Queen of Hidden Evils (Chapter I)
✒️ Maegor × Toxic OC wife
✒️ Summary: Maegor needs to find a new wife since his existing wives have failed to provide him an heir. He sends a proposal to a lesser lordly house of the Crownlands, asking the hand of the Lord's widowed sister. Maegor has heard very little about that woman but what really matters for him is the fact that, she has a ten year old daughter and hence, her fertility is proven.
✒️ Trigger warning: Mature content
✒️ Next part: Chapter II
The Red Keep :
“And whom do you suggest this time, Grand Maester?” King Maegor said reluctantly. He was getting quite tired of marrying again and again but he made sure no one knew that.
“Your Grace, if it pleases you, I would suggest Lady Lucinda Rosby,” Grand Maester Benifer replied.
Stroking his beard, Maegor said, “Lucinda Rosby? I have never heard much about her.”
“She is a woman of proven fertility, Your Grace,” Grand Maester Benifer said. “She has a ten years old daughter.”
“She is a widow, I suppose. Her husband was the elder brother of the current Lord Stokeworth, who died in a hunting accident,” Maegor said, trying to recall the events.
“Ser Bennard Stokeworth was a brave man, Your Grace. He was fond of riding horses and hunting. Unfortunately, that took his life just two years after his marriage. He left behind a three month old daughter and a grieving young wife. Her Ladyship was only eight and ten when she was widowed. She has been a widow ever since,” Grand Maester said.
Maegor looked at him and remarked, “A quite devoted woman or perhaps quite picky.”
“What are the orders for me, Your Grace? Shall I send a raven to Lord Rosby or perhaps a messenger?” Grand Maester asked.
“Send a messenger, Grand Maester. Ravens are comparatively less impressive. Who knows? That picky lady of the Rosbys might find that raven ugly and drive it away without reading the message,” Maegor said with a tone which certainly did not reveal whether he was being sarcastic or serious.
The Grand Maester paid his respects and left the king's chamber.
Maegor stood up a while later and arrived at Queen Rhaena's chamber.
“Beloved Niece!” Maegor exclaimed.
“Not at all beloved Uncle!” Rhaena responded back with an equally enthusiastic tone to mock him.
Maegor grabbed her waist as she tried to wriggle away. He whispered into her ears, “Don't you think that you are being too insolent, my dear wife?”
Rhaena mocked him by saying, “How do you expect me to talk to a kinslayer and usurper?”
“We could have been the most powerful king and queen the seven kingdoms have ever seen. You could have been a good wife to me and given me a son or a daughter or both. And yet, you choose to provoke me, mock me and dig your own grave,” Maegor said tightening his grip on her waist.
Rhaena replied, “I do not want any of that.”
“What do you want then?” Maegor almost screamed.
Rhaena said, “Nothing from you.”
Maegor let go of her. Rhaena took a deep breath and saw her uncle approaching her. She was scared as her uncle was unpredictable and crueler than anyone she had known.
“Do you think that you would have a better life without me?” Maegor asked. “You resent me for sending away your whores whom you call companions. But do you think that oaf of your brother would have allowed that? That fool tried to fight against me atop a dragon which wasn't even half the size of my dragon. You think that he could have kept you happier? You wish for me to die, don't you? You do not wish to give me a child. Isn't that why you have been secretly taking moon tea and poisoning your womb? I know everything. But I stayed silent because I love you and because you are my blood.”
“That is all a lie. You do not love me. You do not love anyone but yourself,” Rhaena said, spitefully.
Maegor replied angrily, “Foolish woman! Do you know what will happen to you if I die today? I made you the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms but if I die today, you will no longer be the queen. You will not be the Queen Mother either, for you have given me no child which I can call mine. If I die, your brother Jaehaerys will be the king and perhaps your sister Alysanne will be the queen or whichever daughter of lickspittle your mother chooses. You will have nothing. No one will care for your opinions anymore and no one will respect you the way they do now. My own mother forged the Seven Kingdoms along with my father, with fire and blood. And yet, when your father was the king, she had no choice but to see her kingdom almost perish into nothing. What have you done compared to her? Your fate will be much worse.”
“Is that why you came here? To remind me of how great you are and how lucky I am to be alive and have you as my husband?” Rhaena asked him with tears in her eyes.
“Oh no, certainly not,” Maegor said. “I came here to tell you that I have decided to take another wife. I have already sent the proposal.”
“And who is that unlucky woman?” Rhaena asked.
“Lady Lucinda of House Rosby,” Maegor replied.
Rhaena burst into laughter on hearing the name.
Confused, Maegor asked her, “What happened? What is the matter?”
“If you hadn't killed that Pentosi witch, she would have certainly told you how her husband died. You do not know that, do you?” Rhaena said, laughing.
Maegor said, “He died in a hunting accident.”
Rhaena laughed again and said, “Things people say to keep their honour. One of my previous companions was Samantha Stokeworth, the younger sister of her husband, Ser Bennard Stokeworth. She told me something that you do not know.”
“And what is that?” Maegor asked.
“Apparently, her husband had a lowborn paramour. Lady Lucinda had that wench killed, and her head and entrails served to her husband when he was about to break fast on the morrow, while on his hunting trip. Ser Bennard was horrified when he saw his paramour's severed head wrapped in her entrails, and died of shock in his tent,” Rhaena said with an evil smile on her face. “I wish you luck, Uncle. I am sure she is the perfect wife for you.”
Rosby Castle :
Lady Prunella Stokeworth, a maid of ten, was the only Stokeworth living in the Rosby Castle. Lady Rosby used to think that it might be more proper if she lived in the Stokeworth Castle with her people but as the girl grew older, that thought vanished. The girl though comely, did not even possess a quarter of the beauty that her mother and Lady Rosby's goodsister, Lucinda Rosby did. However, Prunella seemed lovely enough to Lady Rosby. As a matter of fact, she had even convinced Lady Lucinda to get Prunella betrothed to her son.
It was another evening when Lady Rosby was having a chat with Prunella in her chamber.
“Aunt, is it true that the king wishes to marry my mother?” Prunella asked Lady Rosby.
Lady Rosby said, “It is true, little one. A messenger arrived this morning with a letter from His Grace. If we agree, he intends to wed her two moons later.”
“Will Uncle agree to this?” Prunella asked.
“Oh my sweet summer child, it is not really a proposal. It is an order and your uncle cannot defy it. However, we have to convince your mother as well,” Lady Rosby replied.
Just then, Lady Lucinda entered the chamber. She had just returned from the Castle Sept.
“May I join?” Lucinda asked.
“Sure. Let me pour you a cup of wine,” Lady Rosby said.
Prunella asked her mother, “Mother, have you heard about the proposal that came from the king?”
“I have,” Lucinda replied without a visible expression on her face.
“Are you going to reject the proposal?” Prunella asked.
Lucinda chuckled and said, “Foolish girl! Why would I refuse to become the queen?”
..
..
..
..
To be continued
