Charlotte
The days had passed quietly, let George take the lead and talk to King Octavian about the war so that he wouldn't suspect anything or raise any questions of treason.
Questions of treason again kept me away from the king while I tried to collect the dragon's blood.
Time was running out and despite my proximity to the great beast there seemed to be no other way but to drive the dagger into its skin in one fell swoop.
"What are you doing?" George asked as he approached. He stroked the dragon, which seemed happy to feel his touch, and looked at me.
"I'm talking to him"
"You've never been this close to a dragon," said George.
"I feel good around him, in the castle there doesn't seem to be much for me"
George smiled at my words and approached me, kissing my forehead.
"Let's go in, it's going to rain soon," he said and I nodded and went in.
It was just lunch and I was avoiding the eyes of Octavian on the other side of the table, two tables away from me.
Camila sat down at my table, she raised her glass to me and I did the same with a discreet smile on my face.
"Looks like you've made a friend," said George, "I'm glad to see you getting on well with another woman."
"What do you mean?" I looked at him.
"At Torrem Castle you don't have any friends."
"What are you talking about George, I have five friends"
"You told me yourself that they weren't your friends, just women who flatter you"
George was right, I didn't have any friends, from duchesses to viscountesses, everyone who approached me was only to ask for favors, to be noticed, they never told the truth and always
I felt I couldn't trust anyone, perhaps that was why I had become so attached to George.
I put him at the center of everything, after all, his feelings seemed pure. But that wasn't enough, maybe I was born to be alone and to insist on anything beyond that
would be going against my nature because I was born to be great.
"They're fake," I admitted. Camila doesn't seem to be"
Camila really didn't mean well, and she showed it right away, which made her seem like someone I could trust for her sincerity.
"Just be careful when you approach her, she's one of the king's witches" George looked around the room and pointed with his head to the corner of the king's table "That's Raila, the second witch".
I looked at Raila, I'd seen her before, I just hadn't been introduced to her. Perhaps Octavian wanted maximum description and didn't need two, perhaps only one was qualified to use black magic.
to use black magic.
"She's weaker," I said.
"No, she's stronger!" George said, staring at me. "She's from the Alencar lineage, they're the most powerful wizards who can see the future."
I shook my head slowly, trying not to look so interested in that witch whose hair looked like it had been made by a man.
"What's so special about her?"
George shrugged, but seemed amused as he told me about the witches:
"I've been to many lands, so I know a bit about the witches, the three lineages.
The three lineages are divided into the past, who are the Monteiros, the present, who are the Nirvas, and the future, who are the Alencar, each in a lineage. This witch is the future, she has important visions about what is yet to happen."
I looked at the witch.
"If she knows what's going to happen, I want to talk to her about the war."
"It's not that simple, she doesn't control what she sees and what she doesn't see, if she knew something about the war I think King Octavian would already know"
I looked at Octavian who was laughing and running around in an exaggerated way on the other side of the hall, it was Raila who had told him about me and my arrival, now I understood his words when he
said that his witch had predicted my arrival two days ago, it was her.
Even so, the witch seemed to keep her distance from everyone and everything, unlike the other who always appeared close to the king.
I continued to stare at Raila, intrigued by her, and George yawned.
"I think I'll lie down"
George got up and I got up with him, still maintaining the good-wife line:
"I'll walk with you"
He nodded and we walked down the corridor. I noticed that George was yawning more and more on the way to the bedroom.
"I don't sleep in the afternoon, but I think I need a nap, I'm tired"
"Get some rest George, you've been working hard these days" I said, approaching him. George lay down on the bed without taking off his shoes, I looked at his feet and resisted the impulse
Before starting an argument, I touched his foot in disgust, but I still took off his shoes, hating the gesture and wanting to break up with him.
"I'm sorry I didn't pay attention to you Charlotte, I know you're trying hard, I just need to rest for a while," he said, rubbing his face.
What did he think I wanted? Sex? I held in my laughter and threw his shoe on the floor anyway, crossing my arms in annoyance.
"Don't worry, darling, we'll have all the time in the world to spend together"
George smiled.
"Don't think I've forgiven you, Charlotte, your betrayal is still hard for me," he said, closing his eyes completely.
I rolled my eyes and hurried off in search of King Octavian, taking advantage of the little time I had while George was asleep.
Walking slowly around the corner of the hall wall, I focused my eyes on King Octavian until he saw me. He looked away, answering one of the lords beside him, and a minute later he stood up.
"I don't have much time, George is asleep"
"I doubt very much that your husband will wake up today with the amount of drugs I've put in his food"
"You drugged George?" I asked in surprise.
"It's a harmless drug, it just makes you sleep a little" he said calmly, then he moved closer to me and made my body stiff "I did it because of you Charlotte"
"Because of me?" I asked him.
"Yes, you're running out of time, you have to collect the dragon's blood today!" He said, looking into my eyes. "The dragon is in the field, outside the castle I'll send my witches to go with you."
"They wouldn't be able to defend me if something happened"
"I'd be surprised what they can do" Maybe it was his firm voice or the desperation of knowing that he was running out of time, but I shook my head in agreement, turned around and he grabbed my arm "I'm doing a lot for you Charlotte, I wanted to know what your level of commitment to me is"
"We'll take over the world together Octavian, we'll have our revenge"
"Then you will seal this pact with me!"
I stared into his eyes without understanding what he wanted from me.
"How?"
"You're going to marry me," he said in a firm voice. "You know that George has to be taken out of the equation."
I swallowed my own saliva, feeling my heart about to leap out of my mouth.
"You want to be the new king of Torrem"
He nodded.
"Will we rule the world together or will you be alone in this war?" he said in a firm voice, I nodded and he smiled and let go of my arm, which was already aching. He came closer and kissed my forehead tenderly. "The world kisses your feet, darling."