Chapter 21 The Feast of Allegiance
"Sienna, do you even hear what you're saying?" Harvey's voice sounded loud and clear as it broke the hush in the big hall. The feast was only a few hours away, and she could feel the weight of the night on her shoulders like a thousand unseen hands. As she looked at herself in the full-length mirror, the weight of the crown, the whispers of her bloodline, and the ancient curse all made her feel like she couldn't breathe. "I have to smile, Harvey," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper, but her words were full with poison. "I have to smile in front of everyone in the city."
They cheer for me, their new queen. But on the inside... She gazed down, and her breath shook. "I'm planning murder inside." For a moment, Harvey didn't say anything. His boots clicked lightly on the smooth stone flooring of the palace as he got closer. His eyes were heavy with worry, yet there was something more there, something deeper, a connection between them.
"Hey, you know it's not just about them, right?" Harvey spoke softly yet firmly. "You aren't just acting tonight. You're taking over for your mom. This feast is a statement. You're going into something that no one is ready for." Sienna could feel his eyes on her, and the weight of his presence was both reassuring and scary. She wasn't sure if she felt better or if his remarks had just made her realize how much she didn't want this.
"But I didn't ask for this," she said quietly, her fingers curling around the edges of her silk robe. It was a deep, dark blue that went well with the color of her eyes. It was the ideal contrast to the gold crown that rested lightly on her head. She looked like a queen, but inside she felt like a stranger in her own skin.
"You don't have to deal with this by yourself." The look in her eyes softened. He was the only person she could trust anymore, her only real friend. But the title's weight and the power she suddenly had seemed like a heavy cloak she couldn't wear. But they don't realize that I'm already planning how to bring them down. As soon as Sienna stepped into the big hall, a flood of applause hit her, almost knocking the air out of her lungs. She smiled, but her face was a mask of confidence and grace. The people were up and cheering for their new queen, who would lead them into an uncertain future.
They didn't know it, but the future they were celebrating was not one that Sienna had chosen. Each step was a reminder that she was being pushed into a world she didn't really understand. "Queen Sienna," Lord Varris said loudly as he bent low in front of her. He was the one who had planned this feast and made sure she got to the top. He was also the one who didn't know how much trouble she was in. She tilted her head slightly to show she understood, but her grin stayed the same and her eyes were chilly. He couldn't see it yet. No one could.
"Lord Varris," she murmured. Her voice was soft like silk, yet it had a keen edge that only people who really knew her would have noticed. "You've done a great job." The meal is amazing. He smiled because he was happy with the praise. "I simply want to serve you, my queen." You have tonight, and with it, the prospect of a future under your dominion. A future with her in charge. The words felt empty, like they were bouncing about in her empty heart. She didn't come here to lead them; she came here to kill them. Every grin, bow, and statement was a part of the act, a way to cover what she really wanted to do. Sienna's eyes fell on the big table where the nobility had already assembled as she walked down the corridor.
The beautiful, warm light from the golden chandeliers above made the air feel thick and heavy with expectation. When she saw the council members' faces, her heart raced. Everyone was watching her, their eyes full of avarice, calculating, and, most importantly, hunger. They had no notion who they were up against. They assumed she was their puppet, but they didn't know that she had already cut the strings. "Please, my queen," Lord Malcus, the eldest member of the council, remarked in a voice full of respect. He was one of the most powerful men in the kingdom, and his money was almost as big as his position.
"We've been looking forward to this moment. Your rule will bring about a new age for all of us. Sienna's fingers tightened on the wine glass in front of her. The red liquid swirled in the glass like blood. The wine was sweet, rich, and old, but it tasted bad in her mouth. "I'm sure it will be," she said with a smile, but the words were empty and lifeless. The night was a flurry of talking, toasting, and pretending to be nice. She was a master of diplomacy, able to look engaged while covertly planning her next move.
The masked person stood tall, dressed in black, with only his eyes showing. He seemed cold, calculating, and weird, like he was from another world. He walked like a predator, and even though he was wearing heavy clothes, his steps were silent. The crowd moved aside, not sure if they should bow or stand in awe. One of the nobility whispered, "The First Queen's servant," but Sienna's acute ears heard every word. She stood up straight and narrowed her eyes as the stranger steadily walked near her. The masked figure replied in a quiet, smooth voice, "Her Heir." The remarks sent a wave of shock and recognition across the gathering. Sienna's heart stopped for a second. Her Heir, the identical phrases that were in her mother's journal. She didn't know how to feel.
She didn't know who this person was or why he was there, but she couldn't deny how powerful his comments were. It was a challenge, a declaration that shook her to her core. Harvey stood next to her with his hand on the hilt of his sword, but he didn't say anything. The mood in the room had changed, and everyone was watching her, waiting to see what she would do next.
. The masked man bowed his head a little, as if to show respect, but he never took his eyes off of hers. His eyes had a predatory look about them, like they were dark and old. Sienna's heart raced. She couldn't let him know how scared she was. She couldn't let anyone know how much she was falling apart within. She took a short breath and stood up. Her dress rustled around her as she stepped forward. She looked the disguised figure in the eye and spoke in a firm, commanding voice.
"Who are you to say those things?" she questioned, her voice cutting through the silence like a dagger. The person cocked his head a little, as if he were amused. "I serve the First Queen, who is also my queen." And I'm here to remind you of who you really are.