Chapter 108 “You have to trust the King, he has been planning for this ambush for a fortnight. He knows what to do.” Another soldier chimed in, prompting others to nod their heads.
He has been planning for a fortnight? Abby couldn't believe her ears. Micah only told her how the rogues’ activity had increased again before they left the Red River pack for the capital city when the news of the royal council being unhappy about her origins and her incapability to rule this kingdom by Micah'’s side reached them.
But he didn’t mention anything to her how he was anticipating this attack he had supposedly been preparing for the past fortnight even once.
In the middle of her shock, she heard Ezgar talk to the elite warriors in a low voice. Since he was facing away from her, with all the warriors leaning close to talk in hush voices, the men didn’t know she was eavesdropping on their conversation, openly.
he didn’t let all those in and out of the palace think he was busy preparing for the ceremony for nothing.” Ezgar told his warriors as he looked thoughtful. “Even when he demanded for all the warriors to be well in shape for the ceremony, | didn’t think it was for this purpose at all.” The King really planned everything very well, he took note of everything as he prepared every possible way out if the situation turned south at the last minute.
Fortunately, they were prepared for this ambush and thus far, everything went smoothly. After all, they had successfully evacuated the great hall and escorted almost all the important guests to this safe place they had prepared beforehand along with the queen On the other hand, the more Abby listened, the more resentment she felt in her heart. She couldn't believe Micah could do this to her. If he knew there was going to be an attack on the palace, what was the need to even make her go through all of that? He clearly knew all her arrangements would only be for naught since the rogues would eventually destroy everything, even her ceremony.
Yet, he let her go through so much stress, both physical and mental, until she melted into tears right in front of him from fear and tension. Even then, he didn’t feel the need to let her know.
Even when she begged him to cancel the ceremony just two hours before the procession after he saw how she had escaped death just by hair's breadth, he didn’t yield. At that time, she didn’t understand why he was being so adamant about the ceremony being held as it is.
But she seemed to have gotten an answer to all of her doubts right now.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“He didn’t cancel the ceremony because he didn’t want to ruin the stage he prepared so meticulously to trap them.” Everything about today was premeditated, from their appearance in the great hall to him crowning her. It was all to achieve. his actual goal to capture those rogues and Abby couldn't shake off this feeling of betrayal that crept into her heart the more she thought about all her grievances.
They were endless and if she had to list them all out, she didn’t even know where to start.
Should she talk about all those sleepless nights? Or herself running here and there constantly for this and that? She had to prepare so much, because they said it was a custom for the future queen to arrange every little thing meant for the coronation.
1/4 Chapter 108 She pushed all her reservations and worries to the back of her mind as she took care of every little thing, from food to the way of her behavior.
What about all those etiquette classes she crammed in between her arrangements? She had to change everything about herself, the way she walked, the way she talked. Even how to laugh gracefully, Sherianne took a long lecture.
Abbh couldn't forget how she had suffered an entire afternoon just to correct her standing posture.
“And that speech | couldn't even deliver earlier.” Just thinking about it made Abby’s heart ache to no end. She prepared so much, but for what? Even after seeing Neesha go crazy to kill her, she had to suck everything up and attend the procession. Thinking all of this hurt her head and she felt the bitter taste of betrayal on her tongue.
She couldn't believe Micah didn’t say a word even after she poured her heart in front of him when she asked him to cancel the ceremony.
“I almost lost my life today...” The words left Abby's lips involuntarily, a bit too loud, and this finally grabbed Ezgar’s attention, who immediately rushed toward her. “Your excellency, why did you cout?” The man was smiling at her again, but Abby wasn’t able to feel the warmth she always felt talking to him right now.
“What happened, why do you look so pale? Did something happen again?” Ezgar asked her when he noticed how sad she looked.
Her eyes were reddened while all the color left her face, she looked ghostly pale. Not to mention how she kept clenching and then unclenching her fists by her sides.
Ezgar's first thought after seeing her like this was she got hurt while being escorted by them to the safe place.
But then they were more than careful while walking her here, it was beyond impossible for any rogues to get to her.
And he was sure Micah wouldn't have let her get hurt during the short span of two hours while the procession took place.
So Ezgar was really confused when he saw her deflated again, the little life she pumped into herself before the ceremony after talking to the King was nowhere to be seen.
Even though she looked a little nervous during the procession, she hadn't been this pale at any point of teither.
“You need to tellwhat happened so that | can help you sooner,” Ezgar said, feeling a little anxious since Micah entrusted her to him.
He just left her for twenty minutes and she looked like she lost half of her life.
“I'm fine, Chief Ezgar.” Abby finally opened her mouth and Exgar could tell she was behaving differently just hearing the way she addressed him.
On the other hand, Abby couldn't help but feel distant from Ezgar when she thought how he stood on the sidelines as well after she shared her fears with him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBoth him and Micah had so many chances to warn her about this impending attack, yet, they chose to keep silent until the end.
She still couldn't understand how Micah didn’t feel the need to let her know about his plans at all..
2/4 Chapter 108 Only now she understood why he couldn't return to their bedroom even when it was past midnight every night, not to mention how he would skip his meals almost every day.
He kept everything to himself. Did he not trust her enough to share his thoughts and plans? He said he saw her as his equal, but then he turned away from her when he encountered something so important.
He had been planning such a big thing for fifteen days, but couldn't stop for a second and think how this was all going to affect her.
The entire royal council had been against her ascending the throne, and now, a rogue attack so huge happened right after Micah crowned her. This would only make more tongues wag at her.
Along with the royal council, at least few of the guests attending the ceremony today would be thinking that the attack only happened because she bectheir queen, just like Arthur.
Did he even understand what situation he had pushed her into? If he had at least let her sense even a wisp of warning, she wouldn't have put herself through all of that. Now it just looked like she did everything in vain. Maybe not in vain, she did everything to gain new haters.
Abby couldn't help but laugh at herself realizing how ironic this entire situation was.
“My queen, you look unusually pale,” Ezgar pointed out when he saw how the girl before him withered-with each second. that passed. “You can trustwith your worries.
Ezgar smiled at her, trying to let her see that he was harmless, but it vanished the moment Abby opened her mouth again. “But you never thought of returning the courtesy.” “What didn't I return?” “You never trusted me, not just you, no one did, even Micah,” Abby said, but it only confused the man further.
“Why would you say that?” “Because, neither of you bothered to warnabout the attack today,” Abby blurted out, her voice cracking at the end. “You. both saw how much | suffered while preparing so much for a ceremony which was nothing but a stage to your king, yet you kept silent until the very end.” “It's not like that, my queen,” Ezgar tried to defend himself, but Abby was having none of it.
“Then, why did you guys not tellanything, especially you, you even helpedprepare the speech when you know | won't get a chance to talk at all.” Hearing the hurt and sadness in her voice, Ezgar didn’t know how to explain things to her. “No, trust me. | didn’t know there would be an attack until last night.
Abby looked at him suspiciously. “Your warriors just said how the king had been planning for a fortnight.” “It is true, but he only asked us, the chiefs, to intensify their training. He said nothing about the attack until last night,” Ezgar stressed.