Page 46 of The Throne Seeker
“Do you honestly think my father would have denounced Xavier if it had beenanyonebut you?” Roman spat, his tone full of resentment. “You knew about my father’s attachment for you and how Tristan feels about you… It’s a shame you could never make Xavier feel the same. Maybe you never let that grudge go.”
His words struck a nerve. She dug her nails into her palms. “Look at me, Roman.” She gestured to herself. “Do you honestly believeIcould’ve forcedXavierto do anything he didn’t want to do?”
Roman leaned in closer, a breath away now. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Zareb about to rise, but she signaled it was alright, keeping her focus on Roman.
“If I’m correct,” he said, “yourfirststory was that you ‘slipped and fell,’ but then your story ever so conveniently changed to Xavier being responsible. Maybe you saw your opportunity and took it. A small price to be queen. By the looks of it, your wound is already healing quite nicely.” He tilted his head, assessing her neck, now unbandaged.
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s amazing what healing oil and a few Alofa leaves can do.”
A tense silence settled between them as they glared at each other.
She didn’t back down. “I didn’t plan any of this. And the fact that I have to say it means you don’t know me at all.”
“And that’s where we agree,” Roman said. “If you don’t care for the crown, don’t enter the succession. Do us all a favor and stay out of it. Better yet, leave; that’s what you’re good at.”
His words stung more than she cared to admit. She was done playing nice.
Speaking in a steady voice, she said, “Tell me, Roman. What would Tristan do if he found out I was leaving? Do you think he’d just let me walk out of these halls? Even if I managed to escape without his knowledge, are you willing to risk that he might throw the succession and leave to come find me?”
His fists clenched. “That’s just the way you want it, isn’t it? You have your claws in him so deep, you’d let him destroy his own life for you.”
His words struck a painful chord. “If I wanted to destroy him, I’d be playing my cards very differently.”
“So you admit it’s a game?”
She stood her ground, locking her eyes onto his. “Of course it’s a game. That’s all this place is—games… What choice do I have but to play them?”
Whether it was her response or the shift in tone, his eyes softened, if only minutely. If she hadn’t been less than an inch from him, she might have missed it entirely. Suspicion clouded his expression once more.
“Well, Rose, we’ll see who wins this game. But I’d be very careful which hand you play next, or you’ll lose. And I can promise, you’ll lose more than you bargained for.” Without waiting for a reply, he stood and stalked away.
She waited until he was out of sight before daring to exhale. She rested her elbows on the table, lowering her forehead into her palms. Even Roman didn’t believe her. Fantastic.
What was worse was the fact it mattered to her.
After taking a moment, she regained her composure and straightened.
Rising, she left the grand hall, striding through the towering arched ceilings. Despite her quick steps, Zareb kept pace beside her, passing another group of court members.
“Are you alright?” Zareb asked once they were alone, the voices echoing down the corridor fading.
Rose nodded too swiftly, giving him a strained smile. “Yes. Why? Oh, that? I’m fine, I’m great.”
Zareb’s face twitched, knowing better. “You don’t have to do that with me, you know.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend.”
She stopped, finally looking him in the eye.
“Did he threaten to hurt you?” Zareb asked.
Rose shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself. “No, of course not… But rest assured, his words worked just as effectively as a sword.”
“Tell me, what sort of gentleman says such things to make a lady cower like that?”
She attempted to look past Roman’s anger to understand. “I suppose one who thinks she’s destroying the thing he loves most. Even with our history, I’m afraid he simply sees me as many others do.”
