Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 168: She Is My Mother.

Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.

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Salvadore with purposeful steps marched out of the premise as his mind welcomed a memory of the day he failed her.

"Your majesty, a lady asks for an audience with you" a maid had informed from the chambers making him groan.

"I assume she refused to give a name?" he prompted.

Before the maid could reply, Liza who was in bed with him spoke up. "Leave her outside, come here Your majesty" she invited.

"Shut up" Salvadore warned her through gritted teeth.

Liza shook her head in disagreement, she grabbed his sleeve and wailed. "Do not go to her, I am your love!"

He had been angry and disappointed because she was trying to manipulate him and he hated that. He turned to her with a scowl. "Just shut up, you might have been pure but you were far from innocent yet I... don’t cry" he trailed off when he saw her lips quivering, she was so manipulative but he would always let her win.

"You should go see what she wants" Liza finally said with a pout. She knew she shouldn’t push it and so he would stay willingly.

She smiled as he rubbed her lower lip.

"I shall be back" he promised with a frown before leaving.

He started down, rooms and corridors to where the mysterious lady was waiting.

She had looked slightly familiar but he knew no one this malnourished, he had believed so it must be wrong.

He had let her absorb his presence as she watched him from top to bottom.

"Speak" he had invited in a growl.

"I have a way we can destroy the mansion" she had declared in a promising tone and like the heartless man he was he had let her go and try her best.

He couldn’t believe now that he has caused so much pain to her. His spy had been really informed and safe until Theodore exposed him again.

The only reason Salvadore could tolerate himself was that Lydia lost the bastard he would have hated to death.

He sighed when he reached his chambers, Liza has been staying here with him, since he had brought her and she had the temerity to ask him not to come to her tonight.

Liza might be manipulative but she was the purest thing Salvadore had ever owned. And he was keeping it.

The maids kept their gaze locked with him, his figure and movement until he cleared his throat.

"Liza" Salvadore called from outside his chambers.

She gave no answer and he knew she was probably crying again.

"Leave this premises" he ordered the maids who quietly did as told.

"Liza my dear open the doors" he said softly because he knew she was listening

"No!. She screeched.

"Liza!" He barked, his fingers reaching for his hair but he dropped them quickly.

Soon the door swung open. "You hurt me" she whispered her eyes.

He felt his heart clench at the sight, he hated when she cried but she seemed to love it.

"You had to be proper out there!" Salvadore reasoned with her as he stepped inside.

Liza looked angered and distraught again. "I was! It is the stupid emotions, they just keep spiralling and..." she trailed off sobbing.

He stepped closer to her, their breath mingling. "And what, my dear?" he prompted.

"You let her call you by your name" she pointed out.

"I never said you could not" he lied through his teeth, he knew she wanted to call his name but he wasn’t ready for that.

He had accepted whatever magic she had casted on him but he wouldn’t let

"You never told me to, I wanted it but-" she started to hiccup and Salvadore took her face in his palm, he pressed a kiss to her lips before hugging her.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, his chin tight.

She shook her head. "No"

He nodded. He knew she was well fed, but she seemed to look pale all the same. "Sleep then, I need to go now" he told her.

She moved our of his arms, her head down and lips bit down. "She should call you Your majesty" she started.

He sighed. His eyes considerate yet condenseding. "No unreasonable requests Liza, are you okay?" he asked when he noticed her breathing change.

"I am pregnant" she deadpanned.

Salvadore faced her sharply, his eyes wide.

What has he done?

He shut his eyes and it dawned properly.

He was going to be a Father.

*

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*

Evening. Weeks Ago.

Statham Estate.

Critic Arley, Critic-ishire.

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"The King! ’King Salvatore Benjamin Rhuins’ is here" a guard in the Statham estate announced loudly after the doors swung open.

"The Emperor?!" Mira had screeched earning her a glare from their father who was not happy about the visit.

She smiled uneasily and embarrassed before spranging up "He’s here for me, I’m going upstairs to change, you receive him" she said to no one in particular as she rushed out of the dining room they’d all been eating.

"But..." Shi’Enz trailed off on whatever she was about to say.

"Why is he here?" Julius contemplated aloud, a frown marring his face.

They all stood up to meet him halfway.

"Good morning your majesty" Georgina wished with a smile, her hair in a simple updo.

"A good morning it is" Salvatore agreed, he physically looked tired and they were dark circles under his eyes but he stood straight.

"Come inside Your Majesty, we were having breakfast" Georgina invited the royalty.

"And she was dressed like that?" Salvatore asked pointing his index to the quickly dolled up Mira who just joined the standing family. She blushed while the family faced the king again.

Nobody answered.

"How was the trip here, Your Majesty" the marchioness asked, her voice polite.

"Your majesty I did not think you would be coming, you should have sent a letter" Mira said politely, her posture prim, her blush intact.

"I am not here for you Lady Mira" Salvatore grunted his eyes searching, Liza appeared from the corners, having left the kitchen late. Intentionally.

"Welcome Your Majesty" she said with a shot smile.

"Liza" the emperor whispered breathless "I am here for Liza Statham" he growled.

Julius straightened. "I beg your pardon?" he scowled.

"Pack your belongings, I am leaving with Liza" he said to her and everyone else, his voice had been final.

The Statham house became a mess after the king successfully left with perhaps his chosen bride now. They had hoped he would marry her.

Whatever Liza had done, it is strong because the emperor suddenly could not take his eyes off of her and now he has her. But it wasn’t strong enough to make him marry her.

*

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*

Evening.

Office, Citadel.

Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.

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In the dim chamber, Lord Theodore awaited Tom, his trusted spy guard in this Citadel.

He had arrived and Lydia was sleeping but he felt something was off, something must have happened so he sat waiting outside.

When Tom entered, he knelt and began his report. "Lord Theodore," he said, "Lady Theodore faced a bit of an unjust treatment at the royal house. She was ridiculed and mocked, her worthiness questioned."

Theodore’s anger surged. He knew something had happened.

He clenched his fists, leaning forward, his gaze fixed on Tom. "Prepare our forces," he commanded. "Those who insulted my wife shall answer to me."

With a determined nod, Tom rose before he realised with a frown, "It was a lady, lord Theodore," he announced shocking Theodore.

"Who?" He snarled, he had thought he could punish them but women were mostly untouchable to him.

"Princess Lilith of Willow-Shire" Tom informed.

"Lilith is leaving this kingdom" Theodore said pointedly. He had just arrived in Salvadores office and he wasn’t leaving with an answer.

Salvador remained calm but his eyes spoke differently, they was chaos there.

"Sandra can go along with her if she adores her so much" Theodore added.

"Or I am leaving and your invitations would never be honoured by me again" he threatened and this had Salvadore attempting to talk.

"Theodore-"

Theodore cut him off with a nod. "Okay, I assume you do not intend to send her back, You should marry her or is it the little whore you intend to marry?" Theodore doesn’t beat around the bush in asking all the questions.

"Liza is not a whore!" Salvadore snarled in defense.

Theodore scoffed. "Did you perhaps finally marry her?"

"You cannot leave Theodore, you also know we should not offend neighbouring kingdoms"

"Oh but we can afford to" Theodore claimed. They had defended their kingdom well enough and knew Winter-shire wasn’t a life saver for them.

"She is a princess of a kingdom with no prince!" Salvadore pointed out calculatively.

Theodore’s eyes narrowed. He was never leaving Critic Arley, or Lydia. "What are you insinuating? She should be there with her people, not here doing whatever she like"

"She wants you" Salvadore let out earning him a disgusted scowl from Theodore.

"And she will never have me, stop letting Sandra control your moves" he advised arrogantly.

"She is my mother!" Salvadore bellowed.

"My apologies" Theodore stood up readjusting his coat.

"Lilith should be out by morning or I shall have to do it myself" Theodore added confidently before matching out, leaving behind a humiliated Salvadore, Theodore hadn’t intended to humiliate him but if he felt so then Theodora believed it was not his fault but a weak leader.