By the end of the week, the entire Palace knew Arson had proposed to me. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Kingdom knew too. Several versions of the incident passed around like silly legends. The way I squealed and hugged him when he did it. Or how tears cascaded my cheeks as I gave him a yes. That was not amusing. Nope, not at all. It was how emotional he became at that moment. How he poured out his heart to me. I wanted to gag every time those whispered fantasies touched my ears.
The old me would have given him the reaction he needed. I would have been happy. Years passed and we grew up. How dare he act out his fantasies on me. I gave him a freaking out. He should have taken it. Saved the fantasies for his future lover, someone who would care. I didn't need the drama or daydreaming eyes every woman in the castle glanced at me. I couldn't be the girly Queen they cooked up in their heads. Not when the vultures were out to get me.
I didn't even know how the rumors started. That more than anything else pissed me off. I was freaking Queen and I couldn't even tell who saw us to tell everyone else. We were in the snow caves. No one was allowed in there. Someone disobeyed orders. Disobeyed me.
I closed my eyes and sank further into the bathtub.
The details they all knew were alarming. The rare rock I sported on my finger didn't help. I wanted to toss it in the sea. Far, far away. The court was already looking for my weakness. I didn't need a beacon, portraying my emotions to the world. When Arson revealed the Emotion Teller Diamond Ring, I had the strongest urge to snatch it and toss the damn thing. Now, when everyone looked at me, they saw a girly queen struck by love.
I wanted to scream that I wasn't a pathetic princess. I wanted to shout that I was Queen. I could run this goddamn Kingdom like any freaking man. I was strong like any other King. I didn't need some prince to get on his knees and propose. I didn't need him to make me treats in the damn kitchen. Cause whenever the tales started, it did with Arson in the fucking Kitchen. I hated him and hated how I wasn't born a man. They all could go to hell.
The water covered my head. My eyes opened to the hazy ceiling light.
But the truth was, I couldn't toss the ring or tell anyone the proposal was shit. It would paint me as the person I didn't want to be. An incontrollable Queen. A sad Queen meant to rule beside a man. I didn't want to be either of those things. I needed them to see me as the strong Queen of Cordal. Craved it, even.
Bubbles swam up to the surface of the tub.
I had to bide my time. Things had to settle down somehow. I had to wait it out. Needed to. For my Kingdom and all those citizens looking to a ruler.
I pushed up from the water and stood. Droplets splashed out of the tub. I stepped out onto the floor and slipped into my robe. The silk swung against my knees and caressed my body. Wet hair stuck to my skin. I didn't bother drying it with a cloth. With a snap of my fingers, water particles flew from it into the air. They paired, making a large ball of water. The excess sprinkles on my skin went next.
I dropped it into the tub. More water splashed on the floor. I should have cleaned it up. Would have, if the thought never washed me with sadness. My entire life was a mess. No matter how much I tried to clean it up, something else fell apart. The messy bathroom reminded me too much of my life.
I left it and retreated to the room. The poignant scent of blood polluted the air. My room used to be a haven from the outside world. It used to be the place I could be myself. Not anymore. Anyone could walk in and out. My guards were assholes who wished me dead. I couldn't tell which servant was on my side. Even as I stared at the bed, I asked myself why. Why me? Had I not given them my all? What more did they want? What more did he desire?
'Heart Wrecker' written with blood stared up at me from the bed. More splashes of blood covered the sheets. A heart with a dagger through it rested in the midst of the chaos. What poor animal did he kill this time to make a point?
I pushed forward. Blood trickled down the heart when I picked it up. The chill of the room killed its warmth. I fisted it, coating my fingers crimson. "I am not a pathetic princess."
I swiveled on my heel and headed to the door. The heart in hand. Once again, my guards thought somewhere else was more important than patrolling my door. I couldn't wait to get rid of them. Very soon they would see who got the last laugh.
I stormed through the Palace over to the south wing. A ping of anger hastened my steps at his guards. Of course, they would be guarding him. They made it abundantly clear he should be King. Traitors. I itched to kill them all. If only it wouldn't belittle my title, I would have a long time ago. Hang them all for the rest of the Kingdom to see their despicable faces.
"Your majesty," they bowed.
I ignored them and pushed the double room doors open. A squeal greeted me. One of the servants grabbed the sheets. I could tell because it was the same servant who helped me get dressed every fucking day. She never waited for my request to leave. She dashed from the room. Velron never bothered to cover his nakedness. The stupid smug on his face sent my blood pressure to the roof.
I flung the heart at him. He dodged the thing, staring at the stained wall it smashed into. His gaze darkened when it met mine again.
"You spineless bastard," I growled. "You think this is funny? You think killing animals and threatening me with hearts is going to make me cower? I've grown too used to your tricks to care. I'll never marry you. You will never be King while I'm alive."
Why couldn't he be like other males? I was sure no other male on this Globe bullied and threatened the woman they wanted to marry. Things would have been different if he had acted nicely when we were kids. But no. He took and took until there was nothing left in me to give.
He picked up the heart and pulled the dagger free. "Your death can be arranged. You aren't indispensable, Thaliah. You will never be a King, and everyone knows it. So, go ahead and marry that boy. In the end, even as King Consort, he'll have more rights than you, the Queen."
I released a shaking breath. Velron might be right, but I wasn't going to let him get to me. Arson didn't want to be King. He would have more power, yes, but the power would be mine. "Stay away from me, Velron."
He cleaned the knife blade with the sheet. "Or what? What are you going to do?"
I ground my teeth. "Wouldn't you want to know. Leave me alone, Velron. This is my final warning."
He laughed. A pure laughter that made me sick. "I don't think so. I'll like to see what brave grown up Thaliah has in store for me." He slipped from the bed and advanced towards me. "Are you going to show me who's the true leader of Cordal? Huh? Are you going to try to kill me? Make me pay for all those years of torture?" I didn't move when he came closer. "What could you possibly do to me? I'd want to know, Thaliah. Tell me. Tell me!" I flinched at his demand. He smiled at my reaction. "It's nice to have you come to me every once in a while. I wonder what everyone would think if they found out you came to my room dressed in barely anything. It'd be a shocker to know you came here to seduce me right after your adorable prince proposed. What kind of Queen will that make you?"
The thought of grabbing the knife forced its way to the forefront of my mind. I wanted to stab him and stab him. And stab him and stab him. Until he no longer could open that poisonous mouth of his. I bet that would make me happy. I would find peace in his lifeless eyes.
As if knowing my thoughts, he opened my palm, and pressed the handle of the knife in it. My fingers curled with his around the hilt. My blood ran cold when he licked the side of my face. A devious smirk settled on the face I died to smash into a hole. Without a care in the world, he turned his back to me and flopped down on the bed.
"As much as how you're hot, I'm already spent for the night," he teased. "You'll have to come again another night. I promise to please you then."
He didn't get to me. He could not get to me.
I straightened my shoulders. "How thoughtful of you. I never thought you were the type to ensure your partner felt pleasure. You always took what you wanted."
He flipped on his back with a wide smile. "You're right. Got me all figured out. But since you're special, I'll treat you this once."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "No thank you. I'd appreciate it more if you stay here forever."
"Hmmm? Where's the fun in that?"
I dropped the knife and shook my head. "Whatever." I strolled from the room. There was no use speaking to someone who had nothing to lose. I doubt he would even care if I killed him. He would give me that disgusting smile of his with some snippy remark.
I hated him and it pleased him to know it. Men. Despicable beings. Why couldn't they all leave me alone?