Heart Of Darkness

Chapter 66

Rayven teleported to the royal castle, to be exact, into the king's chamber without getting ready and changing his clothes. A maid was combing Skender's hair and screamed in horror when he appeared out of nowhere.

Skender quickly got up, grabbed her shoulders, and compelled her to calm down before the guards outside barged in. "It is alright." He told them, and they went back and closed the door.

"What is wrong with you?" Skender said, turning to him.

"Well, you said to come to the meeting this morning."

"Yes, as a lord and a courtier. Not as a caveman."

Skender sat back on his chair, and the maid combed his hair as if nothing had happened.

Rayven sat down on any chair he found in the room, feeling out of breath.

'You are better than anyone I know.'

Did he say that? Why would he?

He had lost his mind. If he wasn't going to do things right, he shouldn't give her signs that he would. She should never get used to him or begin to like his company because he couldn't see himself wanting to stay in this world.

Skender motioned for the maid to stop and turned to him with a concerned look. "Is something wrong?"

Rayven chuckled darkly. "Do you see anything right with me?"

"No. And now you are drinking. When did you start?"

When? He wasn't sure, but it was after he decided to marry Angelica. Feeling miserable, he went to a tavern and began drinking until the sun fell. All while listening to people's sad thoughts. Still, he was not more tragic than his own.

"Anyway, we don't have time. We need to attend the meeting soon. Maria, bring him trousers, a shirt, and a nice coat."

The maid nodded and went to bring him some of Skender's clothes.

"Hurry! Change."

Rayven felt like a child being told what to do. He hated it but had no choice but to change. Then the maid combed his hair nicely. Skender couldn't help but put some perfume on him and then shook his head at him.

"I hope you are not considering stepping down from your position after doing all this." He said.

"I don't know anymore," Rayven stared emptily at his reflection.

He had been alright about his plan, but the people around him confused him the last few days. It made him question and doubt himself. They made him more miserable than he already was.

He didn't know why he was letting their words affect him. He was good at shutting things out. His fingers itched. He felt like hurting himself again.

Putting his hands in his pockets, he stood up with a sigh. "Let's go." He said, ignoring the chaos in his head.

The meeting was as dreadful as he expected. After saying a few words about what happened in his town, which he truly knew nothing about, he listened to their thoughts about how he was ruining his reputation by going through with this marriage. They pitied him and said he was marrying such a woman because he couldn't find any other woman willing to marry him. They also noted that Angelica only married him because she had no choice. Otherwise, why would a beautiful lady like her marry a beast like him?

Rayven tried to stay calm, keeping his hands in his pockets, but he soon lost it. As if sensing his anger, Skender ended the meeting and dismissed everyone except for the seven.

Rayven was finally able to breathe.

"Rayven?" Skender had that same look of concern on his face

"It looks like he is going to faint?" Acheron pointed.