𝒯𝒽ℯ ℛ𝒾𝓈ℯ 𝒪𝒻 𝒜 𝒬𝓊ℯℯ𝓃

Chapter |16| Between A Rock And A Hard Place

A R A B E L L A ' S P.O.V

I stood in our room, anxiously pacing the room back and forth. We only wanted to go on a walk but instead were bombarded by Huxley and the rest of the advisors, who insisted that Hardin take instant action against the numerous threats the Palace has been receiving.

Interrupting our morning wasn't even the worst part, it was the fact that they had kicked me out.

Apparently it wasn't any place for a pregnant woman, and I stress the word woman very much.

Huxley is a sexist pig of the highest order, who believes that a woman's place is to make her husband look good. Basically he treats me like a show pony.

I can wave and smile to the masses but the once it gets the important stuff like attending meetings that concern the well being of my Kingdom, I'm locked out.

Literally, he locked the door.

Hardin had none of it though, and was fully ready to fight in my corner when I stopped him. I was way too exhausted to argue against Huxley and the man was relentless.

The door slammed open, and my head snapped up. I quickly walked over to my raging husband, his eyes wild with anger whilst his fists were bawled up at his sides.

"What happened?" I cringed as I prepared for his outburst.

"They're bastards, all of them. They treat me as though I'm still a boy, never listening to anything I have to say despite the fact that I'm the King!" I clutched his arm and pulled him over to the bed, pushing him down to sit on it.

"You're definitely a man, I can attest to that. As for the other thing, you need to assert your authority baby. Don't give them a chance to speak back,"

"I try but Huxley, the fucking bastard, talks down to me. He interrupts me, undermines my authority in-front of the others..."

"So get rid of him." It had been my proposition from the first time I met him. He wasn't fit to be apart of ruling Dahlia, he was a selfish man that only cared about money and power.

"You know I can't, he's old money and a legacy. His great great great grandfather was apart of the very first council. To remove him would create more riots, they could kick me off the throne."

"What did they say then?" I knew I needed to get him off the subject of Huxley, the man had a way of turning Hardin into someone else.

"They want to increase prison sentences, the amount of offences carrying death penalties and start military attacks on suspected rebel camps."

"But that's murder. There are innocent people at that camp too!" His eyes softened, abs he reached over to hold my hand.

"I know that, it's why I refused. However if the attacks get worse, Huxley's going to take it to a vote and if he wins then...I'll have no choice."

"There must be a way to keep peace, a way that doesn't resort to violence." He lifted up my hand and pressed it to his lips.

"We will figure one out darling."

"Darling?" I raised my eyebrow at him, my lips curling up.

He shrugged, a smirk forming on his lips. "I was trying out something new. You don't like?"