I Became The Extra King With Seven Wives

Chapter 60: Bethia

"What a disappointment," I muttered, unceremoniously releasing his tunic and letting his massive body thud heavily against the splintered wood.

Did Roland truly select this miserable worm to be his spy simply because he was a corrupt scumbag?

I had expected far more from the man. If he was truly meant to be Roland’s chosen master of spies within the castle walls, this felt almost insultingly easy.

Overhearing him at the exact, perfect moment he was committing high treason by insulting me and fishing for royal secrets? He handed me his head on a silver platter.

But then again, the last thing a man like Baldric would have ever expected was for the King to be personally spying from the shadows of the scullery yard, much less barging through the front door. After all, I had never once set foot in this impoverished corner of the estate before today.

"Leilah, summon a Guard," I said without turning my head.

Leilah offered a curt nod and instantly vanished from the doorway.

I finally turned my full attention back toward the huddled masses of boys and girls cowering before me. Scanning the terrified crowd, my gaze eventually locked onto the familiar faces of Cedrik and Lyria.

"Cedrik. Lyria. Stand up."

They both flinched at the sound of their names, keeping their heads deeply bowed, but they hastily scrambled to their feet. I could already see fresh tears streaming down Lyria’s dirt-smudged cheeks.

"Come closer," I said.

They nodded weakly, shuffling forward. I could not help but notice with an amused smile how Cedrik positioned himself half a step ahead of Lyria, using his own body as a fragile shield.

He was acting precisely as a protective older brother should.

"Your Majesty..."

A fully armored Royal Guard rushed into the hall, halting dead in his tracks. He froze entirely, his eyes wide as he took in the shattered brickwork and the unconscious, bleeding form of the Royal Steward sprawled across the floorboards.

"Take this thing down to the deepest, darkest level of the royal dungeons immediately. I want him incarcerated. You are forbidden to feed him; he is to receive only a single, quarter-filled cup of water each day. The forced fast will do his gluttonous waistline some good," I ordered casually, delivering a trial kick to Baldric’s flabby stomach.

"Y—Yes, Your Majesty," the guard stuttered. Grunting with effort, he managed to haul the unconscious giant over his armored shoulder, preparing to drag him away.

"One more thing," I added.

"Your Majesty?"

When the guard glanced nervously over his shoulder, I offered him a chillingly calm smile.

"No one is permitted to see him or speak with him. You will post two loyal men to guard his cell at all hours. If you allow a single soul to slip inside that cell, I will execute your two guards right before your eyes... and then I will slowly sever both of your arms."

"Y—Your Majesty..." The guard swallowed hard, his face draining of color.

"I asked if you heard me. No one is allowed to see him," I repeated.

"Yes, Sire! It shall be done!" He barked in panic, immediately marching out of the hall as fast as the steward’s heavy bulk would allow.

I turned to follow him out into the sunlight, but paused when I realized Cedrik and Lyria were still standing frozen in the center of the ruined room, dumbfounded and frightened.

"Well? What exactly are you waiting for?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Snapping out of their stupor, they hastily scrambled to fall into step behind me. As they did, they cast terrified, wide-eyed glances toward Leilah, whose face was still entirely obscured by her black stealth mask. Lyria even let out a tiny, frightened squeal as they passed her.

Stepping back out into the bustling courtyard, I immediately spotted a crowd of onlookers. It was mainly composed of the higher-ranking noble servants who had emerged from the adjacent buildings, drawn by the sudden commotion.

"Maid," I called out, waving a hand toward the closest young woman.

She responded with such speed that I briefly feared she might actually trip over her own skirts and crash face-first onto the cobblestones. Miraculously, she managed to complete the hundred-meter sprint without falling, skidding to a breathless halt directly in front of me.

"Now, now, there is no need to be quite so desperate," I chuckled softly.

Reaching out, I gently placed two fingers beneath her chin, tilting her flushed, panting face up to meet my gaze. She instantly turned a bright shade of crimson, entirely taken by the sudden, intimate contact.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"I—Isana, Your Majesty..." She breathed out.

I casually brushed a stray lock of dark brown hair back behind her ear.

"Isana, would you be so kind as to locate the Head Butler for me? Inform him that our dear Steward has, by the mysterious grace of Helios, suddenly collapsed under the sheer weight of his own gluttonous blood. Consequently, the King officially orders the Head Butler to oversee the children’s duties in his stead until further notice," I said.

"R—Right away, Your Majesty!" She squeaked, though she remained entirely rooted to the spot, completely mesmerized as I continued to gently cradle her chin.

"Thank you, Isana," I smiled, finally dropping my hand.

She stared at me in a lovestruck daze for a fleeting second before shaking her head to clear her thoughts, gathering her skirts, and sprinting off toward the main keep as fast as her legs could carry her.

I quickly resumed my brisk walk across the expansive courtyard.

"So, tell me, Cedrik. How long have you and your sister been tasked by Baldric to keep your ears wide open and spy on the nobility while you diligently scrub the castle floors?" I asked.

"Y—Your Majesty..."

"There is no need to be frightened. I am simply asking a question. I have no intention of hitting either of you," I assured them without breaking my stride.

"W—We came here two years ago, Your Majesty..." He replied.

"Do you have any living parents?" I asked.

"No..."

"Hmm." I offered a brief, understanding nod.

"P—Please... please do not hurt us..." Cedrik begged suddenly.

I stopped abruptly, turning my head to glance down at him.

He shuddered beneath my stare.

"A—At the very least, I beg you to spare my sister... The Lord Steward forced us to listen... we had no choice..." He pleaded, grasping Lyria’s small, trembling hand. The girl looked utterly terrified, tears tracking through the dirt on her face.

"As I just said, I did not call you here to punish you. I called you here to offer you a new job," I said.

"A j—job, Your Majesty?" Cedrik asked, blinking in confusion.

"Until now, you have spent your days scrubbing floors in various, random wings of the castle. From this moment forward, I am personally assigning you to scrub the floors within my private quarters, as well as the adjoining corridors where my mother and sister reside. Naturally, you are forbidden from entering their actual bedchambers, but you will maintain my quarters flawlessly. And while you work, you will continue to listen. Do you understand me?" I asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"I will be departing the capital for a week. I expect you to perform your duties perfectly in my absence," I said. "Keep your eyes and your ears wide open, but keep your mouths entirely shut. Is that understood?"

They both nodded, gulping in unison.

I smiled, turning back toward the main keep, only to see Regina rushing toward us, gasping for breath.

"Your Majesty! I—I have been searching for you everywhere," she panted, clutching her chest.

"Perfect timing, Regina. Would you be so kind as to escort these two to my private quarters?" I said.

"Your Majesty?" Regina asked, her brow furrowing in deep confusion as she looked at the two grimy children.

"Well, you are my only personal maid, and the workload is demanding. These two will handle the brunt of the menial labor within my quarters from now on. This will afford you considerably more free time, time that you will spend directly with me. As my personal maid, you ought to be by my side at all times, should you not?"

"U—Understood!" She nodded. A blush instantly painted her cheeks, but she quickly masked her fluster, gesturing warmly for the two children to follow her. They immediately hurried after her, evidently finding Regina’s presence far less intimidating than my own.

I soon re-entered the opulent, carpeted halls of the royal quarters. I had barely walked a few minutes before I caught sight of Lenora marching aggressively toward me, looking dumbfounded.

"Brother! What on earth is happening?!"

"What is the matter, Lenora?" I asked innocently.

"W—Why in the world did you summon a Royal Healer to my chambers?!"

"Ah, yes. I did request one late last night," I nodded.

"For me?! I am not suffering from any sickness!" She let out in disbelief. "And I am most certainly not pregnant!" She added, her face turning a bright shade of scarlet.

"We shall see about that," I teased with a smile, slipping past her and strolling directly into her luxurious private quarters.

"Leilah, call in Sigor," I said swiftly before entering Lenora’s quarters.

After Leilah left I stepped in.

Standing awkwardly near the center of the sitting room was an elderly woman clad in the pure white robes of a Healer.

Upon seeing me enter, she immediately dropped into a deep, respectful bow.

"Your Majesty."

"At ease. I am glad you managed to arrive so swiftly. What is your name?" I asked, making myself comfortable on an ornate cushioned chair. I briefly caught Lenora’s eye, lifting a single finger to motion for her to close the double doors behind us.

She obeyed quickly, shutting us inside.

"I am Bethia, Your Majesty," the woman replied politely.

"Bethia..." I repeated, narrowing my eyes as I scanned her lined, weathered face. "I feel as though this is not the first time we have crossed paths. Am I mistaken?"

"She is one of the most loyal Royal Healers, Brother. She is the very one who treated you after you fainted upon touching Hyperion for the first time," Lenora chimed in, a teasing giggle escaping her lips.

"Very funny, sister," I grumbled, though her words immediately sparked the memory.

Right. My entire body had overheated, suffering from what felt like an excruciating, magical summer fever.

Regardless, if she was the one who had treated my awakening, it meant she was highly reliable. That also perfectly explained why Lenora had allowed her inside her private apartments without raising the entire royal guard.

"Anyway, I did not summon you here because I suspected my sister of harboring a secret pregnancy, Bethia," I clarified, offering the healer a reassuring smile.

"Of course you did not! If Mother had even caught wind of such a vile rumor, she would have murdered me on the spot without ever bothering to verify if it was true!" Lenora complained loudly, crossing her arms.

I ignored my sister’s dramatic outburst, keeping my focus entirely on Bethia.

"Tell me, Bethia. For exactly how long have you practiced the healing arts?" I asked, genuine interest lacing my tone.

Judging by the silver streaking her hair and the seasoned calm in her demeanor, she looked to be in her late forties, a true, battle-tested veteran of her craft.

"Twenty-seven years, Your Majesty," she replied with a polite dip of her head.

"Twenty-seven years?" I repeated, genuinely impressed. "Your affinity for the healing arts must be exceptionally high to have practiced so successfully for so long."

"I believe there will always be countless steps I have yet to master, and far more heights I must ascend, Your Majesty," she replied with a humble, quiet chuckle.

"A wise philosophy. Always look for progression; never stagnate," I agreed with a smile.

A minute later, a sharp knock echoed against the double doors. They swung open to reveal Sigor and Leilah, with a confused-looking Alice standing just behind them.

"Perfect timing. Enter, all three of you," I said, gesturing for them to step fully into the room.