#PrayForManchester🙏
Torrance Coombs as Victor Noel
Enjoy this chapter!

The news of Queen Caroline's arrival did a great job by changing Braith's mood. He was happy to finally see his queen after a long time.

He left his room and started to walk towards the Main hall.
Queen Caroline Stanhope, Braith's first wife and his first love too.
He was captivated by her charm. It was love at first sight. Her gestures, those eyes, her smile  but above all was her love for power which attracted him. Braith thought, Caroline was the only person in his life who understood his hunger for jurisdiction and power.

Queen Caroline was away for a couple of weeks due to her father, the Lord of Ireland's ill health. The people of Ireland breathed in free air. It was all because of Queen Caroline. Because of his love for Caroline, Braith didn't imposed any of his rules on the province of Ireland. They lived under King Braith's rule but with a life of freedom.

Braith enters the Main Hall to see his beloved Queen. "Caroline." He says.

The Queen turns around to see Braith. She smiles, "Oh King! I missed you." She says hugging Braith.

"I missed my queen too. You smell delicious. I love this smell of jasmine." He whispers in her ear sending chills down her spine.

"This is not the right place, King." She says lowering her head to hide her blush.
He smirks at her gesture but then he notices a man standing at the doorways.

He was dressed in a robe fastened round the waist with long bands attached to the sleeves near the wrists. Some were fastened at the collar by a round buckle and two bands of stuff forming a kind of necklace. His blue eyes held no emotions suiting his stern look.

"Who is he?" Braith asked with gritted teeth not liking the person intruding their privacy.

"He?" Queen Caroline looks at the man and then at Braith and says," He is my bodyguard."

Braith furrows his eyebrows and asks,"Why do you need a bodyguard from Ireland when we have plenty of them here?"

Caroline gulps nervously and says,"Well, father wanted this. He is really capable and trustworthy."

Braith raises his eyebrow,"Will you introduce yourself now?"

"I am Victor Noel." He says bowing before the King."I am here to protect Queen Caroline, I won't disappoint you, King." He says with respect.

"That's good, but for now leave me and Queen Caroline alone." Braith says sliding his hand around Caroline's waist.

"Come, lets go Queen." He says walking towards his bed chamber dragging Caroline with him.
"King, can we go to some other bed chamber?" Caroline asks nervously.
"Why?" Braith asks confused.
"I wanted to sleep in the bedroom at the farthest corner of the hallways. It offers a good view." She says fiddling with her fingers.
Braith reluctantly agrees to the unsual request of his queen.

******

"Didn't you missed the palace Caroline?" Braith asks closing the door behind.

"Of course I did King." Caroline says smiling. Braith walks towards her and pulls her closer holding her by her waist. Caroline wraps her arms round his neck.

"We are all alone now, Caroline." He says biting her earlobe. She shudders at this contact. Braith guides her towards the bed and sat with Caroline by his side.

He was about to kiss her when she turns her head.
"I am too tired today King." She says standing up.
"You will regret this Caroline. You had a chance to win the King's heart." Braith says with a stern look on his face.

Caroline smiles, "I have already won that." She says placing her palm on Braith's chest.

Braith smirks and says,"Ok. We will play our game when you are not tired but energetic." He winks.

Caroline blushes at Braith's words.
Braith walks towards the door, glances at Caroline and smiles before opening the door to see the bodyguard standing outside.

"Don't you dare go inside the room without the queen's permission. Am I clear?" Braith says while glaring at him.

"Yes Your Highness." Victor says while bowing. Braith again smirks and leaves.

Victor pushes the door open to see Caroline standing before the mirror, deep in thought. "You should sleep now, Caroline."

She was startled by his sudden appearance. "Braith just ordered you to not to enter without my permission, Victor." She says angrily.

"Rules are made to be broken dear."

"Leave me alone right now. I need peace." Caroline says clenching her fists.

"You will never find peace here Queen. But sadly I will leave. Good night dear Caroline." He says while closing the door.

Caroline sighs and sits on the bed. She massages her forehead to ease her headache.

"God knows for how long will I be able to keep this as a secret." She says before lying on the bed, drifting in her sleep.

******

Everyone was sleeping in peace except Margeret. Tossing and turning didn't helped her ease her resentment.
She remembered what Leo had told her after the grand meeting....

"He is a man of bad temper, Margeret. If we have to defeat him, we must have a strategy for that. The fear he has imposed in the mind's of the innocent people is massive. It will take time to remove that." Leo says.

Margeret nods her head in acceptance. She was about to leave when Leo stops her,"By the way Margeret, tomorrow you have to visit some places here."

Margeret stops in her tracks and asks,"Why?"
"Braith has this habbit to boast about his kingdom, he wants the guests to know how great he is by letting people like us see his beautiful capital."

Margeret held a quizzical look on her face, "These are not your words."

Leo chuckles and says, "Of course. These are the words of their General, Mark. I was just repeating those."
Margeret smiles seeing Leo happy. He chuckled after what felt like eternity.

"I don't want the general accompanying us." Margeret says folding her hands over her chest.

"I can't assure you of that." Leo says with his stern look back on his face.
"You should sleep now Margeret. You might be tired." Leo says.

"Yes I am." Margeret says sighing. Leo smiles which Margeret gladly returns.

"See you tomorrow Queen Margeret." Leo says before bowing. "You don't have to bow before me. You are my teacher, Leo. It should be me who should do this."

"You are a queen, Margeret. Never forget that." Leo says keeping a hand on her shoulder.

Margeret smiles and makes her way towards her room.

Now here was Margeret struggling hard to sleep.
"I will enjoy the beauty of Bruges only if that Mark doesn't accompany me. I should have a plan to bring Braith down. Maybe this visit will lead me towards my goal." She says before closing her eyes never knowing when sleep engulfed her.

*******
Nobody knew of the dangers that were now lurking inside the walls of the palace.
He strolls in the hallways taking in his surrounding.  He touches the designs on the walls, he feels the softness of the curtains by his hands. He looks here and there when his eyes land on the huge painting of King Braith hanging on the wall of the hallways. He stands before the painting folding his hands behind.  He looks at the painting intently. He smiles devilishly while thinking
"Everything is going to change now. Soon the time will come when I will accomplish my plans."

What do you think of this chapter?  Any guesses who this mysterious guy is? Comment below👇 If you like the chapter don't forget to vote🌟🌟 comment and share!😍😍

Last but not the least, I wanna dedicate this chapter to SmitaShukla16 for being an amazing friend and a very talented author!
Till the next update bye!!