The night wasn't much convincing for her, she kept pondering on the weird whispers since afternoon. What made her even more anxious is that she is the only one who can hear it! "But why me? am I going insane?" she murmured to herself when suddenly a soft knock came at her door, her heart was thudding .... staring at the knocked door. Who could it be at this night? She has already dismissed her maids for the day, at least one hour ago. Now who is it behind those large doors? gulping down she shouted "Who is it?" her hand slowly reaching the bedside drawer and took out her dagger, hearing no response she bit her lower lip and she walked to the door, swallowing her fear she held the dagger up high ready to attack while her other hand turned the knob slowly, it created a creaking sound as she pulled, echoing within her room, she then stood behind the door waiting for the person to enter so she could attack.
After a shirt silence, a hem of dress appeared she creased her eyes just then when a person entered, but her adrenaline had already made a decision, she threw the dagger at her, luckily the person was quick to step back dodging it, the dagger flew across the person and went to stuck at the headboard of her bed, Maria turned her face in terror "You highness!" she said her chest heaving up and down, her eyes widened. Audrey gasped her own eyes enlarged as well, she almost killed this poor old woman! she let out a deep breath thanking God to prevent it from happening. "Oh god! Maria! I'm..... I am so sorry! I was terrified!" she said and crushed her with a hugged the old lady to calm both of them.
"Why would you throw a dagger at anyone just like that?" she said when they pulled away, she was extremely shocked. Audrey helped her to sit down on a couch, she then poured a glass of water for her, "I know, I am sorry I wasn't ... thinking... straight" she patted herself unsure of what the he'll had gone wrong with her at that moment, all she knows was that she had to protect herself. Maria gulped down the glass of water and finally calmed down. "Anyways.... I came to confirm something and you better answer me honestly my Queen" she suddenly became her serious self making Audrey worried, she wondered what the old woman wants to ask her but she nodded nevertheless. "Pardon me your highness, but ha his Majesty ever slept with you? I mean have you consumed your marriage?" asked Maria with a very concerned look, Audrey felt emotional all of a sudden. Damn it! Why would he sleep with her? he has Annie with whom he shares bed with every night! They even stays up all night! she chuckled bitterly at her own thoughts, she got up from her seat and stood by the opened window, the tears that were stinging her finally fell.
Maria pursed her lips and followed her, this action made the old woman understand everything. Audrey wiped her tears and quickly turned to face her with a wide smile, but she couldn't find any words coming out of her mouth, "So he hasn't" Maria concluded, she held her soft hands in hers, she could see the pain on her eyes. Audrey lowered her head down "Oh how horrible it must have been for you my dear" Maria shook her head with dissapointment, how could Levy do this to her? "It's okay Maria" she uttered "No! its not okay your highness! he can't do this to you! being the King comes with responsibilities and one of them is serving you! his Queen! he should know this better than anybody else!" Maria was very worked up and he swore not to spare the man for this. After chatting with her for a little while Audrey was tucked on her bed like a little girl by the worried old woman before she left. She couldn't stop smiling, that old woman was treating her like a 10 yrs old.
"Come to me!" The whispers came again from the windows startling her again, she cried with ni tears and pulled up her quilt to cover her face "Stop it! stop it! just stop it already goddammit!" she screamed.
The morning finally came, but it wasn't a normal one for her, she had dark circles around her eyes for staying up all night, the whispers won't just leave her alone, once she saw hiw much a mess her face was today .... she postponed having a royal breakfast today, she ordered her maids to convey the massage that she is still sleeping and doesn't have an appetite at all.
That was the only way not to worry the King and make him come to heck on her, the last thing that she wanted is his stupid worries. the maids relayed the massage although he was surprised but he was quick to shook it off, he remembered back at Dillonia .... she would miss breakfast from time to time so it was only normal.
Audrey on the other hand washed up and had her breakfast she never stepped out of her room, not even to roam around the quarters as she usually does, she has to make sure the dark circles would disappear first before going outside, she knew if the people saw her, they would start talking or question her of why she hadn't slept. Even if she tells them what was happening to her nobody would believe her anyway, they will all think she is crazy.
She would rather stay locked inside her room reading her favourite books.
Talking about books ....suddenly a light bulb popped above her head, Gwen gave her a book before she parted with her! Yes! that book!. She got up on jer feet running to her trunks, "Where is it? where is it?" she repeated as she kept rummaging inside it biting her lower lip. "There you are!" her eyes shone like thousand stars, she finally found it, it was wrapped with a piece of red cloth, she unfolded it with sheer excitement wondering what it contained.
However ..... upon seeing the book cover she staggered back and swallowed "The ... the ...the art of seduction?" she covered her mouth once the words escaped her lips, she felt like she committed a grave sin mantioning the name of the book.That best friend of hers is surely perverted minded! how could she give her such book? she felt sinful event to open it and just kept it back inside the trunk, she shook her head fanning her face with her hand, "Ah.... why is it so hot here?" she went to gulp down a glass of water.
Since she already dismissed her maids she was all alone inside her room and she was grateful that the whispers has given her a retirement for a while, she haven't heard from them since morning. Still the question of why they appeared kept challenging her mind.
Later on she decided to read her romance book, laying ok jer bed facing the ceiling, she raised the book higher to her view and the next second she got drawn to it, her black hairs scattered on her bed.
Levyndrion was confined by Maria, he won't be going out of his study room until he agrees to go and sleep with his wife tonight "Maria please" he pleaded, he could do anything he wanted as a King and nobody could stop him or judge his decisions but this woman, this old woman is a very important person for him, he respect her so much. If it were someone else blocking his way .... he would've chopped their heads off and walk away. "No! not a chance my King! there are rumours all over the castle that the Queen is incomplete that is why you haven't slept with her until now! Okay! forget about those rumours Levyndrion .... have you ever thought about that poor girl? You are ruining her image! once the news reaches her ears... how much hurt do you think she would be?" she paused catching her breath before continuing again "Think about her! think about Ximpton's future and just go sleep with her! The poor girl is not at peace at all aren't you feeling bad for her? She just came from a life and death attack for heaven sake! the least you can do is to give her peace and your love Levyndrion!" Maria was too serious that he got all of his attention on her, like a mother scolding her son for doing something without her permission.
Levy looked at a side for a while and sighed, after a longtime of contemplating he finally agreed due to his respect for her, he actually also felt bad for Audrey after being taunted by Maria. "Fine! ... I'll go ... I can't believe my own wife is sending me to another woman! What a world were living in nowadays!" he teased her, Maria's frown fell fell smiled at him, fixing his robe "If it's Queen Audrey the I'm willing to give you up" she said and whacked his head "Ouch! Maria!" this woman's hand are still so hard even now that she has much grown older. "Be good to her Levyndrion, she is going through a lot" said Maria persing her lips, Levy bend down and kissed her forehead "I will .... stop worrying Maria" he assured her with a smile, the smile only few gets to witness.
Audrey was so lost in her novel that she lost track of time, she got up looking outside the window form her bed, the sky were too dark with couple of stars twinkling. She stretched her body and a bug yawn followed, reaching her feet to the floor she litted up more candles and lamps in her room, something that her maids were supposed to do but then she strongly ordered them not to return today. Some minor tasks like these won't hurt her, she then lit up the fireplace humming as she squatted down, suddenly a cold wind with a whisper came to hit back for nth time, she quickly turned to the window 'Come to me!' it was such a peaceful day until this moment, she pouted crying with no tears and went to sit in her bed warily. Her gaze fixed on the open window where the stupid whisper came from her heartbeats increasing and a thin line of sweat formed in her forehead, she felt a shiver in her skin, this would be the first time she was so scared if the unknown.