Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 34

Mia took a walk in the Palace garden and a guard stayed by her side because the alpha king was being extra careful. She had gotten closer to Robb in the past couple or weeks and Xavier didn't like that. This was his way of playing the part of a good husband and keeping an eye on her. She made a promise to stick with their agreement until the end and she hoped to keep it. She wasn't leaving, but the king didn't know that and if he did; he didn't believe it. Xavier's anxiety didn't go away, particularly the one towards his father. Mia saw how much it affected him when everyone was away and the charade ended. He had happy days, but those days didn't last long.

She didn't want to pity him, but watching him put so much effort into pleasing his father just to get his approval felt horrible. He didn't trust her either. He had a hard time trusting anyone because he expected the worse from everybody and believed they were all out against him. Not everyone was his father and cousin, but they were to him.

Yesterday, Mia wrote a letter she hoped to send to Edward. It's been a month since he left and she wanted to check up on him like she promised. She also wanted to know about his journey and affairs and make sure he travelled safely. He was her friend, and it was the least she could do.

When she finished, she handed it to the guards with instructions to take it to the travellers. She did this because they were faster and more reliable. With their fast pace of travelling, the letter would get to Edward within a week.

However, when Xavier showed up in her chambers last night, he had her letter in his hands, its seal unbroken. Then he asked what she'd written and even when she told him the truth about what was in the letter; he gave it back to her and said she couldn't send it. He stated how those words "take good care of yourself and get back safe." were improper for a queen to say to her brother-in-law. Mia knew this was his ploy to frustrate her and it infuriated her, yet she stayed silent and nodded.

This morning, she sent the letter off, using a raven. She had defiled the orders of her king, but she wanted to be a good friend to the only man who genuinely cared for her at the palace.

Edward had been gone for five weeks now and every day, she counted down until his return. In the meantime; she played the role of a good queen whenever she's needed.

"My queen, the king has summoned you into the throne room." the guard bearing the news bowed his head and Mia follows behind him in silence.

They stepped into the Palace and approached the throne room where the king's voice could be heard.

This wasn't the first time the alpha king had beckoned on her for counsel, but it was the first time she was being summoned into the throne room.

Mia stepped inside, led in by the guard and accompanied by her maid. Her eyes caught sight of her husband, seated on his throne in a black robe with a golden touch all over it. His beards were fuller, but he worked to keep them clean and trimmed and his black hair in a neat bun brought out his bold face. As always, he looked gorgeous, even without a smile.

And she just thought him gorgeous.

Three men stood before the throne, hoping to have their case heard, and from Mia's assertion, they appeared like nobles.

Her eyes returned to Xavier who now sat quietly on the throne with his mouth pursed and his left thumb rubbing his bearded jaw. He looked calm and reserved and deep in thought. His right fingers drummed on the arms of the throne and she noticed that, unlike yesterday, he had no ring on.

"You summoned me, my king?"

He acknowledged her at her words and his eyes lit up immediately. He held out his right hand to her, a warm smile coming to his face. She gracefully ascended the few stairs that led up to the throne where he sat and took his hand. He brought hers closer and placed a soft kiss on the back of it.

Her stomach fluttered, but she placed no mind to it or any of his acts. They both knew it was for show as perfect as it came off.

He guided her to sit on the throne designated to the queens, which she hadn't sat on before, and she took a seat.

It felt weird, but she could get used to it for sure.

"You may leave." He shooed the guard that brought her in away, and he obediently bowed and took his leave.

He was yet to release her hand from his hold and it kept getting warm while trapped in his. Way more than Mia wanted, but she knew she couldn't pull her hand away, so she let him and tried to take her mind off the simple act.

"I summoned you here to delegate on a matter, my queen." he finally explained, bringing her hand to his lips again and kissing the back of it.

She shivered at the touch of his lips again, but she didn't want to react this way. He had Zara, and she was certain that, as often as he could; he visited her. She didn't torture herself with knowing the details of his movements, but she knew everything he had done so far was so they'd have their happily ever after. That didn't include her.

Everything he had planned out, he had done for himself and his lover. She had to know her place and play her role, but that was easier said than done.

She bit her lips, and she tore her eyes away from him and focus on the men present needing some sort of verdict.

"Now tell the queen what you told me," he commanded and the older amongst the two men with grey hair stepped forward.

He bowed his head. "My queen, my name is Gerald Dele. I belong to the crimson moon pack of the middle clan."

Mia nodded and listened to Gerald report, which had to do with his daughter going missing a day to her wedding. It seemed so much like what happened to Mia's family, losing Ariel a day before her wedding. However, unlike their story, Gerald's daughter ran away because he had frowned on her choice of a mate and chose another with a suitable background for her. The wedding was set, but her daughter had disappeared and now he held her daughter's mate's family responsible.

"Why did you reject the mate she found?" Mia asked, keeping her eyes on Gerald.

"Because he won't be able to take care of her when I'm gone." the blunt man replied.

"And how would you know your choice for her is best, since you won't live with them?"

Xavier chuckled beside her and, glancing at him, she saw how intrigued he looked by her line of questioning.

"I won't, my queen, but he seems to have what it takes."

"Sometimes things aren't always as they seem." Those words had a double meaning, and they replayed in her mind as well.

Mia and the king had convinced everyone in the palace that they were the perfect couple. This past week she had heard the servants' gossip when she stumbled into the kitchen on her own to get red meat after her bedtime passed. They didn't know she was there when they talked about how fond of each other the king and queen were. She didn't let them know. This was their aim, buy the heart of the people over and make them believe they were in love.

The king had also stepped up his games and this week he had brought her flowers while she was at the maidens' court. She had a red face when the guard brought it and told her it was from the king. She did her best to hide the smile that came into her face as her cheeks burnt, but she couldn't. All the maidens present gave her the look that told them his act blew them away. Her husband had accomplished his mission and given the people things to talk about.

Yet, in all this, the truth was far.

"You're right, my queen. What do I do to fix this?"

"Pay what you owe to the mate you chose and the king would give a release of a few guards to help you search for your daughter."

Gerald nodded, and they all took their leave from the Palace leaving Mia alone with King Xavier. He still had her hand in his even after a while of their departure, running small circles over it.

Mia rose to her feet abruptly, clearing her throat and easing the tension in the room. She withdrew her hand from his hold, an action she immediately regretted.

"I should leave," she says, becoming breathless when Xavier locked eyes with her once again.

There was something about him staring into her eyes that had her weak in the knee. It was a strange power he possessed and wielded over her whenever they locked gaze. Most times, it left her breathless or speechless, and she hated it.

"You could stay. Here with me, judge with me," he suggested the offer, and it sounded tempting.

There was no one present anymore, which meant they didn't have to put up the act, but it seemed he hadn't broken character yet.

"You wouldn't want me here. You barely trust me. Besides, I'll get in your way and I'll object to everything you said, and that won't give you the image you want to present to your people."

"What image?" he asked, running his tongue over his bottom lips.

Her body lit up with sparks and she almost went into the forbidden part of her mind where she had the "stay off" sign on.

She swallowed. "That you've got a queen smitten by you who's also obedient and submissive? You need a wife and queen that would agree with every decision you make, good and bad, and that's not who I am."

"Perhaps that's not what I need, either." He rose to his feet and took a step towards her, but she immediately backed away. If he noticed her reaction, he said nothing to acknowledge it. "Perhaps what the people need is a queen that would offer her counsel without fear, one that would remain grounded with her truth. I believe that's what Robb has seen, and that's why he grew fond of you. The people would see that too and appreciate it because, at the end of the day, we still unite to make sound decisions. That's what's best for the people."

She cocked a brow at him. "What's best for the people or best for you?"

A cocky smile appeared on his face, one Mia didn't know whether to wipe off or kiss off. "I represent my people."