33
1105 Words
Cedric Raine
“They’re asking for help at the border.”
Edgar gives me his report as I stare at the paper before me, my eyes unseeing. “So, send help. What’re you asking me for?”
Edgar clears his throat, looking tense. “They’re requesting your presence.”
“I’m busy. They can deal with it themselves.”
“The elders are insisting you help them. The monsters are encroaching on their territories.”
“The elders, huh?” I think about the twelve men who claim to be loyal to the royal family. “Tell them to send their sons to the battlefield.”
Edgar flinches. “Cedric—”
“No.” I look at him coolly. “It’s ‘Your Majesty’ to you.”
My childhood friend doesn’t look away from me. He meets my gaze head on. “Don’t question my loyalty, too, Cedric. I faced my father in a physical duel to claim the position of head of the family so that I could side with you during the council meeting two weeks ago. I went against my parents, went to bat for you, to prove my loyalty to you. There’s nothing more I could have done.”
I don’t respond.
“What is that woman doing?”
“Which one?” Edgar asks quietly.
“The queen.”
“She has called a designer. Bella is assisting her.”
“Restrict her budget. I don’t want that frivolous creature emptying the treasury.”
Edgar nods.
“Call Harriet.”
He leaves the room, and a few minutes later, Harriet enters.
I soften when I see her wan complexion. She has aged ten years in the past month, ever since the elders called for a council: an act where they can pass certain rulings that even the king has to obey. Calling a council is rarely effective because most of the time the elders are in conflict with each other. This was the first time they have ever agreed on something unanimously.
Princess Vivian was to become queen. A proper mating ceremony was to be held.
And Bella Asher was not to be executed.
Derrick’s uncle, the head of his family and one of the elders, agreed to it all. As a result, I ousted Derrick from my most trusted circle. Rothan remains but only because I don’t entirely blame him for what happened to Leanna.
“Have you been sleeping?” I ask Harriet, my tone gentle.
She moves her shoulders in a shrug. “Sometimes. I’m still tired all the time.”
“Harriet—”
“Are you planning to go through with the mating ceremony?” she suddenly asks.
I meet her gaze. “Do I have a choice?”
She falls silent. After a few moments, she murmurs, “You should have killed Bella when you first saw her. You should have killed them both.”
I sigh. I know she’s grieving. Harriet truly loved Leanna from the first moment she met her. I’ve never known her to be so attached to anybody before, other than her son. Leanna’s death has shaken Harriet to her core.
“I should have,” I agree tiredly. “Harriet, I’m thinking of heading to the border to fight.”
Her head jerks up, and I see the tears in her eyes. “You’re going leave me here?”
She has never sounded so old before.
I get to my feet and guide her to one of the chairs. I sit down across from her and take one of her hands in mine. “Would you like to come with me as my attendant?”
She looks shocked. “That’s Derrick’s—”
“Not anymore,” I say coolly.
“It wasn’t his fault, you know.” She cups my cheek sadly. “If he had known for even a second that Bella was capable of something like that, he never would have spoken to you on her behalf.”
“Maybe,” I murmur. “But I’m not ready to forgive him.”
“Did you know that Bella’s father approached him as a prospective mate for her?” Harriet asks. “His uncle agreed to it, but Derrick refused. Bella was furious. She went to confront him. She was nasty to him. He told her that she had used him and cost him everything. He said cruel things to her. She left his room in tears. His uncle has disowned him as a result. Derrick is leaving the castle. I think he plans to go fight as a mercenary.”
My chest tightens, and I look away from her. “Why are you telling me all this, Harriet?”
Her voice is soft. “He’s your best friend, Cedric. He would cut off his right arm for you if you asked him to. He is not to blame for what happened to Leanna. He’s stricken with guilt, Cedric. Make up with him.”
“He—”
“He wasn’t responsible for Leanna’s death, and you know it. That poor girl was fragile. You two did not get enough time together for her to fully trust you. I’ll come with you to the border, but don’t abandon Derrick. What happened was all Bella’s fault.”
When she leaves the room, I think about her words. She’s right. Leanna and I did not get enough time together. It would have been easy to manipulate her. Bella had all the right tools at her disposal.
I get to my feet and make my way over to the living quarters. The door to Derrick’s room is open, and he’s throwing things into a bag.
I knock on the door. “Is that for the journey?”
He stiffens upon hearing my voice. “Your Majesty.” He looks like he hasn’t bathed in days, and there are dark circles under his eyes.
“We’re leaving for the border in two days. Be ready.”
He looks stunned. “I’m going with you?”
“Yes.”
“But you said—”
“Do you want to come or not?” I demand.
He nods.
“Then be ready.”
“That’s the day of your mating ceremony. Are we leaving after it?”
“No,” I say coldly, turning my back and walking out. “Before.”
I’ll be damned if I give that woman the satisfaction of having a mating ceremony. Let this castle rot. I’ll stay at the border and do my duty.
Without Leanna, this place feels empty. It’s no longer my home.
- Writer
