Majesty of Obsession

7

ELIZABETH

"You're a skilled rider, aren't you?"

"Pardon?"

"Horses. You ride?" The king stated.

I paused for a bit. Is he asking because he wants to test me? That If he knows I know how to ride, he will not lend me a horse? He could be attempting to read my mind so I don't do a stunt, thus obstructing my attempts to flee. After all, he is a wise ruler of the continent's second-most prosperous nation. He may be reading me all the time. I have to play mind games if I want to outwit the most intelligent and strategically astute individual in the kingdom. I have to be more cunning in the words I choose if I want to get away from him.

Come to think of his question, maybe If I tell him I know not how to horseback ride, then he'll take me for a fool, thus will teach me how to? I can trick him into lending me one without any ropes on my neck and If I manage to get my hands on a horse I can use it to escape. Brilliant!

"I-I do not know how." I stuttered, faking innocence.

"It's a shame then. We'll take the carriage." The king acknowledge my answer before sending out Adam to fetch us two black carriages and stallions to stroll the shore today. Now that's a failure.

Maybe I'm overthinking, maybe he isn't testing me.

I prepared myself for our beachside excursion. The open window on our carriage welcomed us with a touch of the salty air on top of our skin, as we are driven nearer to our destination. We rode our carriage as our horses go over the open route 'til we reached the sandy, stony level before the sea.

The white sand was a true wonder of this world. No huge spiky rocks are seen on either side of the beach, it can almost be described as an innocent island, untouched by the public. Unfortunately, our village back home was nowhere near the beach. We were left with dry land that is difficult to harvest food on, considering that water is a difficult resource. The livelihood was truly poor. That's why wells are what the town wanted to invest in. The Kingdom dare not to take on any action on our pleads so we tried to survive on our own.

We were forced to work like a pig day and night, and still, we are dried to pay out town tariffs that are beyond our capacity. Corruption is a sickness that kills its people and this king is the murderer of my own. And last time, he just kissed me, almost made love to me. I am disgraced that I was touched by him in that supposed intimate way. I get to set foot on this beautiful beach, which will be tainted by the ugliness of my sin.

Since it's almost winter at this time, the waters are cold and almost as if tiny needles are picking up our faces. Good thing I wore thicker clothes with a darker shade of red coat underneath a brown dress and tall boots, matching the dress. If not, I would be freezing in this cold weather.

Before I wonder what our business here is, my eyes landed on a ship becoming visible at a fair distance. Its flag is eerily familiar. We waited patiently on the carriage and the King watched profoundly before landing his eyes on me.

"The visitor is a maniac. Keep your distance. Are we clear?"

I shivered at the thought. More maniac than him? I'm doubtful, but if he's the one who said it then I should believe him. He's a maniac too. He knows his kind.

So I nodded. The incoming ship brought its anchor down to the sand of the sea and a dozen military men rowed their way toward us on their boats. They were scattered to line up before an aura of a powerful man came down on the ground with us. The big ship is intimidating, together with their group carrying weapons around. This feels dangerous. As for us, we barely have our knights with us. Yet I saw no fear on the King's face. Lore has it that he can beat dozens of men in single combat. He is known to be untouchable after all.