A Clash Of Light And Thunder (War Of The Forgotten Lovers Book 1)

Another Side

"Lily, you have barely touched your food," Leonor spoke gently. His voice was as delicate as the silverware that rested on the large black wood table. As silky as the dark red linen curtains that draped down the windows. And, as deceiving as the light from the chandelier.

"I am not hungry," Lily's voice was low and raspy. The corner of her eyes still held a red tint. Her cheeks, normally slender and poised, were puffed from the endless stream of salty tears that had cascaded over them. "How can I eat when Aria—"

The words died in her mouth as another cry threatening to break out.

Kye, a maid of blonde colored hair, appeared by Lily's side. "Lily?" She asked gently to get the princess's attention, and like she had many times this sennight, offered her a silk handkerchief.

"No, thank you." Lily was thankful at the gesture but waved it away nevertheless. There was no use for it. A drought had overtaken her heart and left everything dry. The emptiness heavily weighed on her soul.

Leonor scolded at the interaction, "I don't remember seeing you around much here?" He spoke to the blond-haired maid.

"Kye is my birth name. I just started last week, King Leonor," Kye beamed. "It has been wondrous to serve Lily."

"You are new, so I will forgive your insolence this time. Do well to address Lily as her title demands." Leonor's sharp words surprised the maid.

She went to speak, to explain that the princess had said it was alright, but a small tug from behind her prevented it. When Kye turned, she saw the brown-haired maid motion for her to return back to the wall.

"I told her it was fine to do so," Lily spoke. It was a small defiance on her part. Titles were so important to her brother, so it brought her great pleasure to so easily throw it away.

"I have told you. There is no need to thank the servants, it is their job. You will do well to learn that." Leonor took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and spoke, "as for Aria, you will get over it soon. Eventually, it will be like she wasn't ever here."

"Easy for you to say. You were always so cruel to her." Lily's blue eyes bore into the bowl in front of her. Perhaps, if she stared at it long enough, it would swallow her up.

"I treated her as a murderer should be treated. You would not have been so kind to her if it were your mother that died because of her." The words fell out of Leonor's mouth like venom from a viper's fang at the mention of Aria.

"That's not fair, and you know it," Lily spoke.

"Fair or not fair, it does not matter. Aria is finally paying this kingdom back for what she stole from it. With her marriage to lord Alchias, we shall unify an army that is strong enough to eradicate those wretched elves." A smirk snaked its way into Leonor's mouth, itching with anticipation at the thought of it all. His hand closed, fingers brushed against each other, as if, he were feeling the blood of the elves drip between them.

The look in Leonor's blue eyes scared Lily. They were their father's eyes. The same eyes her father had passed on to her. "Would you have sent me?" Lily asked.

"What?" Leonor's eyebrow furrowed at the sudden question.

"If Aria was not an option, would you have sent me instead to such a horrid place?"

There was a pause.

"Of course not," Leonor stabbed his knife through the meat on his plate and continued to eat.

Lily's face fell once again to the soup, heart pounding against her chest. His pause was all the truth she needed.

"May I retreat to my chambers," Lily asked.