The Elven King's Consort

Chapter 43: Bitter Memories

We'd been sitting around a fire for a while, discussing the next course of action we should take. From earlier, Cesteil wanted to return to the secret town and gather those who could fight. Right now, the two of them weren't seeing eye to eye, and I'm ashamed to admit I agreed with Keyair.

"You can't simply barge in the castle and expect to come out successful, Cesteil."

"If we don't come prepared, we'll lose, and I can't have that again. It's been too damn long. Look what he's done to the Enchanted Forest and the fairy queen!"

"I understand that, but if you go in head-on, he'll surround you, and you won't last a handful of minutes. I've seen his army. Although many have abandoned him and left the kingdom, there are still plenty more who have stayed."

Cesteil rubbed his face, agitated; I was afraid he'd give in to his actions the way he stared at Keyair, eyes filled with distrust and hate. He was struggling with his emotions. I glanced down at the hot tea in my hand, its dark contents glazed over from the herbs Keyair found scavenging the area. My fingers red from the heat but it felt nice and comforting against the wind's chill. A light storm rolled in earlier, lasting no more than an hour or so, dampening the wood but not rendering it useless. A few rabbits were skinned and lightly prepared, then pushed through stakes, roasting them. It smelled delicious, causing my mouth to water. We hadn't had any proper meals since before entering the forest; they had been too focused on my health and well-being.

The wound had healed more than I expected, but its memory was far from gone. The thought of the wound reminded me of Silas, and I looked up, interrupting them.

"Why did Silas try and kill you, Keyair?"

He paused mid-sentence, his arms stretched about him funny-like as he tried to decipher a growing plan. Laying his hands palm down on his thighs, he sighed—those eyes of his carried dark circles and dread.

"It's not the first time my father has bribed someone to kill me."

"But why? It's not that you prove to be a major threat to him, Keyair. And I mean that in the lightest way possible."

"I know what you are referring to; I take no offense to your words. I do threaten the throne simply because I'm his blood, regardless that he's stripped me of the title of heir. How things are going, many plot against him and try to assassinate him regularly."

"Do you know why?"

"His magic has grown astronomically over the last eight years, but I still haven't figured out why. No one can touch him. That's why I am trying to convince Cesteil to think logically."

"This is all so strange," I said, worried, gripping the mug tightly and staring at the two of them.

Another thought crossed my mind, and for a long moment in our mutual silence, I pondered whether I should ask or not. Finally, I convinced myself to do it because it needed to be brought to light. Any information is valuable regardless of how little it is.

"Why did your father kill King Reon and take over the kingdom?"

Cesteil's body tensed, a fist balled over his knee, his jaw clenched, grinding his teeth, but he held his tongue. I looked at him apologetically, but he didn't take notice.

"Jealousy, envy, and revenge, to put it simply."

"I'm confused. Why revenge? I can understand jealousy and envy but not revenge."

"Reon played a prank on my father growing up, leading to misfortune. Cesteil's biological mother was supposed to marry my father, but the day he was to meet her, Reon told him it was canceled. So my father never met her. Instead, Reon went to her only to embarrass Václav but fell in love."