A Withered Soul

Chapter Three

Charles POV

I was fuming at the thought of Prince Jaime abusing Annaliese like that. I knew that if I didn’t go straight to the king with this then there could still be a chance of her ending up with him. I would not allow that to happen. I was not going to allow her to marry a man who would potentially murder her. I had already made up my mind that if the King didn’t allow her to leave then I’d have to kill the prince myself.

I neared the Kings office chambers trying to gain a level head. I needed to go in and make sure I made my argument clear. I didn’t want the anger to get the best of me and wind up being kicked out making her go through this process alone. As I reached his door I took a deep breath and gave a sharp knock. A servant opened and took my name and what business I brought to the king today, before shutting the door and scurrying off. A few minutes went by before he came back this time allowing me to walk through the doors.

“He’s in the study. The door to the left of you sir.”

I quickly walked through the doorframe and was met by King Henry’s large frame. He was hunched over a table and seemed to be stressed.

“Your Majesty, I wish to discuss a private matter with you.”

He turned around and gestured for me to sit in a chair beside him.

“Ah, young Charles, it’s always a pleasure to see you.”

He said it as he sat down beside me and smiled. The King was always a kind and smart man, it was hard to believe the Prince was actually his son.

“I wish to take Annaliese out of this event and have her removed as a possible suitor for the Prince.”

He furrowed his eyebrows as I spoke and let out a long grunt.

“Now, what would make you want to do a thing like that? Most would be excited and jumping at the chance for the royal throne. But instead you wish to have your sister taken out of the running. Seems a bit peculiar don’t you think.”

“Prince Jaime has bruised Annalies’ hand when they danced. From the looks of it if he hadn’t let go when he did her hand would be broken. He did this in front of an entire ballroom full of people, now think if he chose her as wife and what he’d do behind closed doors. She’d be dead within a week.”

The king rose from his seat so fast that the chair slammed into the bookshelf behind him causing a couple of books to fall out.

“Now Charles, that is an awful big accusation you just made. Is it possible that she fell while dancing and bruised it that way? I find it hard to believe that Prince Jaime would do that in front of a room full of people. Not to mention he specifically picked out Annaliese to be his suitor. Why would he abuse someone he was so smitten over?”

I was taken aback by his words if Prince Jaime had already picked out Annaliese as his future bride there wouldn’t be many options left for her.

“Then I ask you as a favor to my father, to please let her leave and return back home to me. If you need proof of the abuse we can bring her in here to show you the bruise on her hand.”

“I actually have another idea why don’t we bring Prince Jaime in to tell his side of the story? Jeremy, would you mind going and fetching Prince Jaime from the ball?”

At that time the king picked his chair back up and at down as we waited for the prince to arrive in the study. It felt as though hours had gone by when he finally met with us.

“Father what is the meaning behind this visit?”

The way he carried his body about with so much ego, you would have thought he was king already. The man knew he’d get away with whatever he’d done.

“Please sit for us Jaime, I have a few questions.”

He lazily sat down in a chair slumping his head into his hand.

“Did you or did you not hurt Annaliese during the ball today?”

He scoffed as if it was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard.

“Now why would I hurt such a beautiful creature as Annaliese? I actually intend on making her my wife.”

He winked at me as he said it, he was trying to get a ride out of me now. The King seemed pleased in his answer. I turned toward him this time I would be asking the questions.

“Then could you please explain how her hand got deeply bruised then? She seems to think you had something to do with it, and everyone knows she’s not a liar.”

He laughed at the questions and tilted his head at me.

“Why she fell while we were dancing and got her hand stepped on multiple times, now if you’d excuse me I’d like to get back out to my ball and be done with the silly questions.”

The King seemed happy enough with how the questioning went on and released him to go back to the festivities.

“Now that it’s settled, why don’t you go back to your chambers for the night and decompress. It seems that the Princes mind is made up and we have no other reason to not believe his side of the story.”

My body filled with unbearable rage as I shot out of my seat and went through the doors. I knew this was not over and I would not have my sister being wed to such a vile creature. I made myself an oath right then and there to put a stop to all of this.