The Changeling Queen

Chapter Eleven

"What the Hell do you think you're doing?" I shout as I cover my chest with my hands. Despite knowing that the canopy around my bed is shielding me from his view, I don't want to have that arrogant asshole even cathc a glimpse of me. It doesn't matter if this is my real body or not. I don't want him to see me like this no matter whose body I'm in.

"Here," Kane says in a soft voice as he pulls my dress back over my head.

I quickly slide my arms through the holes, adjusting it so I was as covered as I could be in this underdress. "Stay right there," I whisper as I kiss his lips before getting off of him. "I'll repeat myself. What the Hell do you think you're doing? I ought to call for my guards to escort you from the castle at this rate."

Prince Claudius looks down at his feet, a light flush touching his face. Is he blushing? Really? What did he expect he would find bursting into someone's bedroom in the middle of the night?

After a moment, he clears his throat and straightens his posture so we're face to face. "I need to speak to you about the treaties you'll be throwing away by releasing your servants."

"So, instead of waiting until the morning when you will most likely be joining me and my daughter for breakfast, you decide to not only knock on my door in hopes of speaking to me, but when I choose not to answer, you burst in, demanding that I speak to you?" I ask in an irritated voice, folding my arms over my chest.

"It is vidal that I speak to you about this before you do anything rash," he insists, taking a step towards me. "I want to make sure that my future wife's land flourishes, and this Kingdom will be unable to if you cast aside all of it's allies."

Before I can think of a response, the words begin pouring from my mouth. It must be another cut scene.

"Do you really believe that treaties will be broken because I give men a choice in how they serve me?" I ask in a cold, low voice. "These treaties and indentured servant contracts are not even mine. I, out of good will and affection for my late husband, decided to keep these contracts in place. Few of them suit me anymore, and I am not forcing a single person to leave my service, nor am I breaking any contracts by amending them. I am simply using them in a way that better benefits me. Who do you think will fight for me, and my land, until their last breath with no hesitation? A man who is held in high regard, who knows that he will not be replaced if he makes the call to retreat as he is so well known and respected, or a man who knows that not only his livelihood, and that of his entire family, rests on his shoulders and if he makes but one mistake, he could potentionally lose it all?"

Prince Claudius stares at me with his mouth set in a hard, angry line, before he hisses through clentched teeth, "So, this is just another tactic to grow your army?"

I walk towards him, running my fingers along his jaw, his stubble pricking my fingers. "Oh no, Prince Claudius. I won't be forcing anyone to join my armed forced, either. There are other uses for them as well. Did you know that one of the men my dear, sweet, late husband blackmailed into signing a contract with him for the betterment of his family, was once the greatest blacksmith in the neighboring Kingdom of Sal? Of course, he thought that by making this poor man join that the Kingdom would fall, which it didn't, but that didn't nullify the contract that they made, so instead of creating the finest swords in all the land, he now sits in his room, praying to his Goddess that I don't call on him to come to my bed. Why would I keep a man like that in my company when I know that I could put him to better use before he leaves in two years? Or what about the captured General that begged my husband to spare his men, which he did, but only after he pledged himself to be my consort? Should I contiune to hold him too, when instead I could have him train my men and let him go home at the end of standard contract, which would show goodwill on my part, and perhaps put the whisperings of Sal starting another war to rest?"

"I was correct, I should have known better. You only see human lives as pawns, and manuplate them to get whatever your blackk heart desires," he sneers, though I feel goosebumps spring up at my touch until he slaps my hand away.

"I would like to remind you that what you are accusing me of is just what your parents are doing to you," I smirk as I tilt my head into one hand, and I support that elbow with my other. "As I have already told you, your parents are using you as a pawn because they want more land. They want more power. All of that aside, they most certainly want me to be on their good side, because they are terrified of another war. I know you don't have the resources to hold off my forces if I were to chose to invade you, and your parents are wise enough to see that if you, the heir to the throne, are betrothed to my dear step-daughter, then I won't make any attempt on your Kingdom, or your life."

This time I see him visibly swallow, and his anxiety is plain on his face. "On my life?"

"Of course," I muse after a moment, since now I have control of my mouth again. "Do you think that your people would take kindly to me ruling your lands if you were still alive?"

Before he can respond, I hear Kane sneeze from my bed. "I'm sorry, Your Highness," he calls out.

Prince Claudius set his jaw, looking down and away from me. "I apologize for interupting you when you have company, Queen Cahya. Please, accept my apologies."

I give a sligth smile. "Good night, Prince Claudius."