*King Alexander?*
Damn it. King Alexander never felt an urge to scream more than now. But he couldn't; he could only stand by as his wife sentenced a child's pet to death.
"No!" Ana, meanwhile, cried out. "Please, you can't." her hands clenched for the air, but Mykhol held her back.
"Ana-" The teen managed to keep her, but barely. Ana was putting up a good fight.
"I said no! It is too much, Your Majesty- Father!" And Ana turned from Belinda to meet Alexander's eyes. "Please, you can't!"
But King Alexander only looked back at her, helpless. His hands were tied. He knew it, and so did Belinda.
Damn it all. Alexander cursed again, looking back at his wife.
"This is too severe," Alexander growled under his breath. He knew Belinda did not like the child, but he never dreamed it would go this far. She was only a child.
"Too severe, you say?"
"Yes," Alexander hissed through his teeth. "It's gone too far."
"You think this is too far?" Belinda quickly looked over the room with purpose. She met the eyes of her subjects. Their voices quieted at her stare. She returned to him with tears in her eyes.
"Do you not realize the depth of this situation? Our son-" Queen Belinda choked on a cry. She covered her hands with her throat as if to signify her fears.
"Our son," She stole another look around. She made a point to meet any of the other mother's eyes. They returned with looks of sympathy of her own.
"She's only trying to protect her son." A noblewoman whispered to another. "What else can a mother do?" More mothers agreed.
"Is it going that far?" Someone dared to say.
"Belinda," King Alexander frowned as he heard the whispers behind them.
Is that what she will do? Alexander felt his stomach turn again. Belinda was going to play the court in her favor? Was this another way to force his hand yet again?
No, I have to try. Alexander could see he needed to change tactics. If Belinda used theatrics, then he would use reason.
"The culprit in question will be dealt with." Alexander lifted his head, using a clear voice for everyone to hear. "Empress Anastasia has vowed she would take responsibility. So there is no need anymore for further injury."
"Yes, there is." Queen Belinda snapped back. Real tears now came down her cheeks. Belinda animated her face with pain and fear.
"This could have been our boy." Queen Belinda repeated."Am I not justified to protect my child as his mother?"
"Wife…" King Alexander could see the distress on her face. She was no longer acting for the crowd but talking to him, which deeply upset him.
But what about Ana? King Alexander couldn't help but steal a look back at his daughter.
"I understand, but this is not the way." King Alexander spoke softly with his eyes on Ana. Ana smiled a little at his hopeful words.
"Even now, you're going to choose her over me?" Queen Belinda hardened. She stared at him and his apparent betrayal.
"Belinda, please," Alexander could feel himself trudging a thin line between them. "Let's take this to somewhere private. We can re-negotiate the conditions-"
"Re-negotiate?" Belinda broke away to lift her head. Again, her eyes flashed at his apparent betrayal. But the shock faded, and her eyes regarded him coldly.
"Make your choice, Husband." Queen Belinda darkened her tone. "Who do you value more? Our son- the heir to our throne? Or this-"
Queen Belinda didn't finish her words. She didn't need to. A single finger was enough to point the accusation. It made Ana stiffen on the spot.
"Father?" Ana whimpered, looking up at him. But she wasn't the only one.
Alexander could feel others. The room was full of eager eyes. And They were watching and waiting. They waited to see who he'd pick.
Damn it all. Why did it have to happen like this?
Alexander didn't want to pick, but now Belinda had given him no choice. He couldn't back down. Helpless, King Alexander looked between his wife and Ana.
Who would he choose? Alexander knew it was going to leave pain either way. But what would be worse? Choose Ana and destroy his marriage? Or lose his daughter again? The choice was a heavy one.
"Father," Ana blinked at him, but Alexander remained silent. He didn't want to hurt anyone in the end.
"Don't make me choose, Belinda." Alexander went quietly. "Don't make me do it."
"If you love me," Queen Belinda leaned in at his hesitation. You will do this." She reached to touch his hand, her voice lowered just for him to hear.
"Stop chasing after her ghost, Alexander. Parsul's dead and won't come back. No matter what you do, she won't."
"But I'm here." Queen Belinda wrapped her hand over his. "Let her go at long last. And love me."
"Belinda," King Alexander regarded her in silence. He then looked back at Ana. Belinda stiffened at the gesture.
"If not for me. Then do it for our son."
Our son… King Alexander looked down at Nicoli. He was still at his side. Nicoli buried his face into his pants. The tears were still glistening on his face.
"Nicoli," King Alexander frowned and wished this was all just a bad dream.
But it wasn't. This day was real. Everything was accelerating to this final moment, and he couldn't escape.
What nightmare is this? King Alexander couldn't have to fathom a worse end. Here, his son was insensible as his wife craved vengeance. And then there was poor Ana.
How could things come to this? King Alexander lamented with a look over his subjects.
They all seemed to be holding their breaths, waiting for what would happen next. Even if he wanted, King Alexander could never resolve this another way.
Alexander had to act. Alexander would make a choice. And after a long and heavy breath, he did. King Alexander closed his eyes before touching Nicoli's head. At the touch, Nicoli peered up to catch his father. He looked pale and tired.
Please forgive me.
"Carry on."
*Ana*
"What?" I don't hear the words. The room suddenly becomes so loud that I can't hear a thing.
No, I don't want to believe it. It can't be happening. No one would be this cruel!
"Julia," Queen Belinda, meanwhile, takes no time. She motions for her maid. Julia moved back in with my kitten, where she had come in. I hear him cry out for help.
"NO!" I reach out for him, but Mykhol only tightens his arms around me.
"No, Anastasia-"
"Please, cousin! No!" I look at him. "Please help me!" But I can see he only looks after me. My pleas are doing nothing. Mykhol only shakes his head. His hands dig into my stomach to keep me close.
"Please!" I try, but nothing changes. In desperation, I disregard my pride. It's no longer critical. It doesn't matter if it means I can stop it.
"No, please! Anyone! Help!" I start to beg into the room. "Someone help!" But as I look over and look at people's eyes, I find only strangers. They all seem to blend into an empty mass. No one is going to help.
"Father!" I call out one last time, but I instantly regret it. Because I see it, he will not look at me. His blue eyes are closed to the world. I can't reach him.
He's going to let this happen. I realize and feel my knees weaken. He will do nothing to help.
"Nicoli!" I push out his name with all my strength. Please, you are the only one left. Please help me.
"Nicoli, help me- my cat-" I stop as Nicoli turns his head to cover his face.
Why won't you look at me? I breathed as tears began to fall.
"Nicoli?" I call out and feel something splitter off. My knees give, and I crumble. Mykhol's arms are the only thing keeping me up now.
"Ana!" Maddie jumps over to help. But before she can, Mykhol snaps at her.
"Don't you dare!" Mykhol hisses. "Everyone is watching."
"But-" Maddie looks at me in pain, but she steps back. Unable to console me, she is left only to watch as I begin to cry openly. The sounds of my gasps and whimpers fill the suddenly quiet room. But it is not the only sound.
Faintly, I can hear it. It's coming from outside. It is Nicoli II's cries. But they are faint and grow fainter over time. Eventually, they stopped by the time I was too tired to cry.
"Why?" It hurts to speak because my throat is raw from crying. And my eyes burn from even the light of the candles.
However, I somehow managed to look up. I have to. I need to see them. These people I called family. I look at each in a long silent turn, Nicoli first, then father, and lastly, Stepmother.
Only one dares meet my gaze, and it is the last one I expect. Queen Belinda returns my stare with a sympathetic expression but says nothing. She reaches for Nicoli's head, her pale hand spreading over his brown hair like a spider.
"No," Nicoli shifts from her touch, but doing so makes him lift his face. He accidentally meets my eyes.
"No!" Nicoli cries out in a shrill voice that hits the ceiling. And he quickly buries his face into his father's legs. His little body shakes as if afraid.
"There, there," Belinda touches his head gently. In the last part, she met my eye again. "The monsters will be gone soon."
"Monster." I feel something inside finally shatter. It was the only thing I had left, but it would never heal now.
I'm a fool. I realize. I am a terrible fool.
I lower my head and keep it down. Above me, I numbly hear a voice. It's Stepmother's.
"A precedence needs to be set." Her voice echoes. "That is if Dawny and Nochten are to be closer. They must understand their place. So nothing like this can happen again."
"This will be the first and final time." Queen Belinda speaks, but I hear the second message. It was loud and clear, but she didn't need to go that far.
"Court dismissed." King Alexander's voice is much quieter than before, but it does the job. The court begins to shift.
"Do you think it was right?" I hear the whispers as they move.
"But the king allowed it," another replies, and I feel their gaze as they pass. The feeling is oddly familiar, but it doesn't matter anymore.
I stare down absently as the last ones start to go. They pass us in silence. The smell of honey and cloves makes me wince.
I don't look up. I want to, but I don't. I already know what I'll see if I look up at Nicoli, and I can't dare to meet those blue eyes. Not unless I want to see it again.
Nicoli is afraid of me.
I shudder as a tear breaks free. It seems I still can cry. But it is just one, dragging down my skin to pool around my chin.
I shouldn't have expected anything to be different here. Nochten or Dawny, it will be the same. Nothing will change.
Again, I am a fool. The tear falls from my chin and drops to the floor. I pray it will be the last one.