"idk.yet"

Chapter 30

The king of Isolend was an intimidating man. The cold air from his country seemed to follow him, despite it being the middle of summer. The man appeared to be ageless, he seems like he could be even older than that of my father. The way he carried himself would give him the appearance of an older man, years of untold wisdom simmering in his grey eyes. When he walked, it was as a warrior returning from battle. But when you looked at him, he looked younger. Physically fit, as if he was in his mid-twenties and a gleam in his eyes that could only mean mischief. The only real signal only real hint was his son that looked very similar to him, both of whom had the same snow-white hair, and the same calculating grey eyes, and lips that seemed as if they were permanently blue.

We stood in the lounge that was connected to the Room of Council. The king had asked to talk specifically to me, royals to royals as he put it. The only other people in the room with us was his son, Cayden, and Olivia.

"Before we discuss anything further I would like to give my sincerest apology for what happened to your father," The king kneeled to one knee, as was custom. "I wish there was something we could have done, some way that we could have stopped what happened to you."

I gave him a deep bow of my own, "What happened in the past can not be undone, the only thing we can do is look at the future."

He stood up and faced me, he and I were the same height. We stood on even ground. His eyes lit up slightly, the mischief that made him look younger appeared. "That sounds like something your father would say. I see he has raised you well."

I try very hard not to vomit and not to show my disgust. My father did not raise me well, and very recently I have noticed how bad this whole world was. The world of court meetings, nobles, slaves, chains and crowns. I have taken many hours to look back at the times I shared with my father, and it just so happens the memories weren't as pleasant as I thought they were. That now because he doesn't have his Reader charms to trick me anymore, I can truly see. My father was power hungry and mad.

I feel a hand appear on my shoulder, "You will make a good king."

I want to retch, I want to walk out of this room and scream, I want to go to my mother's study and paint my heart away. I want to take different colors together and make something, something real, something that doesn't require me to act. I want to be Kole Vallier, my mother's son. But I'm not, I am king in waiting, I am the prince.

"Thank you," I say even though the words are the last thing I want to say. I'm not certain if the king knows that I am a Reader, I don't know how close he and my father were. The fact that the kings of the Freeland's were always Readers was one of the reasons we were successful, and while I was never as powerful as my father, or never as inclined to use my charms it doesn't mean I won't. There are just some cards you have to play.

It is difficult, the king is obviously a guarded man, as would be expected of most royals. But with some effort and distraction such as Olivia distracting them with small talk about the paintings in the room with their history, I'm able to do it. I'm able to figure out what exactly the man is thinking of. But I don't look into it now, I take the very specific memory and I put it on the mental shelf I have to look at later. As much as I would like to see what the man is planning, I don't have time to do it now. Not while the king himself stands in front of me, and not while Cayden looks at me as though I am a dummy, he can push his sword through.

"Your Highness," I say as Olivia pours a cup of wine for the king, and then for Cayden and then for herself. She offers me a cup, but I decline. Her green eyes look at me, giving me a sense of reassurance. I wasn't alone in this, she was here. Olivia with her soft smiles, and sharp mind here to help me. She gives me a small smile, before sitting down. I'm not alone.