Charlotte said and Sage instantly started coughing again until one of the women sitting next to her quickly offered her a cup of water, which she quickly drank.
Sage wanted to shout that she was only wedded him to kill him in order to protect her people from the cold and from fire-breathing dragons.
She didn't marry him in order to have children and since she detested him, she would never allow him to touch her.
"What do you say?" Charlotte asked with a smile.
"I..." Sage didn't know what to say, her head was in chaos.
Meanwhile, Mirabella was still focus on her food while Isabella had her mouth open in shock after hearing her mother say that she wanted Sage and Cyrus to bring out an heir.
"Mother I do not think.." Isabella said but Charlotte cut her off.
"I am not speaking to you but Cyrus's wife."
Sage swallowed hard seeing how offended Isabella looked.
Was something going on between Isabella and Cyrus?
"So, Sage," Charlotte called and Sage wasn't surprised that Charlotte knew her name.
"Duchess Charlotte, I think you should speak to Cyrus about this." Sage said calmly.
"Oh," Charlotte said quite offended.
Sage forced a smile and sighed.
...
In a dim room that was only slightly illuminated by a fireplace.
"Please! I am sorry! I promise I do not know anything!" A man screamed in agony, his face was covered in blood, and his severed arms were lying in front of him.
"Is that so?" Cyrus who was seated on a chair in front of the man with his panthers seated by his left and right place and his nine tailed fox seated on his lap.
"Yes! Please have mercy!" The man begged.
"You are going to die anyways, why can't you just spill?" Cyrus asked calmly. His cold expression, unchanging.
"T.. the fire dragons are planning alliance with.. the werewolves." The man spluttered.
Cyrus rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Bringing the werewolves into this mess won't let me spare you."
Cyrus couldn't believe that, there was a little rift going on between Celestia which was the home of the werewolves and Fireria. No matter what, it was going to turn into a vicious war in centuries to come.
"You speak like you are not a fire dragon," Cyrus said to the man and scoffed. "I will tell you what I know about you."
"You will die! You will be destroyed just like your other kinds!" The man screamed hysterically.
"Venus, Ares, go upstairs and have you tied up meals." Cyrus said to the demon panthers who stood up and left the dark room.
The man screamed in fear. His family members were the tied up meals.
After a minute, he heard their screams.
"You monster!" The man yelled at Cyrus who smiled as a certain red haired's voice echoed in his head.
"You monster!"
"Thank you I have heard that a lot," The side of his lips pulled up and he said to the man, "You placed you and your family into this mess, working with my enemies as a spy."
"I am going to tell them that prince River is friends with you!" The man yelled.
"And you think I will let you destroy the relationship he has with his family?" Cyrus asked with a sigh. "It is no surprise that you are useless."
He stood up, dropped snowflake on the ground and left the room only to hear the man screams.
He met Venus and Ares in the sitting room, a lot of blood stains on the ground.
"Let's go back." He told them and turned to see snowflake walking towards him innocently with no sign of blood on his white fur.
"Good boy," Cyrus praised, picked up the nine tailed fox and walked out of the house to meet Arthur talking to the horses that held the carriage.
Cyrus peered at his guard who hadn't noticed him because he was preoccupied talking to the horses, while the onlookers looked scared upon witnessing the demon panthers and the monarch.
"Where is the water mage?" Cyrus asked Arthur who froze up muttering curses to himself then stiffly turned to Cyrus.
"Your majesty!" He called cheerfully then chuckled nervously. "She is alright, she locked herself in her room still dizzy from the flight."
Cyrus hum with a nod. He didn't want her to stay in the castle or to know anything about his plans for Sage.
"Send her to River." Cyrus said and walked into the carriage with his panthers behind him.
Arthur was stunned but didn't ask any questions to avoid an early death for himself.
...
While Ava styled Sage's hair, Sage wore the coat and mittens.
She wondered how Katherine was doing as she gave Katherine some thought. Given her character, she may have chosen to stay in her room by herself to recover after the travel.
Sage couldn't believe so much had already happened after only getting married yesterday.
In the end, Duchess Charlotte decided against the tea, indicating that they would instead enjoy it after their shopping trip.
"Aren't you coming dear?" Charlotte called from the carriage.
"Coming!" Sage said, dashed towards the carriage hurriedly and slipped on the ice.
She squeaked as soon as she felt a powerful arm around her. When she saw it was Cyrus, she scowled and attempted to flee, but he grabbed her tightly and forced her to face him.
"Let me go!" She half yelled, struggling.
"If you struggle, Charlotte will say..."
"Oh, Cyrus is here." Charlotte said and got out of the carriage, smiling at the couple.
Sage expected Cyrus to release her but he didn't.
"Pleasant afternoon isn't it Charlotte," Cyrus said, his voice light but his expression cold.
"It is, we were just about to go shopping but since you are here, you can take her instead of me." Charlotte said and Sage gasped.
"Is that a problem?" Charlotte asked her and Cyrus stared at Sage.
"Yes, is there a problem love?" He asked, his voice lingering with mischief.
Sage's eyes almost bursted out of her sockets. He called her love?! When did that begin?
"Oh so cute," Charlotte giggled. "I will be going to rest now, I am attending a soiree tonight." She added and walked away.
Cyrus released her and held her wrist, pulling her towards his carriage.
"Let me go!" She told him angrily.
"Oh, hello, my queen," Arthur said waving at her happily.
Sage smiled at him then frowned at Cyrus.
"If you continue to provoke me, Venus and Ares will make you shut up." Cyrus threatened and released her wrist.
Arthur who heard this, blinked rapidly and that was when Sage realized that the demon panthers were in the carriage.
"There is no way I am entering into a carriage with demon panthers." She said confidently and crossed her arms on her chest.