Rebirth: The unfavored Princess is the Tyrant King's favorite-Chapter 162: Are you alright?

In the Palace of Zubrekacadesh,

Queen Darana had just woken up from her sleep when her lady-in-waiting, Karina, respectfully bowed in greeting and reported,

"Your majesty, Sir Amirion has returned and wants to have an audience with you," Karina said.

The queen’s eyes lit up at the news, and she nodded her head with a smile on her face.

"Good, help me get ready to go and see him. And tell Jasper to summon Duke Tardrain and Duke Kenai to my study. We will listen to what Amirion has to say together," Queen Darana said.

"Right away, Your Majesty," Karina said and hurriedly went ahead to fulfill the orders given to her.

~~~

About 30 minutes later, Queen Darana, Duke Kenai, who was the leader of the left flank ministers, and Duke Tardrain, who was the leader of the right flank ministers, were all present together in the study room of Queen Darana.

"Greetings, my queen, may you live long and be blessed by the deities all the time," Amirion said and bowed respectfully to the queen.

"Rise, son, it’s been hard on you," Queen Darana said.

"Your humble servant’s only wish and happiness is to serve you," Amirion said humbly before turning to the two ministers.

"Greetings, elders," he said.

"No need for formalities," both ministers chorused simultaneously. They were both eager to hear whatever Amirion had come to report.

Duke Tardrain was hoping for good news about the princess being finally found so that Zubrekacadesh would return to its former glory.

Duke Kenai, on the other hand, felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles. He hoped there was bad news and that Amirion had come to report that there was no progress on his last mission.

Duke Kenai was Queen Darana’s late husband’s brother, and he had always harbored the thought that after the death of his elder brother, Queen Darana would look upon him fondly and take him in as her new husband.

In Zubrekacadesh, things like this were common and were not frowned upon. When a husband dies early and leaves behind his widow and child with no support, a relative of the deceased husband can decide to marry the widow and continue the family of his brother and, by doing so, act like a father to the orphans who were left behind.

Queen Darana lost her husband quite early, and even though Duke Kenai was young, he didn’t see anything wrong with stepping into his brother’s shoes and taking over from where he left off.

The truth is, he was born under such circumstances. Queen Darana’s late husband was Duke Kenai’s half-brother from their mother’s previous marriage.

Later, when his mother became a widow and married her late husband’s brother, she conceived and gave birth to Duke Kenai, which made Duke Kenai 12 years younger than his older brother.

Duke Kenai didn’t mind the age gap and still wanted to be with Queen Darana.

Older women getting married to younger men was common in Zubrekacadesh. Because it was a female who was the sovereign, the women in Zubrekacadesh were treated much differently from other countries that had men as their kings.

For instance, in Zubrekacadesh, women can have two or more male companions, but the men are only allowed to marry once. From this, it can be said that it was a country dominated by women.

Duke Kenai had tried to lend his support to Queen Darana during her mourning period, but the queen never looked his way. Later, Duke Kenai could only get married, giving birth to a daughter from the union. His wife died during childbirth, and around that time, Princess Alina was also missing.

Duke Kenai had wanted to use his motherless daughter as a stepping stone to get close to Queen Darana once again. It was just like killing two birds with one stone.

Duke Kenai thought that with Princess Alina missing, a cute little girl would surely capture the queen’s heart, and he even suggested that Queen Darana adopt his daughter so that they could keep each other company.

One had lost her daughter, and the other one had lost her mother. But Queen Darana refused to adopt Jasmine. She only agreed for her to enter the palace for short visits but never allowed her to stay the night in the palace.

Due to Jasmine’s regular visits to the palace, one would mistake her for royalty because she spared no effort to dress elegantly and show off how wealthy she was.

The amount of ornaments she adorns her hair with alone could feed an ordinary family comfortably for ten years. She was arrogant and domineering and looked down on poor people the most. She acted as if she were a princess and the next queen.

This was all thanks to her father also fanning the flames and causing her to covet something that did not belong to her. Duke Kenai wanted the throne for himself and his daughter, but never in his wildest dreams could he have thought that when his dream was about to be fulfilled, the missing princess would suddenly reappear.

"Amirion, tell me, what happened on your mission? Why is the princess not with you?" Queen Darana asked.

"I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I couldn’t come with the princess this time around because her life is in danger," Amirion began, and the queen gasped.

Duke Tardrain looked equally shocked, but Duke Kenai was barely trying to hold in the smile that was about to break on his face.

This was the best news he had heard all month.

"Tell me, what happened to the princess? Why is her life in danger all of a sudden?" Queen Darana asked with worry all over her face.

Amirion explained everything that happened between the eldest prince of Gloryland and Luciana and how Luciana’s condition is very critical.

"My queen, I suggest we disguise one of our best physicians to return to Gloryland with me and check on her. She is not a normal human girl, and those physicals in Gloryland might have overlooked something," Amirion said.

Amirion had left Gloryland as soon as Nicholas departed to come and see his queen. He knew that the best time to leave Gloryland with Luciana was right now when the eldest prince was no longer in Gloryland.

Amirion had no idea, however, that Luciana had already woken up since he left Gloryland before that. He had wanted to bring her over now, but Dora and James were always around her, and it wasn’t wise for him to move her when she was so sick and unconscious.

His teleportation ability didn’t allow him to carry someone with him for long distances; he would have to take breaks in between his journeys, and Luciana’s body might not be able to handle it.

That was why he came up with this solution. With a physician from Zubrekacadesh taking a look at the princess, she might heal faster, and then there will soon be an opportunity to bring her back to Zubrekacadesh.

"I think your suggestion is best. A physician from Zubrekacadesh is indeed better than a physician from the other countries," Queen Darana agreed and added.

"Then I’ll summon all the best physicians we have so that we can choose one from them."

"Your Majesty, I understand your agitation, but I think we should carefully think about it before sending out one of our best physicians to the princess’ side. If the person you choose is not careful and exposes himself, the princess’s life would be in even more danger, and our efforts to save her might as well be an effort to harm her," Duke Kenai said passionately.

If one saw the look on his face, one would think that he cared about the princess dearly, but he was just trying to make sure no physician saved the princess’ life.

’If the princess’s life is in danger, then so be it. He must make sure no one goes to the princess’s rescue.’

Duke Tardrain sneered at Duke Kenai’s words, turned to him, and said sarcastically,

"If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought you just don’t want us to save the princess. Duke Kenai, could it be that you have an ulterior motive and that all this while you are just a wolf in sheep’s clothing?"

Duke Tardrain said his words without beating about the bush and with such conviction that Duke Kenai nearly fainted from shock and anger, but he knew the queen was watching him, so he tried to curb his anger before pointing at Duke Tardrain agitatedly.

"You...you...Do you even know what you are saying? Every time I say something, you try everything you can to make me appear to be malicious, even when I’m just being cautious and showing concern. Since you see me in such a negative light, then it will be better if I leave," he said before turning to the queen and bowing slightly.

"Your Majesty, I think I’m not needed here since some people have decided to paint me black even when I’m innocent; please allow me permission to leave your presence," he added.

Duke Kenai had put on his most understanding look. He looked like someone who had been misunderstood and deeply wronged. He knew the queen wouldn’t let him go; besides, he was just putting on an act.

He really didn’t want to leave halfway through the meeting and not find out how everything was concluded.

"You have my permission, Duke Kenai; you can leave first," Queen Darana said, causing Duke Kenai’s eyes to widen in disbelief.