The Knight's Rose

Chapter Forty-One ~ The Pursuit of a Rose

Chapter Forty-One ~ The Pursuit of a Rose

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Rose's POV

I blinked at Levon's word, my brain grasping at short straws to understand his revelation. He wanted to marry me... to become King? The slow realization of that information began to unravel in my head like a slow thought caught in cobwebs.

Indeed, all of a sudden I had become the princess of the Kingdom of Ceasian. But this was the first time I had acknowledged the thought that I had rights to the throne. Did I even want the throne?

Did I even deserve the throne? The throne should only be sat on by an individual who had the people's interest at heart. They would fight for their people and love them even though they were strangers. To make sure to contain the peace and hold those accountable for their crimes. To smile and laugh with their people and to treat them with the respect they deserve. To protect their people from harm and be willing to fight off any danger.

I looked over at Levon, who had risen to fix the clasp around his hips, securing his sword. This man wanted to become the King of Ceasian? I remembered the lovely homes that we had passed, the stories Zaros told about the village, and how long it took for them to build a trusted relationship.

Would Levon even be able to hold a candle to any of those requirements? I suddenly began to remember his cruel smile when he tightened his hold on my wrist.

He knew he was hurting me and he didn't care.

I remembered his words of defiling me, the violent way he had hit me when he captured me at the castle, the anger in his eyes that didn't seem to dissipate and only seemed to grow until it threatened to swallow him whole.

I remembered his blinded frustration when he lost against Nikolai and the way he refused his hand.

He was a prideful man that hated to lose.

Levon was a selfish arrogant man with no patience and he acted as if the world was obligated to bend to his will.

This man would never be a king.

If he did receive any type of royal title, he would only abuse his power.

After all the suffering the people of Ceasian had undergone, I believe giving them a King like Levon would take them back a hundred steps or so.

So that's why I had no problem saying the words that tumbled quickly out of my mouth.

"You'll never become a King. A man like you isn't worthy of holding the crown. You are a selfish arrogant man that only cares for himself and you should be ashamed for trying to take on such a role for your own personal gain," I said, watching as he turned to me and slowly began taking steps toward me.

My heart thundered with every step he took toward me, and I could see the blind haze of cold anger in his eyes.

Maybe I was a little more frightened than I thought I was.

But I still glared at him, hoping he would see the contempt and hatred in my eyes. I hated this man that stood before me. I hated him so much I could even feel it in my bones.

Levon lowered himself to meet my eye and I flinched deeper into the wall when his hand reached and gripped my throat. He tightened it to the point where it became hard to breathe.

"You think your words mean anything? I deserve the crown! After everything I've done for your useless father, I deserved to sit on that throne!" He screamed into my face, spit escaping from his mouth. "After everything my father had done for the previous King! Nobody else deserves to rule Ceasian except for me!"