Chapter Twelve —I will be king

Chapter Twelve —I will be king

“And what would that be my lord”

“One day, my lady, I will ask for something. And when I do…”
His smirk widened.
“…you won’t refuse. That is the favor.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

A future promise.
A silent chain. More shackles in this golden cage that I was in.
Far more dangerous than anything he could ask for now.

I slowly turned my head toward him. “Does this favor… have anything to do with you telling the king to marry me?” I whispered.

Adrian paused. Oh did the king tell you that, I guess he has become fond of his beautiful Luna.

For a moment, the smirk disappeared.
Then it returned. I hated that smirk far more than I hated his fake smiles, he smirked like that when his evil plans went well, he smirked like that when he killed me.

“ Well yes,” he said . “Partly. I see something in you, Annabelle. Something I’m not entirely sure of yet.” He pulled back, voice dropping even lower.
“But when I am sure… that favor will matter.”

And with that, he walked away, following the king, humming and unbothered, as if he hadn’t just tied a rope around my future.

\-

“Untie Abel,” I ordered the guards. My voice was serious, queen-like.

They hesitated for only a second before obeying.

Abel groaned as the ropes loosened, rubbing his wrists it was way too tight . He looked at me, confusion and hurt in his eyes. Hurt was one emotion that never left his eyes all because of me.

“My lady… why am I here? Why did the king”

“Abel,” I cut in gently, “go clean up first. Eat something. Rest. We will talk later.”

He opened his mouth to question more, then stopped, nodded once, and was led out by a guard.

….
Third person pov

Adrian walked into the king’s private chamber after leaving the throne room . The king was removing his outer robe, preparing to freshen up before leaving for the lower fortress.

“How does she seem to you brother?” the king asked without looking up. “Do you think she is lying?”

Adrian lowered his head respectfully, his mask slipping back on.
“She is telling the truth, brother . About Abel. About everything.”

The king relieved his shoulders.
“I knew it. I knew she wasn’t that type of woman. Still… hearing those rumors… and how strange she has been acting since yesterday made me wonder if it was perhaps she missed her old lover” He shook his head. “Good. Good. I’m glad she was honest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Adrian said smoothly.

“Your majesty, Adrian please we're brothers and you know how much I look up to you, we might not have the same mothers, but the same blood runs through our veins, without you I wouldn't know what to do.

Adrian laughed but nothing was funny” ah yes my brother, I'm sorry for being so formal.

“I’ll go wash up. Prepare the guards. We leave soon.”

The king left through the far door,

The moment the door clicked shut…
Adrian’s face changed completely.

The fake politeness vanished. His expression that once looked like genuine love turned into cold hatred.

“What a fool,” he muttered under his breath. “Still so easy to manipulate.”

He slowly walked across the room, going nowhere in particular.

“If Father had married my mother… I would be king. Not him. Not an idiot who clings to his brother’s shadow. He can't even do anything without me or the elders yet they made him king, just because his mom was a luna. L”

His eyes gleamed, dark, ambitious “how ridiculous”.

“No matter. I always get what I want eventually.”

He turned toward the exit.

“I will be king,” he whispered to himself,
“Sooner or later.”

And with that declaration hanging in the air, Adrian left the chamber—ready to play the next move in a game only he understood.

\~~~~~

I thought I was fine but Tiana insisted of helping me apply some make up and accessories before I go, I didn't think there was any need to, but she kept insisting.

“You used to love jewelry my lady, if you change now, they would surely know something had changed about you.

She adjusted the final pin in my hair before stepping back.

“My lady… be careful down there,” she whispered.

“I will.”
“My lady” , did the king love you in your past life? I was stunned at the question.

“Why do you ask?”

She sat down beside me, “ because of the way he looked at you today, how angry he was because of Abel, he looked jealous, it made me wonder if he did anything to stop you from being killed before.

“ No he didn't not even a little bit, and he still doesn't, he was perhaps angry about what the elders would say if they found out a Luna was cheating on him, he probably just wanted to keep me here for himself even if he didn't care about me”

I blamed him for twisting my life and I hadn't forgiven him for that yet, I didn't want to . So it was better I stopped myself from fantasizing about what I already knew was impossible.

I drew in a slow breath and stepped out into the hallway.

Guards formed two perfect lines, Adrian stood with them, as calm as if the world wasn’t shifting under all our feet. The king was waiting at the end of the corridor, now calm and back to his usual state.

“Annabelle,” he said simply.

“Your Majesty.”

He motioned for me to walk beside him. I did.

The castle doors opened, and cold morning air swept past us as we stepped outside.

A carriage waited, black, reinforced with iron, pulled by massive horses. The emblem of the royal crescent gleamed on the side. The dungeon was at the lower end of the large palace. We didn't really need a carriage but, of course.

Even the journey to the lower fortress had to be intimidating.

The king entered first. I followed. Adrian boarded last, taking the seat directly across from me, his was fixed on everything… especially the king.

The ride was silent at first, except for the rumble of wheels on stone.

Then the king finally spoke.

“Annabelle,” he said without looking up, “there are things I need you to understand before we arrive.

“The alchemist has been kept isolated for months,” he continued. “He asked to speak only to me.” Then his eyes slid to mine. “But at dawn he suddenly demanded to see you.”

A chill spread down my spine.

Why me?

In my past life, the alchemist had never asked for me until after everything had collapsed and I was thrown into the dungeon. Is this… a new thread? A new consequence of my rebirth?

The king watched me closely now.

“Did you ever meet this man before?” he asked. “Even once?”

I shook my head. “No, Your Majesty.”

He studied my face, searching for lies. When he finally nodded, I breathed again.

“Good,” he murmured. “Stay behind me when we enter. You do not speak unless spoken to. The man is unstable and unpredictable.”

Adrian leaned forward slightly, a knowing smirk in his eyes.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’ll ensure she stays safe.”

The king nodded looking pleased, I felt humor on the irony of what his just said,
The one who ended my life before was the one vowing to protect me