Chapter 7: Marathon couple

Jamie taught herself how to pick the lock when she was still a little child in Namura. It was the only way she could get away from her first maid, who also happened to be her nursemaid when she was a baby. Marge was a large, stout woman who rolled whenever she walked like she was a round stone. Among the numerous lady's maids that served the second princess, Marge was the only one who came close enough to taming the princess, but not quite. Jamie forced one of the men servants to provide her with the necessary accessories that were needed to pick a lock and spent weeks learning until she perfected her unusual skill. It took Jamie about five seconds to unlock the door that King Alexander had locked earlier. Pulling her hair up, she tied it together with a hair band to stop unwarranted attention to her person. When she stepped. Outside, Jamie was surprised by the two guards who were posted outside the king's chamber. "Your majesty, the door was locked". "Was it? It must be broken. Come take a look, please." Jamie stepped back inside, luring the king's guards in with her. Five minutes later, they were neatly tied to the footboard of the king's bed with gags made out of their clothes. "Try not to scream and interrupt my escape, it will only make me tighten the gags. And tell that lunatic king of yours, he should not set foot in Namura, or I will respectfully take off his head." Jamie disarmed them but was disappointed when she couldn't find a concealed blade to take with her. She simply fled. King Alexander sat in the council meeting without participating much. For some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about his new feisty bridewhot seemed to elicit such strong reactions from his body. He must have been mad when he promised her to ignore her during their wedding night. It was a pure, ludicrous promise he plans to find a way to wiggle out of. The thought of her body almost sent him into a trance of his own making. Heregretted undressing her while she was still passed out. And now, he had her whole body memorized, and it was going to hunt him for the rest of his life. To be so close to a woman he desired, but unable to touch or act on his feelings. The beast in him had been quiet for quite some time, like he was giving him the silent treatment for making such a stupid promise. "Your highness? King Alexander?" It took Alexander a considerable amount of time to realize he had been asked a question. He had no idea what the question was or how to start answering it. "Is something bothering our king?" Lord Andrews inquired of the next nobleman sitting beside him. "I am fine. This meeting is adjourned", King Alexander said dismissively. "Yes, his highness, but what shall I write to the Queen Eileen of Ko? " The oldest nobleman asked his king. Alexander stared blankly at Lord Ripley. He had no idea why he was the Queen of Koi in a conversation. "Remind me again why we were discussing the Queen of Koi?" "As you already know, some of Koi's peasant hunters had been hunting in the western hemisphere. Which was a clear violation of the treaty we had with the Eastern hemisphere, and you asked for the Kingdom of Koi to be punished, your majesty," Lord Ripley answered with a puzzled expression. "What punishment did I ask to be melted out to their Queen?" King Alexander was treating the matter like he was just hearing of it for the first time. "You asked for her head to be brought to you, his highness." "I did? Huh, I am guessing I gave those orders a day before the full moon, didn't I?" "Yes, Milord. If memory serves me right, then yes," Lord Ripley answered. Ed, "The Queen of Koi is asking for a marriage alliance instead. She also agreed to abdicate if you agree to spare her subjects and be willing to rule Koi with a fair hand" "Tell Queen Eileen, I respectfully decline her offer for marriage. Aradale already has a Queen. This meeting is over." Lord Ripley looked confused. He needed clarification, but he didn't want to get on the king's bad side. "Milord, does that mean you still require the head of Queen Eileen of Koi?" "Why would I require her head? No…Queen Eileen can keep her head, and Lord Ripley, send our best fruits and livestock to Queen Eileen with my dearest apology for threatening her head." 3 "Milord?" Lord Ripley looked even more confused now. "Lord Ripley, do you need me to repeat myself?" "No, Milord." The puzzled council bowed and departed from the king's presence. Alexander stood up from the throne and walked over to the window to look out. He needed to have a conversation with himself, mostly. "Max, are you there? Max!" Alexander yelled in his mind, calling his beastly side. "I am here! Stop yelling," the beast in him replied. So he was giving Alexander the silent treatment. "Did you order the head of the Queen of Koi? Have you gone mad, Max?" "I am your wolf! It's my job to protect what is mine! Queen Eileen crossed our territory to hunt in our lands. I asked for her head, Alexander." "I know, according to our curse, I can't control you two days in a month, a day before the full moon and during the full moon, but you can't go about asking for people's heads without my say so. If you do it again, I will cage you, Max. Remember how much you hate the cage?" "Mine!" "No, Max! Listen to me." "She is running away. My mate is running away." "She is human, Max. She can't possibly be your matee." "She is mine!" Max growled Alexander looked out the window, ow, and then he saw her. he reached inside his pocket, and he could still feel the keys he used to lock the door. How was she able to ride away from the castle on his horse?