We sat at the dinner table. An awkwardness surrounding us. Caelus sat next to me and Estella across. Dilana took the seat next to her.
"How is your body feeling, Estella?" Lady Dilana is the first to break the silence.
"I'm better, the paralysis wore off a few hours ago." Estella fakes a smile. She too was lost in thought like me.
My mind just kept going back to her. Why she didn't want to be near me.
"How has it been on your side?" Caelus elbows me. "Have you been managing the nobles?"
I turn my head to him. "They don't know where I am. They think I went to check on the weaponry supplies. But it seems your nobles aren't aware either."
Caelus leans back, away from his meal. "I think its about time I drop my façade, don't you think? We have a rebel in custody for illegal smuggling of magic stones." He then looks at Estella. "As well as someone who helped behind the scenes. Both sides are trapped."
"I believe King Caelus is right." Lady Dilana cuts in, poking at her plate. "Though I don't want to admit it. If he is able to gather his power now, it will shock the rebels who are trying to flee from suspion. You said that there was a sorcerer. He most likely warned the rest of them, so they know what we are planning."
Estella nods in agreement. "If we surprise them now with Caelus' new strength they will have no other choice but to crumble."
"Then is sounds like a plan." Caelus adds.
If Caelus does prove to not be a puppet king and assassinates those who oppose him. He will be a feared king. One that they won't take lightly. They might try to flee, so we'll have to catch them.
"Very well, you should probably prepare your troops for that. You need to be intimating," I finally say.
"I can do that." He chuckles. "After all, my dear cousin knows just how strong I can be." Caelus looks at Estella. She stops eating to give Caelus a glare.
My face shows its confusion. Cousin?
"What do you mean by cousin?" Dilana asks also looking between Estella and Caelus.
"We are cousins. My mother was the princess of Osertia before she got married to my father," Estella expains.
My brows furrow as I look at Caelus. How did I not know this? I've researched everything on Marquis Claudonia so how come I never knew that his wife was a princess, especially Osertia's.
"Surprised, aren't you?" Caelus smirks at me.
"Yes, I didn't know about this." I say, still taking in the information.
"You know what this means." Caelus then leans in to whisper in my ear, "You don't have to be jealous when it comes to me."
He pulls back, his smirk only widens.He's not wrong. This means that I don't have to kill him just yet. He doesn't pose a threat to me. If only I had known this sooner. It doesn't change much but this means that Estella had royal blood before she even got married to me.
I can't help but smile. It's as if we were already meant to be. Matched by royal blood.
*****
Estella
My shoes tapped as I walked down the staircase to the dungeon. No one knows what I am doing right now. Caelus wouldn't let me see Kylo. He has been interrogating him for the past day. Hoping to reveal any information that might help.
The guards, surprisingly let me in. It was damp. The stones walls had gaps where moss began to grow. It was also humid, which I didn't like.
"I told you to bring me Estella. I'm not talking to you." Kylo's throat is hoarse, his head is down so he can't see me.
YOU ARE READING
The Inured Villainess
FantasyInure: (v.) To accustom to accept something undesirable, evil, or painful. An other worldly girl is reincarnated as Queen Estella de Royalis, the villainess of a novel that is killed by her own husband. Having no other choice, she strives to save he...