The Princess in Forest Green

Chapter 12-Grief sucks

TW! SA! 

I wake up, and Kathrine is sleeping next to me. I hold her close as the sun streams into my room. The baby wakes up and starts crying. I try to quiet her down as a maid comes in. "Hello, Princess Keira. Your father wishes to see you." He holds her hands out for Kathrine. I hand her over and get changed into my dress from yesterday. 

As I run down the steep stairway, I nearly trip down the cold stairs. I catch myself before falling to my doom. I run down and find my father waiting for me in the halls. I look at him, tears in his eyes, and his beard starting to grow. He looks like he hasn't bathed in days, and he was most defiantly drunk.

"Keira, my daughter." He says coming over to me. He pulls me in for a hug, I smelt wine on his breath. He lets go after a few seconds. "I want you to spend an hour with each suitor today." He acknowledged. "What? Dad no." I pleaded. "Would you rather me choose a suitor for you? Your 17th birthday is in 3 days. You will dance with the suitors, and enjoy it." He says. He means it. He can't make me spend time with them. "King Larrison is waiting for you in the main library." He stated it was the end of the conversation. I groan and head south for the library. 

As I walk in, the 6'8 man stands and it looks like he is growing from the ground. "Ah princess Keira!" His deep voice boomed throughout the library. He holds his arms out for a hug and I step back. He pulls his arms back down. "I think you would like this book." He says pulling a book from the inside of his shirt sleeve. It's about Marco Polo, I've never been interested in traveling the world. I'm happy here, in my own space. 

"I know your cooped up in a castle and would love to travel the world. I was thinking, maybe I could show you how I torture my enemies?" He asked. Uhm no? "Yeah maybe later. I was thinking of reading for a bit." I told him sitting down. His head was in the right place I guess. He sits next to me on the small couch making the cushion rise up. The whole side of his body was pressing up against me. 

I try to scooch over but just slide right back down into him. I pretend to read the book, dreading and hoping for the hour to finish. 

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"Princess Keira, King Theo is waiting for you in the living room." A maid tells me bowing. Shit, I have to go see Theo alone for an hour. "Thank you, King Larrison," I say curtseying and leaving. I slowly walk, taking my time to get to the living room. 

As I arrive, I hesitate to open the door. Last time, I had Noah with me. I slowly open the door, and there are two guards inside. Oh, thank god.  I walk in, "Good evening Princess Keira." He says standing up from his chair in front of the fireplace.

As I walk in, I feel a heat wave hit me. The fire. I walk over and sit in the chair across from him. He stares me up and down. I glare at him. The flames grow across the walls. The walls dance with an orange-to-red hue, it's dark outside as clouds form. He looks over at the guards.

"You are excused. I wish to talk to Keira, alone." He murmurs to the guard still staring at me. No, please don't leave. I try to signal for help with my eyes. I look back as the door closes. He stares at me, and my hands start to shake. 

"You know you will choose me." He promises. I stare at him wide-eyed. "You will. Or I will kill Noah." He threatens. I exhale scared. His eyes are flames. "I'm a very dangerous kingdom, I have the money to end yours and Noah's." He mutters. "And I've seen you with, what's his name? Jackson." He snaps his fingers. "Don't you dare touch him?" I stare roughly at him. He laughs, "Oh but I will. I know about your relationship." He chuckles stands up, walks over to the doors, and locks them.

He starts making his way back. I stand up and move back. I scan the room for a weapon. He must have swept the room. No candle sticks anything. He moves his way to me, I try to move out of the way. He's right in front of me now. 

He motions to the window. I look outside, to see Jackson tending some of the gardens, "I have three guards holding a crossbow aimed at him right now. I flick off my hand, and he's dead. So, you're not going to try anything." He threatens. I don't have a choice, I want to cry. I want my mom back, she would know what to do. I try to walk off, but he grabs my wrist pulling me closer.