"I am only going to ask you this once, Zod. And the moment you lie to me will be the moment you die. Were you responsible for my son going missing?"
Zod’s expression formed into a look of shock.
"What? Me? Bethsha, you don’t actually think I would—"
"It’s ’your majesty’ to you, General."
Zod took a step back at the sheer bite in Bethsha’s tone, and he took in a breath before speaking.
"Your Majesty, you know I love that boy. Why would I even think about something like that? I don’t know who poisoned your mind with these lies, but they are obviously trying to slander me."
"Zod, don’t try to play me for a fool. I know it was you. When Jason told me about your betrayal, I also thought there had to be a mistake somewhere. I thought you could never do something like that. But then I looked back on the situation with a clear mind, and I realised that you are the only one who would have both the knowledge as well as the connection to smuggle a prince out of Vanta without anyone knowing. And that woman at your feet, she already exposed everything that happened between you two. You were so disappointed that you couldn’t sell my son that you even planned to have him assassinated? What have I ever done to deserve your hatred, Zod?"
As Bethsha spoke, Zod was still keeping his harmless, confused expression in place, but the moment Bethsha said the name ’Jason’, it was like all the fake walls that Zod had built around his act slowly began to crumble! Zod’s eyes became lidded and heavy as he stared down at Bethsha, and his face became unreadable as he lost all emotions! Bethsha noticed the change in his demeanour immediately, and she was surprised when Zod tilted his head to one side and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"I see, so it’s that one again. I always knew that this would happen eventually. Right from the moment that bastard appeared in this world. I knew that a day would come when you would have to choose between me and that family of yours, but I never for once thought that you would rather pick the side of a random stranger that you’ve only just met a few hours ago over a friend that had been by your side for all your life."
"Zod, what are you talking about –"
"YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!"
DOON!
All the soldiers in the room suddenly shifted into battle stances when they heard Zod’s mad exclamation, and even Bethsha took a step back in shock as she felt an intense power rolling off Zod’s body! Zod pointed a finger at Bethsha accusingly!
"It was you who did this! You and your foolish love for that Avaran bastard who ruined what we had! You think I am a monster!? Me!? After everything I’ve done for you! After all the love I’ve shown you!? You are the monster that took our future and spat on it like it was nothing!"
If looks could kill, then the look in Zod’s eyes would have murdered Bethsha ten times over! There was a feverish madness in there, and it actually made Bethsha feel terrified of the man opposite her! In all their years of friendship, Bethsha had never even seen Zod make an expression like this! Zod and Bethsha had actually been friends long before Bethsha became the queen of this world. Their families had been close, so the both of them would always spend a lot of time together to play, and they would even spar against each other when they wanted to train. As time passed, Bethsha became busier with all the lessons she had to take for her ascension to the throne, and Zod had no choice but to throw himself into training to become one of the strongest knights in the world. Zod always thought that the time they were spending away from each other would be the best thing for them since it would help them grow closer when they finally met again, but Zod could have never predicted what would happen just a few years later.
A stranger by the name of Richard Marc appeared in their world as a royal guest of the previous King. Richard Marc was the King of the Avaran and one of the strongest men in the Primordial Expanse, and there wasn’t a single woman in Vanta who didn’t feel some sort of attraction for him. It was like every time Zod was walking on the streets or going to bars and training, he would hear one woman or another talking about how handsome and powerful this Richard Marc was. It was annoying, but Zod didn’t care for it since it was just the words of random women. It wasn’t until Zod went to the castle one day to pay a visit to the king with his teacher that Zod saw something that would scar him for life. Bethsha and Richard Marc were having a picnic together in the large courtyard surrounded by flowers. Richard Marc had just said something, and the way Bethsha suddenly laughed in that carefree, childish way that he thought she had lost years ago sent a metal rod into his heart. There was nothing inherently sexual about the scene at all, but Zod knew without a doubt in his mind that it was at this moment that he lost Bethsha to this foreign king.
"I loved you, Bethsha. I loved you more than words could describe! I put my heart and soul on the line for you every day! I worked myself to death so I could become a man worthy of standing beside you! And yet! You went and gave yourself to that man! That bastard! You left me behind and had his child!"
"How dare you!"
DOON!
The entire room suddenly exploded with intense pressure as Bethsha’s power surged out from her! A blue aura surrounded her body as she stepped forward, and she glared at Zod like he was a piece of trash on the street!
"You dare speak of me in such a way! You dare speak of my husband! Of my children! Who the hell do you think you are, Zod!? You loved me? So what!? I never loved you, Zod, and I knew I never would! You have no right to question my choices, and you have no right to question the man I chose for myself! What did you think would happen!? You thought getting rid of my son would allow me to see you differently!?"
Zod took in a breath and let it out in a sigh. He couldn’t deny that this was exactly what he had hoped.
"That husband of yours abandoned you! He came and sold you love, and then he vanished to another world and took another wife. Is that the sort of life you wanted!? Did you want to be one of multiple women? A trophy for your husband! That child is the only thing linking you to that man, and I know that the moment you are rid of it, then you can be free! Killing Kai is the only way to break the illusion that bastard placed on you!"
The storm brewing in Bethsha’s eyes became more intense, and her magic poured out from her in a wave of pure fury that threatened to destroy everything in the hall!
"Don’t you dare insult my marriage, Zod. You know nothing of the man I chose for myself, and your jealousy has blinded you to the truth. I do not blame you for being jealous; it is something you were meant to deal with by yourself. But the fact that you went and involved my child - my little boy, in this bullshit revenge of yours! That is enough reason for me to end your life! Guards, take him!"