━━ ⦗the swan princess! ⦘
❝ you're beautiful!
thank you, but what else?
... what else is there? ... ❞
███████████ 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝
the courageous odette teaches the
once and future king a less...
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chapter fifty-one 051. the swan prince, part two
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THE KING WASnot happy.
Arthur expected as much from his father. He set his jaw and clasped his hands behind his back, resisting his need for anger as he stood under the scrutinising gaze of not just his father, but also his new wife. The Prince glanced at Lady Catrina sitting in a chair that had once been his mother's, and while he said he wished for his father to be happy, he couldn't help but be angry. Not even two days into her new life, she held the arrogance of a ruler who has had decades. In just two days, Arthur's father suddenly wanted to raise the taxes he had not touched in years. The Prince had a feeling he knew exactly whose influence that had been.
"I gave you a direct order," said King Uther Pendragon, and it was almost a growl. Arthur swallowed his frustration, biting his tongue and staying silent as he took the brut of his actions▬but he did not regret them, not at all. "And yet you went ahead and disobeyed me in front of the eyes of our people?" he glanced at Lady Catrina and Arthur's teeth clenched.
He took a sharp breath through his nose. "The people cannot afford to pay the tax," said Arthur, his tone clipped. His father's eyes flashed dangerously at his tone, but the Prince did not care.
His own dangerous look in his eyes flared when it was Lady Catrina who spoke instead. "And you are naive enough to take them at their word?"
Arthur was sure his mother did not have that tone. He was sure his mother had been gracious and kind. He was sure his mother would have not wanted the people to suffer▬She would have never allowed his father to make such a decision. Arthur knew it. And yet here Lady Catrina was, and Arthur felt as if she was dishonouring his mother's legacy. And that infuriated him. Trying to stay calm, he answered: "We have their loyalty, My Lady, their goodwill. Do not forsake that by making unreasonable demands."
He couldn't hide the slight chiding tone in his voice, and Lady Catrina recognised it. She did not like the blatant disrespect from him. Arthur did not care. "Is it so unreasonable for a King to expect his subjects to obey him?" she held a sneer, and Arthur was astounded that his father did not notice▬or even worse, did not seem to care.
Arthur gritted his teeth at the sight. He was furious. "They'll starve!" He snapped.
His father was on his feet. "Nonsense!" he raised his voice and Arthur glanced at him. He felt an old breath of fear▬one he had not felt in a long time; not ever since he was a young child. Arthur swallowed harshly. "They have grown too soft," went on the King. "Remember, these are your subjects, not your friends."
Arthur clenched his hands behind his back. He thought of the words of wisdom from somebody else; they echoed in his mind. "And why can they not be both?" he countered.
