Page 24 of The Royal Throne
Sabine started to protest.
Axel put his hand up, stopping her. “Hear me out.”
She started tapping her foot, waiting for his excuse.
“Lottie told me she found out Rainer is going to wage war on the other kingdoms. She believes if she’s queen, she can maintain peace and follow the League of Rulers like we’re supposed to.”
As to why Axel felt the need to tell Sabine any of this, she didn’t know. No matter the reason, she’d never forgive Lottie. “You’re trying to tell me that by breaking Lynk’s laws and having my sister killed, trying to de-throne her own brother, your sister is really the hero in this situation? I don’t think so.” She faced away from Axel, not wanting to look at him. Nothing could justify what Lottie did. “You don’t know what it’s like to lose a sibling. You don’t know what it’s like to be hunted like an animal. You don’t know what it’s like to be sold like a piece of property to another person for an alliance to save your kingdom.” With those words hanging in the air between them, she pushed off the railing and headed toward the stairwell. Her stomach twisted with nausea, and her arms shook with anger.
“No, I don’t, Sabine,” he called after her. “But I do know what it’s like to lose my mother. I do know what it’s like to have a man raise me, pretending to be my father, but abusing me any chance he got—physically and emotionally. And I do know what it’s like to only have worth in the fact that I’m Rainer’s half-brother. I can never inherit the throne. I have no position of authority here. I’m looked down upon because my father was a mere guard—a guard who Rainer’s father slaughtered like an animal. I didn’t have the kind, loving childhood you did. Maybe that’s the reason I don’t have high expectations of others since I’m constantly being let down. All I want is to survive, to protect my brother, and to try to find a little peace and happiness when possible. So no, I don’t know what it’s like to have gone through what you have, but don’t you dare think that I don’t know pain and suffering. It’s insulting.” Axel stepped around her and disappeared down the stairwell without looking back.
Sabine stood there, dumbfounded. This wasn’t the first time she’d been put in her place by Axel. His carefree attitude and the way he carried himself masked the pain he held inside. Shaking her head, she went down the steps, not wanting to understand or sympathize with the prince. In order to bring Lottie to justice and stop the war, she couldn’t be swayed by her emotions—emotions that could be manipulated and used against her.
She headed to her room, replaying her conversation with Axel over and over. Rounding the corner to the hallway before her room, she stumbled to a halt. Directly in front of her, Rainer stood with Heather at his side. A slow smile spread over Heather’s face as she placed her right hand on her stomach—a stomach that clearly showed she was pregnant with the king’s child.
Sabine forced herself to look Rainer in the eyes. He was staring right at her, as if daring her to challenge him. His arm slid around Heather, tucking her into his side.
Sabine’s temper was about to snap, and she had to rein in her emotions, forcing her face to remain blank. Under no circumstances did she want Rainer to know how this affected her.
After rolling her shoulders back and lifting her chin in the air, she strode forward. “Welcome home, husband.” Her voice came out sounding sweet, but it was far from sincere. Without waiting for him to respond, she continued forward, expecting Heather to get out of the way and curtsey. When the woman didn’t move, Sabine stopped two feet in front of her, her brows raised.
Drew stepped to the side. “Her Majesty, Queen Sabine Manfred of Lynk,” he announced, pretending as if Heather didn’t know who she was.
Heather glanced at Rainer whose focus remained on Sabine.
An uncomfortable minute passed. Drew placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and took a step closer to Heather. Finally, the woman stepped to the side and curtseyed, though not as low as she should have.
Sabine glided forward. As she passed Heather, she reached out and patted the woman’s head as if she were a dog. “Good girl.” She smirked.
She didn’t stop until she reached her room where she began pacing, trying to tether this new information into something manageable. Rainer had returned with Heather—his pregnant mistress. He had to have done it to hurt Sabine. She blinked the tears away, refusing to cry over this situation. However, it hurt more than it should because of Evander. A man she’d fallen in love with, yet had refused to be with out of respect for Rainer. If only her own husband would show her the same courtesy.
With her hands on her hips, she continued pacing, trying to think this through. She couldn’t live in this palace and share a man with another woman. It was insulting and degrading. Sabine was the queen, not Heather. With that title came respect. The problem was that Rainer only needed Sabine to have a child of noble standing. Once Sabine had Rainer’s child, he would have no use for her. He could kill her just like his father had killed the previous queen.
But she was getting ahead of herself and needed to put things into perspective. None of this mattered if Rainer went to war. Her focus and concentration had to be on stopping the war. Once that was done, then she’d worry about everything else.
Her original plan had been to blend who she was with who she needed to be. It was why she had the town seamstress make those new clothes for her. They were in the Lynk style but covered more of her body so the Bakley part of her felt comfortable wearing the outfits. Now she understood how futile that was. To survive, to win, she needed as many people as possible on her side. In order to do that, she needed to embrace all things Lynk so everyone would think she was one of them.
Going over to her desk, she pulled out a piece of paper and a quill, quickly writing a letter stating what she wanted, hoping the seamstress would understand. She folded it, sealed it shut, and gave it to Drew, instructing that it be delivered tonight. Time was of the utmost importance.
Once that was done, she gazed at Harta who slept peacefully on the bed. It was time Sabine started thinking more along the lines of Evander. While she’d had Commander Felix change the course of the ships and alter the tent cities’ purpose, there was more she could do. If she went before the nobles in the palace and formally accused Lottie of treason, Rainer would have to put Lottie on trial. The reason she’d been holding off on that was because it meant Lottie’s bloodline would be punished as well. This meant that once Lottie was found guilty, Rainer, Axel, and Anton would be killed right along with her. It was a steep price to pay. While Sabine had no qualms with Lottie’s death, she would feel immensely guilty for the princes’ deaths.
If Sabine went through with this, if she had the entire royal family killed, it meant she would be the sole ruler of the kingdom. That was something she definitely didn’t want. However, it might be the only way to prevent a war. Which meant that by going after Lottie and seeking justice for Alina, Sabine could save the entire realm as well.
She closed her eyes. If Lynk went to war, there would be countless deaths. Killing a few would prevent the deaths of many. While it sounded justified, she didn’t know if it was morally right. She didn’t know if she could go through with this. But right now, she didn’t see any other way.
She wished she could discuss this with Evander. However, this was something she’d have to do on her own.
Chapter Seven
The following morning, Sabine awoke and found several crates had been placed in her room next to her closet. She climbed out of bed and went over, peering inside them. Each one was filled to the brim with clothing. The seamstress in town must have worked all night to create these outfits for her. She’d have to make sure the woman was heavily compensated.
After bathing, Sabine put on one of the outfits made from pale yellow silk. The top portion covered each breast and the bottom covered the front and back of her buttocks. Then a sheer material hung from tiny straps on her shoulders. A jeweled belt latched around her waist, holding the delicate fabric to her body. While it made her uncomfortable showing so much skin, this was exactly what she’d hoped for—it was Lynk through and through. The outfit would garner her the attention she desired.
When she exited her suite, she took in her guards’ expressions. No one blushed and no one’s eyes widened in shock which meant she wasn’t dressed too provocatively. However, if her mother saw her like this, she’d receive a stern scolding. If her brothers saw her, they would take off their tunics to cover her. It was best Otto had left.
“Queen Sabine,” Drew said with a kind smile. “You look exceptionally lovely today. I see you found your special deliveries.”
“Yes, thank you for taking care of that.”
