Lion Heart

Chapter 10

If I thought the room I woke up in was luxurious, I had obviously had never laid eyes on the Aline court. Red velvet carpets embroidered with gold intertwining vines covered the pristine black marble floor. Awnings draped gracefully hung from the high domed ceiling. The walls bore a mural picturing the conquest of Raein, which wound around the entire room. Just a glance at images of my people's severed heads, blood, and agony sent a visceral rage into my gut. Lined against the walls were men and women lavishly dressed. They wore odd masks of different sizes and designs. Some mimicked animals and creatures, like devils and satyrs. While others were covered by patterns or shaped into different expressions. Although their danger was made clear by the various weapons that stood at their side, their extreme display of jewels, gold, and fashion indicated that they were most likely higher positioned knights if not nobles. But considering their wealth, most were probably trained in their weapons, which would make escape futile. The only people without a mask were me, Odessa, and the man that sat before me.

He sat on a throne of gold and velvet, which was elevated on a platform, upholstered with a matching fabric to the carpets. He too was dressed impeccably. He wore a velvet red tunic, accented with small green jewels placed in a quilted diamond pattern, and matching trousers. Under this he had a puffed "peasant" blouse, which had been in style with nobility, presumably to mock the masses. It was beyond stupid, since wearing the shirt ironically had resulted in an entire trend, in which nobles would full on dress like peasants and while on the streets would be treated as such. Once I swear I saw this nobleman get dragged away by the Coronas after being mistaken for a thief.  I heard he was thrown in jail and most likely would've been executed if his family didn't send a letter for his release.  If the entire point of fashion is to declare your superiority to others, then why would you ever dress like a lower class when your extravagance is the only thing that keeps you from being arrested randomly by guards? People are absolute idiots sometimes-

A quick jab to my side shook my out of my train of thought.

"ODESSA, WHA-"

"I'm terribly sorry, your majesty. My guest is not accustomed to such prestigious company. Please, forgive her."

A soft chuckle left the man's lips. On second glance, I understood why Odessa was so obsessed with him. He was incredibly handsome with his dimpled smile and curly black hair.  He had a mischievous look in his eyes like he was taunting me for my lack of understanding.

Odessa cleared her throat.

"His majesty asked you for your name." She hissed in my ear.

"Nadia. My name is Nadia." Another jab from Odessa. "Uh, sir."

"Miss Nadia, do you happen to have a last name?" He said resting his chin on his folded hands. The man smiled coyly at me. Taking a second look at the grotesque mural on the wall, my rage awakened and I replied,

"None that could concern you nor pronounce." His smile widened.

"Well Miss Nadia, what a nasty mouth you have? I'd watch what you say. After all that's what brought you to this room." I gritted my teeth. I could already tell I was going to hate him.

"Oh, my apologies. I haven't introduced myself have I?" He said with false embarrassment. "I am Prince Dante, son of the late Nero and the rightful heir to the throne. I'm sure you have heard of me, yes?"

I felt as if I was going to die from the amount of haughtiness I had just witnessed.

"Either way, I suppose you must be wondering why one of our agents has brought you here." The prince continued. "That stunt of yours in town square displayed your potential to become a valuable asset to our cause. So much so that my agent neglected to inform me of your actions and decided to detain you without my approval."

He glanced pointedly at a shadow by one of the awnings, where I assumed Mags stood out of sight.

"Nevertheless, I am quite pleased with my agent's actions. And I will be looking forward to working with you." Dante turned his eyes away from the shadow and proceeded to pick at his fingernails nonchalantly.

"Um, excuse me?-"

"You are excused."

"First of all, do I not have a say in this at all? Also what do you even want me to do? I don't see why you or any of you 'agents' would want anything to do with me."

"You are so naive, aren't you?" He laughed. "Did you not see the people swarming at your words? Drinking every syllable you spoke with vigor and following you against a power they have always submitted to. I want your voice. That's what I want. Your charisma, courage, and words, those are your assets. Assets that we can use to our advantage."

"And what makes you think I would cooperate with you? I don't give a damn about your cause; it has nothing to do with me. In fact if it wasn't for you and your cause, I wouldn't have to worry about Coronas bothering me every single day." The prince chuckled again. I was getting tired of all his damn laughter.

"Oh, but it has everything to do with you. Do you really think I would let you leave here alive, knowing Odessa's involvement in our movement? Do you think I would let you expose the identity of our gracious host?"-He gestured towards Odessa, who tensed up and turned away from my gaze-"Of course not. That's why I will be forced to kill you if you refuse to serve me. Though your talent is exceptional, it is not one of a kind. I can replace you, but you cannot replace your life. You lend me your voice and I'll spare you your life. So, do we have an deal?"

Dante's smirk grew wider and wider with each second passed from my hesitation. This is going to be the worst decision I'll ever make, isn't it?

"I don't have a choice. Do I?"

"No, you do not."