The Art of the Corset (2017)

Chapter Thirty Three- Fool Me Once

"You will have to forgive the King...it appears he has not realized his limit of alcohol. I wish you all a safe journey home." Marth said as he moved with grace until making it to the hallway, pacing quickly to his chambers. Just before Evelyn exited the room, she saw how the King now began to drink heavily among his visitors as they whispered about the fiasco. When finally catching up to him, they were located in their chambers as maidens were placing the linens upon the bed. "Leave us." He said coldly, as it was obvious that he was holding his anger within.

Before Evelyn could speak, he lifted his hand and then his eyes as she saw tears forming. "You knew what Amelia did to me...you knew how I loathed lies....you grew so angry at me for not being honest with you...when my reason was for the fear of you only desiring me to become a princess...for my fortune..."

"I was in fear of this very moment. I tried to conjure the courage-"

"What was it that stopped you from speaking the truth to me?"

"I didn't want to lose you." She spoke as she reached out but found him to pull back, with his body now turned from her. "When I first met you, I never expected to be with you for my future...a man like you with a title...and I was selfish to lose that. There are so many things I wish to tell you."

"I do not wish to hear it."

"Marth-"

"I cannot understand how you could lie to me since we met! Has anything between us been true?"

"Yes." She urged at his arm as he finally turned to her and a tear ran down his cheek.

"I swore to never break that vow...perhaps I am being punished for doing so."

"Marth...does it matter where I have come from? What matters is now..."

"No. What matters is to trust each other. In a time where assassins hide in the dark and foes act as allies...I question if any part of our relationship was genuine."

"Every second..."

He shook his head, showing how he was not taking her at her word.

"I cannot do anything but envision the men who have had you.." He winced at the thought before his expression altered from sad to angry. "How many has it been since we have been married?"

"I have not been with anyone since. I stay in truth to my vow to you."

"I suppose that is the only truth you have spoken..."

"What is it I am supposed to do? I have paid for this life my entire existence. To never know if tomorrow will rise with me still breathing or dying on the street. A woman is only an accessory to a man. And I admit to fearing losing it...losing us...I refused to allow that to happen...it is why I was dishonest. I did it due to my love for you."

He remained quiet as he could not collect the correct words for his thoughts.

"I was forced to live as a rat due to the fact the king takes every tax from every villager and places it on parties for those who become bored within seconds. You toss food to the animals, when they are plump and we are starved. Being a woman of the night was not something I was proud of-I was raised to believe it was an occupation as any other. I went into it believing I would have a say...but I was raped the first encounter and forced by Adams after that. The men I had taken money from were scoundrels and I gave every coin I had to those who I saw begging, after obtaining just enough food so I can exist for another day. You sit here worrying of war, believing you are the only one if fear of it. You forget, not all war has men in armor and swords. War can be created by ignorance of selfish people and those doing whatever it takes to survive."