"Father, this goes beyond my role as the prince of the seventh realm. This is my life at stake, for the stars' sake!"
"This is monumental, Killan!" The king's voice, once calm, had now taken on a crescendo. The intensity in his tone was palpable—an amalgamation of fury and urgency.
As the dispute between father and son unfurled before me, I grappled with the unpredictable range of emotions that surged within. The prince, though seemingly godlike, was betrothed to the princess of the second kingdom. I found myself drawn into their intricate web, a third vertex in their complex triangle. A vendetta seemed to lie beneath the surface of their fairy-tale romance. He had proclaimed, amidst the crowd in the selection hall, his aversion to marrying me, branding me as a "savage hunter." Who in their right mind would entertain the thought of wedding the individual accused of their mother's murder? His very words contradicted his argument.
His gaze shifted towards me, his lips forming the words, "This little twist." An amalgamation of curiosity and intrigue ignited in his eyes. In his perception, I was the embodiment of malevolence while he assumed the mantle of righteousness. "Miss Rendin, I believe you may not fully comprehend the gravity of your legal predicament. Frankly, I doubt you have internalized the magnitude of your situation."
His words carried a personal sting, an insult that I chose to absorb. My next move unfolded with a measure of hesitancy as I inched closer, his powerful muscles taut beneath his skin. The hues of his irises swirled, a tempest of anger intermingled with a flicker of interest. His eyes widened with a mixture of curiosity, and I discerned it—the flicker of his intrigue. His head tilted back to meet my gaze, his brows arching before a smirk played upon his lips. Lips the hue of crimson, appearing deceptively soft, but they had dubbed me a "little twist" and a "savage."
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Truly, you have yet to fathom the depths you're plunging into. This is no ordinary hunting game, where defeat results in a simple game over if prey remains elusive. Consider it." His whispers bore a calm intensity, an aura of danger that hung in the air.
I held his gaze, our eyes locking in a silent clash of wills. Within, a fortress of fear threatened to breach its walls, yet I exerted every ounce of my strength to keep it contained, locked within its vault.
My gaze remained unyielding, my attention riveted upon him. The intensity of his stare seared into me, the heat of its intensity almost threatening to engulf me.
Regarding the escalating conflict between the two patriarchs, I could only listen. Two beings wielding the power of seventh-dimensional might treated me as a pawn in their game. From their perspective, there would be no resistance from a mere piece on their cosmic chessboard—I was to obey their commands. A choice emerged before me: a prince or a king as my master. Marriage, whether genuine or contrived, provided a respite. The king's decree to unite us may have been borne of madness, yet I perceived it as a chink in an otherwise impenetrable armor. A fracture, however small, allows light to seep through, illuminating the darkness.
"Your Grace, if you'll pardon me, I don't feel well," I muttered without waiting for Killan's response. I needed space, time to strategize, to gather facts and devise a plan. I required distance from the present turmoil. I aimed to reshape conventional thinking, crafting a strategy that defied the norm.
"Miss Rendin, you may go. Take the room adjacent to the guest quarters. The handmaidens will accompany you."
Dismissed by the king's command, I stepped out of the chamber. A subtle churn of emotions stirred within me, akin to a prisoner granted a brief reprieve from captivity.
Three handmaidens who had attended to me during the selection process awaited me outside. Their expressions held traces of surprise, yet they remained silent. The young woman with short hair, my apparent guide, led the way. On the plush carpet, our footfalls were the sole soundtrack. The silence bore a weightiness, a sense of significance that gripped me, despite its apparent subtlety.
The two women promptly unlocked the door to the lavishly adorned room. The space boasted an antique sofa, while a regal bed beckoned from just a few meters away—larger than our entire living room. I gravitated towards the couch, positioning myself at a safe distance. The cascade of events unfolded, overwhelming me. In my mind, I began to construct a list, a methodical inventory of facts. Gradually, step by step, I laid the foundation of my strategy.
In the past, I had come to terms with the possibility of my demise. The contemplation of spending my days in solitude, with nothing but written words for company, had crossed my mind. A part of me had embraced the notion of death. Yet, it was the king's decision that ultimately turned the tide. It marked a final chance to rectify the course before my departure.
Initially, the prince and I had been slated for marriage. Once upon a time, I had dreamt of joining in wedlock with Apolo, the captivating neighbor with his striking blond hair and distinct pointed ears. I had fantasized about uniting with an elf, entertaining an ideal that felt more like a fleeting reverie than reality. But just as a dream fades when dawn breaks, my fantasies had dissolved upon opening my eyes.
Still, I was ready to relinquish my aspirations if they proved unattainable. A glimmer of hope twinkled within the prospect of marriage to the prince. It was a plot twist that could lead the protagonist to her happy ending—a narrative arc that held promise. While I suspected hidden agendas and manipulation, the onus was on me to unearth the truth. Time was all I needed, a bit more time to secure a better life for Cali and Poras. If the stars were destined for my demise, I was prepared to surrender myself to their will.
If I were in their shoes, I might have wed Prince Killan and set my stratagems into motion. As I weighed my alternatives, a soft sigh escaped my lips. The door swung open suddenly, snatching the breath from my lungs.
Prince Killan's fury was contagious.
With swiftness, he secured the door, his gaze never straying from me. As he advanced, his brow furrowed, and his expression soured. His dark eyes crackled like a tempest.
He moved towards me in a brisk stride, and almost instinctively, he cupped my face, his touch tentative as if even he wasn't entirely sure of his actions. His palms enveloped my jaw gently, yet with a firmness that conveyed his intent. No, I held my ground.
He studied me, sizing me up as a potential adversary. I could discern the arch of his eyebrows from where I sat. The flex of his chest muscles was perceptible, the rise and fall of his breath pronounced. His grip on his chiseled jaw clenched. I steadied my nerves, maintaining my composure.
"Should you believe that marrying me will absolve you of the crime, that your falsehoods have swayed the king's judgment, think again!" His hold on my face tightened, his breath tickling my skin.
My heart raced, yet my hands remained steady, free to clasp onto his arms. Drawing a deep breath, I pressed my nails into his flesh. His body flinched, his crimson lips parting as his eyes widened, his gaze ensnaring mine.
I willed myself to speak, murmuring, "Yes, my prince, we shall wed." Barely audible, my voice was almost a whisper. Essentially, I had kindled fire to counteract ice. In other words, the ice had yet to melt. Observing him closely, I recognized the gamble I had embarked upon. It was a calculated risk, akin to locking oneself in a chamber with a pack of ravenous wolves.
To observe more closely, he had to draw nearer. The fabric of the couch brushed against my back, our proximity creating an air of awkwardness. His warm, minty scent enveloped me, a cocoon of familiarity and intrigue.
He exhibited no trace of trepidation, assured of his capacity to tear me asunder with effortless grace. "You, you little untamed creature. I mean to eradicate you."
The inferno in his eyes burned fiercely, yet I seized upon the opportunity to divert, to play my card for escape.
Manipulating reality had always come naturally to me. A swift twist, a subtle nudge to bend circumstances to my favor. A decision had to be made urgently. Though my life hung in peril in the prince's presence, I knew that to unravel this mess and secure my salvation, I had to fashion an escape route. Perhaps, by reining in my impulsive inclinations, I could expedite my journey through life.
I extended my hand, fingers trailing along his arm, up to his collarbone and over his visage. I continued to engage in this play of "fire and ice." Even if it exacerbated the prince's antipathy towards me, I had heard whispers of his plan to orchestrate a sham marriage. I had to win him over. Yield to his father's wishes and take the prince's hand in marriage.
A logical query might be, "Why would I?"
Either wed him under false pretenses or end my life, allowing him to unveil the truth to Princess Lanuza. And that, dear readers, was the pièce de résistance of my intricate tale.
A shift occurred in the hue of his eyes. The blaze of rage diminished, replaced by a subtler transformation. In the direst of circumstances, my stratagem appeared to be yielding results. "A sham marriage will not suffice, as the king himself will officiate the ceremony. The Seventh and several other royals shall be present as witnesses. You have little understanding of how this world operates."
Once more, I sighed, the tension in my shoulders easing as the burden lifted. "If you marry me, you can always end my life."
Soon, his grip on me slackened. He yielded to my second proposition. With that, he turned away, his gaze cast skyward before pivoting to meet my eyes again.
"I shall wed you. Then, I shall be the one to take your life," he sneered.