A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)

Chapter 22 - Alex

Silvermark wishes to do their part, but we cannot. I cannot stress enough that we can only increase resources at the border with the much-needed Greenlander loan. Alder has denied an extension; our southern colleagues are simply not interested.

"You should have said something, Mama." Princess Alana glared at the Queen, her hands gesticulating widely. "Taking Seb and Nick to an execution after all they've been through. Papa has lost his wits!"

"Alana, calm down! The only one acting insane is you." The Queen slapped her daughter's hands on the table. "I don't agree with your father either, but Sebastian is his heir. He must learn what being King entails—both the good and the bad."

A single tear dangled off the tip of Alex's nose and plunged into the carrot soup she had barely touched. As tension between Princess Alana and Queen Crystal rose higher with every line that was shouted back and forth, the deeper she stared into the mirror of her own past.

Every quarrel with Mother suddenly seemed so futile. She raised her head to the Fourteen Gods that were looking down on her from the ornamental ceiling of the dining hall. The Goddess of Patience sent a friendly smile as she kept Wrath and Pride at bay, using nothing but a pointy finger to defy them.

Oh, the many times she had stormed out of the door, chasing the brothers' temptations. More tears threatened to fall. She swallowed them back. Not right here, not right now. She was trying to be a virtuous girl.

"And Nick?" Princess Alana had jerked her hands from beneath her mother's and was now hiding them under the table. "He's only taking them because they are men, Mama. He's afraid I'll have nightmares because I'm but a feeble woman."

That had been her impression too. Earlier, after the King had interrogated her about the magician, she had mentioned that she had been one of Laneby's warriors, but he had not reacted, as if he didn't want to have that kind of conversation with her. Though not surprised by his reaction, her heart had filled with a hollow feeling. 

Lord Brandon would have never dismissed her like that.

"Alana, please." The Queen uttered a motherly sigh. "It's not true, and you know it. Your father loves having you around in his office, commenting on his musings while you steal his biscuits. You should count yourself lucky. Grandpapa Alder never hired me any tutors to teach me about history and politics. Everything I learnt about our world is because of your father."

The Princess got up. "It's all useless. Nobody cares about what I know. All the world expects me to do is be pretty and marry some stuffy Prince or General."

Alex shot her eyes towards the royal women, a gasp escaping her lips. With the diamond tiara and dress more elaborate than wedding dresses in Laneby, the Princess looked like she couldn't wait to tie the eternal knot, but it seemed they were more alike than appearances would suggest.

"Alana, could you for once in your life stop being ridiculous. Sit down, now! We have guests."

"No, we have a guest. The rest don't care about us." With full force, she shoved the chair under the table. "Face it, Mama. I'm nothing but a prize-winning pigeon that you and Papa  keep in this marble cage until he has found the best deal for the kingdom." She laid her hand on Alex's shoulder. "Come, Alex, let's go outside. I'll show you the nicest parts of the city."

"You are not leaving the castle tonight." As the Queen pronounced every word distinctly, Alex slowly rose from her chair. The warning finger of Mother flashed before her eyes. In honour of her memory, she obeyed Patience and sat down again. "I won't have it. They've arrested one drunkard. There might be more people out there who wish us harm. Besides, it's not your place to tell Miss Alexandra what she should do. She stays here, and—"