Glass

Chapter Fourteen: Santos' Fury (Part II)

Santos put a foot forward to approach me, but he hesitated. He studied my features, looking for anything different that may rationalise his regret for letting me beyond the palace walls. He kept his distance, avoiding the familial embrace my mother had granted me, but the look in his eyes told me he wanted nothing more than to fall to his knees with relief.

"You have told him?" He asked my mother, noticing the dimming light in my eyes.
"The investigation will be no more." Mother nodded. My father nodded too, heavy with thought, and he could no longer look me in the eye.
"We should have known something like this would happen, Josefina. Our son is of reckless blood - mine and yours. We were foolish to think he could venture beyond our walls without attracting danger. The Sun knows that we could not."

I felt myself sinking, trying to escape myself. Surely, it was not my fault that the feathered serpent appeared? Or perhaps, it was waiting for me. It could smell my blood, after all, and in doing so, it told me that he wanted revenge. But I still questioned how my father could have known that, or if he knew at all. Maybe this was all just a coincidence; but still an opportunity for my father to shut me away from the freedom I was seeking.

"Do not worry, Andres," my mother said, "you will not be without what you seek."

King Cedric stepped forward and took my hand firmly. He gave me a proud smile.
"Prince Andres, it would be our honour for you to marry Princess Alice."

My hand freed itself from his grasp. I looked to my mother, and then my father, utterly betrayed. They thought that they could give me a woman as a prize to keep me happy in my captivity, like the animals in Gloria Del Flores' avery. I did not seek a bride, or at least just any bride. My happiness lied beyond Mendessa, beyond the sea. To take it all away from not just myself, but another unwilling participant, was nothing more than barbaric.
"Andres. You must think of the kingdom now." My mother said, "Who knows how long it will take before you can begin your investigation again? Anything can happen between then and now. You must marry for the sake of Mendessa's future. And who better than the Princess of the United Realms?"

Rosaline joined her husband, but she looked up on me with sadness, unconvinced by her own words.
"You can make each other happy."
She opened her mouth as though she was going to speak more, but her words got lost in the air.

"Please, your highness. We understand that she was not your first choice, but through this marriage, you and Mendessa will gain so much more prosperity!" Cedric assured, trying and failing to take my hand again, "We can be stronger allies than ever before."
"And we will need strong allies to kill this feathered serpent, my son." My father's stare was stern. "You will be ruler soon enough. Now more than ever, you need to learn to put Mendessa before yourself. If you don't learn that now, I fear you never will."

I almost accepted it. I almost gave into the offer. I took a breath and bit my tongue, ready to face the fate that I had no longer had control over. But Rosaline's eyes seemed as though they were pleading; begging for me to remember the things she believed in. This was not it. Rosaline was a believer of true love, and so was I. Even Cedric couldn't deny that marrying for love rather than power had tied him and his wife together; their kingdoms had been enemies, and yet he broke her curse with true love's kiss.

If I had to fight for anything, it had to be then. If I waited, my opportunity would be ground into dust, left to float away little by little the longer time went on.
"Your majesties. Mother. Could you leave me with my father, please?"

Cedric and Rosaline nodded, not needing to be told twice. They rushed out with mixed emotions, followed by my mother, who delayed her walk somewhat as she readied herself to leave. She began to turn back to me, but stopped herself, and pushed herself out of the room.