Betrothed to Trouble

Chapter 9 - A Shocking Revelation

Princess Giselle:        

The Court Room opened with gusto just as the sun began to set. Finally! I jumped off the chaise lounge anxiously, my curiosity at its peak as I made my way to the open doors. A fuming Sergei stalked out in a rush, nearly knocking me over. He didn’t even apologize or pause to check whether I was alright, but continued walking away indifferently. What a jerk! I wonder what happened to make him that furious though. Rubbing my sore right shoulder, I scowled at his hastily retreating back and entered the Court Room. My stomach lurched at the sight of father’s slumped form. He was cradling his head in his hand and staring at the table in frustration.

            “Father?” I asked him worriedly, ignoring the smug smirk on Sir Leonid’s face as I passed him on his way out.

            He raised his head to look at me but avoided looking into my eyes. He looked defeated and broken; and are those tears that I see welling up in his eyes?

            “Father!” I cried out frantically this time, gripping his arms and forcing him to look at me. “What happened?” I asked, though the haunted look in his eyes sent a stab of cold fear through my heart. Did Sir Leonid threaten him? Did our kingdom lose out in the negotiations?

            “Giselle,” he began hesitantly, as he took my hands in his. I gulped nervously at the foreboding look on his face and cautiously took the seat next to him.

            “I’m so sorry,” he rasped, bringing my hands to his mouth. “I’m so very sorry,”

            “F-father?” I stammered in shock. “Is everything alright?”

            “I’ve been a very bad father to you, haven’t I?” he asked sardonically.

            I frowned in distaste at his halfhearted attempt at black humor. Father never jokes like this. Something really horrible must have happened to shake him to his very core.

            “No, father. You are the best,” I comforted him, but my voice was strained. “Now tell me what happened,” I continued more firmly.

            “I – “ he began, but trailing off as his resolve seemed to crumble.

A dark chuckle from behind me made me turn around in my seat in shock. Sir Leonid! His revolting lips were curled up in a decidedly evil smirk. I shot him a scathing glare. I knew that Freyrgardian rat was up to no good from the moment I set my eyes on him.

            “Your dear father has agreed to a marriage between our two kingdoms to end the conflict,” he announced with evident glee at the pained look on father’s face.

            I felt as if someone has stabbed a knife through my chest. My head spun at his announcement and I clutched the polished mahogany table frantically for support. Unable to tear my horrified gaze from his shrewd face, I stared at Sir Leonid in horror while he watched me with a lazy smile.

            “Father?” I asked him, my voice trembling. I couldn’t bring myself to look into father’s eyes, for fear of seeing the confirmation in his face. Please don’t let what he said be true!

            “I’m so sorry, Giselle,” was his only answer.

            The pain of his betrayal sent a wave of cold fury through me. “This is absurd!” I snapped at Sir Leonid’s obnoxious face as I jumped off my seat. “Is this some silly joke?” I screamed, almost hysterical as I looked from Sir Leonid to father in hope that one of them would say that it was all a farce.