Corrupt

Chapter 1

I look into the stone-cold gaze of King Nikolas Umber and smile.

"He's perfect, isn't he?" I whisper to Andrea, standing beside me. She nods, barely able to tear her eyes from him as he surveys his subjects with his usual air of cool observation. 

Though I could stare at him forever, I force myself to turn around, and am greeted with a sight that is almost more spectacular.

Everyone is here. 

And by everyone, I mean everyone. The whole of Carcaseau - us maids, the guards, the blacksmiths, the cooks, the nurses - have gathered in the courtyard at the King's request. Not a single person knows what is to come, but no doubt it will be the talk of everyone in Vaskuoyae for weeks to come. Through the crowd, an excited hum of chatter begins to spread as the King starts to move towards the stage, crimson cloak swishing behind him. As he calmly ascends the staircase, I try not to focus on the resplendent orange light gleaming off the gold threads of his perfect suit, or the way the soft beams of the sunset dance like a halo on his perfect hair.

Then he raises a hand, and the entire castle becomes completely, utterly silent. Not even the crows dare speak. 

"Good evening, Carcaseau."

"God, his voice," Drea swoons beside me, and I giggle, shoving her playfully.

"Shut up!" But I have to agree. 

"I am aware that you have no idea why you're all here. Allow me to first apologise for dragging you all from your work at such an hour. I understand that you must all be wanting to rest, and wanted to once again reiterate my gratitude at the work everyone does here in the castle." He smiles broadly at the audience, perfectly composed, even as each and every one of them hang on his words.

"But I'm sure you're all wanting to know why, indeed, I summoned you to the courtyard this fine evening. So I shall tell you. As I'm sure you know, I do not have a real family. Following the deaths of my parents, I found Vaskuoyae myself, and I have since made it my business to take care of its people as though we were all family. But if the safety of Vaskuoyae is to continue, my line will have to continue also."

"Oh my god," whispers Drea. "Does that mean-"

"I therefore call you all together today to announce that I am searching for a wife to rule beside me, as Queen of our lands, and allow the Umber line to continue their reign for many generations to come." He pauses as thrilled gasps break out across the crowd. 

"I will be searching both in and outside of the castle. The kingdom deserve the perfect woman to lead them. I am not sure where that woman may be..."

"Right here," Andrea grins. 

"...But I am willing to search as long as I need to find her. I will accept visitors, from Carcaseau or outside, but I implore you to be ready for me to turn you down. I am sure that you'd agree that if a woman is not the one, she is simply not the one. That is more important in this case than ever. Thank you all." 

At his modest words, the audience breaks into applause that lasts forever. The King stands tall before it, smiling serenely. 

"Oh my god, imagine if I was his wife," squeals Drea, clapping her hands together.

"As if! You'd be the worst ruler ever," I tease. We lower our hands as King Nikolas raises his once more.

"To conclude this meeting, I would like to remind you all that Eskalis is quickly approaching. To celebrate the occasion, I will be rewarding each of you with a hundred extra coins." 

More joyous gasps through the group. The King's generosity is truly unmatched. I smile.

"Use them to celebrate yourself. Buy a gift for a loved one, perhaps. And above all, remember to be grateful. We, Vaskuoyae, have vanquished evil. The cruel Daeva Korren is exiled. There is peace in the land, and always will be. Have a wonderful Eskalis, every one of you." I swear he looks right at me then, glittering emerald eyes snagging on mine, just for an instant. I relish the second, and then it is gone.

"And a wonderful evening ahead, too! Meeting dismissed." There is a moment of silence as he walks off the stage, filled with pure admiration, and then the whole courtyard begins to talk at once. 

As we dash back to the servant's quarters, the tower rising in the distance, me and Andrea take the opportunity to chatter about the King's words.

"Oh my god, he's looking for a wife!"

"He's looking for a queen!"

We're not the only ones. As I predicted, everyone that passes us is having the same conversation.

"Can you imagine being the chosen one? Being picked by him?" Andrea gushes.

"You'd get to be the Queen of Vaskuoyae, and all the lands," I murmur.

"Who cares about that? You'd get to be Nikolas' wife," she shrieks. "Imagine marrying him! I bet he'd look even more handsome in a wedding suit."

"Don't," I say. "Don't get my hopes up!" 

"Sorry," she smirks. "You'll just have to keep imagining, since I'm going to be the one marrying him."

"Hey!" I chase her up the spiral stairs of our tower, both of us full of adrenaline, giddy at our daydreams. 

After such excitement, everything's beauty seems amplified, and as I race up the stairs, I bask in the glowing amber light streaming through the glass, the last light of the day. The polished wooden banister is smooth against my skin as I hang onto it, spinning myself around turns and corners, navigating through the labyrinth of dazzling corridors until, finally, panting from exertion, we arrive at our door. 

It only takes a second to turn the key, and then Andrea flops onto her bed, yellow skirts puffing out around her. 

"I need to go to sleep after that," I mumble breathlessly.

"Yeah, good idea. Then we can dream of our royal weddings," she grins.