It was not George.
I shut my eyes, mentally berating myself. I said so many things to him earlier, that I was even seconds away from ending his life when in reality.
George saved me.
I ran my hands through my hair and strolled toward my chamber. Once I was inside, I turned to close the door, only for someone to stick their foot in.
I frowned, tracing the foot to lock eyes with George.
"Your Majesty?"
Dressed head to toe in his regal wear, King George of Keyes brushed past me, stumbling toward my bed. The smell of booze was heavy, trailing behind him.
"You will never address me as George, will you?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You will also never be able to love me as I wish, will you?" His voice cracked and my heart tightened. Why was I hurt, he deserved everything coming his way.
"If you returned my sister, I would."
Our eyes met and my breath hitched as I waited for his response. The grand walls of the chamber closed in on me.
"Why so many conditions? Everyone always has a condition — a reason, a trade for them..." He looked like he was about to yank at his hair and I stepped forward, against my better reasoning.
"Everyone needs something, Your Highness, and you have something that belongs to me—"
"What about me? What belongs to me? I reckon you do not!" He threw an antique vase to the ground and I watched it shatter, unfazed.
I bowed, the marble walls glaring at me as I spoke. "The kingdom of Keyes, you had it at the tip of your fingers—" My words died in my throat as he closed the distance between us, his speed forcing me to freeze.
His hands traced my neck to my lips. "What good is the kingdom without a Queen to rule it?"
"I am no Queen." I choked, my hands dug into my dress. The grandeur of the room suffocating. I did not belong here. "I am simply a... a mistake."
George's eyebrow raised at my words but I continued. "Someone without an origin." My stomach twisted as I recalled the fact that I hadn't even known my name when I woke up years ago.
Father had taken me in, he raised me like his own daughter but he also made me repay him. I had to take my sister's place. His daughter's place.
I had to become the wife of the Ruthless of Keyes and be with the child as soon as possible.
I traded my life to repay them. I did not regret it. I could not afford to regret it because they taught me everything I knew.
I reached forward, tracing George's cheek. With George, there were conditions. But they weren't pushing me away, rather, George was doing everything to keep me close.
I tried to kill him on our wedding night, yet he spared my life and until now, he...
"I am undeserving of you," I whispered. I accused him of trying to kill me. I slapped a hand over my lips to silence my sob but he removed it, wiping my tears.
"You can cry, Ana." He said, wrapping his arm around me. "Let your tears fill this chamber, cry in my arms. I will never let you feel ashamed of being human."
"Your hi— George," I whispered, the name foreign on my lips.
"Here, your weakness is my strength and when you fall," He brushed my hair back. "I will catch you—"
My body jerked and George's panicked voice filled the room.
Once again, I saw images. Like all the visions before these. A hand. The same hand. Several pots of food. People complaining. Something white.
"Ana? Are you in good health? What is wrong?" George's husky voice grounded me as my body slacked against his, my breathing ragged as I spoke without thinking.
"The feast. Someone... Someone wants to sabotage the feast!"
"Anastasia!" The voice was sickeningly familiar. "Ana—"
I moved to leave but George held me back. "You are not breathing well. Calm down first, Ana. You need to be in good health to help anyone else."
I nodded, drowning the Queen's calls beneath the dark spots appearing in my vision. Once they had cleared enough for me to move, George helped me up and we locked eyes.
It was laughable. I had found comfort in the arms of the enemy and for some reason, I had a strong feeling I would return again and again to his arms until it became a habit I could not end.
Grabbing a fistful of my dress, I exited the chamber, and my breath caught in my throat as the Queen glared at me, eyeing me down.
"I have requested for a while," she eyed me down. "Are your ears not waxed?"
"My ears are fully waxed. I heard you. I could not respond to your request—"
"Anastasia was not of good health." George defended. "Whatever do you need, mother?"
The Queen narrowed her eyes at me. "Of course, only she could pull a trick like this. The first dish is tonight and you want to pretend you are in bad health? Do you wish for us to face humiliation in our kingdom? It has never been so, and It will—"
"My health and responsibilities are two different things, your highness." I matched her gaze. "Rest assured that I do not mix them," I promised, brushing past her.
I stopped once I was a few feet from her and spoke. "The dishes will be served in due time. Nothing will go wrong," I turned, "I will make sure of it," I bowed but she shoved me out of the way, marching towards her chambers.
Who wanted to sabotage the dishes and how could I stop them? Had they already done it? Or were they yet to do it? I had no clue.
Whomever this person was, they not only wanted to end my life, but they also wanted to humiliate me in front of everyone and they were not worried about who or what was at stake.
They were willing to risk Keyes' most important festival to reach their goals. They were ambitious and Ruthless.
Who was it? Mother? She loathed me but she would never risk the throne. The maids? It was proven earlier that they were innocent. Who else? It could not possibly be George, the thought sickened me.
So, who was the mastermind? I had to find them before dawn, no matter what.