Chapter 4

“Frederick, I cannot endure much more.” Marni slapped her hands against the mattress. “I shall never sleep.”

He sat up in bed and placed a hand on his wife’s bulging stomach. “Something you and our child need.” He threw back the covers and stood, then fumbled with a lantern until he managed to light it. “I shall return shortly.”

His head ached from the constant yapping of the damnable dog. The mangy thing had decided to settle itself beneath their window.

It added to the misery he already wrestled. Ever since his cousin had claimed a Crenian bride, Frederick had not been able to squelch his anger. How his aunt and uncle had agreed to the union was beyond his comprehension. They had certainly lost all sense.

He wanted nothing more than to wring someone’s neck, simply to make himself feel better.

He settled for the dog.

Marni smiled upon seeing him return to their bedchamber. “The creature is silent. I do not know what you did, but I am forever grateful.”

“Your happiness is my utmost concern.” After settling the still-illumined lantern on the table beside the bed, he lifted the lightweight covering and lay on the mattress beside her.

His youthful bride pleased him in many ways, though her large belly prevented some of their activities as of late. Even so, he would eventually be able to take her in any manner he pleased.

He lay back and sank into the pillows, yet his head continued to pound. Even rubbing his temples brought no relief.

Marni brushed her hand over his cheek. “Why did you not extinguish the light?”

“Because sleep will not come, and I want to see you. Your beauty lessens my agony.”

“My poor dear.” She shifted her gentle touch to his forehead, then kissed him. “You are troubled about Sebastian, are you not?”

“His union to the Crenian should forfeit his right to the high throne—or any throne for that matter.” He grunted, disgusted by the mere thought of it. “Only because of birthright does Uncle Roland sit as king of Basilia. My father had far more intelligence, but a second-born son has no claim.”

Marni glided her hand back and forth across his chest. “I know the loss of your father still pains you.”

“It troubles me more, knowing I would now be king, had he held the throne.” He glanced down, admiring her enlarged bubbies. Impregnating her had benefited him in more than one way.

“You have many good reasons to despise Sebastian. He shall taint the high throne. I imagine he has taken the Crenian’s maidenhead by now.” She dotted kisses across his bare skin. It had not taken his bride long to learn how to please him. “When the kings from the other realms meet her, surely they will see her unworthiness and protest the union.” She rose up and brushed her lips along his. “I will gladly speak to my father and encourage him to fight this unfairness. The Crenian woman is an abomination. You, my love, should be king.”

“You believe your kingdom will support my claim?”

She nuzzled his neck. “Father always wanted either Pasha or myself to be high queen. Since you chose me, Father hoped Sebastian would seek to claim Pasha. It happened not.”

“So . . .” He took his rightful liberty and allowed himself to freely explore her body. “You wish to sit beside me as high queen?”

She sat up, smiling in a manner that bordered on wickedness, then straddled him. “Nothing would please me more. That is, until our child comes.” She took hold of his hand and placed it on her belly. “I know you want it to be a boy.”

He carefully felt the bulge, then went higher and took pleasure in tantalizing her nipples into hard buds. “I cannot comprehend how such a womanly form could produce something masculine within. But yes, I do desire a son.”

“With red hair like yours? And eyes as green as the meadows?”

“Color is not important, unless I find he has no features proving he is mine.”

She pursed her lips. “Shame on you, Frederick. No other man has had me.”

“And none ever will.” He jerked his head. “What are you waiting for? Can you not see I am ready?”

She giggled. “I thought your head ached.”

“It does. Now ride me and take away my pain.”

The light from the lantern allowed him the view he craved. He focused not on the bulge of her stomach, but on all that lay above it. When her auburn hair flopped forward and covered her bosom, he pushed it back. Though only four years younger than he, his nineteen-year-old bride had an innocent youthfulness that fueled his passion.

He would never reveal that he often envisioned his cousin, Allana, while coupling with Marni. His thoughts were his alone, not to be invaded by anyone. Nearly his entire life, he had been surrounded by his golden-haired cousins. All of them were beauties, ready to be plucked. If only he could have done the plucking.

He settled on Marni.

Morning had almost passed, when Frederick made his way through the pathetic castle that had been bestowed on his father. It paled in comparison to that of the high king. Merely two floors tall, it looked more like the home of a commoner than that of royalty. Worse yet, it faced his uncle’s inhabitance. Every day, Frederick beheld what should rightfully be his.

He strode into the kitchen and poked about, trying to find something edible.

“I see you have finally woken, sire.” The plump cook stood smirking in the doorway, while blocking the pantry as if guarding it for her own benefit. “Shall I cook an egg or two?”

“Have we no meat?”

“I can send the larderer to your uncle’s for pork if you wish.” She smirked and cocked her head. “Unless you fancy dogmeat. One of my boys discovered a dead mutt on the doorsill this morning. Its neck was broken, though I doubt it perished on that very spot. I find it odd to have been placed there.”

He glared at her. “I do not find humor in your jest, Ercilia. If your boy had sense, I pray he disposed of it.”

“Forgive me, sire.” She snapped her lips shut, then huffed and rested her hands on her stomach. “Shall I send the larderer?”

“No. If we have no pork here, I shall not take it from my uncle.”

“He cares not. He has told Matias more than once that he is welcome to help himself to whatever we need. You are aware of this, so why do you not partake of his offer?”

He moved within inches of her. “You speak much too freely, so I shall remind you of your meager status. You do not make suggestions, you are to follow my commands. I care not that you have been in my service since I was a boy. Your time here has made you too comfortable.” He poked a finger into her fat belly. “Your gluttony disgusts me. Have you been stealing from my pantry?”

She swallowed hard, no longer smug. “I steal nothing. I eat only bits of what I prepare for you and your wife. I detest thievery and would not partake in such.”

He took hold of her plump hand. “There are stories of old, where thievery was punished by removal of the body part guilty of the offense. Without hands, one cannot steal.”

She trembled in his grasp, and he reveled in the sensation.

“Nor could I cook,” she whispered. “I swear to you, Highness, I am innocent.” Her head dropped, accentuating her double chin. “Please, punish me not.”

He did not release her and took his time contemplating what to do next. A brilliant idea struck him.

She would never cross him again.

He yanked her along with him to the chopping block and grabbed hold of the most threatening knife in their vast collection.

He pushed her hand flat against the wood. “Will you remain loyal and do all I ask without question?”

“Y-Yes, sire.” Sweat beaded on her brow.

“Good. Do not remove your hand from the block, and with your other, take this knife.”

“But—”

“Do you intend to break your vow so soon?”

“N-No.”

He put the knife in her right hand. Her left quivered on the chopping block.

“A single hand can perform most any necessary task.” He breathed the words into her ear. “Perhaps I would be just in having you remove the other.”

“Please . . . no.”

Seeing that the knife she held trembled in its own right, he helped her hold it. “It is quite sharp. I have seen you with the stone, honing the knives so they will easily cut through bone. Did you ever believe they would one day cut through your own?”

Her abundant bubbies heaved. “But I have done nothing wrong.”

He tightened his grasp. “Nothing? You speak openly, as if you and I are of the same status, you are disgustingly fat, and you threaten to feed me meat from a dog of whose origin you know not. I see much wrongdoing.”

“There is nothing shameful in eating dog meat. Many find it pleasing.”

“It is food for commoners!” He forcefully slammed her raised hand downward. The knife plunged into the wood, missing her other hand by the width of a hair. “Because my father cared for you, I shall show you mercy. Cross me not again.”

Her body folded into itself. “Thank you, sire.” She bowed her head and stared at the floor.

Satisfied, he smiled and patted her on the back. “I shall have three eggs and bread with honey. Take some to my wife as well, but before you enter her chamber, make certain she is awake.” He chuckled. “She could not keep herself off me last night, and I fear she is exceptionally weary.”

He sat in a chair in the corner of the kitchen and propped his feet on a stool. It pleased him to watch Ercilia fumble around the kitchen. Truthfully, he felt a great deal better than he had upon entering the room.

A king needed to have the ability to put his subjects in their proper place. He had proven to himself time and again that he could capably rule.

Once he had satisfied his appetite, he would take his bride on a journey to Oros. King Callum would surely be pleased to see them. And after Marni’s passionate outbursts in regard to Sebastian and his Crenian whore, Frederick intended to sit back and allow his wife the opportunity to relate her concerns to her father.

Frederick would dote on her in his presence and display his fineness as a future father and king. With the help of Oros, they would overturn Sebastian’s claim.

That thought alone pleased him more than Marni had. Nothing and no one could ruin this day.

He caught Ercilia’s eye and smirked, and she quickly turned her head.

The woman understood her position of lesser degree, and soon, everyone in the kingdoms would as well. God help them if they challenged him.