How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 30 - A Silent Rebellion

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Rolling my shoulders, I stepped out of the council chamber, the stale air of debate still clinging to my skin. As I inhaled slowly and exhaled even slower, I tried, and failed to shake the memory of the previous night from my mind.

It was the second day of her confinement. That first night was pure torture, both for her and for myself. She did not let me sleep due to her violence; thrashing around, threatening me with every step I took closer to her, throwing all the expensive ceramic on the floor, and even tearing the curtains right off their hinges.

She had forced me out of the chambers, pushing against my chest with trembling hands until I gave in, stepping back just to avoid hurting her. I let her win, and now I was sleep deprived, tempted to lean against any wall to close my eyes and drift off to slumber for the shortest moment.

It was all necessary, I continued to tell myself. She just needed a little time to adjust, but she was a strong woman, and I sincerely believed that she would be all right. She would get through this, we would get through this, as we have with every other fight in our marriage.

But perhaps today she would be a little calmer as compared to last night. With the way she had been throwing and ripping things to shreds, she must have been forced to stop and breathe once she ran out of things to both rip and break. But once again, that was something I was simply telling myself in hopes that it was the reality.

Dismissing the guards with a single wave of my hand, I spoke a little prayer before pushing the doors open and stepped inside.

Sunlight streamed across the room, catching dust motes in the air like tiny drifting stars, and amongst it; there she was. Perched on the window seat, her gaze unfocused, and arms wrapped around herself as if she were afraid to let go.

For a moment as brief as a breath of air, I saw her there as I did on the first day I saw her in the garden. Bright and untouchable.

But then she noticed me.

Her eyes caught me first, and they alerted the rest of her as her head snapped up, and in an instant, she was on her feet, fists clenched at her sides, and eyes narrowed with all the fury of a caged animal.

But as quick as she may have been, I was all the faster in raising my arms in surrender.

"I only wish to speak today, flower. Nothing more." I spoke with my defenses down, but it did nothing to assure her as her own defenses were still strung high. She lifted her chin, eyes cold and sharp, and I had to remind myself that I was the cause of this.

Gone was the warmth which she would always look at me with, replaced by something much harsher, something created as a consequence of my own actions. So, I knew it was up to me to make it up to her. I would get on my knees and beg this woman for forgiveness if I must.

"Unless you wish to give me back the freedom which you have stripped me of, then I have no intention of hearing you speak." Her words were met with silence. She did not make another move, and I was hesitant to do so too.

But nonetheless, simply looking at her gave me courage.

"Ria-" I took a cautious step forward.

"Stop." I did. "Do not come any closer." She both warned and silently begged, her voice sharp like a drawn blade, threatening to slice me in half.

"I only wish to-" She cut me off, but not with words this time. 

Without warning, she snatched something from the fruit bowl beside her, a plum, and hurled it at me with surprising accuracy. It hit my chest with a dull thump, leaving a noticeable mark on my tunic before rolling to the floor.