The dinner menu didn't feature any of King Gerald's favorite dishes, except for an appetizer that no one else appeared to be interested in eating. Corina felt thankful for that, as only tasty, but common items were served. Although she was disappointed not to receive dessert, she knew she had her wedding cake to anticipate in just a few weeks.
The dinner conversation was casual, with the two kings performing most of the discussion about politics and plans for the future of Crystalia and Luminairea. Corina was bored with the conversation, but remained silent to be polite to her superiors.
After the meal, the two kings and Queen Charlotte quickly retired to their rooms. Corina and Alexander stood outside of the dining area, where Lazarus and Nadine followed.
"Such an interesting meal," Lazarus commented.
"I know!" Corina whined, waving her arms. "I would've died if you didn't save me! Lazzy, you're always wonderful to me."
"Of course," Lazarus laughed and patted the top of his sister's head. "This guy wouldn't even save you from the situation. What are you going to do when I'm not here?" He asked, pointing at the duke with a smirk. "He's useless for your needs!"
"Is that right?" Alexander asked, rolling his eyes. "I would never consider throwing food on the floor in someone else's palace. I could see a peasant doing that, but a royal? It's quite an unflattering look on your family's behalf. Remember, your actions reflect on the Frostbloom name."
"For real?" Lazarus scoffed. "Are you going there? I was playing around. I'm guessing you must find Corina pretty unappealing, then," the prince replied, pulling his sister by the arm away from the duke.
"Lazzy!" Corina frowned.
"Corina, this guy might seem nice, but he's showing his true colors right now," Lazarus firmly stated. "He just insulated our kingdom."
"It wasn't meant as an insult to Corina or the Kingdom," Alexander said as he placed a palm over his face and shook his head. "I was speaking of you personally. If you perform certain actions that gain the attention of certain royals in his kingdom, there may be issues. It was a warning of sorts."
"Stop it, please," Corina whispered to her brother. "Alexander isn't like that. He's right—you shouldn't have done that. I know you worry about me, but I'm getting married soon. You can't watch over me forever."
Corina pulled away from Lazarus.
Lazarus's brows knitted together, and his expression became furious as he watched Corina pull away. "I'll always look after you," he whispered. "I had to. We both know Mother didn't have your best interests in mind."
"Lazarus," Alexander began. "It wasn't my intention to initially insult you. To be honest, growing up, I had to eat these things, but I can understand how gross it was to Corina. Nobody would have been upset if she didn't. In fact, the king would have most likely ate it himself anyway."
"It still feels like an insult," Lazarus muttered. "I can't accept Corina marrying a man who easily says untrue things about her family. We share the same blood."
Alexander sighed. "It's of your choosing to accept the apology or not."
"Why don't we fight it out?" Lazarus suggested with a smirk. "A duel? If you win, I could see your worth."
"Really?" Alexander groaned. "All of this over a baby octopus?"
"It's not about that!" Lazarus protested.
"Lazzy..." Corina puffed out her cheeks.
Lazarus poked her puffed-out cheek and watched it deflate. It was a reaction she always had since they were small children, so he always felt the need to poke it when she pouted.
"Unless you're a coward," he added.
Alexander couldn't believe the young prince wanted to fight him. "You're greatly underestimating my abilities," Alexander warned. "I'm sure you've heard of my father's deeds. They're not untrue. That ruthlessness in battle runs through our blood."
"Stupendous," Lazarus smirked. "The only true fact is that you're a coward. He pointed out, "Look at you. You're too much of a pretty boy. Like you could really fight. I'm sure you'd cower in fear before getting your hands dirty."
Corina frowned and stood between the two men. She placed her hands firmly on her waist and glared at her brother. "Stop it. Now. There's no point in this! You seemed pleased for me. What's with this sudden change in attitude?"
Nadine moved to stand at Corina's side. She sighed, then looked to the prince. "Seriously. His grace meant no harm to you."
"I'm not going to fight you," Alexander insisted. "Try to come at me if you'd like, but it won't happen."
"I will!" Lazarus nodded. "When you least expect it."
"Okay, whatever," Alexander shook his head in disbelief. "Are you really that jealous about the arrangement between your sister and myself, or did the meal really trigger you so badly?"
Lazarus tilted his head back and glared over the two women in front of him. "You know about Corina," he stated. "At first, I believed that the arrangement would be ideal if she accepted it, but it's possible that you're taking advantage of this information and have a plan to exploit her. What if she ends up being abused by your hands? Who knows what the son of that dirty king has rolled up his sleeves?"
"Lazarus!" Nadine stomped her foot, feeling frustrated with the insults. "That's enough."
"No!" Corina whined. "It's not... like that."
Corina had a worried expression as she stared at her brother's face. What if it were really true? Her mother had kept a secret and lied to her for her entire life, so what would stop a duke from a rival kingdom from pretending to care for her for some sort of gain? What if she, in his eyes, were a political pawn whom he was luring with the promise of love, when he really had a plan to his benefit to discard her?
Why would anyone ever be honest with her? Her own mother used her in some way, so who would stop others from doing so?
Her heart ached as she looked down to the floor. It took everything in her to keep her composure as her brother approached her and embraced her. "I'm sorry, Corina, please don't cry."
Alexander scowled at the young prince. "How dare you say such things on my property and put such ideas in my bride's head? Those are not statements to toss around without giving it a thought!"
Lazarus scowled toward the Duke, then pulled away from Corina. He rushed past Nadine toward Alexander, throwing his arm back to strike a blow to the pretty face of his to teach the man a lesson.
Alexander caught the blonde prince's fist in his palm. He thought if ways he could crush the bone to cause the man agonizing pain, but the sight of the crying princess stopped his action.
The duke suddenly felt angry over the situation. While he had only been mildly annoyed before, he could feel his blood pressure rise and his adrenaline go into overdrive.
If he didn't leave the three of them to regain his composure, he may have made a mistake with Lazarus, which would harm Corina and his own consciousness. It was against his own morals, unlike his family's, to harm others.
It wouldn't be the first time he had done so. He absolutely hated the violent temper that ran through his family and felt ashamed of it. When his father and older brother lost their cool, blood often shed. It was something he had witnessed since he was a small child and was the reason their kingdom was so feared during war.
King George had often told him to never get angry, unless it was to kill, as he'd never be able to control himself.
He didn't believe he was like them. At least, not until that day when he was 15. It was the day that was the biggest regret of his life and the source of his nightmares.
He kept telling himself he wouldn't repeat it as he became more and more angry. Corina's own brother would tell her the man she was to marry was going to betray her. It wasn't the truth, but he didn't know how he couldn't convince her in the moment. He realized, having gone through what she had, her emotions were tender. But who would she believe—a brother who was the only member of the family who truly knew her as a human, or a duke who thought she was a woman but loved and accepted her anyway?
It was too complicated.
"Corina, come see me later, please." To control his impulsive rage, Alexander kept his tone low, muttering it out.
The duke then quickly turned around and stomped away. It had been so long since he had been angry; his palms began to sweat, and his brow twitched as he walked away.
He stormed down the hall. One of his knights attempted to approach him as he made his way to his chambers. He simply snapped his hand out, placing his palm firmly against the man's face, and roughly pushed him aside with all his strength. He could hear the man fall over behind him as he continued moving. Deep down, he felt regret, but something else had risen up in him.
Alexander slammed and locked the door behind him when he finally stepped into his chambers. He went to his bedroom and took his rage out by throwing things at the wall, causing glass to shatter on the floor. As he smashed belongings passed down through the family for centuries, he growled at the top of his lungs.
Even the pain from thrusting his fist straight through a mirror didn't stop his anger.
"I'm a damn monster," he shouted in a mixture of rage and frustration over the uncontrollable emotions.
The duke closed his eyes, fighting to regain control. He took deep, heavy breaths and took a seat on the bed. The shards of glass and the cuts on his right hand were the least of his concern, even though blood began to drip onto the floor from his self-inflicted wound.
Alexander was devastated. He hadn't experienced it since he killed 'them.'
All he wanted was to be kind, gentle, and love the princess who stole his heart, no matter what the circumstances were and to serve the people of Mystic with compassion. If he was capable of being induced with such intense rage again after so many years, would it really be in her best interest to stay with her? How would Corina react if she knew the truth about how enraged he got over a simple misunderstanding in the hallway with an irrational young man.
Alexander knew the princess would hate him if she knew his true nature, as opposed to how gentle, kind, and pure she was.
Frostblooms were always the kindest souls—at least until the cursed blood took over.