Chapter 14 CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ZADE
(Shadowfen Kingdom)
"The Prince has returned!" The announcer's voice booming voice echoed through the grand hall as I stepped into the throne room. Immediately my step mother, Queen Seraphina, a vision in emerald silk rose from her throne, her arms already spread wide.
"My son!" She practically yelled, her face lighting up as she rushed towards me, her usual royal decorum abandoned for a moment. She enveloped me in a tight embrace, her soft hand stroking my back. "Welcome back!"
I chuckled softly, the familiar comfort and warmth of her embrace felt more welcoming than the grand entrance. I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing gently. She pulled back after a moment, her eyes shining with unshed tears, and pecked my cheek. "You're home, Zade. Safe and sound, Thank the gods."
"It's been a long journey." I said and looked up at my father, King Andreas, who remained seated on his throne with a stern unreadable expression on his face.
I moved away from my stepmother and walked closer to my father's throne and bowed. "Father."
"Welcome back, son." He said, his voice was a deep rumble that reverberated in the vast throne room. No hugs from him, of course. Just that typical kingly reserve. Not that I expected anything more.
"It's good to be back, Father," I said as I straightened up and turned back to Seraphina then back to my father. "We have alot to discuss, but first, I need a bath and something to eat. I feel like I've been riding through a sandstorm for a week."
"Of course, my dear." I heard Seraphina say. "See to Prince Zade's immediately."
I turned to see maids and servants swarming forward, ready to assist. I nodded curtly and left the throne room, outside, Cyrus and the rest of my guards waited. I stopped and turned to them. "You all may retire now."
They didn't waste a second before they left, disappearing into the guards quarters, however Cyrus remained standing.
"Cyrus?"
"Sire?" He replied.
"You may also leave. You have had a long day,"
"I'm alright,"
"That's an order," I pressed. "I'm not taking no for an answer."
He deserved a break atleast.
He sighed and nodded. "Thank you sire." He said, bowed and hurried off. I smiled as I watched him leave then nodded to the other maids. "Let's go."
My mind reeled back to Rosalinda. The thought of leaving her behind gnawed at me but I knew it was only for a moment. Soon, we would be married, and she will be mine...forever.
And whatever seems to be holding her back, I'll get rid of it.
No matter what it is or what it takes.
\-
Later that afternoon, even after having a whole feast to myself, my parents insisted I joined them for lunch. The silence was broken only by the clicking of silverware against porcelain. My father's presence was always heavy, it felt suffocating but I was used to it.
"How were things with the princess?" He finally broke the silence, his voice devoid of any real curiosity.
"Wonderful," I said, a warm smile touching my lips as I raised my head. I reached out for a linen napkin and wiped my mouth. "We plan to proceed and get married as soon as possible." I added, leaning back in my chair, watching their reactions.
My parents eyes widened in geninue shock, a rare sight. Seraphina let out a small gasp. "You both actually worked things out?"
I scoffed as I leaned further back. "Apparently, your adviser was wrong, Father. Princess Rosalinda is far more than wonderful, far different from what I imagined or expected, and better than any woman I've come across. She's more than fit to be my queen, unlike the Princess he recommended, Princess Silvia, who only cared about her nails, hair and worldly things,"
The subtle jab at his long winded, perpetually pessimistic advisor, Lord Volkov felt good. Volkov had painted Rosalinda as a spoiled, flighty, easily manipulated Princess. He couldn't have been more wrong.
And I couldn't have been more right to check her out myself before agreeing to take Silva as my bride.
"Well, that sounds reassuring," my father said, still processing my words. "But I heard that Prince Valerius is currently residing in her palace...and that she pleaded he stayed,"
My gaze slowly flickered to one of my guards who stood by the doorway. I knew my father personally assigned specific men to me, not just for protection, but to report on my activities. Fuck, of course, he'd know about that.
That was something I wished he hadn't known. It was complicated, and I didn't want to explain it, especially not with his old grudges.
"Yes," I confirmed, my voice flat, my jaw tightening. "The Prince was attacked and sought refuge in the princess's land."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Seraphina exclaimed, her hand flying up. "Valerius is-"
"Dangerous, yes," I cut her off. "But King Theron and Queen Arabella will take no part or believe his lies. They are only assisting-"
"Assisting the son of a tyrant?!" My father boomed, he slammed his hand on the table, making the silverware jump. His face usually so impassive, was now flushed with anger.
"Father-" My jaw clenched so tight I thought it might crack. "Don't. What happened in the past is the past. Don't drag any of us into it. Rosalinda's father is not his father and mind you, he had also suffered a great loss caused by Valerius's father, King Aaron."
"Dear, I think you shouldn't-" Seraphina began but she kept shut when I glared at her.
"Don't," I warned. "I'll get married to Rosalinda. Whatever issues you have with that, it's not my problem."
"You will not talk to me or your mother that way!" My father roared, pushing back from the table, his eyes blazing with fury.
"I always respect your wishes and obey whatever you both wanted," I retorted as I stood up, glaring back at him. "But this? Concerning my marriage to Rosalinda? Your opinion doesn't count. Not on this, I've chosen her and I'll have her." With that, I spun on my heel and stormed off, ignoring their angry calls echoing behind me.
I went directly to the palace gardens, needing fresh air, needing to escape the suffocating walls of expectation and old hatreds.
Rosalinda was right.
Our parents will forever try to rule us and it had made me weak.
I can't rule like this.
Not with a weak mind like this.
Which is why I need her, not just because I have strong feelings for her but because she's exactly the iron fist I need to rule.
I pulled out a cigarette, my hand shaking slightly as I lit it, inhaling deeply letting the acrid smoke fill my lungs. I leaned against the rough bark of an old tree. That's when my eyes caught the glimpse of a shadow. I strained my eyes only to see Cyrus standing by the lake, his back to me.
"Cyrus?"
His shoulder tensed, a ripple of surprise, but he quickly relaxed as he turned to face me, his expression reverting back to his usual respectful blankness. "Sire." He bowed.
"Don't-" I waved a hand dismissively, the cigarette clutched between my fingers.
He arched a brow as he looked up. I sighed, my anger slowly draining now replaced by weary resignation. I walked closer and sank down onto the grass next to him. "For a moment, don't act like I'm the Prince. It's suffocating."
He chuckled softly, a rare sound from him and sound down beside me, his posture still more rigid than mine. "Is this one of those times you ask me to act normal around you?"
I took another drag from my cigarette, the fiery tip glowing in the twilight. "Yes."
He shrugged then held out a hand. "Pass me one then,"
"Don't push it," I said, but still passed him the pack of cigarettes and my lighter. He muttered thanks, lit it and exhaled slowly, a plume of smoke curling into the evening air.
"You actyally do need friends," he snickered making me punch his arm.
"Says the statue,"
His smile flattened for a moment, he took another drag and exhaled. "I'm better than you atleast."
"Well," I shrugged. "I can't say you're lying. You have freedom to do whatever you want, I don't. And each time I try, it doesn't end well."
"It's not what you think it is..."
I turned to face him. "But you choose to be my guard, Cyrus, you could have been anything else, you had that choice. People like I...People like Rosalinda and I...in order to be happy, we have to suffer alot."
He said nothing and just looked down at his feet. We both sat there in silence, smoking while staring at the sky watching the last vestiges of daylight fade into hues of deep purple and orange.
"This seems like some bro cringy romance shit," I chuckled, breaking the silence.
"What?!" Cyrus bellowed, a hearty unrestrained sound that shocked me. He was usually stoic, but tonight he seemed different.
I rolled my shoulders in a shrug. "I'm just saying...it's too cheesy,"
"You asked for it," he retorted.
"Yeah I know."
Once again silence took over, and this time I broke it again. "Seriously though, Cyrus. About what I said.. You choosing to be whatever you wanted, why did you pick to be a guard? You saving my life years ago you could have taken any reward and left...why did you stay? What's your story?"
His jaw tightened, but he didn't look away from the lake. "Doesn't matter,"
"It does," I replied. "You seem to carry alot...I know it's crazy...but I feel like you're the only friend I have,"
"You're getting married soon-"
"It's not the same," I cut him off. "I love Rosalinda, yes. But you're like a brother to me, which is weird since you're so uptight but...I trust you, and not just because you saved my life."
He let out a deep breath. "I was born a slave. That's pretty much the beginning and end of my story until-"
"Until what?" I leaned in, now curious than ever, intrigued by the honesty and vulnerability in his voice.
"Until a girl," he smiled softly as he seemed to remember his past. "We were just kids, barely old enough to know the difference between freedom and chains. But I knew what love was. With her atleast," his voice was softer than I'd ever heard it.
"What happened?" I asked as he suddenly stopped.
His face shuttered, the brief vulnerability was now gone, replaced by a cold expression. "She died. Years ago."
"I-im so sorry." I mumbled as I leaned back.
"Don't," he shook his head. "It's better. She's better off without me, without the life I was doomed to,"
I frowned, not entirely understanding his point. "Better off? If she was alive, if you loved her, wouldn't you stay and fight for her? Wouldn't you want to be together with her?"
I couldn't help but think about Rosalinda. If anything was to happen to her- I don't think I'll remain sane.
He looked at me, then looked back at the sky. "No, Zade. Even if she'd lived. Our worlds would have never allowed it. A slave and a lady aren't meant to be together, ever. Some lines just can't be crossed, No matter how much you want it to, and that's why one of us has to remain dead for the other to move on."
I looked away, then took a long drag from my cigarette. "Despite what you said. It doesn't seem like you have moved on."
He stayed silent for a while, then spoke up. "Because I haven't."