The Bride

Chapter 3//: King of Norta

Ahren's POV

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 3//: King of Norta♕✿~♕✿~

When Gregory walks into my room with a regretful look on his face, I know I can't expect any good news from him.

"Anything?" I still ask with hopefulness. At this point, though, my hope has gone down a lot.

As expected, Gregory shakes his head. A troubled look is in his eyes as he watches me, looking for my reaction.

I swallow a lump in my throat. Relax. Just because she hasn't been found yet, doesn't mean she'll never be found.

"But doesn't it? After all, you've been searching for three days nonstop and where has that lead you?" a small voice in the back of my mind says tauntingly. I push it away.

"We need to go further with our search parties. Send the next one further south. I'll plan out the spots they'll check and give it to you late-"

"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Gregory cuts me off gently, "we don't have time for any more search parties to be sent out."

I freeze up at this, my eyes slowly meeting Gregory's. At first, I feel shock. Then, I feel indignation.

"What do you mean 'we don't have time for this'? We aren't doing anything of importance right now. Our time should be spent on sending out search parties. This is a person we're looking for!" I tell Gregory in desperation, trying to convince both him and myself that the search parties aren't wasted efforts.

Gregory looks slightly regretful as he says, "It's just one girl, Your Majesty."

A fire builds up inside of me, and I clench my fists to stop the fire from showing. By my wrists, my fire bracelets click and I see a small spark of flame burst from them. It was tempting to grab onto the small flicker of flame, turn it into something bigger and more dangerous. At least I would have control over one thing in my life right now, then.

I open my mouth, ready to get into another argument with Gregory like I have been for the past few days, but Gregory beats me to speaking. "And there is something very important we are supposed to be doing right now, Your Majesty. Actually, two things."

The confusion on my face must have shown. As far as I knew, the only "important" thing I was supposed to do right now was continue the Choosing. But that wasn't going to happen without Madi here with me, safe and sound.

Gregory sighs in exasperation, disappointed that I don't know the answer. "Your coronation?" He prompts. My face slackens. Of course. My coronation. To officially become king.

"That can wait," I bite out. I move past Gregory to go to the training room to get some of my frustration out, but Gregory grabs my arm and holds me in my room.

"It can not wait, Your Majesty," Gregory insists. "Right now, Norta is without an official king. They only have what seems to be two heartbroken children not physically ready to lead the country. There are dangerous rebels running around the country, killing innocent people. They've already infiltrated the palace multiple times, so how can anyone expect to be safe in their own home when the most guarded place in the country was infiltrated more than once? They need someone right now to guide them, to reassure them, to keep them going with their heads high. Your people are frightened. Are you really going to leave them like that because of your own selfish reasons?" Gregory asks me, the need for an answer shining in his eyes. Throughout his talk, his grip on me had tightened considerably. It was like I was shackled. Gregory notices this and immediately lets go of my arm, the blood rushing back to my arm.