Bree didn't know why Yakov was refusing to leave, though she knew that it would be a bit far fetched for her to imagine that these consorts would happily accept her decision and take the divorce agreement with both hands and leave the palace while gleefully skipping. They should have at least accepted the renunciation of the claim when she was handing it to them? Were power and riches that important to them? Were they really that thirsty to have this throne? If that was the case, then it will be difficult for her to get rid of them.
When Bree was pondering over what to do, Dion who was standing behind her leaned down so that he was practically whispering in her ear. " Your majesty, I think you should listen to the ministers at the moment. I know you are upset with the consorts but if you were to break this mating bond with them, then I am afraid that the other aristocrats will start sending their sons to the palace with the hope that you will imprint on them. Renouncing your mates right now isn't the right move, it will shake the foundation of the royal family. And you know that neither of these mates of yours are well—— one to be offended. If their family broke relations with us at the moment, it will undoubtedly bring us a lot of trouble."
"You are right——" Bree cut off in between when she felt sudden gloomy and cold glares that were locked on her back, she turned around to look at the four consorts who were obediently kneeling with their heads down. She frowned, as she sharply glanced around the court, why was it she just felt a bloodthirst like never before aimed at her back? Was she imagining things?
" Your majesty?" Dion was peering down at her with a bemused expression, as he nervously looked around the courtroom along with Bree. " Is something the matter?"
Bree shook her head when she no longer sensed that murderous aura aimed at her. "It's nothing, but I get what you are trying to say…" Though she did want to let go of these ticking bombs, Bree was worried that if she were to let them go now that they have made it clear that they didn't want to leave then, she will be the one who will be taken as the bastard spouse here!
She glared at the four colourful heads and clenched her fists. Why don't you leave!!
Gahh!! She was so mad!
She impatiently tapped on the armrest as she glanced at the four kneeling consorts and asked again, " Are you sure you don't want to leave, if you refuse then you can forget to leave my side!"
Let's see if they will stay as unnerved as they were acting now, didn't they want to kill her for Harley? She will see how long they can pretend! That was what Bree thought but the answers of the four consorts were once again completely out of her expectations.
" I don't want to leave, your majesty."
" Where will I go, after leaving you, your majesty?"
" You are my soul, your majesty, I can never leave you."
" I don't dare to live a life without your majesty."
What? What?????? Were they mad? Or were they trying to drive her crazy?
Bree had to rein in her temper with all the control she had, as she glared at the four men who were sticking to her like sticky rice cakes! This time she not only cursed at them but also flipped the bird off at their faces in her head of course.
Fine, they want to stay? She will make them stay!
She casually kicked her legs and then crossed them at the ankles before leaning forward and intertwining her fingers and rested her chin on them. Then with the sweetest smile that she could muster, she looked at the four consorts. "Very well, since you refuse to accept the renunciation of your claims, then a punishment is necessary—— do you agree?"
The four naturally obliged.
'Cheh, this was what happens when someone falls too deep in greed' thought Bree inwardly as she clicked her tongue.
" Alright then, since the consorts have accepted their faults…. I will hand out the punishments—— Yakov Sceptre, for the lack of management, you will hand over the control of the Palace's harem as well as the key to the treasury."
" Ahmar Greco, you will hand over the token of the military medallion that I have given you—— you can't even take care of your personal life, how am I supposed to trust you to take care of the military power?"
" Blaise De Luca, since I have no power over the tower of magic, I can't punish you to hand your power——" at this moment, Blaise smilingly looked up and chimed.
" I mean you can, your majesty. I will happily hand over the reins of the tower of magic to you?"
His smile coupled with that gorgeous face of his created a disaster so fine that Bree had to nurse her eyes by opening and closing them again as she continued to remind herself, not to fall for the handsome bastard's trick and continued, " From now on I hereby declare that the tower of magic will have no relations with the palace and will no longer interfere with how things happen in the palace. Everything that comes from the tower of magic will be carefully inspected!"
" And, Cian Testa—— your melodies, I prohibit you from using them in the future unless I ask you to." Then Bree stood from her throne as she cast one final look at the four men and somewhat resentfully said, " and neither of you are allowed near my sleeping quarters, please remember and refrain from looking for me."
Then with a flick of her sleeves, she turned around and left behind her Dion closely followed. Neither of them looked behind that was why, they didn't see the clenched fists of the four consorts, and the veins that seemed to be close to popping.
——————————
" Lord Testa," Cian's aide and loyal servant Jesse followed after Cian who was humming silently since the Queen has forbidden him from singing out aloud. He worriedly looked at his master who was taking a walk in the garden of the roses, his fingers skimming over the petals of the freshly bloomed roses. " What are you going about lady Harley now that you have refused Queen's offer to renounce her claim."
Cian paused, his long cheery blossom hair fluttering in the air. As he turned to look at Jesse and smilingly asked, " What is that supposed to mean? Isn't that girl just a toy that I occasionally use to relieve my boredom? How can I give up my mate for her?"
Jesse blinked as he slowly reeled in what his master has said and then hurriedly stammered, " but master, you were planning to kill——" he lowered his voice, afraid that he would be heard by others and quickly glanced around when he saw that no one was there, only then he continued in a voice that was softer than before, " You were planning to kill the Queen?"
Cian didn't turn around this time, he simply looked at the space blankly and whispered softly, " isn't that for the best? I am already holding back with four assholes, but then she went ahead and started hooking up with this and that, if she was going to hook up with others, she might as well die, where no one will ever touch her." He turned around and he looked at Jesse with a weird gaze that was so dark and cruel that it made Jesse's toe curl up, and when he smiled with his hand clutching a rose until blood started to drip, it was like watching a demon ascend from hell. " and it's not like I can't bring her from the dead, Jesse…. If only she died, then I could have locked her up… all to myself."