One: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/royal-pains-part-short-stories-odyessey.

That wretched woman will pay. I knew having that boy come would ruin my plans, but of course, the king wouldn't listen to me, too fascinated and ignorant of the truth was he to notice the clues. The boy was the mirror image of the king when we married, how could he not notice? Most importantly, how could I keep the rest of the kingdom from noticing? My child will be the next king or queen, and I will have a child, whether I have to deceive everyone or not. This kingdom will be mine. I am Queen Yana of Adrilen, and I will rule this country. The only thing standing in my way is that boy.

“My Queen, your tea.”

“Yes, yes, it took you long enough. The king should have accepted my offer to supply my own servants. At least they know how to be timely. Set it over there, on the side table.” Why these impertinent children were tasked with serving me, the queen, the second most important figure of royalty in the most powerful country on this continent is beyond me. Why they couldn't even bring my tea in a timely manner!

“Is there anything else I can get for you, your highness?”

“No, nothing. You are dismissed.”

“Good day, your highness.”

Now, I must think of ways to keep that bastard from becoming the heir. If needed, I will be forced to get rid of him in most unpleasant manners. Perhaps the king will come to his senses and see that any child we have would be far better suited for the crown. I doubt that boy has even been properly educated.

Hearing the door to my chambers open, I bent to grab my tea and dutifully ignored the intruder.

“Yana, I know you are upset about the recent revelations, but you cannot cause the poor servants such misery, and you certainly cannot cause such uproars as you did last night.” The king paused before continuing, “That boy, Maddox, is my son, and since we have not been blessed henceforth with children, he is the rightful, indisputable heir. You must accept this, preferably with grace and dignity, though I know how elusive those attributes are for you.”

The audacity! How dare he scold me so?!

“My King, how can you not see that that woman simply wants her son on the throne? He is uneducated, common, and a knight for heaven’s sake! He is not fit for the throne! Any children we have would grow surrounded by all the necessities to become a king or queen, all of which he has been bereft of.” In an instance of intense anger, I yelled, “He probably isn’t even your son! You can’t take the word of a former kitchen maid! Even though you are willing to admit your dishonorable affair with the woman, she could have easily betrayed your trust deliberately. He could be the stable master’s son for all we know.” Upon glancing up from my tea, of which I had not taken a sip, I could see that Torin was quite angry, something he rarely was. I became afraid, not of him hurting me for he was too much of a coward for that, but of how easily he could ruin all my well laid out plans.

“Lady Yana,” he started, in a voice quiet and solid enough to frighten even the most war-hardened knights, “you will not speak to me with such viciousness, nor will you speak of Lady Osmond in such an unfavorable manner. I may not enjoy your company, but I do understand that you are a clever, though often deceitful woman. You are certainly intelligent enough to recognize that boy as mine. You know as well as I do that we will never have children as I would much rather a snake reproduce than you,” he spat. Continuing he said, “As to his lack of education, he has experienced the world far more than either of us have, and anything else he must learn can be easily taught, which I intend to speak to him about this very afternoon.”

I could see his chest move while he took a large breath. He looked straight at me, staring daggers, while he concluded his order, “Lady Yana, do not forget how easily all the luxuries you have grown accustomed to could be taken away, and I know a woman far better suited for the title than you are. The only reason I agreed to marry you was my late father’s wishes. You have no power over the palace, over the kingdom, and certainly not over me. I could easily annul this unconsummated union with a simple signature, do not forget.” He glanced away for a second, allowing me to look back down to my, now cold, tea and assume a submissive posture. “Am I understood? Will you behave yourself around our guests and treat them with the respect they deserve?”

Though I could barely contain my anger at being treated as a child, I responded, “Yes, my lord, I understand.”

“You understand what will happen if you do not contain yourself,” to support his tone of doubt, his face was set in an angry snarl.

I looked away from my tea to glance to left of his face, “Yes, my king, I understand completely.” Oh, how I understood; I would be forced to play dirty it seemed. I loved getting my hands dirty.

The king simply nodded and turned to walk out of my chambers, leaving me in peace once more. I would need the peace and quiet to think, as the king could not learn of my plans. First, however, I needed hot tea and a mid-day platter.