The King's Mistress

Chapter 175: Pushing Limits

"I know you have every reason to be mad at me but..." he stopped speaking, realizing Sierra had not said a single word.

"Sierra?" He called out to her as he looked down.

She looked up at him and cupped his face with her free hand, "I’m glad you’re here."

"What?"

"I was worried you would not come," she confessed as she averted his gaze.

She led him into the house.

"That would never happen. I swear-"

She placed her hand on his mouth, "No need to swear. I believe you."

She sat him down at the table, showing the spread she had prepared. She knew he was hungry. When she rested her head on his chest, she could also hear the echoing rumbles of his tummy.

"You must be hungry, let’s eat," she beckoned to him as she poured him a glass of wine.

The way she acted worried Alistair. He had expected her to be angry. He half expected her not to speak to him because of it. Yet she was the same as always.

"You’re really not mad at me?" He asked, as she placed a slice of meat on his plate.

Sierra paused for a moment and looked up at him. She slowly shook her head.

"What’s there to be mad about?" She mused.

She did not realize it then, but that was just the beginning. Things were going to transpire into something bigger.

~

"My apologies, Queen Roxine," Sierra curtsied and lowered her head as she stood before Roxine.

Since she had become Alistair’s Paramount, on alternate days, she along with the other concubines would have morning tea with Roxine. On this particular day, Sierra arrived a little late.

She was sweating profusely and panting for air as she spoke. The carriage that was supposed to bring her to the gardens for morning tea never arrived. Knowing she would be late, she rode on horseback instead.

"Tardiness is unacceptable, Paramount Sierra," Consort Agnes remarked without even glancing over to her, "Even someone of your position should know that."

The remarks stung like a slap on the face. Sierra bit her lip as she lifted her head and walked over to take her seat at the round table. Looking down at the freshly poured cup of tea set before her, she had half a mind to dowse Agnes with it.

But she kept her calm and a small smile on her face, "You’re right, Consort Agnes. Thank you for your invaluable teachings, I will take them to heart."

Roxine could see it in Sierra’s eyes. She would have ripped Agnes to shreds if she could.

"Is everything alright at your estate?" Roxine turned to ask Sierra, hoping it would help take her mind off Agnes.

Sierra turned her attention to the queen, "All is well, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern. The carriage that was to pick me up didn’t arrive, so I rode here on Midnight."

"Maisie," Cassandra called her maid over, "Where’s the perfume spritz?"

"Right here, your Highness," Maisie replied as she held out a small perfume bottle in her hands.

Agnes smirked. She pretended to sniff the air, then cringe and pinch her nose. It was clear to everyone at the table that she was indicating someone at the table smelled. It was clear who she was referring to, Sierra.

"Consort Cassandra, you’re too kind, Sierra, you should be grateful that Cassandra would even let you..."

Sierra knew instantly what Agnes was insinuating. The ’act’ she had put up was clear for all to see. Agnes insinuated that she smelled bad because she rode on horseback to attend the morning tea.

She didn’t want to let the anger get to her head, but it was getting increasingly difficult when Agnes kept pushing her buttons. Sierra turned to Cassandra and politely asked if she could borrow it.

"Of course," Cassandra said as she handed it to her.

It was never her intention to ridicule Sierra with it. She had it brought to her so that she could offer it to Sierra if needed. But Agnes simply wanted to cause a scene. She was surprised when Sierra asked for it, but what she never expected was what she did next.

With the perfume bottle in hand, Agnes was still talking. But Sierra didn’t hear any of it. She turned to Agnes and spritzed her with the perfume instead. Roxine did her best to stifle her laughter when she realised what Sierra had done.

Cassandra, on the other hand, raised her eyebrows in amusement. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

The look of horror on Agnes’ face was too good to be true.

Agnes slammed her hand down on the table in anger. She pointed at Sierra as she yelled.

"Paramount Sierra! What did you do that for?!"

Sierra did not even bother looking at her. After spritzing herself with it, she returned the perfume bottle to Cassandra. Then, she casually picked up her cup of tea.

"I think you needed it, that is all," she responded carefully, savoring the moment.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Agnes raising her hand. She was about to slap Sierra across the face but she was quicker. She grabbed hold of her hand and glared at Agnes.

"What do you think you’re doing, Consort Agnes?" Sierra asked.

Before Agnes had a chance to reply, Roxine stepped in.

"That’s enough," she said sternly as she glared at the both of them.

Sierra immediately released Agnes’ hand. The consort immediately began to lick her wounds. Tears were already at the corner of her eyes. She was just about to let out a whimper and perhaps beg the Queen to stand on her side when Roxine raised her hand to stop her.

"Consort Agnes, I think you’re a little under the weather this morning. You have my permission to leave," Roxine said without even looking at her.

Agnes was stunned. The color drained from her face.

"But Your Highness, I-"

She didn’t even get a chance to speak. Miss Marionne stood between Agnes and Roxine.

"Consort Agnes," Miss Marionne lowered her head and held out her hand, signaling for the consort to take her leave.