Beneath The Mask Is His Queen

Chapter 6

Riley let out a tiny gasp, and immediately bowed. "I apologize for my rudeness, Your Highness."

The former King nodded at her. "You are forgiven."

She inhaled then exhaled slowly. "I was arranged to meet with you tomorrow."

"Yes, that is true. We have a meeting tomorrow, but it appears we have met a day earlier." He stared at her coldly. "Nevertheless, we should use this time to discuss your appointed position."

Riley nodded rapidly. "Right, of course."

"So tell me, Riley, why did my son choose you?" He questioned intently.

"I-"

"I thought I raised my son better than to choose a girl who doesn't know the first thing about being a leader," he told her harshly. "He should've known better than that."

She felt anger stir inside her. "Excuse me?"

"Look at you. You're not royalty, that's for sure. You're not high classed either. Clearly, you also have an attitude." He studied her appearance. "What did you do to make my son choose you? Did he take pity on you? On the fact that you're dressed in rags?" He contemplated it. "Well, it does not matter your wealth or whatever but still. You don't look like you're capable of being a leader. You appear so weak."

She huffed, no longer caring he was the former King.

She glared at him. "I've had it with your family. Your son already ticked me off today, and I guess ticking people off runs in the blood. Okay, sure, I'm dressed in rags. And alright, I look weak. But I'm stronger than I look."

The former king scoffed at her. "Yeah, right."

Riley clenched her teeth. "I am. And to answer your question about your son, he was not aware of what level of class I am at. He did not take pity. And how dare you accuse your son of choosing someone because of pity."

He gave her a warning look. "Watch your tone, young lady-"

"I AM FULLY AWARE OF HOW I SOUND RIGHT NOW. I WILL NOT STAND HERE BEING LECTURED BY YOU ON HOW PATHETIC OF A CHOICE I AM. I DESERVE SOME RESPECT, DON'T I? YOU CAN'T JUST JUDGE ME IMMEDIATELY." Riley breathed heavily, but she continued to stand up straight and she held her head up at him. "I don't care if I look weak. In fact, I don't care what you think. Because I'm aware of my appearance. I know who and what I am. And I am not weak. Oh, and to address leadership...

"I admit, I do not know the first thing about being a ruler, but apparently the way I acted at the ball somehow proved that I'm right for this role. It does not make sense to me at all, believe me, but that's the way it was set. Your son was raised well. He has a temper, just like you, but it's clear that he knows what a leader should be like and he chose me. So I am sorry that I'm practically the last person you'd choose for the next leader, but I'm the one your son wanted."

Instantaneously, Riley shut her mouth. She mentally smacked herself for repeatedly talking back to people- especially when the people are highly important.

Her eyes were locked on the ground, but she stole a glance at his face, and noticed that he was still processing everything she just said.

Finally, his cold eyes looked at her and she gulped.

"You, young lady, do not know how to keep your mouth shut, now do you?"

She felt deflated. "I...I meant everything I said, and I'm not sorry for saying it. However, I am sorry for being rude about it."

"Well, after that whole situation, I've concluded the type of person you are."

"...Oh....yeah? What?"