Chapter 322 - A Woman who has Worth (2) (2/2)

”Arise lady Destia.” I said with authority.

”Thank for bringing her big brother.” Deborah said. ”Your majesty, please sit down.” She gestured towards me.

I took a sit in front of her. William and Raphael maintained a respectful distance away from us.

”Would you like some tea and snacks your majesty?” Deborah said solemnly.

I looked at her and gauged her behavior now. I cannot see the naughty young lady that was flirting and trying to seduce my husband. All I can see now is a young lady that cried all night like the world had fallen unto her.

”You can skip the pleasantries lady Destia.” I said with a cold voice. ”Let's cut to the chase, shall we?”

Deborah was startled with my words. She did not expect that I will be straight forward with her from the start.

”I am sorry for what happened since the beginning of your arrival, your majesty.” Deborah said, her eyes were in the brink of tears once more. ”It is just that... I am so envious of you. When we were children, I was clearly on too of you, but now...” She trailed of, not able to finish her sentence. Tears streamed down her eyes.

”If I may ask, what is it that you are envious of me, Lady Destia?” I asked her.

”You... you have become someone who is loved by all. Clearly when we were children, you were not loved and neglected.” Deborah said whole tears were falling from her eyes. ”But now, you have the love of the strongest country's king. You have beauty and power, a queen that is respected and loved by all. But me... I am nobody. Yes, I am a daughter of a duke. I should be given similar importance as well. But because I was not able to attend high society due to our family's circ.u.mstances, I was not able to debut and was stuck here. I was also engaged to a foreign prince I do not know of.”

Deborah was telling all of her grivances and crying. She felt wronged until this stage in her life. I sighed, thinking that she is much luckier in life thant I had been.

”I know that you have a brief idea of my circ.u.mstances.” I said. ”I was said to be a b*stard daughter of the king of Alvannia. My step mother and step sisters bullied me in every way. My father turned a blind eye on me and was cold. I did not get the love and affection I yearned for from a parent. The love I got was from a man that I do not have any blood ties, but he treated me as his granddaughter nonetheless. The only sibling that loved me was my little brother. I lost my mother when I was more younger than you did. If you look at it, you have a much better life than me Lady Destia.” I said gave her a cold stare.

Deborah was clearly shaken with what I just said. Of course she could not know everything about me. I never had a whole family when I was young, but she had a loving family even until now.

”Lady Destia, I got to be where I am because of hard work and dedication. I proved my worth as a woman and came to be loved by a good and just ruler. I never used my looks to seduce anyone and I never will.” I said with conviction. ”I earned everything I have with determination. And now I am happy because I have a husband that loves me, friends that care for me, and it might be late but now I have a complete family. So tell me Lady Destia, you need not be envious of me because you have had the love of your family from the start. Other people respect you as the young lady of this house as well. You were given a good marriage by your father as well.”

Deborah bowed her head, her tears was still streaming down her cheeks and now are staining her dress. I can see her hands gripping her skirt tightly.

”I-I know now. Thank you for being straight forward with me, your majesty.” Deborah said solemnly. ”I-If I can ask you one thing... can you please ask his majesty to rescind his other punishment. I am willing to stay single for the rest of my life and never leave our fief. I would not like to marry a baron from Grandcrest that is a complete stranger to me.”

This was news to me. I have not yet know the extent of the happenings last night.

”Can you tell me the reason why you do not want to be married to a person my husband had selected.” I asked. ”If it is a baron from Grandcrest, I am sure he is someone with a good background knowing that he works under my husband.”

”It is also the same with my reason for not wanting to be bethroved with a foreign prince. I am not looking at the position of the one I will marry, it is just that... I do not want to marry a man I have not met and do not know of.” Deborah said with clear eyes. Her eyes tells me that it was not a lie.

”But you wanted to enter my husband's so called harem?” I said sarcastically.

”I-I did not mean it to be like that. I had the idea that if I come to be one of his majesties concubines, I at least can remain in the country.” Deborah said. ”And as I said before, I was envious of you. I wanted to covet what you had. I am sorry, I know I was wrong to do such a thing.” She bowed again.

I looked at Deborah, feeling that she was being sincere now. I sighed and looked at the young woman before me.

”Lady Destia, I am just his wife and cannot change what he has decided. If knowing the baron is the problem, then I can at least make your engagement to be longer.” I suggested. ”With that, you can have time to get to know the baron. After knowing him and if your decision is still the same, then let us talk then once again.”

Deborah's face that was gloomy at least started to brighten.

”Thank you, your majesty.” Deborah said with approciation.

”Until that time comes, show me that you are a woman who has worth.” I said.

Deborah showed a solemn smile at last. I felt my heart lighten after our talk.

Edited by: nalyn