B E N E F A C T I O N

H O R R I D

I let out a shaky breath as I look from his lips up to his beautiful sunny eyes.

"Let us eat." The King says without breaking eye contact with me. Silverware hitting plates is the music of the air around us. I continue to feed the King without speaking. He talks to everyone at the table, but I just can't seem to take my eyes off him.

The way his lips move is enchanting. Watching him make different faces lets me in on his beautiful personality. He snaps at something Steex says, rolls his eyes at Tevilla, and growls at Marlie.

"No more." He finally says to me before lifting his hand in front of his mouth. The plate is now empty so I pile more fruits on it. When I pick up my fork, it is taken out of my hand, and held by the King.

"I can feed myself, it's fine." I say with a smile.

"What kind of man would I be if I let you do such a thing? Now open your mouth Constance." The King says, his tone holding no room for discussion. I smile and open wide. He feeds me until I'm full and then the maid come in and clear the table.

"On to more pressing matters." The woman I don't recognize says as she stands and comes to sit in the chair that was reserved for me. I don't mind since I'm not sitting there.

"Go ahead Ladonna." The King says with a wave of his hand.

"There's a rebellion forming from the eastern shore. A group of what is presumed to be three hundred are learning to use the dark magic." I hold in a gasp at the mention of my old home. "It seems that they may have help from witches, but I'm not sure. I haven't made it there to examine the truth of what has been circulating."

"Well I expect you to be on that immediately." The King says as he rubs my exposed stomach softly. I can't help but shutter at the soothing sensation.

My eyes look at this Ladonna woman, and I can tell she's no taller than 5'2 and weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet.

"How about you take Enoch with you for protection. You don't know what you are walking into, so it is best to not make the journey alone." I say shocking myself. The room falls silent and I bow my head.

Shit.

I should learn to hold my tongue, but that's never been my strong suit.

"You are not the Queen, so I think it's best if you do not speak when you haven't been spoken to." My eyes snap to Marlie who made the comment. Everything in me wants to beat her into the ground but I cannot do that, and I know it.

"And who are you to tell me when to hold my tongue?" I seethe as I lean towards her.

"I am the King's Queen. Have been for two years now, and I'm not going to let some woman who was dragged in off from slums across the gate, take that from me. I will fight for the throne, just as you will." Marlie spits.

"Mmmm, you had your chance Marlie," I say in a sickly-sweet tone as I lean so close that I can smell her disgusting perfume. The King wraps his arm around my torso firmly, I'm sure to make sure I don't lunge at the woman, but I have no intention of doing so. "Now it's my turn to treat him and the people of this Kingdom, how they deserved to be treated."

"You think dressing like a whore, and sitting on his lap makes you a worthy Queen? No, it makes you desperate and tacky."

"I think the King feels otherwise, and my kindness towards those beneath me will earn me that throne Marlie, and once I sit at the arm of this beautiful god of a man," I look to the King who stares at me in admiration. The way he looks at me makes my heart beat out my chest, and I know that the journey I'm embarking on will be worth it when I sit beside him on my own throne. "I will make you pay for every wrong doing you've done the past two years!"

"You know nothing of my works.!" Marlie screams as she jumps up from her seated position.

"I know enough!" I yell back.

"And what shall you do to me you horrid bitch?" She seethes as she leans towards me. We are now so close our nose almost brush. "Throw me in the dungeons, where I will be raped and beaten!? I don't fear you! You're the same woman who came here against her will, but now that you are seated at the table with the King, you've forgotten about the people you left behind! That makes you worse than me my dear Constance. For I was born into this and knew my role. You were brought and changed, now you have settled in and given all those beyond this wall the middle finger. You are no better than I, and if you are no better than I, then you'll be just as shit as you say that I am."

Marlie's words have been drawing back. My eyes sting with tears as I remove myself from the King's lap and stand to leave the room without another word or glance in anyone's direction. 

Form a line behind me if you'd like to slap Marlie.