Chapter 4 The dawn of trouble

Chapter 3 - The dawn of Trouble

The night deepened, and the weight of Annalise's revelation bore down on us. She clung to my legs, her pleas relentless, her tears flowing like rivulets of desperation, and her grip a stark reminder of the gravity of her words.

"I'm very sorry, my lady. I should have come sooner. I should have come before your marriage," her voice trembled with regret, as if the weight of her actions pressed heavily upon her conscience.Eria, my steadfast confidant, stood nearby, her expression a conflicted blend of skepticism and concern.

"Perhaps, my lady, we should consider what Annalise is saying," she suggested cautiously.But I remained resolute in my doubts, unwilling to fully embrace this fantastical tale.

"You can't simply emerge from the shadows, asking me to divorce my husband over a story I can hardly believe," I retorted, my voice tinged with exasperation.Annalise, however, refused to relent. She spoke with fervor, her eyes locked onto mine, her determination unyielding.

"I swear on my life that I speak the truth, my lady."My patience dwindled, and I dismissed her pleas with a wave of my hand.

"Leave me be. This meeting never occurred. I wish you a safe journey to Nayak.

."But Annalise clung to my legs, her cries echoing in the dimly lit room.

"My lady, please! Natalí herself has warned me in my dreams. No woman has been able to bless her temple because you are our true queen."Despite my skepticism, I reluctantly extended a trembling hand towards a gemstone she presented-a vivid blue that shimmered like an ethereal sapphire. A pitiful attempt, I thought, to validate her outlandish claims.

But then, the gemstone stirred.

At first, it was subtle, a faint glimmer of life within the stone. I blinked in disbelief as the luminous light grew stronger, and the blue hue transformed into a radiant teal.

Eria and I exchanged bewildered glances, our skepticism momentarily shattered. Annalise's voice quivered with triumph.

"You still don't believe me?"Once more, I touched the gemstone, and it obediently returned to its original color, as if it were under my command.Annalise knelt before me, her reverence palpable.

"Our Goddess has found the true queen. Long live your majesty."The absurdity of it all was overwhelming. How could I, a married woman of Ruqgu, be the true queen of Nayak? The laws of my homeland did not permit women to seek divorce, and the prospect of marrying a king I had never met was absurd.

"You do realize I am a married woman in Ruqgu, right? And how can I be expected to marry a king who knows nothing of me?" I protested, my voice tinged with incredulity.Annalise, undeterred by my objections, remained steadfast.

"You will need to find a way to leave your husband's house."

"But how? And why did you not come before my marriage? Why have you chosen to reveal this ten years later?" I demanded, my frustration boiling over.She offered a sincere apology, but it did little to soothe my turmoil.

"It's too late now. Go back to your kingdom. You will never have a true queen, and I will never have children," I concluded, slipping the Teardrop of Natalí into my pocket.The journey back to the Gattar Manor was one of silent reflection. The weight of Annalise's revelation bore down on me, and I mourned the loss of the life I had known.

As I approached the looming manor that had become my prison, the dawn of new trouble awaited, casting its ominous shadow over my uncertain future.I sighed heavily as the Gattar Manor loomed before me, its imposing presence a stark reminder of the cage that had entrapped me for years. This revelation had unleashed a whirlwind of confusion, and I couldn't shake the feeling that destiny was unraveling before me.

Eria, ever the silent sentinel, walked beside me, her expression mirroring my own inner turmoil. She had been my confidant through every hardship, and now, as we faced this bewildering twist of fate, her presence provided a semblance of comfort.The ornate doors of the manor swung open, revealing the opulent interior that had once been my sanctuary, now tainted by the truth that had shaken the very foundations of my existence.

Annalise's words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't escape the weight of her revelation. The gemstone, its inexplicable transformation, and the insistence of a destiny I couldn't fathom-these elements merged into a riddle I was determined to solve.

As I stepped into the manor's grand foyer, the imposing portraits of my ancestors stared down at me. They had ruled Ruqgu with grace and strength, their legacy a testament to the Rusé family's enduring power. But what did their history mean in the face of this newfound revelation?

Eria closed the door behind her, her gaze filled with concern. "My lady, what do you intend to do?"

I sighed, as we tip toed down the halls in order not to alert the entire Manor hoping to get to my Chambers as quiet as possible. Even with my heavy heart. I knew better than to be too emotional. If Patrick doesn't get tired and too angry and divorce or chase me away shamefully. I can never taste freedom unless I run away or fake my own death. But what if he hunts me down? what if this situation lead to war between the two lands?

"I don't know, Eria. But I can't ignore this revelation. If I am the true queen of Nayak, there must be a way to untangle this web of fate." Beads of sweats made their way onto my forehead as I try to think about possible way out but how?

Eria nodded, her unwavering support a source of strength. "We will find a way, my lady. We always do."As I cradled the Teardrop of Natalí, its radiant teal hue a symbol of the mysterious path ahead, I knew one thing for certain-my life would never be the same again.

And yes my life would never be the same because immediately Eria opened the door of my chamber, I knew something was wrong and the thoughts sent chills down my bones.