The Wish

☆Chapter 19: Freya killed the queen?

After the prince's departure, I'm stuck in a trance for the remainder of the day.

My mom, seated at the right hand of the sovereign, my dad, the king, occupying the center throne, and me, his eldest, at his left hand, we now listen to the needs and worries of Aerilon's subjects, and make a concise decision, based on dad's verdict.

"Next in line, you may now step forward," the marshal of the diplomatic corps announces, as a commoner and his wife make their way to the front, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Your majesty, thou is much charitable in their ways," the man smiles at us, eyeing his spouse, who nods at him to proceed. "We bring you flowers from distant lands, I'm sure you and your family will find most flattering."

"Much obliged. I shall see to it that they are well tended to in the meantime," my dad responds, snapping his finger, as a butler hastily retrieves the gift before scurrying off.

"Now tell us what's troubling such a ravishing pair as yourself," my mother asks, making the man tighten his grip around his partner's waist.

"Your majesty!" The woman speaks. "I am currently with child. We are but lowly merchants, however, and the amount we collect will not suffice in catering the child, once they're brought unto this earth," she says, darting her eyes between my parents, before landing them on me.

"If you may be so kind as to offer us some shillings, that much shall ensure that the child is well nourished for the foreseeable," the gentleman pleads, bowing on behalf of both him and his wife.

"You have made your request. And now, the king shall give his verdict," the marshal states, whilst backing into the aisle.

Once the announcement is made, father hunches forward and begins discussing the situation with mom, leaving the anxious couple standing in wait.

I don't mind being a spectator in all of this. In fact, I'm glad that I wasn't personally involved. I'm still in the process of recovering from my previous encounter with Reed, knowing that the next time we'll meet, he'll make things official.

Yesterday, his offer would have felt like a dream come true. Sure, I would have had some reservations, seeing as we're still so young and overburdened with our own lives, but knowing he'd be the one I get to see everyday, made my heart swell, and my future that much feasible and brighter. Now, his proposal feels like a one way ticket to the underworld.

Although my heart still craves this false persona Reed made to lure me into his evil scheme, he's tainted my feelings for him, and now, I'd like nothing more than to do away with him, once and for all.

Our story was nothing but a fallacy anyway.

"Freya, as the future of this nation, what say you regarding this matter?" Father suddenly questions, startling me back to reality.

"Uhm...sorry, could you maybe repeat that?" I say and he sighs, a frown marring his face.

"Freya, are you taking any of what we're doing here seriously?" Father reproaches and I give him a cheeky grin, before glancing down.

"You be the judge of that, seeing the state you allowed Damien to reduce my fingers. I could barely hold a pen without fidgeting like a leaf, and you call yourself my father," I mutter bitterly and dad rattles his throat, before turning to face the couple in front of us.

"Freya, you've crossed several lines today. If I wasn't a "good father," as you so deem, then you'd be sitting in an institution by now. If anything, you should be rejoicing," he whispers back, before addressing his subjects, and I'm left beyond perturbed.

Did he seriously just accuse me of being mentally ill? The anger which fuels me causes me to bite my lip, as dad offers the couple a large sum of money, who then leaves the hall, probably viewing him as the world's greatest hero.