Page 19 of Warrior Princess
Mykal looked at me hesitantly, then shook his head. “My mother is unwell… but there’s nothing to be done.”
“I can feed her my blood,” I quietly suggested. “Why don’t we try—”
“No!” he interrupted. His voice was louder than intended, attracting Diane's attention where she stood at the doorway of the dining hall. He winced, then lowered his voice. “I mean, we can’t. My father…”
“Doesn’t want to save her?” I finished for him, my voice tinged with realization.
My suspicions were confirmed when Mykal nodded.
The second dayturned into the third, and then the fourth. As the days slowly drifted by within the stone walls of King Eduard's fortress, my unease grew. Each day I diligently wrote to Ronan, recounting the unnerving stagnation of my negotiations with King Eduard, yet each day passed without word from him. I mean, he never promised to write back, but I assumed he would. At least to inform me that my father had written back. I should have heard from him by now.
My days were punctuated by tension-filled meetings in the throne room where the grandeur of the setting did little to mask the cold deadlock of our discussions. The high arched ceilings and intricate frescoes that depicted the valor of Keldaran ancestors seemed to sneer at my efforts, while the heavy gildedthrone where King Eduard lounged served as a stark reminder of his absolute power.
“Your Majesty?” I started again, my voice laced with growing frustration. “I'm sure we can find a middle ground. This can't be a one-sided deal.”
King Eduard, sprawled regally with an air of disinterest, snorted dismissively. He stretched languidly, his imposing figure slouched against the ornate cushions of his throne, his legs spread wide and head tilted back. “Of course it can be,” he drawled, his voice echoing slightly in the vast room. “I’mthe king. And if there’s nothing else I want, then there’s nothing to discuss.” He shrugged nonchalantly, his demeanor exuding boredom.
I clenched my teeth and barely suppressed the urge to storm up his dais and confront him more directly with a punch to his face. His arrogance was infuriating, and his dismissive attitude toward the Crimson Clan's plight was intolerable.
Fueled by rising anger, I stepped forward, my resolve hardening. “Well, ifthat'sthe case, then I guess there's no reason for me to remain here,” I declared, my voice firm. “What comes next will be your sole responsibility. I won’t stophim,” I added, a veiled reference to Shiro, hoping the mention of the demon fox would instigate some sense of urgency in him.
For a moment, it seemed my words had struck a chord. King Eduard's smirk wavered as he regarded me with renewed, calculating interest. “Is that so? Well, we can't havethat.”
A surge of hope blossomed in my chest, mistakenly thinking he might reconsider. But that hope was quickly dashed when he barked a command: “Guards!”
Instantly, the doors to the throne room crashed open and a group of soldiers marched in, their boots thudding ominously against the stone floor. I was quickly encircled by a dozen men,each one brandishing a chain made of Aetherite—a material known to suppress a mage's power.
As the reality of my situation set in, I turned to King Eduard, my heart pounding with fear and defiance. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice tinged with alarm.
“I can’t have you running back to the Grasslands declaring war, now can I?” His tone was mocking as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Don’t worry; I’ll send word to Chief Aryan that you are well and have taken a liking to Keldara and wish to stay longer. And then...” His eyes gleamed with malicious pleasure. “I’ll notify your father of our upcoming nuptials.”
Stunned, I managed to stammer, “What? What are you talking about?”
He sighed dramatically, as if explaining to a child. “As you know, the queen is dying. I need a replacement, and who better than my neighbor, the Princess of Valoria? It’s a great idea, and a brilliant way to conquer your lands without waging war.”
My mind raced as I processed his words. The soldiers’ presence was a clear threat should I be foolish enough to openly resist. In a desperate attempt to deflect his plans, I blurted, “But you see, I’ve already been promised to another. You might not have heard, but at my welcome banquet I was engaged to Prince Caelan of Eldwain.”
King Eduard tilted his head and considered this new information. His dark eyes flickered with skeptical amusement. “Forgive me, Princess, but from my understanding, when Prince Caelan requested your hand, your father denied him, much to your mother’s disappointment,” he countered smoothly, clearly prepared for this retort.
As the room spun around me, I realized the depth of my predicament. King Eduard had not only captured me, but he had woven a narrative that would bind me to Keldara forever.
“No,” I murmured more to myself than anyone else in the room. “My father won’t believe it... Chief Aryan won’t believe it!”
King Eduard's laughter filled the throne room, a cold, mocking sound that echoed off the ornate ceilings. “Why? Because you’re in love with his sonRonan?” he taunted, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.
Betrayal stung sharply. It appeared Mykal had divulged everything. Anger surged through my veins, heating my face as I coiled to fight.
“You can’t imprison me here!” I shouted, my voice reverberating through the vast space. I instinctively stepped backward, only to find the guards tightening their circle around me. “If you think I’ll sit still and let you force me into this marriage, you’re wrong. You’ll quickly learn I don’t play nice!” I raised my hand in a futile attempt to manipulate his blood flow—an act of defiance even as the reality of my powerless situation set in.
Just then, a guard swiftly maneuvered forward and clamped a set of heavy Aetherite chains around my wrists. The chains were shockingly cold against my skin; the unique metal designed to dampen a mage’s abilities effectively cut off any chance of using my powers.
King Eduard's laughter grew louder and more triumphant. “Very cute, Your Highness. I see you and I will have much fun together!” His sneer told me he was thoroughly amused by my predicament.
I tugged desperately at the restraints, but it was no use. Each pull sent a chilling reminder of my weakened state as the Aetherite leached away any magical energy I tried to muster. My situation was dire, and the suffocating grip of the chains only fueled my growing despair and rage.
Refusing to cower, I fixed my gaze on the king, my eyes blazing with unchecked fury. “I’ll kill you,” I growled, the words raw and filled with venom.
King Eduard merely nodded, unmoved by my threat. “Of course you will.” He sighed, seeming almost bored as he rose from his throne with an air of nonchalance. He stretched leisurely as if this was merely a tedious social event rather than a confrontation of life-altering significance.
