5. I'm a stranger

Paula's p.o.v

"My queen please think this through, you shouldn't do this," Deby said as I sat upright and glared at her coldly, she quickly knelt down in fear and lowered her eyes to the ground.

"Then want should I do?, Tell me who that woman was, the bastard had guts to dance with her instead of me" I spat as my ladies gasped loudly.

"Please refrain from bad mouthing the king, despite you being the queen and his wife you can be hanged for that" Lauren said in concern.

"That lady you saw dancing with the king is called lady Grace" Amore answered as the door opened.

When Henry walked in, my ladies quickly stood up and bowed in respect.

"leave us" he ordered.

They quickly left the room without a second glance, I lazily stood up and picked my veil from the ground and put it back covering my face.

Despite hating everything about this place, I still had to follow a few rules as the queen, and that included covering my face until the marriage was consummated.

 "First you disrespect the crown by throwing it on the floor and secondly you shame me by walking away from your own damn wedding reception," he said in a calm angry voice.

He really was trying to make me seem bad all because of his stupid ego.

" I was suppose to dance with you but I saw that woman take my place smoothly, and so I left" I answered with a smile.

He smirked then took a step closer.

"Her name is Grace, I wanted to marry her because I liked her and saw the greatness that no woman had ever shown, sadly the council wouldn't let me, they wanted someone of royal blood so they forced me to marry you, the disrespectful brat, but I'm happy very happy you now know that Grace is there to take your place gracefully, just like she will in bed," he said as I chuckled softly.

"What a relief, here I was thinking I had to sleep with you just to please the people, it's good that she will take more than my place, but just a reminder my king, I am the queen, if she dares to go beyond her boundaries I will put her back in her rightful place" I answered feeling a bit troubled.

 He looked at me speechless then turned and left.

I slowly moved to the bed and sat down, I was upset with his words and how cold he was acting towards me, I didn't want his affection but I wanted his respect and acknowledgment, deep down I knew this was just the beginning of my loveless marriage.

After a minute my ladies entered with smiles.

"He is so handsome", Lauren said.

"Stay here and don't follow me" I ordered as I stood up and left the room.

"Let's Follow her" I heard Lauren say to the others.

I ignored her words and walked slowly in the passage as they quickly followed me from afar. 

I went downstairs and outside where I saw a fountain ahead, I quickly went and sat at the edge with a smile not caring if my wedding dress would get dirty or that anyone might recognize me.

As I stared in the water all my past memories came back crushing on me, my eyes were filled with tears that I couldn't hold back, I felt so sad and very lonely.

"Should we approach her?" Debby asked from afar.

"No, leave her now, for now, let's all go back" Lauren answered sadly.

I was so grateful to have such an understanding lady around, for a few minutes I cried my heart out and felt a little better.

"Excuse me, lady, are you fine?" a strange voice asked. I stood up and turned.

"Oh it's you, my queen, pardon my manners, I thought of you as a stranger," she said with a quick bow.

"Well I am a stranger, after all, seeing how the king sleeps with everyone but can never look at me" I murmured softly.

"No my queen that's not true," she said loudly.

"It's fine, he likes lady Grace a lot after all" I answered seriously.

"That's not true, my queen you are more beautiful than her," she said as I laughed softly.

"Not in his eyes, in his eyes I'm nothing" I answered sadly feeling a slight heartache.

"That's why you were crying? my queen, you are ten times more beautiful than her and by the way, you are the queen of our land not her," she said as wiped off my tears.

"What's your name?" I asked her in a whisper.

"I'm Carol, one of the royal servants serving in the palace" She answered.

"Will you tell me a little about this place?" I asked.

"Well my queen, this here is a beautiful, peaceful palace, the king is rarely seen and he doesn't talk that much, he drinks a lot too" she answered.

"How did he meet lady Grace?" I asked curiously.

"Well at the ball last year, since that day they have always been very close" She answered.

"You mean as lovers?" I asked.

"I... I..." She stammered.

"It's okay, he told me that himself, so apart from Grace who else is his lover?" I asked.

"My queen to be honest I can't say much, I'm not sure how many ladies his highness had found favor in, all I know is that lady Grace is the most favored" she answered.

"Of course, I knew that" I whispered.

"Pardon my question my queen, but aren't you suppose to be in the king's chamber tonight?" She asked.

"No, Grace is there, he doesn't want me there" I answered sadly.

"My queen believe me when I say you are everything Grace can never be," she said then bowed.

"You remind me of my mother, she was good-hearted and kind, thank you for talking to me," I said seriously.

"I'm honored to talk to you too my queen, please don't think too much, you have a lot to prepare tomorrow so please get some rest and do eat something" she whispered.

"I will, thank you" I answered then walked back to the palace.