Forced To Marry The Crippled King

Chapter Four

The presence of the letter surprised her, she had collected a letter from her stepmother in that previous life too even though she had not received it until she had gotten to the palace. Maybe that had been because she had not woken up throughout the trip to Kwal.

Curious about the contents of this letter she opened it. It was the same thing as from before, a threat to keep silent about the witchcraft which had caused hers and Yvette’s souls to switch. Failure to abide by this would result in the death of Celia and she would be accused of using witchcraft which was punishable by death in many of the kingdoms including Kwal.

Ah yes, it was really not a dream. She had been bewitched and drugged and now she was on her way to meet her sister’s betrothed who she was about to marry for the first time. Memories, dormant, began to stir within her. Memories of a life she had already lived for years but that felt both alien and strangely new...

Naiari gripped the velvet-trimmed window ledge tightly, her knuckles white. The carriage lumbered through the bustling city, the cobblestones groaning beneath its iron-rimmed wheels. Sunlight, stained emerald by the stained glass high above, dappled her emerald gown, turning its rich fabric into a shimmering pool.

If she included the time she spent before coming back then she was not a little girl anymore. Today, she would meet Kael. Nervous excitement warred with a tremor of fear. She pictured the looming castle, its towers like stony fangs against the sky, and the man she would marry, a man bound to her by duty and politics.

The city streets were a tapestry of sights and sounds that sparked a memory in her. Blacksmiths clanged hammers, their sparks showering like a fiery rain. Children darted between legs, their laughter weaving through the air. Market stalls overflowed with vibrant fruits and vegetables, their vendors hawking wares in rhythmic cries. Yet, Ari barely registered them. Her entire being focused on the journey's end.

As the carriage neared the castle, the crowd grew hushed. Whispers swirled around Ari, a mixture of curiosity and awe. She imagined eyes boring into her carriage, dissecting her every detail and wondering about their new queen.

Finally, the carriage lurched to a halt before the towering iron gates. The clang of their opening echoed in the sudden silence. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Ari straightened her spine, transforming fear into resolve as they Weber waved in and proceeded to the beginning of the stone castle. Stepping out, she met the gazes of the castle guards, their expressions unreadable.

The palace loomed before her, a behemoth of grey aged stone. Naiari lifted her chin, determined to not have a repeat of what had happened the first time she came to the castle. She had woken up in a confused daze just before they entered the palace and she had to be taken in kicking and screaming that she was not Yvette.

No one had taken her seriously then, why would they? They just assumed she was hysterical and she had eventually calmed down after reading the letter Queen Anaya had written her. After seeing the threats she had settled down but remained sullen.

She was led to the throne room and as the ornately carved doors swung open, revealing a man on the throne, bathed in the cool light of the setting sun, she felt a wave of memories roll through her. She remembered the disgust she had felt the first time she saw him and she had to restrain herself from it showing, she felt shame that she had been so superficial that she had looked down on him for his ailment.

He sat upon a throne of obsidian, black as his brooding eyes that met hers in an instant and she shivered from the irritation radiating from him.

“Princess Yvette, welcome to our kingdom. I trust that you had a seamless journey.” At the sound of the voice goose pimples rose on her skin and she hid the shudder of fear that travelled along her spine. The emotion was raw, primal, and she fought it with all her might, the last time she had heard that voice he had been sentencing her to death.

She turned and looked into the grey eyes of Kael’s uncle who was the custodian of the kingdom. He had always scared her, even before he ordered her execution. He was top on her list of suspects.

She curtsied low before standing up and saying. “The roads were fair even though the journey was long.”

“May I introduce to you, King Kael your groom.” He said and she turned to the throne.

Kael stared at his uncle, totally ignoring her presence and the uncle seemed to fidget a little.

“What is this I hear about a groom?” He asked lazily, the easy tone of his voice doing nothing to hide the danger emanating off him.

“We have spoken about this Kael, we need to…”

“I do not need anyone shopping for a wife for me, i don’t need a wife.” Kael interrupted with a frown and a dangerous edge in his voice.

“The kingdom needs a queen and it is my duty as your uncle to help you anyway that I can, that includes finding a suitable wife for you.” Odo stated firmly.

“And that suitable wife is this frail human?” Kael raised an eyebrow derisively before looking at her critically before looking away.

“Send her back, I have no interest in this union.” He demanded coldly.

When no one moved to his command he snarled loudly. “I said get her out of here!”

Odo nodded to the guards by the door and the moved to Naiari’s side but when they tried to lead her out she spoke.

“I think it is quite rude that you are going to turn me away after I made such a long journey your highness.” She said sardonically and Kael raised his eyebrow at her audacity.