Chapter 31
"Must you be this petty?" Leonard asked as he realized why Amelia wasn’t bothered by the news of Annabelle’s baby. "Did you really go to the temple to wish for a healthy baby?"
"News certainly travels fast. Is Annabelle making a big fuss about it? Honestly, I only had good intentions when I went to the temple to pray. I even told her I wish the baby would be born on a nice sunny day. Do you really not believe me?" Amelia pretended to be offended by the look Leonard gave her.
"I know you, Amelia. You can fool everyone else but not me. Your father is doing everything he can to make sure the baby will be a prince," said Leonard.
"Why do people believe in such beliefs? That you can magically change the gender of a baby that has already been decided. Don’t tell me he is looking to go to a witch doctor?" Amelia knew her father was insane but she didn’t think he was that insane to perhaps go to a witch doctor.
She continued to say, "Their practices can have negative effects on the baby. Plus, the priests would condemn him for going to such people. I don’t want a little brat running around but my father shouldn’t go to such lengths for a prince."
"You know how desperate your father is for a prince. There is nothing to change his mind to achieve that unless he brings in another mistress." Leonard knew the king was secretly entertaining women behind Annabelle’s back.
At first, Annabelle would not have minded the king being with other women but now there was a chance for her position to soar; she did not want any competition. She harbored so much jealousy that the king hid the women he was with.
"I found it strange that a certain someone was hovering around the castle. Her family is known for strangely producing a lot of boys. Annabelle must not know of her visits but why should I care? How Annabelle got him is the way she will lose him."
Amelia didn’t feel bad for Annabelle one bit. How many times did she need to tell these women they could not turn a manwhore into a faithful partner? Even if her father was to produce an heir with Annabelle it would not make him faithful to her.
Or maybe she could be the woman to change him after giving him the child he always wanted.
"Leonard! Nice to see you again," Margaret said when she came back to Amelia’s side. "I have so many young women asking for your hand in marriage. When are you going to accept one and start a family?"
Leonard bowed his head now that he was in the presence of the king’s mother. "Lady Margaret. Pardon me but I do not wish to ever get married."