When the women were about to depart, Grace hugged them at the front stairs. "Thank you so much for coming. You made my day."
"We will do such gathering every week," Georgia said pulling back.
"Yes," Angela agreed. "Next week, it will be my house. I am sure the angry people would calm by then."
Though she didn't think so, Grace nodded nonetheless.
"And if they didn't, we would again come here to visit."
That made Grace smile widely.
After her friends left, Grace walked again to the gardens alone. How nice it felt to have such friends one could gossip, laugh and share burdens with.
Even though she was a princess, Grace was hardly ever allowed to go out and make friends even with royal girls. She used to talk to her maids but they were changed frequently and Willian also was a young boy working hours and hours in stables. Grace was only able to call Oliver her friend because his father was friends with her father. They used to visit the Runecliff palace frequently and that was the only Grace was could to meet him. Other than him, there was nobody. Maids used to change frequently and Willian also was a young boy. Her whole life was spent within palace walls. But now she was discovering the world, its people. That made her feel different, powerful and happy.
As she walked towards the last wing of the palace, she heard some voices. Instintively, she tried to hear them, thought it wasn't her intention, and walked closer.
"...That wouldn't play well on the king's image."
The talk was about Dorian and now Grace wanted to hear it. Manners could be hidden for a moment. Seeing the big tree, she hid close to it.
"I know, but we are nobody to adivse him." This was another voice and Grace recognised it.
Mr. Kit.
"He would hear you, Kit. You must speak. It's the matter of lives," the first voice said.
The gravity of the voice indicated that the talk was serious. What was that matter of lives?
Again, Mr. Kit spoke. "She is his wife. I cannot ask a husband to forgive the people who tried to kill his wife."
Grace's heart turned cold. They were talking about her. And it seemed Dorian was about to do something to the people who attacked her yesterday. Did he arrest them? How was he going to punish them?
"But the punishment he had planned would probably create a havoc among his people."
Grace couldn't wait hearing that and she walked around the tree, to the open door where the two men were talking. They froze seeing her and then bowed their heads. "My queen!"
Grace had not seen the other man before who was with Mr. Kit but she didn't bother to ask. With worried expression, she turned to Mr. Kit. "What is the king planning to do, Mr. Kit?"
The bodguard did not want to tell that to her. He looked here and there, avoiding Grace's gaze.
But if it was a matter that she was a part of, then Grace would want to know. "Mr. Kit, you do think that whatever Dorian is planning to do will create a havoc among his people, don't you?"
The bodyguard met her gaze. "I am no one to speak on the doings of my king."
"And does your loyalty extend to your queen as well? The wife of your king?"
He bowed down. "Of course, my queen."
Grace held up her chin. "Then tell me what he is planning."
The bodyguard ran a hand through his long hair which was held by a band behind his neck. Finally, he sopke, "He is burning the one who hit you with the stone."
Grace chocked on the air she breathed. She couldn't believe that Dorian would punish the person who'd hit her this harshly. He had told her that he would kill that person but Grace through it was the outcome of momentary fury. She never would have imagined that he meant it.
And if he did burn that person, then it would make him a ruthless king in the eyes of his people. Every good thing he had done for them, every benefit he had provided would be forgotten and he'd be judged only on this one act. The act where he revenged for his wife whom his people hated. Grace would not let her husband degrade himself in his people's eyes. And she obviously would not be the reason.
"Take me to him," Grace said to Mr. Kit.
The bodyguards thick brows wrinkled. "My queen?"
"I said take me to my husband," she repeated in a stern voice.
Mr. Kit did not reply for a while, lost in thoughts. Grace could see his frown straightening as he must have concluded that she could stop his king from doing the wrong thing. "Yes, my queen," he said and strode to the stables.
Throughout the carriage ride, Grace tried to think of a way she would convince Dorian to stop but none came to her mind. They were married but for few couple of days and she didn't have much influence on him. But she was determined to stop him anyway. As she saw outside the carriage, the route was the same she had taken to go to Angela's home. And her vehicle stopped just between the fields of heathers, the spot where she had been attacked.
Opening the door, Mr. Kit held her hand as she climbed down. People were gathered in large number - commoners, ministers everyone. What was Dorian planning to do?
"Come this way, my queen," Mr. Kit took her away from the people, all the way securing her from eyes of everyone. He made her stand under a tree from where she saw a man tied to a plank. She didn't remember seeing him ever before. His hands and legs were tied with shackles from behind the plank. Sweat flowed from his trembling body and he was crying like anything.
"Spare me, my king," the man cried. "I will live my life worshipping the queen!"
"You should have done that before." Dorian's voice rang but Grace couldn't see him anywhere. She craned her neck trying to spot her husband.
A few number of people moved aside somehow and she caught a glimpse of Dorian, standing just a few feet away from the tied man. He was dressed in an impeccable white and grey suit. Though he was standing liesurely with his hands in his pockets, he looked every bit authorative. No wonder men were scared of him and certainly no wonder women loved him. He was a perfect balance of wrath and charm.
To see him more clearly, Grace stepped ahead ignoring Mr. Kit's requests to stay away from people.
"This is a message to everyone," Dorian announced, "who tries to even think of harming my wife. He or she would be punished with the most painful death sentence."