Book 19: Chapter 23
“Abner.”
Ikana lovingly leaned onto her husband’s shoulder. She wrapped her arm around his arms and took in a big breath. Abner’s body was the same as always. He had a thin, slender and weak physique of an artist, but he didn’t have the smell of another woman on him this time, thankfully.
Ikana did express that it was acceptable for Abner to have an illegitimate child if he minded the fact that she couldn’t have children, but there was a principle in life, and that was to never trust women. Another principle was to never offend women. So despite what Ikana said, the reality was any woman he may have had an affair with was no longer in the same world as him.
Not being able to have children weighed on her mind. There was unlikely to be any woman who wouldn’t worry about it. Ikana minded it to an excessive degree. Abner trusted Ikana due to what happened in the past, while Ikana finally obtained the power and blissful family she wanted, but it was undeniable that a consort had a duty to give birth to a healthy descendant for the royal family. was the purpose of a consort. If Ikana couldn’t give birth to a strong descendant, she’d be abandoned. She could be fearless for now, as Abner favoured her; however, she started to feel threatened again owing to what happened with Vera recently. Ikana, who normally focused on work outside of home, frequently returned home to take care of the household as a wife.
Ikana never worried about anything or feared anyone. With that said,. Vera was the woman her husband expended the most emotions on. She was also the first woman to threaten her status and even life. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Vera was the person closest to her whether that was in terms of intellect or determination. On one hand, she was wary of Vera; on the other hand, which was also the most important, she was jealous.
Ikana was really fond of Abner. She wasn’t so fond initially, though. She initially viewed Abner as nothing but a tool. At most, she considered him a younger brother. Nevertheless, to her surprise, Abner tried hard. He desperately seduced other women to oppose her whether it was a wife, maids or the daughters of aristocratic families. He refused nobody. Ikana thought she had him in the palm of her hands, but he continued to resist as a man would. Furthermore, after much happened to her, he opposed her, but also rescued her. He helped her escape and attain freedom. That was why Ikana fell for him. She was very fond of her “younger brother”. It was also the first time she considered leading a proper life.
Ikana also had a dark side to her. Said darkness was a weakness she didn’t want anybody to touch: Vera. Vera was the woman who set her lover’s heart aflutter unlike anybody else could. In spite of being married, the mention of Vera put an affectionate expression on his face he’d show without any regard for the angry looks of everybody else around. Though he couldn’t see her anymore, Ikana still didn’t want a strong opponent to be watching her blissful life that wasn’t easy for her to attain.
There was nothing more vexing to Ikana than the fact that Vera could have children. Vera didn’t have a child at present, but she wasn’t an alcoholic. Therefore, she wouldn’t lose the ability to have children. That was what frustrated Ikana most. If it was possible, she’d gouge Vera’s womb out and crush it.
Ikana wouldn’t allow anyone to ruin her life. Plus, her beautiful life didn’t alter her innate violent personality. Therefore, Ikana wanted to use extreme means of dealing with Vera. Specifically, she wanted to kill Vera. A dead woman couldn’t compete with her for her man, and most definitely couldn’t have children. Thus, it was a simple and easy method.