Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 14

Jobe looked anything but convinced. Her father had taken care of her and catered to her well-being and state of mind since she was little and would notice the littlest thing, so she didn't fault him for being suspicious. "Father, I'm fine. Life at the Palace is challenging, especially for someone like me who never saw themselves living here. But as my husband has rightly stated, it's really great."

Jobe nodded, believing her words more than his. He then took a bow in reverence to the king. "It's an honour to be here, my king. I wish you a happy life ahead."

He stretched his hand out and took Mia's hand, giving a tight, reassuring squeeze and with this simple act, he told her everything would be fine. She had to believe.

He took his leave soon after, stating a slight change in his breathing and asking for pardon to depart. Mia knew his excuse was just so he could leave. He knew there was more going on in her marriage more than she could tell him. Perhaps he figured she had been in torment this past month and couldn't stand in the same room watching his only child suffer without being able to do anything about it.

An hour passed and exhaustion weighed on Mia, but the alpha king ignored and dragged her along to meet the guest.

"My queen!" two cheerful maidens called out with a big smile on their faces, but Mia saw through and knew they were fake in seconds. "My king." they bowed when they came to a stop before them.

"Ladies!"

"I am Ajara of house Payne and she's Bella of house Kephas and we want to say congratulations to you on your matrimonial union as husband and wife." Ajara, who looked to be the speaker of the duel, said, still holding onto her big fake smile.

If the alpha king noticed, he didn't say because he maintained his acted out cheerful tone. "Thank you."

Mia, knowing their games, gave back a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you."

"We brought gifts for the banquet. It's a baby bath. For the many children you will bear the alpha king. The maids have already taken them into the store."

Their meeting, which was under two minutes, had gone longer than Mia wanted and her body was now itching from standing around them for so long. "How considerate of you, thank you."

She swallowed and exhaled hard. She needed escape, perhaps a dismissal, and having her husband so close wouldn't give her that. With a swift thrust of her hand, she reached for the alpha king's wine cup. He didn't let it go, but the force applied to the movement caused the wine to spill forward and spill a little on her dress.

The maidens gasped at the sight and Mia already knew a gossip would circulate the capital tomorrow and it would be about the clumsy queen. She didn't need to stare up at the alpha king to know he looked disappointed and possibly angry at her. "I'm sorry, I'll get this fixed. Excuse me." She took herself away before any of them could open their mouth again. She heard the alpha king excuse her behaviour and blame it on her being tipsy.

She expected him to chase her down and strangle her for making a scene but maintained gratitude that he didn't. She needed to visit the washroom and she would gladly spend most of the night there if it'll only mean she wouldn't be in her husband's presence. Her eyes dropped to the chest area of her robe and the little dark mark of the wine stain had already formed. She needed Lydia or at least a servant that could give her a hand, but so far she had seen none.

As if working in line with her thought, Mia's gaze caught Lydia on her way, laughing happily with a young male guest. But as soon as Lydia saw her, she abandoned her friend and hurried over to her.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, "I'm fine. I need to get this stain off my robe and then I need wine. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure, I can do that, my queen." Lydia collected Mia's empty cup took it to her nose and sniffed it. "Grape wine, it's fermented and if you get more of it, you will get drunk and that would displease the king. I will get you more wine, but with less fermentation. The dress we will fix now, come."

Mia followed without questioning. She needed to be out of the tight air, anyway. They're almost at the end of the hall, where the washroom situated and Mia silently praised the moon goddess for not bumping into anyone on the way.

She barely finished that prayer because she heard. "Mia Asika."

She spun around, and she saw a very fair lady with flawless skin like that of lilies and curly long blonde hair approach her, dressed in a purple gown looking expensive and her steps were bold and full of life and grace.

She had a smile on her face Mia knew was fake as well. Unlike the two she met moments ago, there was mischief in this lady's smile.

It took a moment for Mia to realise this lady just addressed her by her name and not her title, which even Edward, the crown prince, didn't. This meant she wasn't afraid of falling into trouble with the royals and also that if she did, she'd get out of it with ease. Mia had never seen her before, but now she knew she should have. This lady, whoever she was, looked confident enough to approach her, as she had to figure out who she was soon.

"It's my queen or Queen Mia to you, Zara." Lydia jumped in her defence, her voice laced with venom as she addressed the strange, elegant woman.

"Know your place, servant!" she snapped harshly, her eyes throwing daggers.

Mia didn't feel happy about that. Sure, this lady called Zara looked much older than she was, but that didn't change the fact that she was a queen and so had to be treated like one. Zara hasn't treated her with respect so far.

"Do not speak in that tone before me, and you do not take my name. Like Lydia has stated, it is my Queen or Queen Mia to you." her voice remained calm throughout her reprimanding. "Is that understood?" The lady nodded, "Yes, queen."

She became curious about this lady who had so much boldness and she wondered who she was, however a part of her didn't want to know for fear of what she might replace.

She wanted to be away from the presence of this lady, and it was a need for her. "What do you want?"

Zara smiled, and Mia could have sworn she saw snakes.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on your union with the Alpha king. I wish you both only the best."

"Thank you."

"I, however, came today to seek counsel from you. I know this isn't the right place, but I need to hear from you, the queen, to a maiden."

She was right, this wasn't the right place for counsel seeking. Mia didn't have the time and she didn't like the woman taking her time, but choosing to be the better person. She nodded a go-ahead at her. "What would two people do if they love each other, but cannot be together because society deems them unfit?"

Mia waited to see if it was a trick question, but when the lady stood silent, awaiting her answer, she spoke. "I think if two people love each other and believe in what they feel to be true, then they should fight for it and never give up." She raised a brow. "Even if society says they don't fit?"

She could see Lydia glaring at Zara from the corner of her eyes and she didn't know why, but she continued with her counsel.

"Society doesn't always know what's best for someone. And we have to live our lives and grow at our own pace. As long as no one gets hurt in the decision we make, I think it's perfect."

"Oh wow. Your wisdom is beyond this world. Your husband, the king, must be so proud."

At the mention of his name, different emotions flickered in Mia's eyes. Her body turned rigid, and her breath grew sharp. However, she calmed herself to reply, not wanting the emotions to take control of her. "He is."

"I bet. Again, thank you very much for your time, your grace. Have a lovely evening," she said and walked away from them.

Mia watch her disappear into the crowd of guests before speaking to Lydia. "I've never met her before." She turned to her maid, who seemed to have bad blood for the lady that just left. "Who is she?"

Lydia hesitated, and Mia gave her a look of disapproval, telling her to say the truth. "She's Zara Michel, your husband, the alpha king's mistress."