Chapter 8 Bare Minimum

If Gideon is really serious about treating me well, sending his concubines away is the bare minimum. I know that now, but if I were the same Serra as before, this piece of news would have made me feel especial. But now, it did nothing to quell my need for revenge.

"Children, huh..." I whisper. "We don't have one..."

"We can have one, if you like." He kneels before me and takes my hands in his again. "When I lost you, I needed to sire heirs, but now that you're back, we can try again."

It was not so long ago that I was desperate for a child, but now, every thought of it fills me with hatred, remembering how the child in my belly died due to all the stress and pain of being his wife.

"I can't... right now," I answer in a small voice. "I don't want my child to get embroiled in an inheritance war, especially with all your other concubines..."

He squeezes my hand. "They won't be!"

'They?' Don't tell me he plans to have more than one child with me?! The thought alone repulses me!

"Only your child and mine will be able to inherit the throne." He takes a deep breath and adds, "You are my only Luna, Serra. And soon, you will be my only Queen."

He presses his forehead on the back of my hand, and so my eyes harden as I look down at his crouching form between my knees.

"And what of your other children?" I ask, stopping myself to add if he will abandon them, now that he has no use for them - just as he did to me.

"They won't be forgotten," he says, inching closer to bury his face in my stomach. "But for our future children, whatever it takes, I will make sure that our child shall be yours and mine alone. They won't be used or manipulated by anyone, but they will still inherit my throne."

The sincerity in his words surprises me, but then again, this is the same man I once loved deeply. The man who once shattered my heart so completely that I am reduced to the person I am today.

And so, I push at his shoulders. I am becoming uncomfortable in the way he holds me close to him.

"Okay," I whisper. "Let's start anew, Gideon."

"Yes, Serra. A new beginning," he murmurs, lingering for a moment before he lifts himself up. His eyes find mine, his gaze burning with an intensity that I want him to hold as long as possible - all for the success of my plans.

*************

I stand in front of the door of the grand dining hall, dressed in an elegant blue gown that Gideon had prepared for me. I touch the skirt of the gown. Before, Gideon never chooses my dresses for public functions. He only ensured that my dresser was full of dresses that I could choose from.

And it's not because he was giving me freedom... It was because he doesn't care enough if his poor wife embarrasses herself in social events. In fact, it will be advantageous to him. Putting me in a bad light is beneficial for his search for a new wife - someone who is voluptuous, flawless and beautiful.

The only one who cares enough is his mother, who teaches me all there is to know on how to face the Dunkerson nobles.

I take a deep breath, and now, I am invited for lunch with him and his mother, the current Queen Marinella Dunkerson, who is holding the position until her son finds a new Queen. And so, as I take a deep breath, I wonder what the Queen is thinking about my sudden return.

Gideon takes my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze, reminding me that I am beside him. I look up at him and smile. He smiles back and I almost frown at the way his happiness radiates from his entire being. It annoys me, and so I look away and focus my eyes on the door of the dining hall.

"This lunch is too formal," I comment.

Before, I can have lunch with Marinella even in our private rooms. It was all informal, too comfortable, and something that made me believe that she cared about me, too. Seems like that was never the case. She only cared for one thing - her precious son.

"You've been gone for a while," he defends. "And this will be the only time we will be formal about this. The next ones won't be like this."

Only time.

That's what it is. He had never enjoyed joining me and Marinella for our meals before.

The door opens and we walk inside. There is only one table in the room, but it is filled with an array of delicious dishes. Despite myself, the aroma makes my stomach grumble with hunger. Back in Liddicoat, I was never able to enjoy eating because I never grew used to their food. But then, what should I expect? Vampires don't share the same taste buds as Lycans or human mages.

As Gideon and I approach Queen Marinella, she greets me with a, "Welcome back, Serra." It is coupled with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes.

I smile back, hoping that my smile is more authentic than hers is. Now, I am certain that she is doubting the true intention of my return.

"It's good to see you again, Your Majesty," I reply politely as Gideon pulls out my chair for me - another unfamiliar gesture from him. He never once did it for me.

As we start our meal, Queen Marinella strikes up a conversation with me. She asks us about my trip from Liddicoat and how I am settling back into the Dunkerson palace. I answer her questions honestly, trying to keep a neutral tone and not reveal too much about my relationship with Caius Liddicoat - only painting him as a charitable second prince.

But as the conversation continues, Marinella suddenly asks, "Why did you come back to Dunkerson kingdom, Serra?" Her voice is gentle yet laced with suspicion. "And how did you really survive that tragedy?"

"I missed this place," I say without hesitation, skipping her last question, and hoping she would believe the lie. I also glance at Gideon and smile shyly. "And my life is here," I add.

Queen Marinella raises an eyebrow at my response before turning her gaze towards Gideon, who pauses from eating and is smiling so brightly. I feel like I will get blinded by him soon if he doesn't stop feeling this happy. His emotions are so open that I wonder how I was never able to notice his cheating before.

I look down at my food as a terrible answer crosses my mind - I was so deeply infatuated and in love with him, that is why I was so blinded. I was so foolish to give all my love to the wrong person.

But before I can dwell on these thoughts any longer, Gideon interjects, "I am surprised at her return as well, but I am very pleased to see you again, Serra, my wife."