Vandamonth Imperial Palace
The door to Jarob's chamber opened, and Kora stepped in, followed by the royal physician.
She gazed upon the bed Jarob laid, and there he was, numb…quiet, almost lifeless.
The royal physician got to work; he made his way to the bed and glanced down at Jarob, then shook his head from side to side pitifully.
"He is getting worse; I fear he might not make it to the next winter season."
He said, before opening a small box in his hand, he brought out a bottle of green liquid; immediately he uncorked the bottle, and a pungent smell filled the atmosphere.
"I have heard? The best herbalists reside in Nehoviah…."
Kora was talking when he interrupted.
"Half of which are dead."
The royal physician said with a leering look.
"And the other half are nothing more than wanderers in their own kingdom after Kyron brought Nehoviah to ruins. I am trying my best, your grace. Only patience and time will yield results."
He added before bringing the bottle of medicine to Jarob's lips, but he looked away, refusing to gulp down the contents.
"Your Majesty, you need this."
He says, but Jarob smacked his lips together, refusing to drink the medicine.
"Leave us."
Kora commanded, her icy gaze lingering on her husband. The royal physician sighed wearily; he packed up his things back inside the box he had come with, then bowed slightly before taking his leave.
Not until the door shut close did Kora open her mouth to say something.
"Why are you being stubborn? Vandamonth needs their king."
"Why?"
Jarob's voice crackled like that of a very old man, but he was merely in his late sixties.
"They have their queen; I do not think they will miss me so much."
He added, before slowly adjusting the blanket, dragging it up to his chest.
"Do you really wish to leave this world so early? I have always had it in mind that if you had the chance, you would have prolonged your life."
"There is nothing to live for, Kora."
Came his gruff voice; his eyes were pale, his jaws flabby, and his lips terribly chapped.
He looked like a living skeleton, a shadow of his former self.
"You are not in the position to make that decision; you have a wife and three children, who care about you. I am going to call the royal physician, and you will drink that medicine!
She snarled with gritted teeth and turned to leave.
"You killed her…didn't you?"
Came his voice from behind her, and she froze on the spot, her blue eyes shrinking.
"I have killed many people, Jarob; if you must talk about anyone, mention the name."
The words slid out of her empty mouth more smoothly than she had expected.
"You know who I am talking about."
Jarob said, feeling a cold chill crawl across his spine; he fidgeted a little before curling under the blanket.
Of course Kora knew who he was referring to, but it was painful…painful that he had brought up the matter of a concubine while he was in that state.
"I do not know who you talk about, and I suppose whoever it is, it doesn't matter; what matters is that you get better, and the burdens of this kingdom will lessen from my shoulders."
"Hanah was a good woman; you had no right…no right at all to kill her!
He raised his voice, his throat narrowing with each word that came out of his lips; immediately he coughed violently, his voice echoing across the chamber.
Kora flexed her fingers; she felt a lump forming in her throat.
"If you desire someone to warm your bed, then I will arrange for a young woman, a virgin yet to be touched, and bring her to you."
She said nonchalantly, refusing to turn around and meet his gaze; she was disappointed in him.
"That is not what I want!
He shrilled, then coughed out violently, his whole body trembling, his chest tightening as he struggled to breathe.
Kora remained where she was, refusing to move an inch, her blue crystal eyes cold.
When Aaram had brought the head of Hanah, Jarob's favorite concubine, to her as a gift, she was very pleased.
She had always hated Hanah, the pompous concubine, and she couldn't be more glad that Aaram killed her. Now that Hanah was dead, she had peace of mind.
"Then what is it you want?"
Kora shot back, finally turning to face him; the gown she was wearing swerved in the process, grazing the floor.
"I already have enough to deal with, and the thought of you lying in bed refusing to get well doesn't make matters any better."
On hearing her words, he began to laugh.
A mocking, high-pitched laughter that gnawed at her nerves. His voice echoed across the walls, bouncing in the air, before reaching her ears.
"What is funny? Do you think this is a joke?"
She questioned taking a few steps forward, but he continued to laugh until he could no longer breathe properly.
Soon he stopped and then focused his gaze on her.
"I would prefer to remain in bed and watch you suffer while trying to dominate a household that has never had a single respect for you; it soothes the nerves."
He said, tracing his pale eyes to where she stood.
Kora's hand balled into a fist, and her face became contorted with fury.
"You are making a jest of the problems you sowed with your own very hands, and now I am reaping the evil fruit?!
It is because of you the maids look me in the eye when I talk; you have made me a laughing stock in front of everyone."
Kora lost her temper; her eyes burned with a rage that strengthened to tear her apart.
Jarob didn't say a word; he just gazed at her pitifully, as if she was the one that needed his help, as if she was the one that was sick.
"I want to see my children, gathered around me, one more time. Summon Jazell and Brandon, and make preparations to receive them from Decreash, that is what I want."
He said, then turned away.
Kora blinked her eyes a few times and inhaled sharply, trying to contain the emotions that were bubbling through her.
"The king might not be so charitable in his doings; Jazell is his wife, and I have heard she is with a child. Brandon is the hand of the king…"
"Woman, you talk too much!
Jarob cuts in rashly.
"Have one of the maids bring me a scroll and a quill, and I will write the letter myself and sign it. Your job will be to make sure it is delivered successfully to Ragaleon."
His words didn't make any sense to Kora; of all the things he could ask for, this was it?
"And what if Ragaleon refuses to let his pregnant wife journey to Vandamonth?"
She asked, crossing her hand over her chest.
"Does Jazell know I am sick and potentially bedridden?"
He questioned with a serious face, and Kora remained silent; she cast her gaze on the floor, refusing to meet his dreadful gaze.
"You didn't deem it fit to inform her because you are not on good terms with Jazell. Not once have you picked up a quill to write a letter to her, and here you stand claiming to be a mother."
His words cut through her like invisible daggers. For the first time she couldn't deny his words flatly.
With a heavy heart she sighed, then swallowed hard.
"You will not be able to write; you will say the words, and then I will write the letter."
She said and then turned to leave.
"I prefer to do it myself; I am bedridden, not paralyzed. My hands are still very much intact."
He said harshly, without a single trace of remorse in his voice.
"If it will be that way, then you must drink your medicine, and then I will have a maid minister to you."
"I will write the letter and confirm it is delivered, and only then will I agree to drink that medicine."
He countered her words swiftly.
"If I must remind you, Jarob, you are not in a position to make any demands."
She said while flexing her fingers, her head held up high.
"And you are not in the position to refuse the request of a dying man."
He cooed calmly.
Kora bit her lips, feeling nothing but frustration. She was left with no choice; she had barely just recovered from his harsh words about her relationship with Jazell, and she didn't want to argue any further.
She took her leave without saying a thing.
Immediately after she stepped out of his chamber, she closed the door behind her, and the nonchalant countenance she had masked on her face fell off.
For some unknown reason she struggled to come to terms with her emotions.
She felt something sting her eyes but refused to accept it was tears.
But now wasn't the time to show weakness; she buckled up, pushing back her emotions. She crossed both her hands behind her back. And with her chin raised, she began to glide along the hallway.
The tears that had stung her eyes dried up, and after inhaling sharply, her face returned to normal.
Her face changed to that of a dark, scary, but approachable countenance that made her look like a walking corpse, but with the beauty of a goddess.