Forbid Me Not

Chapter Nine

(Pisces' POV)

She didn't look happy based off of the look she gave both Annaraiyah and I as she walked out of the room.

I stayed silent as I wait for her to say something.

"I came to speak to you about your Father since your light was still burning." She arches a brow at me as I wait for her next words. She doesn't move an inch as she has her hand rested atop her stomach and the other on top of the hand. Her nose upwards as she looks over at me. "But it seems that you already had someone to keep you company."

She almost narrows her eyes on me in question as she awaits my answer.

I walk past her from the bathroom into the bedroom and try to tidy up my workplace.

"It was nothing."

"It surely didn't seem that way."

She follows behind me as I have my back to her.

"There is nothing going on with Annaraiyah, Mother - I am not my brother."

I add the last part with bitterness as she stays silent for a while before speaking up.

"Good. I'd prefer if you don't linger in feelings for anyone less than royal. You know what a disgrace that would be to our empire." She sighs at the thought. "Especially with someone like Annaraiyah-"

"She had nothing to do with anything, Mother." I turned around to face her as my voice had slightly risen in upset to her words. She frowns at me as she is not used to me acting this way towards her, but something about her speaking about me and Annaraiyah in that way was just... unsettling. "If anything, she was cleaning up the wound that your husband had left!"

This time, true anger had flooded out of my mouth as another emotion took hold in her eyes as she swallows.

"Well... you know your Father has a little bit of a temper." She always covers up for him. "He's still your Father."

I bite my jaw as I try not to answer back at her again. Even though every bone inside of me is begging me to.

She walks towards me as she examines the cover that Annaraiyah had put onto my wound and makes a sound.

"Hmm, not bad. But we should still have someone professional check it. I'll call them to come to you in the morning." I nod back at her. "Get some sleep, Pisces."

She cups my cheek as I finally look down into her eyes as she gives me a small smile before walking out and shutting the door.

I let out a heavy sigh as I finally made my way to bed. The wound still hurts, but at least it is not bleeding out.

My thoughts go back to Annaraiyah, and I know that Mother is right.

Whatever this is... whatever feelings are there... it needs to be forgotten.

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(Annaraiyah's POV)

We had all been woken up really early this morning in order to make sure that the eating room is set.

Apparently, we are having some guests to come and visit.

"Do you know who it is?"

I ask Sariyan.

"I heard some whispers that it could be the Princess from the city of Ewat."

"Really?"

I ask in surprise as she nods at me.

Before I knew it, the two princes entered the room.

Ikol is immediately speaking to some of the servants as Pisces makes his way immediately to his seat.