Chapter 23: Forgive and forget
I dimmed my eyes. Why would I want such powers?
"I don't want such powers, King Zuri"
"Then it's good thing it's not up to you. The second document is to send Desire, your lady's maid to the royal jail for two weeks and you are going to authorize it" Zuri told me.
I blinked. Maybe I didn't hear him right. I should give him the benefits of doubt. He did tell me a few minutes ago that he would never raise his hand to me. I leaned in closer to him.
"Why would I send Desire to jail?" I asked him.
"Because it was her job to put you in an appropriate dress for Zolcovia but she didn't. And because of her incompetence, you, my beloved sister had to go through an argument with me. So, sign the documents and the incompetent girl is gone"
I blinked again. Anger and fear creeping slowly back into my heart.
"This is because I disobeyed you, isn't it?" I narrowed my eyes at him as my heart pounded faster.
"Don't be dramatic. Siblings disagree with each other all the time, Emily. This is just about dealing with an incompetent staff" Zuri told me.
I exhaled. I was going to stand up to him.
"No"
"No?" Zuri asked me and I nodded.
"Good. I was hoping you would say no again. I do admire your morals, Emily" Zuri pulled out another black tablet and he smiled.
"What are you doing?" I asked him.
"Oh, since you won't punish Desire…I can't too but just to make sure that the injustice done to my little sister is avenged, I am only signing a piece of paper stripping Desire's father as the prime minister of Castaway effective immediately. I am sure Desire would thank you for standing up for her" Zuri smiled as he signed on the tablet.
"Zuri, please don't! I will do anything you ask!"
I felt sick to my stomach like I was about to throw up breakfast, the only problem was, I didn't eat breakfast.
Zuri placed the tablet inside his bag after signing it.
"Please, you can't destroy their family because of a little dress!" I grabbed his hand.
Zuri touched my face and for a second I thought he was going to oblige me.
"I didn't…you did, Emily"
"You bastard!" I murmured.
I knew he heard me but he didn't blink or flinch or acknowledge that I had called him that. Instead he placed a kiss on my cheek before leaning back into his seat.
I watched him trying to control two urges. One, the urge to slam my fist into his abdomen and two, to start sobbing like a child.
(Come on, Emily…let it go) my mother's voice in my head made me turn to look at her.
(But it's not fair that he gets to play God with people's lives!)
(Emily, just let it go. You are with a child. Stress can't be good for the baby)
Thanks Mom! I wanted to yell at her because I really needed a reminder that I was carrying Owen's baby.
I checked my watch. One hour, fifteen minutes until I can finally get rid of the bug inside me but someone had destroyed my life and now, because of me, a family was about to be destroyed.
Damn it! Zuri found just the thing to control me. I grabbed his hand as the battle between giving in to anger and pleading while sobbing was finally resolved.
"Please, King Zuri…do..not do this to Desire and her family. I am begging you to please forgive me this time and I swear on our father's life that I will never disobey you again. It was just a stupid dress, I should have just worn it. You are my kin, have mercy his highness" I buried my face in his impeccable suit as I pleaded with him.
I wonder whether he was going to punish me for that later, I don't think I cared that much. I had enough on my shoulders. My shoulder was going to be holding the atrocity of murdering my child, I can't have another weight on it, it would destroy me.
I never liked Desire, all she did was annoy me and try to do her job but this wasn't fair.
"Oh come on, Emily…there is no need to ruin a perfectly hand stitched suit with your tears, little sister. Believe me, it gets better. This weight you feel in your chest will lift, child and you would learn something" Zuri touched my hair as he talked.
"I hate to see you so distressed, baby sister. Maybe, taking away their livelihood away isn't enough for your distress, should I take their citizenship too?"
Maybe I have always knew it deep down that my actions were going to cost me something because Zuri wasn't the forgiving kind. I released him and wiped my face.
"That won't be necessary, King Zuri"
He smiled causally. "Good girl, Emily"