20demayo Chapter 109 Forgotten son(2)
Chapter 109 Forgotten son(2)
Chapter 109 Forgotten son(2)
"What do you mean, he disappeared?" Empress Valeria's voice was laced with irritation as she sat at the head of the council table, her piercing eyes focused on Lord Vrator, her nephew .Normally, the fate of the little bastard wouldn't have concerned her. He was nothing more than a stain, a reminder of a long-buried indiscretion. But the audacity—the insult—of someone daring to make a mockery of her authority within her own city made her blood boil.
Lord Vrator, her nephew, bowed his head slightly, visibly uncomfortable under the Empress's withering gaze. "Your Grace," he began cautiously, "the guard was found unconscious near the entrance to the dungeons. It appears the infiltrators placed an open bottle of wine beside him after bringing him out of the cell. Those who passed assumed he had simply... drunk himself to sleep.So for some time the matter was left unreported as the discipline within the dungeon keeper is lax at best, only when the guards woke up on his own, we understood what had happened"
Valeria's lips curled into a scowl, her fair face tightening with rage. "Are the guards in this palace for show? How is it that no one saw two men and a boy leaving the grounds?" Her voice rose sharply, each word biting, her frustration unmasked.
Vrator swallowed hard. "The guards reported no one passing through the main gate, Your Grace, which is the only way out. We suspect there may be a secret passage—one previously unknown, perhaps one used during the castle's construction. We are investigating now." He kept his eyes on the floor, afraid to meet her fiery gaze.
"Incompetence," Valeria spat, slamming her hand down on the table with a sharp crack that echoed in the chamber. "Monkeys would do a better job than this." Her voice dripped with venom. "Do you have any idea what this means? They didn't just take some random prisoner;they have no use for that bastard they took him only to spite me and humiliate me, to let me know I am powerless . And they did it under my nose!" Her fist clenched. "If this can happen, what's to stop them from kidnapping someone who actually matters? When my father returns, he will hear of this, and he will think us fools."
Vrator hesitated, mouth opening slightly as if to defend himself or offer a solution. But Valeria's sharp, icy gaze cut him off before he could utter a word.
''Organize search parties on every inch of land under my son's rule, I want the bastard's head at my feet as soon as possible''she gave a look to her nephew
"Leave," she commanded, her voice low and seething. "I am tired of staring at failure." The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the soft rustle of Lord Vrator's cloak as he quickly bowed and retreated from her sight, leaving Valeria to seethe alone in her fury.
Marcellus nodded and accepted the wine, lowering himself into the chair beside her. The empress studied him for a moment, taking in the sharp lines of his face, the way his jaw tightened as he took a sip from the cup he filled.
Setting his goblet down, he leaned forward slightly, his voice low and filled with concern.
"Is everything all right, Your Grace?" he asked softly, his gaze searching hers. "You seem... burdened."
Valeria exhaled slowly, allowing herself a rare moment of vulnerability. She swirled the wine in her cup, her eyes following the movement of the liquid. "I'm just... tired," she said, her voice quieter than usual. Marcellus nodded, understanding etched in his features. "I understand the strain of leadership, though mine is nothing compared to yours. But my dear Empress," he said, reaching across the small distance between them and gently taking her hand in his. His touch was firm yet comforting, his fingers rough from years of wielding a sword. "I am here to serve your every need. Whatever you ask, I will do. You need only give the word."
He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss against her knuckles. His gaze remained locked on hers, the gesture both respectful and intimate. She smiled, allowing herself to indulge in the moment. It had been a long time since someone had shown her this kind of attention, this kind of devotion. "Marcellus," she said softly, her voice a whisper now. "You always know how to ease my troubles. I've been surrounded by sycophants and schemers for so long, it's refreshing to have someone I can trust."
Marcellus's eyes darkened slightly, a hint of something more than mere loyalty in his gaze. "I am yours to command, Empress," he repeated, his voice lower, more intimate.
Valeria tilted her head slightly, studying him. There was a moment, a spark of something more—unspoken, but present in the air between them. She leaned closer, her lips curving into a knowing smile.
"Perhaps there is something more I require from you," she said, her words hanging between them like a whispered promise.
Marcellus's breath hitched slightly, but he remained composed. He stood slowly, offering her his hand once more, his gaze never leaving hers. Valeria took it, rising to her feet with grace
Without a word, she led him towards her private chambers. Marcellus followed her, like a puppy mixed with something more primal, something that neither of them could deny.
As the door to her chambers closed behind them, Valeria smiled, allowing herself—just for a moment—to forget the weight of her crown, as she allowed the man to take the queen.