The best way to hide your heart is to pretend you don't have one. Two years later my father was killed, and I was betrayed by my lover. It was my fault my father died, and that now I have no one. Everyone seems to want something from you when you're powerful. That is a lesson I learned the hard way, when I was naive and fell for Ezra. The rebel boy who called me darling like it was my name. My love-deprived self had soaked that up like a sponge cast to the ocean. So I built up my walls. That's why, when I say it felt like a slap to the face when I came face-to-face with none other than Ezra Archer in my court.
On a sunny day on June 25, I was heading to the court for my weekly courting, when all the week's criminals were brought upon the court to face trial and punishment. To my right was my advisor, Cassidy. We were about 10 people in. When he was brought in, all I could do was blink. I suddenly felt my lunch coming back up
"Name." I said, trying to look indifferent
"Edward Archan, Your Highness," Cassidy says
Edward Archan. I almost snorted. Sure. So I was right. Ezra looked older now, his jaw more defined, his brunette hair that was usually buzzed sat above his ears in lovely waves. His eye bags looked like he hadn't slept in months, and his eyes looked more worn, like he carried the weight of a thousand storms in them. But he still looked unfairly gorgeous. I hope he got his karma for what he did. "Crime."
"A rebel of the south clan, your Highness. He was caught trying to give away stolen food." Cassidy recited from a scroll.
The temptation to give Ezra exactly what he deserved came to mind. Why did he get off so easily? He used to be able to control me, now we can play cat and mouse again. Except this time I can be the cat. Death was too good for him. "Edward will be put in the dungeons for as long as I deem necessary."
"But your Highness," Cassidy says incredulously "the general penalty is death. If you want my opinion-" Cassidy starts
"I don't, I have my own" I say with a smirk as Ezra looks up and meets my eyes.
Ezra POV
Walking in the room I can immediately feel her presence. Powerful, frightening, beautiful. As I see her sitting there, I'm stunned
The second I got back to my room, I ordered all my maids out and took my mask off. That face, seeing it again, it was too much. I try to convince myself that I am fine. I am the Queen of the most feared empire in the world. All the memories came flooding back, which I had buried deep inside me a year ago. I can't escape it. The thoughts, the smells, the feel, the touch, the broken promises, everything is still so alive that it's killing me inside. I'm starting to hyperventilate. This happens a lot. Ever since I made the first order to kill all rebels. Including the children. That is how I got the title of the blood queen. I need to sleep, but it takes a long time. I end up waking up in a cold sweat screaming. Not a good trait for a Queen. I can't escape the nightmares though. Not since him. I find myself waking up in the night to look at the clip he had given me. I set it on the desk, but it was glinting in the moonlight, like Ezra's eyes watching, saying 'I've come back for revenge and I won't let you forget now'.
By the morning I have decided that I can't have this. I am going to go visit him and settle this once and for all. I can finally bury whatever horrors lurk in my past.
When I get to the dungeons, I tell the guard to direct me to him. When I find him, he seems to be lost in thought. Forearms on his thighs, he seems to be thinking. His green eyes are scrunched as if contemplating. I shoo the guard away and walk up to him, who quickly notices me and jumps up, wiping the worry off his face in a glance.
"Hello Darling, long time no see," He says smiling, though it is strained. "You've changed," he says, noticing my change of clothing style. "What happened to the Princess who loved puppies, and pastel colors? I must say you look a bit drab. My compliments to whoever decided to stop your obnoxiously large dresses."
"That is Your Highness to you," I say with a glare. "Need I remind you that you betrayed me and killed my father? I must insist that if you wish to keep your head you keep it down in my presence. Now. I have a couple questions." to rid my brain of you once and for all. I add silently in my head.
"I didn-" he says mumbling, starting to look nervous. "Whatever. What questions?"
"Ezra, was I a mere ruse to you? Or did those forbidden words, of love and forever mean nothing to you?" I said, face stone cold.
"Is that what you think? That I used you?" He says shocked, standing up and coming closer. "Every word is as true now as it ever has been." He gets even closer until he is up against the cell. "Is that what you thought?"
I am startled by his confession, and I need to remind myself not to believe him. "That is not true, and certainly not appropriate to say to someone above you." I say with force "Any feelings I may have felt for you were gone when your picture flashed on that screen. I must tell you, you missed that chance. I was in love with you. You could have been king. But now those feelings are gone."
"What if..." He says, looking embarrassed. "What if you re-gained those feelings?"
"I won't." I say as he reaches through the bars and skims his hand across my hand, and my arms erupt in shivers. Ezra gives a pleased smile for proving me wrong. I shake his arm away. "And besides, Mr. Archer, almost all the kingdom hates you."
"Only almost?" He says, amusement in his eyes from realizing he still had power over me. "Just last year it was all of the kingdom. Clearly I've done something right." That goofy grin I'm so familiar with enlights his face. I want to slap myself when I feel a smile tugging at my lips. Suddenly he looks desperate at my lack of response. "Darling, I know you better than that. I can see you have the urge to smile, laugh. You are allowed to be happy, and you want to be. Even if you blame yourself, which I know you do. It is not your fault. People would have found a way in either way. I know, somewhere in you, you still love me. Because you believe in second chances. And true love, and soulmates. That doesn't go away overnight."
"No. Of course I do not. How can you when thy who you think is your soulmate betrays you!" I stormed out the door, afraid of him seeing the lie in my eyes. He scares me. Because he makes me feel, even when I can't.
When I wake in the morning, there is a single red rose on the bed.
YOU ARE READING
The Queen and the Theif
RomanceA story of a princess suddenly thrust into power because her father was killed by who she believed was her soulmate. She banishes him, but what will happen when he appears again, with a different side to the story?
