Chapter 21: In The Rabbit Hole

George's Point of View:

I watched with amusement as Alison stood before me, her eyes flashing with desperation. She was a clever one, I'll give her that. Her words were laced with a subtle persuasion, trying to appeal to my sense of responsibility.

"But you rescued me. I didn't even ask, don't you know the popular saying that once you rescue a person, they become your responsibility, and it's your duty to care, protect and nurture them?" she asked, her voice steady.

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her audacity. She had no idea who I was, no idea that she was speaking to the King himself. I found myself entertained by her boldness, and I decided to play along.

"Go on," I said, my voice softer than before.

Alison took a deep breath and continued, her words dripping with conviction. I listened intently, intrigued by her proposal. She spoke of helping me, of being a valuable asset to me. But I knew she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

As she spoke, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had no idea that she was already in my power, that I was the one who held her fate in my hands. And yet, she dared to try and negotiate with me, to try and turn the tables.

I found myself enjoying the game, enjoying the cat-and-mouse dynamic between us. And so, I decided to keep playing, to see how far she would go.

But then, she said something that caught me off guard. "I can sense that you want to impeach the king," she said, her eyes sparkling with conviction. "Don't worry, I will help you."

I felt a surge of anger at her words, a sense of indignation. How dare she? I was the King, and she was just a prisoner. And yet, I found myself intrigued by her boldness, by her willingness to take risks.

I took a step forward, my eyes locked on hers. "How dare you!" I thundered, my voice echoing off the walls. "You think you can just waltz in here and insult me? You're just a prisoner, nobody. You have no right to speak to me like that."

But even as I spoke, I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Alison's bravery. She was a worthy opponent, and I found myself looking forward to our next encounter.

And then, I dropped the bombshell. "You're also quite... misinformed," I said, a hint of amusement dancing in my eyes. "You see, I am not the king's grandchild. I am the king."

I watched with satisfaction as Alison's eyes widened in shock, as she took a step back, trying to process this new information, and that moment felt iconic. I loved the way I made her speechless.

The satisfaction of rendering Alison speechless was a sweet one indeed. I savored the moment, enjoying the way her eyes widened in shock and her mouth hung open in stunned silence. It was a fleeting moment of triumph, but one that I relished nonetheless. She had been the one doing the talking, showing her boldness, which I admired, but now, it was my time to relish her shock.

As I gazed at Alison, I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at her audacity. She had walked into my throne room, unaware of my true identity, and proceeded to try and negotiate with me how to kill me. Imagine telling the king you would help dethrone him. It was almost... cute.

But beneath my amusement, I was also intrigued. Alison was a puzzle, a complex and fascinating individual who seemed to be hiding secrets beneath her surface. And I, for one, was determined to uncover them.

"So, now that we've cleared up that little misunderstanding," I said, my voice dripping with amusement, "tell me... what makes you think you can help me, Alison?”

I happily watched Alison stammer, unsure of how to reply to me.

I leaned back, steepling my fingers together as I awaited Alison's response. My eyes never left hers, and I could sense her mind racing as she tried to process the revelation that I was, in fact, the King.

I could see the wheels turning in her head, as she tried to come up with a response that would salvage the situation. But I was ready for her. I had been playing this game of cat and mouse with her for a while now, and I was determined to come out on top.

As I waited for her response, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was going to be fun. Alison was a worthy opponent, and I was eager to see what she would come up with next. Sitonsia looked like she wanted to come to her rescue, but Dido held her back.

"So, Alison," I said, my voice dripping with amusement. "Tell me... what makes you think you can help me?" I leaned forward, as I asked again, my eyes locked on hers, as I awaited her response.

“I, Your Majesty, I think. No, I believe that… that…” Alison stuttered, her eyes silently begging me. She was seated on the floor, because the maids had dragged her.

I chuckled to myself, enjoying the sight of Alison stuttering and struggling to find the right words. It was a far cry from the confident and bold individual who had insulted me when I walked into the room.

"Take your time, Alison," I said, my voice dripping with amusement. "I'm in no hurry. But do try to be more... coherent. Your Majesty, you think... what, exactly?"