Chapter 169

Chapter 169
Sylvia's POV

“I'll respect you this once, for Kent's sake, take your robe and go immediately,”

My lips curved into a seductive smile, and I took slow, calculated steps towards him, even though he was glaring very hard at me; his eyes were literally burning holes into my skin.

“Are you deaf or something? Get the fuck out of here,” he thundered, and I felt the words echo throughout the room, sending chills down my spine. My legs turned to jelly.

My heart beat accelerated, as it pounded loudly against my chest. My throat became dry, and I had to gulp hard. To wet it, my palm itself became sweaty.

It was still the same way I felt months ago, when he rejected my advances.

At least this time, he couldn't remember me. I wasn't going to give up just yet. This has to work or else Jennifer and Usurla would have my head on a stake.

<>

I watched with trembling hands as Jennifer knocked softly on the door. She was smiling.

She had pulled me along with her, and the only thing she told me was that she wanted to make a deal with Usurka, and now was the right time.

Whatever deal it was she wanted to make didn't really bug me, seeing as I was just too tired after the trip, all I needed was rest.

“Come on in,” Usurla announced from the other end.

“Jennifer, Sylvia,” her lips curved into a smile as she saw us. Whether or not it was genuine, I really couldn't tell.

“To what do I owe this visit?” She eyed us suspiciously, taking a sip from the mug in her hand.

“We want to make a deal,”

“We?” She knitted her brows together, “Jennifer, for Pete's sake, this young lady just returned from a tiresome journey, and she needs rest. She has a whole lot ahead of he,r and you know this; you're not allowed to stress this young lady,”.

I stood rooted in my spot while they talked about me like I was some non-living entity that couldn't speak for herself.

It irked me to my core, but I couldn't say a word because I had no right to. They literally owned my life, and they knew it, so they rubbed it in my face at every chance they got.

“Your majesty,” Jennifer feigned a smile, “She'll rest, soon, I promise, let's just get this all straightened out first.”

“Fine, go ahead,” she placed her mug on the table before her. It was then that I got a good look at the room; it was the size of our entire house, and the mansion was huge.

I remembered as a kid when I wished that I were somehow related to the royal family, so I could actually see the interiors of the palace I had been admiring from afar.

“Out with it already, Jennifer,” Usurla snapped, as she caught Jennifer doing exactly what I was doing, looking around the room. One would have thought that after so many years of working in the palace, things like this didn’t move her again, but it sure did

“I don't really have the whole day, and I'm guessing you have work to do as well.”

“Well,” Jennifer cleared her throat, “I remember placing my allegiance to you, but what I don’t remember is you telling me what exactly it is we stand to benefit from this whole saga?”

Queen Usurla adjusted herself and leaned further back into the chair she was seated on.

“There’ll be a lot of benefits, but surely, you must have something in mind, so what is it?”

She inhaled deeply, “Sylvia is the only family I have since my husband passed,” I took a step back, and furrowed my brows.

“What the hell?” My dad was dead, and this was the way I was finding out about it?

How the hell did that even happen?

I glared at her, but she subtly ignored me and went on, “So I won't be comfortable putting her at risk if there wouldn't be any compensation.”

I held my head tightly, as it began spinning.

My father was dead, although he hadn't exactly been the ideal dad; he was still my father, and I felt a great vacuum as I learnt of his loss.

“Can you just spit it out?” Queen Ursula snapped, and I shuddered; my thoughts were divided.

On one hand, I was thinking of my father, and on the other, I was trying to stay focused to see what exactly Jennifer's goal was.

“She’ll help you on the condition that she'll get married to Kent as soon as he ascends the throne,” the words finally tumbled out of her mouth, and I arched my brows in confusion.

What was she even saying?

I'm supposed to get married to Kent? Someone I barely know 

Hell no, this wasn't the life I wanted.

My thoughts were interrupted as Queen Usurla burst out laughing, after staring blankly at Jennifer for a few seconds.

“Didn't that sound stupid to your own ears?” she snorted, in between laughter.

“Are you crazy?” Every trace of a smile on her face instantly disappeared.

I glanced at Jennifer, and she still stood there, as defiant as ever; her facial expression remained the same.

“My son, Kent, got married to her? Hell no, woman, no way's going to happen,”

“You turned her into a slut, who slept with a lot of old men, and who has gotten used to selling out her body to get what she wants, and now you want to do what? Give her off to my baby boy, my kid deserves a queen, and that she's not.” 

I felt like a thousand needles pierced my heart all at once. I really couldn't believe I was the one she was talking about in such a condescending manner.

I didn't even know who to be at, and on the one hand, there was the evil stepmother who only saw me as a means for power grab, and on the other, there was the queen, who only wanted to use me for her political interests.