The Throne Is Mine
Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Chapter 48

"I’ve learned quickly from being sent off to meet Killian Bune that you do not care about my wellbeing and nothing I say will reach your ears. Why should I continue to argue with you, father? You will not feel bad for me if I cry my eyes out so I will keep in everything that I am feeling. Please sit now so that we can all eat. There is a pregnant woman at the table," said Amelia.

"Have you accepted the arranged marriage?" Annabelle questioned in disbelief. She never expected this outcome from Amelia. It was not as much fun as she had been expecting. ’At least I got what I wanted. She’ll no longer be around the castle by the end of the month.’

"I do not want to be married and sent away but what can I do to change his mind? Right now, I am hungry and this talk is prolonging me from getting something to eat. After we eat, we can consider getting into our usual arguments and then go our separate ways. I wouldn’t smile so much Annabelle," Amelia commented on the smile Annabelle could not stop from spreading across her lips. "He might do the same to your little princess."

"You," Annabelle bit her tongue since Margaret was present in the room. "We have no idea what the gender of my baby is but we’re hoping for a boy. Do not ruin my first pregnancy, Amelia."

"Princess Amelia," Margaret corrected Annabelle. "Only royalty can comfortably refer to each other without royals. Amelia is your princess."

"Annabelle is family, mother. There is no need for her to use titles," Richard sat back down in his seat.

"Oh please," Margaret rolled her eyes. "The child in her stomach is hardly family so what makes you think she is? Honestly Richard, what more will you destroy? Our kingdom has not had a slave trade for years but under your ruling, it has formed again. I am hearing you wish to name her child your heir if it is a boy. We have never placed an illegitimate child on the throne."

"The king and I will wed therefore our child will be a legitimate heir. There is no need for you to be concerned about that, Lady Margaret," Annabelle smiled but beneath the table, she was gripping her dress. She was carrying the next king and yet she was being treated like an outsider.

"Is that what you have been filling up her head with? Dreams about marriage, son? You need a history book, my dear. Blackwell kings do not marry their mistresses. You may bear him a son or two but he will find a true queen from a prominent family. You will never sit on the throne," Margaret confidently spoke.

She saw many women in Annabelle’s position when her husband ruled. They all had the same delusion that the king would get rid of his wife and make them the queen instead. What they got, in the end, was thrown out of the castle when the king no longer admired their beauty.

"It only takes one king to change everything, Lady Margaret. I am no longer the mistress but the mother of his child and the king has promised to make me his queen."

"You can be his queen, just not the one to sit by his side and rule this kingdom. You thought this love you share with my son was enough for us to look past your status or lack of status I should say. Why do you think we have been going around to families to find an eligible woman to become the new queen?" Margaret asked.

’I wasn’t aware of this,’ Amelia looked at Margaret wondering why this news wasn’t shared with her. She only knew her father had been seeing other women behind Annabelle’s back to guarantee he had his little prince.

"What?" Annabelle turned to Richard for an explanation. He gave her a promise she would become queen so that their son would be a legitimate heir. She no longer wanted to be referred to as his mistress. She no longer wanted anyone to question her presence at a simple dining table. ’Was he planning on taking my son and having some other woman to raise him while I sit on the sidelines?’

’There goes one suspect. I wouldn’t mind if she kills him before I do,’ Amelia picked up a grape from the table and placed it in her mouth. For some reason, the grape tasted sweeter as she listened to the drama.

"It’s complicated, Annabelle. Remember the doctor said not to stress yourself out," said Richard.

"Why didn’t they advise her to stay away from you?" Amelia muttered then placed another grape in her mouth. She wanted to tell Annabelle she told her this would happen but Annabelle was certain she would be the one to change the king.

"We will talk about it when we return to our room-"

"That’s surprising. You love talking about my business publicly. I envy what special privileges your mistress has, father. Can we eat now that we have all argued with each other? I am going to miss this. Perhaps my husband’s family is as chaotic as mine. Is he, father?" Amelia smiled, waiting for her father to give a response.

"Have you lost your mind, Amelia? Did something happen while she was out of the castle, mother? Did she drink?" Richard couldn’t find an answer to why Amelia had just accepted she would be sent away. He wanted her to beg. To plead with him just once. To admit she was wrong for always going against him. He wanted her to sit quietly and be thankful for the life she had.

"You’ve always wished for her to do as you say and now that she is doing exactly that you have a problem with it. What is it that you are expecting from her?" Margaret shook her head. "And you," she tapped the table with her finger to get Annabelle’s attention. "You have seen how he treats his child but you are willing to bring another one into this world?"

"He treats her like that because she has no use and defies his orders. My son will be treated as a prince should be," Annabelle confidently spoke. Why should Richard waste his time giving love to someone who could not take the throne?