Obsidian's Reign ¹

∷ Chapter 23 ∷

CLARA WAS DISTRACTED. She could not stop thinking about her disastrous meeting with the king—the revelation of evident distrust between them, and his choice of siding with the prince while ignoring her truthful pleas of innocence. She never once thought being proven right would hurt her as much as it did despite her growing suspicions leading up to the summons.

Still, there was no denying the gaping hole she felt in her chest, as though her grandfather's crude nonchalance had ripped her heart free from her ribs. The fear he had inscribed upon her left its mark; quietening the resolve within her as she silently obeyed his command of setting things right once more.

She sat in the sitting room with that very intent in mind, waiting with oblivious patience for the arrival of the demon prince whose presence she would rather not endure. It was like déjà vu, the way Maya had set a cup of chamomile tea before her, confident in its purpose of comforting her tumultuous heart. Though she could not bring herself to savour its contents, she found unnatural solace in watching the soft swirls of the dark tea, tranced by the way the liquid seemed trapped in a world of its own.

Her thoughts, however, were brutally interrupted when a voice from behind her said, "A half-human and a soulless for attendants? Your choices for companions amuse me so, princess."

Without turning to look at the prince—who she now knew by voice alone—Clara said, "Please, do not insult them any more than you already have."

"You're being cold," came the chuckled response. "But if it pleases you, I shall keep my thoughts to myself."

Prince Adric leaned forward on the backrest of the settee, resting his chin on her shoulder. And though his action caused her to flinch quite obviously, she remained motionless, keeping her gaze fixed on the swirls of tea within the cup.

"Cold and boring," he observed, straightening as he walked around the settee to sit next to her.

Noticing the way she was staring blankly at the teacup, he reached forward and lifted it from its place on the accompanying saucer. He crinkled his nose as he sniffed it before taking a small sip of the tea it contained.

"Such vile things you humans love," he muttered as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

He dropped the cup back on its saucer with a clatter, unintentionally meeting eyes with Maya from across the room.

"Leave us," he ordered, waving the two attendants off with a flick of his wrist.

Conditioned to obey without question, Maya proceeded to nod solemnly before turning to leave; halted in her path by a firm grip on her arm. She turned towards Marek, who was glaring fiercely at the prince.

"Did I upset the little pomeranian guard?" Adric taunted smugly with an exaggerated pout on his face.

"Prince Adric, I will not–"

"It's okay, Marek," Clara interrupted, giving her attendant a reassuring nod. "You may leave us."

"Yes, Marek, leave us," the prince echoed in a mocking tone.

Marek gave the prince a harsh stare before shifting his attention back on the princess, his brows now knitted in worry. He did not like the idea of leaving the princess alone with the likes of Prince Adric, or anyone remotely dangerous for that matter, but he could tell the princess was not going to be convinced otherwise.

"If you insist, my Lady," he said rather stiffly, pulling Maya along as he hesitantly left the parlour.

"Such obedient dogs you have, princess," Adric commented.

She frowned upon hearing his words, turning towards him to make known her displeasure in his conduct.

"I asked you here specifically so we could talk. It has nothing to do with my attendants and I would appreciate if you stop aggravating them."