Mated To The Barbarian King Who Is My Ex-husband's Father.

​

​Arianna hadn’t expected herself to snap like that, let alone push things to such an extreme limit.

​Beside her, Kane was visibly surprised to hear her speak in such an unyielding tone. For a terrifying second, she worried he might be disappointed in her outburst. Instead, when she met his eyes, he held her gaze with unmistakable pride and the silent reassurance helped settle her frayed nerves.

​"We won’t argue with your decision," Aunt Freya said quietly, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the table. She couldn’t bring herself to lift her head after the total embarrassment her daughter had brought upon their family.

​"Begin making the preparations then, Aunt. It is your responsibility and my wife will assist you," Kane instructed.

​"I will be glad to help," Arianna replied with a calm smile, taking a small sip of her soup.

​Across the table, she could practically feel the heat of Ethan’s fury radiating toward her. If given the chance, he looked ready to tear the entire roof down over her head in sheer rage.

​Breakfast certainly hadn’t gone as planned. Everyone ate in tense, heavy silence, weighed down by too many troubles to pick any more fights.

​Arianna turned slightly toward the king. "I would like to speak with you."

​"Go ahead, my Queen. I am listening," Kane answered softly.

​"Not here," she said, casting a quick glance around the table. Several pairs of eyes were glaring back at her...filled not just with intense curiosity, but with bitter hatred. They were all desperate to hear what she had to say to him. "After you are finished eating... I will only take five minutes of your time."

​Ethan froze, setting his plate down. He subtly shook his head at her, silently pleading with her to stop if she was about to spill the truth to his father.

​Arianna ignored him completely, her focus locked on Kane as she waited for his answer.

​"Very well. We will speak immediately after breakfast," Kane agreed with a nod. He couldn’t help but wonder what she had been so desperate to tell him since last night. He only hoped it was good news. He didn’t know if he could handle any more disappointment today.

​"Thank you, Your Highness," Arianna said softly.

​Even through the sheer terror gripping her chest, a part of her was relieved that this crushing burden was finally about to be lifted from her shoulders.

She would face the consequences, whatever they might be... assuming she even survived after telling him the truth.

​The thought alone made her sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to lose the man she had come to deeply love, but it felt as though fate had other plans for her and a peaceful future with Kane was simply not one of them.

​"Greetings, Your Highness."

​Arianna looked up and saw Cassius standing at the entrance of the pavilion. He seemed entirely different this morning—cold, and visibly agitated by whatever had delayed him.

​When their eyes met, he scowled deeply at her, leaving her to wonder what his problem could be.

​Then she caught the sudden shift in Ethan’s expression. He looked utterly terrified, staring at his uncle in sheer shock.

​Arianna’s stomach twisted. Did Cassius already know? Last night, both men had arrived to speak with the king, but Ethan had faked an injury at the last second to stop her from coming clean.

​"Come in, Cassius," Kane commanded.

​"I have news for you, Your Highness. With your permission, I will deliver it here," Cassius said, stepping toward the head of the table. He stood firmly at the end, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.

​"What is it?"

​"Ragnar has returned," Cassius announced, his gaze fixing pointedly on the queen.

​The air in the open pavilion instantly turned heavy and suffocating. Arianna felt her heart hammer violently against her ribs.

She reached out with a trembling hand to pick up her cup, but her fingers shook so violently that Kane reached over, wrapping his firm hand over hers to steady it.

​Arianna desperately wished the earth would open up and swallow her whole. She had needed to tell Kane the truth before Ragnar got the chance and now, time had run out completely.

​She managed to take a small sip from the cup before setting it back down with a trembling hand.

​"My Lion cub has returned!" Aunt Freya gasped, rising from the table in sudden excitement. "I have been waiting for news of his arrival ever since he left."

​Kane remained silent, asking no questions. He simply stared down at his wife for a few long, unreadable seconds before pushing his chair back and standing up.

​"No one sees him before I do."

​His quiet decree instantly killed his aunt’s excitement. Aunt Freya watched him walk away without daring to utter a word of protest.

Only after his footsteps faded outside did she finally exhale, murmuring anxiously, "I wish I could have spoken to him first... Ragnar can be so reckless and there’s no telling what foolish thing he might say."

​"What do you expect him to say? Did you send him on some kind of errand?" Cassius asked, his brows furrowed in annoyance. Without waiting for her response, he turned on his heel and walked out.

​Aunt Freya gasped, utterly stunned by his disrespect. "Everyone is losing their mind in this pack! No one has an ounce of respect for me anymore... but I know all of this is going to end soon."

​"Soon might be today, Mother," Samantha chimed in eagerly, letting out a small, vicious giggle.

​"Save it, both of you," Ethan snapped, rising from his seat. "Whatever delusional dreams you have for your daughter, just know she will never be my stepmother." He turned away in disgust and stormed out of the pavilion.

​Samantha hadn’t expected him to blurt that out so recklessly in front of the king’s wife. She glanced over at Arianna sitting to her left, but Arianna didn’t seem to care—she was consumed by an entirely different terror.

​"Excuse me," Arianna whispered, pushing herself up from the table.

​She was no longer in her right frame of mind. Her chest burned with anxiety, but even that physical distress paled in comparison to the agonizing ache in her heart.

Kane had shown her nothing but unconditional warmth and devotion since she arrived, and how was she repaying him? By crushing his heart in the name of love.

​Arianna felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to plunge into the abyss.

She deserved whatever harsh punishment he chose to inflict upon her. Ignoring the lingering gazes around her, she began the long, quiet walk back toward their tent to await his fury.

​"My lady..."

​Maria’s gentle voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. Arianna lifted her tear-brimmed eyes, looking up at her maid through a hazy blur.

​"It is the will of the gods... please do not blame yourself," Maria muttered softly, her heart aching to see her mistress in such profound agony. "This was meant to happen."

​"I took it too far," Arianna sobbed quietly, a tear escaping down her cheek. "I punished a good father for his son’s terrible misdeeds. I never should have agreed to marry him in the first place..."

​"You did the best you could with the hands you were dealt."

​Arianna shook her head, refusing the comfort.

​Just off to her left, she suddenly caught sight of them...Kane and Ragnar, standing together and conversing not far from where she stood.

​Cold shivers sprinted down her spine as she watched them speak. Panic urged her to turn and run, but before she could move, Kane’s eyes drifted over and caught hers.

​He looked directly at her and then, he offered her a warm, tender smile.

​Arianna’s brows knit together in utter confusion, her heart halting in her chest. Ragnar must have told him everything by now... so why was he looking at her with such warmth instead of marching over in a blinding rage?

​"That is strange, Maria," Arianna whispered, her eyes glued to the scene playing out in front of them.

​To her utter shock, Kane pulled Ragnar into a warm, brotherly hug. As they pulled apart, Kane turned and began walking straight toward her.

​"He’s coming this way..."

​Panic surged through her, urging her to turn and run, but her legs completely betrayed her, locking her in place. Yet a small part of her was relieved. It was far better to stand her ground and face whatever judgment awaited her.

​As Kane drew nearer, her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird. She braced herself for an outburst, a harsh word, or even a violent reaction—but instead, Kane threw his arms wide.

He wrapped them securely around her waist and lifted her off her feet, swinging her around in a joyful circle before carrying her straight into their tent.

​It all happened so fast that her head spun. Before she could even process the sudden motion, she found herself back inside their tent. He gently set her feet on the ground, his face radiant with a joy she had never seen before.

​"You have made me the happiest man alive," he breathed, his eyes shining.

​"W-what happened?" she managed to ask, her voice breathless and trembling with confusion.

​"Ragnar brought incredible news," Kane explained, his smile widening. "Your father and the rest of our informants confirmed that you agreed to marry me purely because you wanted to...that there was no hidden political motive behind it. I already believed it in my heart, but hearing it confirmed leaves no doubt. You were brought to me by the Moon Goddess’s grace."

​Arianna blinked, entirely thrown off balance. "Is... is that all he said?"

​"Yes," Kane replied softly, pulling her closer.

​Her mind raced in absolute turmoil. She was more bewildered now than she had ever been. The questions burned in her throat, consuming her thoughts. Why hadn’t Ragnar told him the truth? Why was everyone suddenly hiding the secret?

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