Chapter 31

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Augustus and Ritha kept waiting for an hour but no one approached the maid. Augustus's temper was rising with each passing second which was evident from his face. When he was unable to contain his anger, he started marching in maid's direction but Ritha's held his hand.

     "Please leave my hand Ritha. She's going to die today. No body came to meet her. Maybe she's the one who had planned my father's murder." saying so, Augustus freed his hand from Ritha's grip and took threatening steps towards the maid but Ritha came infront of him and blocked his path.

She hugged him tightly and pushed him little backwards. She could feel raised heartbeat of her husband which was proof of the raging hormones surging through his veins. Wheras for Augustus, Ritha's sudden hug caught him off guard and he halted in his steps.

When Ritha was confirmed that he's not moving , she removed her hands from his torso and cupped his cheeks and made him look in her eyes and explained him in a cool tone, "see, no matter how smart the culprit is, he or she always does a mistake. All we have to do is to wait for the right moment and catch him and for that patience is very important. The culprit didn't turn up today but in future he will, my instincts say so. She's just a maid, what will she get by killing father. I'm sure there are other people involved in this and my doubts are towards eagles. I'll tell Aquila to keep an eye on the maid. Killing her is not an option and please calm yourself. "

       Augustus closed his eyes and took deep breaths in order to calm himself. He thought thoroughly and what Ritha said started making sense to him. He was lucky enough to have someone like Ritha in his life who could calm him .

   His face was flushed because of the anger and Ritha's cold palms were feeling like heaven to him. He opened his eyes and looked directly in Ritha's eyes. Her dark brown almost black iris were just a shade lighter from the colour of the pupils. Her eyelashes were long and the jewels which adorned her forehead and neck were one of their kind. Her face had a calm, serene yet a determined expression.

                   After an intense round of staring, he leaned forward. Ritha got bedazzled as she thought that he's coming for a kiss but Augustus poked his tongue out and laughed out loud after few seconds which agitated Ritha. Once again he was teasing her. Just few minutes back he was thinking about killing someone but now he was teasing her. What kind of man he is? She thought.

       She glared at him and started walking in another direction while Augustus secretly snickered and started walking along with her. After they reached in the hallway, Ritha's legs automatically stopped infront of the painting of Queen Athena. She couldn't help but blurt out her question, "Who's she? "

         After not receiving any answers from her husband, she turned around and found that gone was the playful look from his face and now his expressions were as rigid as a stone. His jaws were tightly clenched and his hands were in tight fists and his eyes were solemnly fixed at the painting. Ritha's instincts were telling her that something was definitely wrong.

             After a long pause, Augustus spoke, "she is Queen Athena and my mother."

      Ritha was right. She knew that this lady was connected in a way or the other with her husband. She didn't want to be nosy but her curiosity was on rise so she gathered all her courage to ask her next question, "Where is she now? "

   Augustus glanced at Ritha's face and replied in his emotion deprived tone, "she's dead.......  For the better." After saying so he went away leaving no space for further discussion.

  Ritha came back in her room and sat on her bed. Augustus's last three words were echoing in her mind. She thought to herself, " how can someone speak such cruel words for his mother. "

        It seemed like few secrets were buried six feet under but Ritha was determined to find her answers.

(Author's Note :- How come Aelia didn't get caught? 🤨 let's get into the flashback)

As Aelia was few metres away, a hand pulled her with a jolt towards the nearest pillar startling her. She raised her eyes to see her master looking at her with rigid expressions.

"Have you lost your senses? Use your old and wrinkled eyes and look around. Spoke the master and turned her slightly. Aelia gasped seeing  Augustus and his wife keeping an eye on the maid. She looked back at her master to find him already glaring at her. She murmered thank you in her meeked voice and lowered her eyes in shame.

The master had ordered her to follow him which she immediately obliged to. They went in the room where eagles used to have their meeting. Stephano and Luca were already present in the room with their heads bend low.

Author's Note
What are your thoughts on queen Athena? If you like the chapter, please hit the star button and
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