The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

82. Cruel intentions

A royal wedding is followed by several banquets the days after, mostly till all guests leave.

The palace grounds are still crowded and loud. One might hope he will forget about me, but I know better.

Our entrance causes enough whispers to be noticed and is quite obvious in its unspoken language to not hide the intended meaning.

It's odd, though, because after no servants come to check what I am doing, not even Lady Nefri.

Lady Nefri, who would delight in punishing me, specifically today, when, after very confusing signals, my body decided to give yet another one. My moon bleeding came, the second I plunged into the ice-cold ocean water. And it means that the only thing that might still have protected me vanished too, just like Theon's frigate on the horizon.

"I will tell him everything; you don't need to worry," I tell Riyo once more. He is visibly and understandably nervous.

And my esteemed husband is still keeping us waiting. Maybe he is finally going to kill me. Which would be the appropriate last words? Whatever you do, you will never be half the man Theon is? Majorly satisfactory, but also very dumb.

After midnight, I recognise the pattern of his steps in the hallway. I couldn't sleep, so I just lay in bed, leaving the bedroom door open for Riyo to still see me, to maybe reduce his anxiety.

"Don't be afraid," I whisper and pray to all the gods for him not to get hurt.

I avert my gaze. His Highness doesn't have to see I mind or care because that would make him a target. This lesson I was taught enough times to remember.

He steps in and walks decisively towards me, ignoring Riyo completely.

"You couldn't help yourself," he says flatly and grabs my hair.

It hurts, and I stand up from the bed to follow him to the other room.

"You really thought you would get away? And chose to do it in front of all foreign guests to humiliate me?"

I don't answer. There isn't anything I could say that would actually help.

"So the Darcleé boy promised you what exactly? Marriage?"

I can't help bursting into a short salve of sarcastic laughter. Marriage? How utterly ironic, hearing this from him.

"He promised me nothing because I never asked, and he never offered. Besides, he is scared out of his mind of your Highness and wants to preserve his kingdom and power, as one might imagine. One can say many things about Lord Thessarion, but he is not naive nor stupid."

A ghost of a smile appears on his lips. He likes what he is hearing; he likes being feared, and he seems to believe what I say.

"I admit I was tempted to beg him, but it would have made no sense. Nobody dares to cross your Highness."

His smirk expressed undisguised pride. But pride tends to make us... not so sharp.

"Then what was that circus? You know I can have you beheaded tomorrow?"

"Lord Thessarion's ships are still the fastest on the continent. If he didn't agree with it, it doesn't mean I didn't want to be on the ship."

"Nonsense." He looks me deep in the eyes, with his fingers grabbing my right shoulder violently. "I will invade Tajir, and drag the Darclee boy out by the hair and behead him in front of his father for coveting my wife."

"But he didn't," I say most serenely, looking into his eyes. If somebody coveted anybody, it was me. And it matters how one asks questions.

There is a knock on the door.