Page 10 of The Princess of Nothing
“She’s a pixie.” I rolled my eyes, then smirked.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes, okay. So, shall I explain everything in a nutshell?”
He gestured for me to go on.
I tapped my finger against my chin. “It started after I left here,” I said. “I was sent to Lepidus, the dark fae court, when I returned.” My lip twitched when I mentioned Blaise’s home.
“Yes. I heard about the wedding that never happened.”
“Well, then, you heard the official story.” I let out a long exhale. “My father used the wedding as a ruse to bring his deadliest assassins and guards into the castle. He planned on killing King Azrael with the Sword of Impervius.”
“An object of kai.” His expression darkened, and his eyebrows furrowed. “Was he insane? It would have started a war.”
“I think he believed the fae would give themselves to him once he killed their leader.”
He scoffed. “Right... anyway, then what happened?”
“I ran out. He was going to let me get married. You can’t undo a marriage,” I stated. “My father didn’t care what happened to me. He wanted to attack after the nuptials, when everyone’s guard was down. I was frightened and ran. It put the court on high alert. King Azrael was surrounded by guards, and my father’s chance to attack was jeopardized. We were kicked out of the kingdom.”
He blew out a tense breath. “Yikes. That wasn’t in any paper. Also, you can end a marriage,” he advised. “At least, here you can.”
“Perhaps. But not in Magaelor.” I interlocked my fingers and rested my forehead against my hands. “Anyway, my father was angry, and when we returned, he brought my cousin to the castle. He planned on changing the line of succession. I was convinced he planned on having me killed. So I went back to the only person I knew who could help me. Blaise.”
“Mmhmm.”
I regarded his expression carefully. His jaw clenched at the mention of Blaise’s name. “I found out he was going to start a war to kill my father for what he had planned, so I had to stop him. He promised to protect me, but I wasn’t about to give up my crown.”
“Naturally.”
“Right? Well, I couldn’t let my people die in a needless war, so I tried to get home, but I was captured by the feral fae who live in rundown villages in the outskirts. They attempted hanging me at the gallows and broke my staff.”
Cedric’s eyes were wider than I’d ever seen them. “That took a turn.”
“You can’t make this up.” I put my index finger in the air. “Then Aquarius saved me. He was close by, looking for mugroot. I was really lucky. He and Bella took me back to Imperia. From there, I found my friend and seer, Morgana. She cloaked us from any foresight, then made me a new staff. We went back to the castle.” I paused for a second to catch my breath. “She sent word of my return to the king directly, which, of course, my father wanted to remedy immediately. Luckily, only he was told of my being back. We kept to the shadows see. Morgana snuck me inside.” I cast my eyes downward. “He came to my old room, and there, we got into a fight. Things were said.” I scratched the back of my neck. “I pulled the Ring of Immortalem from his finger, and he died.”
Cedric’s eyebrows were slightly raised, and his lips were parted. “You weren’t lying. You have had quite the year so far.”
“Yes. There’s more.”
He leaned back in his chair, then placed his hands on the back of his head and extended his elbows out. “I’m glad you’re opening up more.”
I smiled. “I’ve learned who I can trust.”
His eyes glistened. “What else happened?”
“Edgar has taken the throne, as you have probably heard.” I shook my head. “My people think I’m dead. I plan on returning to reclaim my throne once any possible suspicion of my involvement won’t be thought of. If I were to be found guilty of regicide, I’ll be executed—monarch or not.” I gulped. “I have to eliminate any possibility I was in Magaelor when it happened. I will return with another tale of survival, and Edgar will be forced to hand the crown over to me, the rightful heir.”
“He could challenge you, no?”
“He could, but my people loved my father.”
“Are you sure about that?”
My lip trembled. “Not really, but they do care about our religion. The ancestors appointed him, therefore me as his heir. They will back me as the rightful queen.”
“What change will you bring? Your father’s rule was tyrannical.”
