The Mutiny

The Mutiny
Emilia's POV

Aaron stopped before me, planting himself in my way as I strolled towards the throne room’s exit. Harrieta stood with him, her lashes flipping as she eyed me, grunting and cussing under her breath.
“What is in that letter that you gave to the Lords that had them vote for you, Emilia?” Aaron demanded, his voice cold and hard, just like his expression.
I nudged my jaw up to the lords, who were now marching out of the throne room in a silent procession. “Why not go ask them!” I answered. I tried to move past him, but he shifted, blocking my path with his body again.
“Well, I am asking you.” He demanded again. His eyes could as well be a furnace. They scorched my face.
I could see he was about to start trouble. I turned back to Headmaid Alice and my retinue, and I nudged my jaw forward. It was a call for them to leave, and Headmaid Alice understood just fine, and she led the crew away from us.
She glanced back at me, her brows furrowed, eyes lingering on me. I forced her a smile to assure her that everything was fine, and she strolled out of the throne room with the maids.
“I showed the men that I had their darkest secrets on my palm, and for probably the first time in their lives, I got the greedy bastards to do what's right.” I said. I see no reason not to rub my win in his face. There was nothing he could do about it now.
“By threatening them.” Harrietta demanded, her voice equally sharp.
“You guys were playing dirty. I saw no reason why I shouldn't too.” I gave them a wide grin, and I bumped past Aaron to leave. “Goodbye,” I said.
But his fingers folded on my arm, dragging me back. “Who told you you can leave yet?” The heat in his eyes still hadn't dropped a shade lower. But I couldn't give a damn about that.
“I told myself. Because I am your duchess and your regent now.” I answered, and I jerked my arm out of his grip.
He bounced forward now, throwing his body with subtle menace as if that should scare me, his eyes heated up on me. He stood almost an inch from me.
I swallowed hard, but I raised my head high, tilting my chin up at him. “You might want to stay away from me, Aaron.” I said, making myself sound tough and firm, despite the rough beating of my heart.
For some reason, something scared me. The look in his eyes said he was planning something. He looked right into my eyes, a cruel, evil twist to his lips. “You are not regent, Emilia. You are still nothing. As far as I know, the seal to control the army is still in our hands. Until we release it to you, you are still…”
“And which you will release immediately by the order of the Senate.” I cut him short right there.
The cruel twist of his lips tightened, the heat in his eyes dropping to fuel his evil grin. “And which I won't release. Just prepare to have your palace bombarded. Prepare for a mutiny. I have wished to postpone you and your husband's death, but since you want to bring your deaths closer, who am I to object?” He said.
Cold shivers washed through me at his words, my fingers tightening around my skirt, yet I didn't let the pride in my raised neck and tilted chin drop a bit. Though he wasn't wrong. He could choose not to release the army and instead proceed with a mutiny, and since the army still obeyed him, we would be defenseless, but I wouldn't let him believe I was afraid of him. Never. I wouldn't grovel at his feet for mercy. The game was over once I did that.
“You have to follow the order of the Senate, Aaron. You can't disobey their orders and…”
“I can,” he shut me up. “And I will,” he added, then he turned around, striding fast for the door, Harrieta marching right after him.
“You can't do that, Aaron. It is against the law of the land!” I screamed after him, hoping to talk him out of his stupid plan, but he didn't stop. He didn't. He just kept on, each footstep tugging at my heart, making it thrash wildly beneath my chest.
An ominous tune beat in my ears as I followed his disappearing frame as he marched out of the throne room with his shoulders raised high and wide, his steps heavy.
Was he that crazy for Sebastian's throne that he would kill us through a mutiny to get it? Was he that power hungry to kill his sister and her husband for his cause? The questions gnawed at my stomach. But I knew the answer? I had seen it in his eyes, seen it in his expression. The bastard could do it. He could carry out his threat.
My knees buckled under me, and I was knocked forward by the cold tremors that claimed my veins, and I almost collapsed to the floor. But I held myself back, holding tight to my chest to calm my racing heartbeat.
I shouldn't let him make me scared. I shouldn't give up. I just had to get help. I can't do this alone anymore. And I think I know who can help me or perhaps who might. With a plan in mind, I forced my head back up and proud, and I took a deep, long breath to calm the turmoil in me, and then I strode out of the throne room to get Headmaid Alice. She has to get Brian here immediately. He was the only one I could think of to help right now.