Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 57

Elliot stepped forward, and Xavier's eyes told him he was making a mistake. "We are not carrying out our will here, King Xavier. This is the desire of our father, stated in the scroll you just received," he spoke up in his defence. "Our father's desire? Is that a joke?" Xavier asked in an absurd tone.

Mia watched the drama unfold. She didn't know the alpha of alphas would be one making such crazy demands. Perhaps she didn't know him.

"This isn't a joke. I believe our father is doing what he thinks is right."

Xavier did not like that, Elliott replied to him. "I already told you to leave!" he sneered. "Don't make me shove you out."

Elliot took a step back. "You will defile our father's request."

"I will defile the moon goddess' request if she had made such insane demands." Xavier bit back.

"Enough, both of you!" Mia snapped at them and their eyes turned to her. "Is this a necessary procedure?" she asked the priest, maintaining a calm voice through it all, despite raging on the inside.

"In a healthy marriage, you would already be with child and that's why the test is required," Elliott spoke for the priest

She knew Xavier was fighting with himself to not launch forward and attack Elliott for his audacity.

"In a healthy marriage? Does that make us unhealthy if she isn't with child?" Xavier didn't even coat the anger in his voice.

Mia had gotten to know him a little since they worked out their differences to know his angry phase. He had three phases to his anger. First, when he was sad, second when he was afraid, and third, when he was angry. Although it is very hard to tell what was the root cause of his anger, most times a close examination of the happening around could help. Just like now, she could say the fear of the unknown had triggered his anger.

"It's a necessary procedure, and it is also safe." the priest encouraged as he stepped towards them.

No one told her she would have to be tested to check her fertility level when she was getting married. No one told her it would become a public debate either.

The priest reached for her hand, but Xavier thundered.

"If you dare lay a hand on my wife, your head will roll?" Xavier surged forward and took Mia's hand in his possessively and pulled her to himself.

"He will not harm your wife. He's here to check if the royals will expect a baby soon."

"I warn you to tread carefully, Elliot."

"I am not with child," Mia answered the priest.

"You have been married to the alpha king for months. It's natural for you to be oblivious to the fact that you're with child." the second priest told her with a calm voice. "You heard my wife. She's not with child."

"How would you know?" Elliott asked, his gaze furrowed and darting between the both of them.

"Because, unlike you, I'm her husband. And I've read the chronicles of the kingdom and in no place did it specify testing to show the fertility rate of the queen. So this has no ground."

"My king, if I may speak again," the older priest began, "I believe our father is doing what's in the best interests of this kingdom."

"How? Having my wife violated in the name of curiosity?" he demanded, but Marc remained silent.

From the corner of her eyes, Mia saw a smirk on Elliott's face and knew something was up. She didn't want to point fingers, but she was certain that he had done something fishy. Something even Xavier couldn't see. The longer they fought, the more the unity they should have would decrease. That would make it easier for the three men present to see through their actions and report to Robb.

"I'll do it," Mia spoke up, making Xavier turn to her with a worried look. She had never seen him scared of anything until today.

He took her hand and led her into his chambers, where they could talk privately.

As soon as the door shut, he asked. "Why did you agree to do that?"

This would have been the perfect opportunity to swoon around in his chambers and appreciate his choice of interiors, but they had pressing issues at hand.

"Xavier." she started, but the look on his face didn't make her continue. He looked devastated, and she couldn't hold his gaze.

He held her by the shoulders, so she stared back up at him. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. This is nothing more than Robb's ploy to mock me as king and ruler of this kingdom. I am your husband and I already forbid that nonsense." She smiled, "I may not be with child, but I don't think there's anything wrong with me. So if the priest wants to examine, then they can go ahead."

His hands dropped from her shoulders, and he stepped back. He ran his hand through his hair, and his face lifted to stare at the ceiling. He seemed tired. "You do not know what those priests would do to you in their temple." "You're right I don't."

He looked at her with eyes of confusion, but not one bit upset with her. "Then why did you agree?"

"Because your father is testing you once again. I don't know how or why, but that's what I saw and Elliott has a hand in this."

"All the more reasons to reject their preposterous request."

She moved to him and cupped his face before she could stop herself. But he didn't complain about the act or pull away. "We got into this agreement to convince your father you're fit to rule. We've done it so far. Why stop now? Why give him a reason to discredit you when we are halfway there?"

His eyes fluttered. "I don't want to roll over for him. I don't want to."

"I know, and that's why I'm doing it. The alpha of alphas requested it and we should do it."

He took her hands, squeezing tenderly. "They critically carried these tests out. Not only will they replace out you're not with child, but they might also discover you're not Luna, and they will replace out we have been a sham all along," he revealed his deepest fear and his eyes bore into hers.

She beamed at him. "Let's pray to the moon goddess that they do not, then."