"Seize her." The Queen spat. "Seize her now!"
"If anyone moves" George growled in between gasps. "It will be their last,"
The Queen glared at me. "Send for the physician, now!" She barked at the guards. "How can you defend her?" She directed at George.
His gaze remained locked in mine. "Anastasia hates me," he whispered. Blood dripping from his lips, "but she is no murderer."
I parted my lips to speak — say anything but he dropped to the ground, unmoving.
My chest tightened and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. He… He wasn't dead, right?
It… it couldn't be. He—
I stumbled as the guards carried him, rushing down the hall. I followed them, my eyes clouded with tears but the Queen stepped between me and the door.
"The only reason you still breathe is because my son wills it. Do not push your limits, Anastasia."
"I did not do this. Please, trust me. I did not add salt. I was not aware he was…"
The dark-haired woman stared at me for a few seconds, the walls of the grande palace threatening to close in on me.
She stepped forward, the space between us, nonexistent.
"You can fool my son with a pretty face, sharp mouth, and those tear-filled eyes." She gritted, her eyes narrowing at me. "But you can never fool me, Anastasia. If anything happens to my son, I will bury you alive along with him."
She moved to leave but stopped. "Don't even think about entering his chambers. Who knows? You might want to finish what you started."
I shook my head at her words but found myself retreating, a lump growing in my throat.
I shut my eyes. My hands curled into frets as my heart and mind fought.
Until now, I judged and attacked George at every turn. I made my anger and hatred clear. In fact, on our wedding night, I planned to kill him.
Now… Now that he was dying — why did it feel like my entire world was falling apart?
Was it because he saved my life? Was it because he protected me despite all the evidence pointing at me?
Was this an obligation? A debt or something else? Fear gripped me at the thought.
Either way, one thing was for sure.
I had to see King George. I had to make sure he was okay, just once. It was the least I could do.
Besides, I needed him alive to find Danielle. I stood straight. That explanation sounded perfect.
I was only doing this for my sister. Everything else was in my head. Yes.
There was no way…
I shook the thought from my head and turned, walking away from —
"Anastasia!"
I turned, my heart in my mouth at his voice. It was loud, gut-wrenching, and undeniable.
I found my legs moving to the door and when I reached for the handle, it opened and the Queen glared at me.
"What are you doing here? Do I need to have you removed from this palace? I told you to leave!"
Wait. What?
She sighed and gestured at some guards. They approached us and she spoke.
"Throw her out. I never want to see her face. We are done, Anastasia. I will no longer risk my son's life for whatever it is he feels for you. You are neither worthy to be Queen, nor his wife."
I didn't have enough time to process her words because I was hauled out of the palace. The antique statues and paintings laughed at me, as I was thrown out.
I landed face first and a wince escaped my lips. It was then I realized — I was outside.
I could find Danielle. The man said she was outside the palace and if I left right now—
"Anastasia!"
George's voice reached my ears again. He was in pain. My heart clenched.
I stood, glancing back — a fleeting chance to find my sister — The very reason I loathed him.
I could snatch her from his clutches and be free, so why was I walking around, searching for any possible means to reach the King's chamber?
My eyes widened when I noticed a ladder. I almost cried in relief. With all the preparations for the festival, the handymen in charge of renovations left the ladder lying around.
I reached for my heavy ball gown, my hands gathering as much as they could while I reached for the ladder with the other.
After a few steps, I glanced down. If I fell now, it was all over. I would die on the spot.
I bit hard on my bottom lip and continued. I must have looked stupid and I did.
I was going to see the man who kidnapped my sister and forced me to
marry him. He kept me in this place for weeks, and for some reason, as I reached his window — It felt right.
I had to see him one last time.
I managed to push myself through the window and fell into the room, my body landing with a thud.
I glanced around, grateful he was alone and asleep.
I sucked in a sharp breath, walking over to his sleeping form.
My hands loosened around my gown and reached for his dark hair, a gasp escaped my lips as I realized — they were soft. Too soft.
"I had no clue you were allergic to salt," I murmured, daring to close the distance between us. "I never added it. I would never…" I trailed off. What was I about to say?
I would never hurt him.
"You saved my life," I said instead, "I am grateful for that and I pay all my debts. Someone else has planned this and you need to get better, okay? So… so you can find them," My heart ached when he barely moved.
My stomach twisted into knots.
He was cold.
"George," My voice cracked as I licked my lips. "You can't die so easily, right?" I said, reaching for his hand. "Do you hear me? I am the only one allowed to kill you."
The chamber was vast but I couldn't breathe, I felt suffocated, I felt hurt.
It hurt. "Please," I begged, struggling to speak as my body shook with… sobs.
I was supposed to hate this man. To loathe him. To snatch every chance to kill him, but as I took in his form, gentle and yet somewhat intimidating — I couldn't.
The reality hit me like a stack of bricks — I could not hate King George.
I reached for his cheek, grazing it. "Thank you for saving my life," I repeated and leaned. Before I could process what I was doing, the sound of the Queen's voice came.
"Adolf? You wish to see the king?"
My eyes darted to the door. The Queen was outside. If she came in…
I recoiled from George, panicked when my bangles were stuck on his clothes. I tried to yank it off and a yelp escaped my lips when I fell on him.
Worse, green eyes were suddenly staring back at me.