Royalty? It's Not What You Think. (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3: Confrontation

My shoes clacked loudly through the halls. Despite Mother telling me to hurry, I took my sweet time to get to the garden. A small inconvenience for the Prince compared to what’s in store for me.

When I arrived, the garden was lit by surrounding torches mounted on the walls. It was always my most favorite place to be in all of the places in the castle. The calm and quiet had a soothing affect that would make me feel at peace whenever I was troubled.

However, one thing was obstructing the beauty and calm of the garden right now, and he was sitting at the table by the rose bushes sipping his tea without a care for all the damage he’d done.

As I approached, the Prince looked up and stood, his face remaining stolid.

His calm made me even angrier. Gathering my skirts, I walked to him and dipped into a low curtsy letting a bit of the sarcasm in the gesture seep through.

“You wanted to speak with me?” I said trying my very best not to scowl.

“Yes, I believe we haven’t had a proper introduction.” He bowed slightly. “I am Prince Auden of Tyron.”

“I am very well aware of who you are.” I said with an overly friendly grin.

He flinched at my bluntness. Shaking it off, he gestured to the empty chair across from him.

 “I thought that it would be nice if we got to know each other a bit.” He said. “Please, take a seat.”

I took it noting that he didn’t even attempt to pull it out for me.

He sat down as well.

“Well, what would you like to know?” I asked. My smile twitched with incredulity as I poured a cup of tea for myself.

He contemplated for a minute then asked, “What are your likes and dislikes?” He smiled, but it was as fake and strained as mine.

I pretended to think for a moment. “Hmmm, well, I like it when people ask me things before they go ahead and make decisions, and I dislike being forced into marriage with a person I don’t know.” I said, the sarcasm in my voice growing more apparent.

His smile faded. “It’s not as if I was asked either.”

“Yes, you were, and you said yes.” I said exasperated. “You had a choice, and I did not. Why did you even say yes?” I glared at his stupidity. If he did not want this, then he should have said no. Why make us both suffer?

“I do not know.” He stood up and faced away from me. “I thought I was helping my country by saying yes, and I did.”

This man is so naïve. His response flared my anger even more. I shot out of my seat and nearly knocked my tea over. “If anyone wants to help their country, it’s me. We were ravaged by your people.” I jabbed a finger in his direction. “Nobody asked you to go to war with us.”

He spun around to face me his eyes squinting with anger. “Nobody asked you to provoke us. This war and your defeat are your entire fault. Don’t go putting the blame on others.”

“It is your fault. If you could learn to be a little less greedy then we wouldn’t have this problem. You already have so much money, why do you need more?”

Prince Auden came so close that he towered above me forcing me to look up at him. The fury in his eyes was so apparent that he might was well have screamed I hate you.

“You don’t know a thing.” He growled.

“I am most positive that I do.” I said haughtily turning my back on him. “My father claimed the land between our countries and your father let him. Then, my father found out that the land contained a very large gold deposit in the fertile farm area, and when your father found out, he wanted the land, am I correct?” I faced him.

The look of fury on his face brought a small smile of triumph on my own.

“Well, both Kings wanted the land, and thus a war was born.” His silence was all that I needed. I strutted back to him smirking and noticed that his fists were balled so tightly that the skin around them had turned white. Staring him straight in the eyes, I said, “Do not talk to me about the blame. We both very well know just whose fault this really is.”

“I did not come here to argue with you.” He said between clenched teeth.

“Is that so?” I said with a mocking tone. “Well, you are going to have to listen to it for the rest of your life because there is no way we can take back all that has transpired in your castle.”

“I am your superior. Don’t talk down on me as if you own me.” He drew himself up to his full height which made him a head taller than me.

“You will never be my superior, nor my equal.” I spat.

He flinched.

“Marrying me is the worst mistake you ever made.” With that, I left him.