Chapter 77 - The Favorite...

Hello readers, let's chat on discord. For the Devil In GUISE

Link : https://discord.gg/f8k83nXR

I will happy if you all join. If you encounter any difficulty while accessing the link chat me Ella_Dominic#9871.

Thank you dearies.

****

Queen Ariadne's POV.

A guard opened the door of the carriage. Two slim legs came out, revealing  the tiredness of the journey. I held my breathe, until she came out.

A lady who looked like she was in her fifties came down from the carriage. Her height was tall. Her skin pale. One could tell that she was getting fully recover. She wore a blue dress and in her hand a walking stick. Her eyebrows furrowed at each step. Her face looked like it's hasn't smile for centuries.

"Come let's go welcome her" the Emperor said. My legs did not moved easily. The fear in me grew as the old woman stared at us. With his hand still on my waist , we moved towards the woman.

"Welcome to Akkad sweet Grandmother" he said giving her a kiss. She was excited to see him. Her hands kept caressing his face as they exchanged pleasantries  The old woman turned and looked at me.

"Who is she, my boy?"

"Come Ariadne" the Emperor urged me. I took a step forward and knelt down in front of her. "She is Queen Ariadne, my youngest wife."

"Interesting. No wonder, she followed you like a fly. I know that is just temporary, with time its will change" Grandmother said with a smile. What did she meant by that?

"Please don't start  grandmother" he said, helping me get up. I felt stupid at the moment, was I temporary thing for this man?

"Where is my favorite?" Her eyes dashed towards the women then to the door. I wondered who she was referring to

"Grandmother please do not talk.." the Emperor started with scowl on his face. I could guess who was her favorite.

"Grandmother, queen Valeria had a cold that's why she didn't come out to welcome you" Mother was the one who interrupted him.

"And no one care to inform me first? Where is she?" Grandmother asked heading towards the harem. Almost all the women followed her behind. She did not answer my greetings but, she went ahead to look for someone who did not bother to come out and welcome her. My rejection was valid and known already.

"Why did you lie to her? I wanted to tell everything that pretentious woman did" the Emperor said.

"I did what was right my child.  Grandmother just recovered from her illness. Valeria's news might send her back to that state or anything could happen" mother explained. I saw the point she was making, in as much as I hated this, I agreed with her.

"Fine, but let her stay away from me" he said, climbing the stairs.

"You will have to pretend my child. Whenever Grandmother is around you have to act like nothing is wrong between you two" mother told him. The frown on his face showed that he was not okay with it.

"I am going mother. See the two of you later he came back and gave me a peck. I wondered why he kissed me frequently.

"Aren't you going to welcome your second…"

"Mother please" he cut her off and left. What a man!

Mother asked me to go and check if the dinning was set, while she stayed back to welcome Queen Texas. The second wife of the late king. She was returned to the palace as well. Full family time!

** ****

The Author's POV.

Queen Valeria laid on the bed. Her hair was unkempt. Her eyes were swollen, she has been crying for days now. But not any more, Grandmother has returned and everything will fall back to place.

Malia was cutting her nails while some maid stood closed to the bed. Naana asked them to make Queen Valeria's hair but she refused. She wanted Grandmother to see her like this.

The door opened and Naana walked into the room looking back to check if any one had followed her.

"Why are you behaving awkward Naana?" queen Valeria asked her. Was the Emperor coming to scold her again?

"Your Grandmother is here. You should go and greet her" She said, closing the doors behind. Naana was surprised to see Queen Valeria's hair still unkempt. Stubborn woman she mumbled.

"You say something?"

"No queen. You should go and see her" Naana repeated. She was scared for her. Queen Valeria has been through a lot problems lately , she did not want her to have more.

"Stop disturbing me about that Naana. Grandmother will come to me, I promise you" She said with a smile. Things were going to be under control now. She ruffled her hair and asked for a mirror.

"When she sees me this way, Grandmother Is going to panic" Queen gave a wicked laugh. Naana was shocked, she wasn't expecting this from Valeria. After spending days in here, she thought she would change.

"I hope she does not disappoint you. I am sure the Emperor told her everything before coming to Akkad" Naans reminded.

"Whether they told her or not Grandmother will never allow me to suffer li…" Queen Valeria did not finish her statement when a knock interrupted.  Quickly, she adjusted her self to a position that looked more pathetic. "Naana answer the door please."

"Come in" Naana said.

The door opened and Grandmother entered the room. Just the way, Queen Valeria had predicted, her face brightened when she saw the old woman.

"Valeria…" Grandmother went to meet her.

"Grandmother" she cried in a low tone. She was pretending right now, it gave her joy that she was on her side.

The old woman sat down the bed and hugged. "Stop crying my dear. Now that I am here every thing will be alright. "

**

Queen Texas came down from the carriage that brought her to the palace. Her expectations were wrong, the people she thought will welcome her were not present. "I knew that old woman, will steal all the glory" she mumbled, closing the doors.

'Welcome back to Akkad lady Texas ," queen Aslaug said. They hugged and exchanged pleasantries. Queen Texas knew no matter what The Emperor's mother would welcome her. She was one of the people that respected her.

"Where is our son?" She asked. Queen Texas was referring to the Emperor. There was no need for her to search around, it was obvious.

"He is in a meeting right now"" queen Aslaug answered. She hated when her son behaved immature. He was supposed to welcome his step mother at least.

"Come let's go in the quarters." She added.

"What about the women of the Palace?" Queen Texas asked. It seemed no one care about her anymore or have they forgotten who she was ?

"Grandmother stole the show. They all went inside" Queen Aslaug replied with a smile, when they started climbing the stairs.

"I knew it. She is on it again." Queen Texas gave a loud laugh. Deep down her heart, she was angry.

"Why didn't you come with her? Honestly, we were expecting you" Queen Aslaug asked when they got to the harem.

"I have to finish some work at the other palace. Your son's concubines are still there" she whispered. Many did not know that the emperor kept some women at the castle where Grandmother lived.

"I see. I don't think he cares much about them again. The Emperor has found joy here in Akkad" queen Aslaug told her.

"What do you mean by that?" Queen Texas asked, with her brows furrowed in confusion. It seemed many things had changed with in this short period.

"He has a woman here in Akkad, who makes him happy" Queen Aslaug opened the door of a room. Its belonged to queen Texas, before she left the palace. Today, it's looked much better that the way she left it.

"She was in his life all these years and yet he married thousands of wives" Queen Texas  was referring to Valeria.

Welcome to your room Queen Aslaug gave her a smile. "Are you talking about Valeria?"

"Yes of course. We never got along before I left the palace."

"There is a new Queen in the palace. You will like her when you two meet. She is the Emperor's favorite"

"I see. This sounds interesting. I am eager to meet her Queen mother. She was glad that the Emperor had another special queen apart from queen Valeria. In the past, the two have fought on many occasions. Queen Valeria never respected her. There was no best time to return to the palace other than now.

"I will introduce you to her during dinner. Please go and rest. There is going to be a party tonight" Queen Aslaug told her.

"Sure . I can't wait to meet this woman our son is crazy about Queen Texas said. Queen Aslaug smiled and left.

Finally, I am back to the home that was meant for me. Now, I can live together with my children she said, to her self.

A loud knock interrupted her.. She wondered who was coming to disturb her now. Didn't the Queen mother said she should rest?