228 TO PROTECT WHAT IS MINE

Meanwhile, the Queen was smiling happily as she came back to the Castle. She was successful in her attempt to deviate her son's attention from the cursed woman. Their family would not be destroyed and Terra will go back to its previous orderly state. 

But her jolly mood turned sullen as she entered the King's Chamber. 

She was just planning to check on him and bid him good night when he saw the King who was at his table and not resting.

"You should be sleeping by now, your Majesty!" 

She rushed inside and quickly glanced at the table to see what he was writing. But he immediately picked it up and put it under his robe.

"Please stop right there."

He drew in a deep breath and exhaled for longer than usual as instructed by Physician Sheng Tun when he experienced a stressful situation just now.

At first they thought that the illness he acquired has an unknown origin. But as the royal physicians studied his case, they learned that it is a complication of his working lifestyle.

Because he was deliberately exhausting himself with the work of a King beyond his normal capacity, his heart finally gave in, putting his life in the line if he continued his usual workload. 

He, together with the Royal Council, concluded to put the Queen as the Regent for the meantime while the King wasn't fully recovered yet. She has all the power as the King's in administration, money and has the final say in the law and military. 

"I trusted you." 

King Artair uttered bitterly but continued on his breathing motion. He has allowed the Queen to rule the land as he has witnessed her in her dealing with the tasks that she had. She was excellent then and really has a heart for Terra.

Queen Rose's lips trembled as she was hurt by three simple words from the person she adored the most.

"Please don't judge me just by one simple action. I have been fulfilling your duties submissively from sunrise until sundown."

"I appreciate that, your Majesty. You can stop now." He didn't add that he was now doubting whether the decisions she made were impartial or based on her biases. 

He was checking her out from time to time as he wanted the long term effect of his heart recovering rather than be subdued by his itchy hands to work again. He knows that it will just be short lived as his condition could get worse. 

Queen Rose furrowed her brows in disbelief. "What do you mean, your Majesty?"

"I will be taking over from now on."

With his consistent intake of the medication, he was somehow gaining improvement. He could walk for an hour without aids or support unlike before where he needs support even for just standing up. He was reaping the benefit of what he is sowing.

Queen Rose stood up at the speed of light. "But what about your health? You might pass out again and that could be the last!"

"I thought you were handling everything perfectly. But now I couldn't just sit back and watch."

King Artair gave her the cold look as he drank water to calm himself down. He was really not planning to do it this early if not because of this situation, not just because of the Hous sake but also for Terra and her.

Even though she was not Lady Asha, she still is the mother of his children. She needs to get her justice if it indeed was a murderous attempt.

Queen Rose shook her head in disbelief. "How could you even think about them? I almost died!"

"That's the point. Why are you accusing a wrong person, being the most powerful person in Terra now? You should have found out your real murderer. Why are you blaming Azra now?"

He also wanted to know who that person is as soon as he knew about the news. If he knew the news beforehand, it won't have to escalate like this wherein the Queen has already made decisions that are irrational.

"But he is the culprit! He put arsenic on the cupcakes. I knew it!"

King Artair drew in a deep breath. "Being a leader, you cannot just go making decisions based on emotions."

He tried to explain to her so she can rule well being the second in command after him. But Queen Rose has a different mindset.

"So I'm the one being emotional right now? Is it not you that your eyes were clouded by the cunning Hous and that cursed lineage that you cannot see that I am the victim here?"

"Get out!" King Artair bellowed as he pointed his finger at the door to Queen Rose's surprise. 

His heartbeat was beating as fast as a galloping horse and he was feeling dizzy. If he would prolong this conversation, he knew his condition would worsen.

Meanwhile, the Queen felt so bad as she felt humiliated. She felt that the family she was trying so hard to protect has not shown even a care for her. She ran outside the King's Chamber and dashed back to her Chamber with tears cascading down her cheeks.

"I know no one could try to kill me except for the Hous and the cursed woman's lineage. But I am willing to forgive them for the sake of my son's promise. How can they treat me like I am the bad person here?"

She thought to herself as she stared at their family picture frame in her hands. 

"Even so, I will continue to love you endlessly. You may all not understand me now. But when everything's peaceful again, you will thank me for what I did for you all today."

Then she put it in her chest and cried her heart out.

'Is it really so wrong to protect what is mine? Do I really deserve to be treated like this?'

She uttered to herself until she slept.

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Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn't listening and thinking only of her own reasoning.