Chapter 91 - The Broken Woman....

"What happened outside there is unacceptable, Naana" she threw the cup that  Malia brought to her. Drinking water was the last thing on her mind. She wanted Sargon to say those words to her not to queen Ariadne.

"You have to calm down Queen Valeria" Naana said , picking up the cup from the floor. "Getting angry won't solve your problem. The Emperor had already declared his love for her. We never saw this coming at all. That woman really got hold of him" Naana gave the cup back to Malia, dismissing her.

"You saw this coming Naana. I didn't heed to your warning" queen Valeria leaned against the wall. "The Emperor will never forgive me. You know what he said the last time we spoke?" Naana, who was watching her shook her head. " That he can't lay next to a murderer" she said, as she dropped to the floor.

"Stop hurting your self queen Valeria" she helped her get up from the floor. Naana understood what queen Valeria was going through. Her titles and position was taking away from her. Not only that, the Emperor did not want to have anything to do with her again, which was  the most painful punishment a man could give to his wife.

"I can't stop crying Naana" she cried as they hugged. "Let me cry out my pains. I have no one in this world except the Emperor. Now, that he has turned his back away , I don't see the reason why I should live. I can't stand by and watch another woman with my husband."

"No , do not say that. You must share when it's comes to the Emperor"???? Naana advised her. "I know how to wipe these tears away. But you must listen to what I have to say… and obey please."

Queen Valeria's eyes widened. Did this old woman just said she had solution or was she trying to pull her legs. No! Naana won't dare it. Not when she is in this situation. "what is the plan?"

"Is not really a plan. It is called doing the right thing. First of all you have to sit down first" she said. Queen Valeria did as she was told. "Good. This is going to sound awkward but like I said it is the right thing." Naana was afraid that the Queen might not agree to this . Bowing down to the other queens? Not queen Valera!

"Go ahead. I am listening" queen Valeria urged. She was waiting patiently for this old woman to say whatever she had to say.

"You have to apologize" Naana told her.

"I have done that several times but Sargon won't even look at me ."

"Not to him only. Queen Alissa and Ariadne are the people you should be apologizing to, right now" Naana said, quickly closing her eyes. She was actually waiting for a slap to land on her face but it's never came. Opening her eyes slowly, queen Valeria sat on the bed looking at her. She didn't even move.

"What? Naana are you hearing your self? I should bow to the women who caused me pain. They both took my husband away from me . I can't do it"  Queen Valeria shrugged her shoulders and faced the other side of the room. Naana was irritating her with those plans she termed as *doing the right thing* .

"Again , you refused to understand me. Making a second mistake means sending Sargon away from your life forever. Apologize to the other queens and they will speak to the Emperor on your behalf, he will surely forgive when his precious Queen Ariadne talks to him about it."

"Wait , whose side are you on?"

"Yours queen Valeria. But this is the only solution right now" Naana said. "If you have any , then we will do as you say."

She stood up from the bed and went to the bathroom. Queen Valeria poured water to her face. The cold stream calmed her the burning of heart. Naana's idea was the solution, she has no choice now.

**

The next morning, queen Ariadne woke up early, she took Arya with her. The Emperor was still sleeping when they left the room. They still have an hour to prepare for the family breakfast that was going to take place that morning. Queen Marlena will have breakfast for the first time with her in-laws.

She wondered how the new bride would look at her. Yesterday was summoned to be their consummation night but she ended up ruining everything by spending the night with the Emperor. Queen Ariadne could still remember the night of her wedding and the pain she felt when the king abandoned her. Now, it was another woman's turn. ????

But, to think of it. She didn't insist on spending the night with king or stopped any one from doing so. He took Arya, that showed clearly that he wanted to spend the night with her.

"Whatever, I didn't do it on purpose" she said , climbing down the stairs. There, she met prince Elvin. It was early that Queen Ariadne did not expect to meet any one on her way.

"Good morning prince Elvin" Queen Ariadne curtsied. She respected him because he was the Emperor's brother and also the eldest son of the family.

"The beauty of Akkad Prince" Elvin started. "The morning Star, my day is going to be exciting. He closed his eyes and opened it, he bowed and continued "your beauty can never be mistaken elegant queen."

Queen Ariadne was surprised to hear such praises from the prince. She wondered if there was something she had that he wanted. With Arya in her arms, she started making her way back to the harem. But, he stopped her again.

"Let me help the queen with the Princess" prince Elvin said, taking Arya from her. Queen Ariadne did not refused, she was happy that he was helping her.

"Thank you prince Elvin" she said, as they walked down the long corridor to the harem. May be he was not a difficult person like she thought. His younger brother took away the throne from him yet, the prince was still around helping the kingdom in one way or the other.

"The princess looks like you" prince Elvin said, looking at Queen Ariadne. "One may think she is your real daughter."

"Funny you prince Elvin , Arya is my daughter" she said when the reached the harem door. "Thank you for your help. I am grateful, your highness."

Giving the young girl who was still sleeping to her mother . He bowed "Don't thank me Queen Ariadne. It is painful, that this is where my journey ends."

She curtsied with a smile and left. She hasn't spend much time with the oldest prince but this little time they have spent, he was a bucket of humor. (It's bad that you don't know his intentions for you , Queen Ariadne)

**

The Emperor saw prince Elvin talking to queen Ariadne, from the window of his room. Have he not warn this man to stay from away from his harem? He had to do something about this. (Jealous ????)

Rushing to the bathroom, he took his bath, had the maids help  him dress up. Quickly, the Emperor left for the dinning hall. When a new bride comes to the palace, the royal would have breakfast together. This has been going on for years, he didn't know why his mother kept on insisting on such traditions. They were useless to him.

Princess Marlena! He forgot about her totally. They were supposed to spend the night together but he ended up with his family. Princess Arya and queen Ariadne were his family now.

"When will the creator finally smile at me and say Emperor Sargon you deserve to have a child" He thought as he strode down the stairs leading to the dinning hall. His mind was absent so was his eyes, and the Emperor ended up bumping into Queen Valeria, who was also lost in her thoughts. (Was she?)

"Really, do you have to curse my day also?" He asked, looking up as if there was a god on the ceilings.

"I didn't see you coming, your highness" she apologized. He looked at her with a start avoiding her gaze. The Emperor didn't want to start conversation with the Queen.

"Tell her to watch where she is going to" he told one of the guards that were following him. Queen Valeria started sobbing after hearing that , she went on her knees and started apologizing. This punishment was becoming too much for her to bear.

"Forgive me for being wicked and selfish. I was blinded by love" she said. "When you started marrying other women, I became scared that you would never love me. Jealously over took my heart that I didn't when I hurt so many people. I am lost without your presence in my life your highness."

He looked at her  and felt weak. This woman he cared for few months ago. He made sure that Queen Valeria got the respect no woman in Akkad ever had. But in the end, she didn't think before hurting him.

"Get up from the floor" he said without looking at her. "Breakfast will be serve soon. I don't want you to be late." Though , that was not the answer she expected. Standing up, she followed him behind.