Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 194: Shift in power (4)

Althea remained composed, though she was insulted. She was not like the other women Edward took to his bed. She was chosen to be queen because of her family name and because Edward was drawn to her beauty.

"I was not a whore, and it is not a lie you should speak of before a lady like Freya. Despite her title, she was raised in a reputable family. I have come to have a word with Freya," said Althea.

Sebastian laid back down to make himself comfortable. "Surely you don’t lack manners to barge in here and disturb my time with my woman. Didn’t I tell you to leave these duties to my future queen? You don’t have control over Freya."

"Until she bears your last name, these will be my duties. Freya has not attended the gatherings I have arranged in the palace. She is being disrespectful, not only to me, but to the entire royal family. As your mistress, she must make an introduction to the town," Althea said.

"The town is familiar with the daughter of Lord Valthorn. You must be honest and say you want to take your anger out on her. I urge you to be at my father’s side, given the state of his health. He could die at any moment. My poor father," Sebastian placed his hand on his chest.

"Your father will recover from this, and when he does, he will look into what you have done while he was ill. You are the crown prince, so the throne will one day belong to you, but with your attitude, there are not many men who support it," Althea said, sharing what others said.

"The opinions of others do not matter to me. They will either bow their heads or lose it. I suppose you will say that it is your son who has the support of the men in the palace," said Sebastian.

"No. No one thinks of my son being on the throne. We all think of the kind of king you would be. It might disappoint the kingdom to know that while your father is sick, you lie here with a woman," Althea said, sparing Freya a glance. "A woman who is not your wife."

"You should be more concerned about how I view you. Go back to my father’s side," Sebastian ordered Althea.

"With all due respect, you are not yet the king. I rule the palace as the queen, and I have to speak to Freya. Please leave us, or if you want to rest, I shall take her out of the chamber," Althea suggested.

"No," Freya answered in place of Sebastian. "I will not be going anywhere with you. My duty is to serve the crown prince. You should do as he said and find your way back to the king."

"It would be in your best interest to stay out of my conversations with the prince. Prince Sebastian can avoid punishment, but you cannot. Must I bring back the priest to help you?" Althea asked, tempted to drag Freya by her hair to the chapel in the palace.

Freya smiled as she moved to Sebastian’s side. She sat down on the bed and caressed his face. "Stay if you wish, but you might witness an indecent act. Perhaps that is why you hate it. I have the prince’s attention while you struggle to get the king to notice you."

"I would rather my husband ignore me than be known as a mistress. Since you are busy, I will entertain your in-laws. I urge you to be fast," Althea said before walking away.

Althea grabbed a handful of her dress as she walked out of the chamber.

It infuriated Althea to hear Freya’s laughter behind her as if she had won a battle.

Althea was already worried about her and her children’s safety with Edward falling ill, and now Freya was acting like she was above her.

"You there!" Althea called one of her maids. "I want my children to gather in my chamber. Now!" She yelled.

Althea feared her time in the palace would soon come to an end with Edward falling sick. She suspected Sebastian had a role in Edward’s state, but she didn’t have the proof, and no one wanted to help her for fear of earning Sebastian as an enemy.

’He’ll come after my children,’ Althea thought.

Althea knew not to think of Sebastian as a man who would spare his half-siblings. He would be cruel to kill both of them.

’I cannot depend on the Valthorns,’ Althea thought, trying to list families who would be on her side.

Althea knew that Sebastian wasn’t loved by his subjects because of his attitude and how quickly he was to kill anyone who wasn’t in support of him. They were simply afraid of Sebastian.

"My son should be king," Althea whispered.

She had not endured many hardships only for her children to be killed and to lose control of the palace.

"Lord Hastings must be called to the palace right away," Althea instructed the guard behind him. "Send a letter to the Hastings’ castle. Say that the queen is requesting Lord Hastings’s presence. I’m sure the crown prince has only sent word to the Valthorns."

"If you value your life, you would carry out this order quickly and quietly," Althea whispered.

Althea didn’t mind Sebastian wasting away his time in bed with Freya anymore. He needed to stay distracted whilst she created an opening to get rid of him.

Sebastian could have the Valthorns. Althea was going to lean on what she considered to be the stronger side and put her son on the throne. Then, instead of getting rid of Freya, she would have Freya serve her for the rest of her days.

Althea walked back to her chamber. There was no use in putting on an act by being at Edward’s since Sebastian made his intentions clear.

Edward was going to die soon, and all Althea could do now was prepare for it.