Obsidian's Reign ¹

∷ Chapter 35 ∷

AS SHE ENTERED the throne room with the prince by her side, Clara was reminded once more of her horrific encounter with the king. The thought did nothing to settle her racing heart despite her best attempts at repressing the dread growing within her.

She kept her gaze fixed at a distant point on the marbled floor, refusing to lift her head even when they neared the throne. Her last audience with the king had undoubtedly shaken her and she knew her resolve would crumble the second their eyes met.

Her unprecedented fear seemed to numb her and she couldn't recall the right manner of addressing him, let alone a means to start the ball rolling. Thankfully, the king took that task upon himself, much too concerned about Adric's presence than his granddaughter's.

"Prince Adric," the king greeted, his voice resonating throughout the room. "To what do I owe the . . . pleasure?"

There was clear hesitance in his mannerism, evidencing his disagreement with his choice of words. And yet, to upkeep the suffocating etiquette of the royal court, he endured the politeness required of his status.

The prince, on the other hand, could not resist poking the sleeping bear as he grinned and proceeded to sling his arm casually over Clara's shoulders before tugging her snugly against him. He caught the slight quiver in the king's stern gaze and the twitch in the corner of his lips; actions which only seemed to spur the delinquency within him.

Leaning closer, he murmured in her ear, "Keep your head up, princess. Your meekness is not befitting of the tyrant sitting upon the throne."

Clara permitted her eyes to fall shut for a fraction of a second, exhaling slowly through parted lips before she dared herself to raise her gaze. For all the fear swirling within her, a part of her knew the prince was right. She might still be frightened of the king, but letting him know of the fact would only serve to weaken her further in his eyes.

"I assume you must have a reason for wanting to see me," the king said, finally turning his attention to his granddaughter.

Adric took notice of the way Clara's hands were trembling, and after another prolonged second of silence, he took the liberty of answering the king's question; though not entirely for her, but to give reason to his presence in the throne room.

"I wanted to apologise," he declared, stepping away from her to place his hands behind his back as he moved closer to the king.

The king was silent before finally saying, "What for?"

"The thing with the letter," he said nonchalantly with a shrug. "It was a joke. I meant nothing by it."

The king's vacant eyes seemed to look right through the prince. It was almost unnerving how still and unmoving he was. He allowed another moment to pass before tilting his head ever so slightly.

"I suppose I don't have to inform you that your joke," he repeated with scorn, "was uncalled for."

Despite the threatening tone in the king's voice, Adric remained unperturbed, going so far as to laugh jovially as though he'd spoken of something amusing.

"I am well aware," he said. "But in my defence, I didn't think the implications would be as disastrous as shipping the princess off to be wed."

"I can, at least, agree with you on one thing—you certainly did not think," the king responded, choosing to blatantly ignore Adric's scornful remark about the engagement.

Deeming the conversation over, the king turned his blank stare in Clara's direction.

"And?" he prodded disinterestedly. "What is your excuse for coming to see me today?"