PRICE OF ROYALTY

11. In love

CHAPTER ELEVEN: IN LOVE

Being a royal in a place that was your enemy’s home meant having to be very careful even when you were sleeping. By the time the first ray of dawn fell upon my window, I was standing on my balcony, watching the quiet city. Dressed up in a gold and salmon printed velvet dress, I let hair wave its way down to my waist. It was a beautiful city and if all went well, I would be ruling over it without having to fear for my life every breathing second.

“Your Highness, Prince Theo is here to see you,” Mary said, her head slightly bowed in respect.

“Let him in,”

“Yes, your Highness,” she skidded off.

What would the prince want so early in the morning? He resented my presence as much as I resented his. I had made an acquaintance with men I had not liked before but Theo had quiet taken most of the cake for that. There had never been a man whose very name made my nerves ache like his.

“Princess,” He acknowledged.

“You might start working on that title. I came here to be queen and I will be that queen,” I fired back, a sardonic smile on my lips.

“Don’t be too confident. Life…is too unpredictable,”

“Why exactly are you here in my chambers Theo? “I questioned, my gaze assessing his look. He looks were ones to make women cheat on their husbands but too bad, all that handsomeness was wasted on him.

“I almost forgot about that. I’m supposed to be presenting a report to council and king from the day we stepped out of Varci to the day we stepped back in. The council meeting would be in half an hour and there are things I need to be able to explain. Two of my men tried to poison you and you let them off with no punishment whatsoever. Why?”

“Aren’t you such a clueless man Theo? It’s such a shame with such outstanding sword skills you could have no brain at all,”

“I would really appreciate if you try to stop with the insults, Princess. I do not take kindly to such degrading prejudice,” he snapped, trying to keep his voice controlled.

“I would stop pointing out facts about you when you learn to stay in your lane and give me the respect I need as your Queen,” I replied.

“You know what? How about you give me the answer I need and then you and I can forget ever having to stand each other’s presence, Queen,” his voice was full of disdain but I could care less about his opinions.

“Hmm…You are quite right Theo. We really do not have to see each other considering how disrespectful you can be. If that night you had been keen, you would have realized that was not exactly an attempt on my life,” I paused, enough to read the look of confusion on his face.

“What do you mean it was not an attempt on your life when everyone saw those men die after taking that poisoned food meant for you?” He inquired.

“It was not an attempt on my life Theo. It was a threat to my position as queen. It was a warning that they would make sure I never get to be the queen of Varci. Everyone knows a member of royalty can never eat or drink before their food is tasted. They knew I would ask of the same and those tasting it would die from the poison but not me. They are just threatening my position Theo, reminding me that they have the real power,” I answered, keeping my head straight and leaving every emotion out of my voice. I could not show them I was still a little shaken up from that incident.

“I never thought of it like that but now it actually makes sense. Hmm…for a bastard, you are quite intelligent,”

“Is that a compliment Theo? “I could not help the smirk on my face. Who would have thought Theo could actually pay me a compliment?

“Okay, don’t push it, Princess,” he walked away but I could have sworn I caught a slight smile trying to break from his face.

Letting a sigh of relief take over my lips, I turned around yet again to look at the city. The sun was now at its full tilt, shining over the city. If I had the chance, I would have loved to one day sneak out of the city, dress up as a commoner and have a taste of the freedom I craved. I wanted to laugh, play around and eat whatever my soul craved without anyone judging me for it and fearing for my life. Deep down, I knew that was not my cup of tea but definitely, I was going to do everything I can in my power to be the queen of the people. I would be the Queen people both wanted and needed.

“Your Highness, His Majesty, King Leon is here to see you,” Mary announced once again.

The king? Was he not supposed to stay away from my chambers until the seven days were over? The only time I was ever supposed to see him was at the banquet tonight.

“Let him in,”

“Yes, Your Highness,” she walked away.

Barely a second later, King Leon walked in, dressed in dark leather pants and dark red coat, embroidered with gold. His hand was resting casually on his sheathed sword as a playful smile that was quite attractive painted his face.

“My King,” I curtseyed in respect.

“No need for the curtsying Elizabeth. I’m your husband by law of the kingdom and before the gods,” he said as he joined me in the balcony, our gazes now resting on the busy city.

“You are still my king,” I answered but he chuckled airily instead.

“No, I’m definitely not your king. You, Elizabeth are your own free spirit and I could tell that from the first time I laid my eyes on you. Even the portrait I got later, could do justice to the fire in your eyes. You do not need the title of a queen to rule a kingdom,”

“You have a portrait of me?” I questioned in disbelief.

“Yes. When I was sixteen, my father, the late king, revealed to me that I was not going to marry your sister like I had grown up to believe but instead, I would be marrying King Raymond’s illegitimate daughter. I was angry at first and so I lied to my father I was going on a hunting trip to the north since the boars were in plenty in that part of the kingdom. I rode to your kingdom with the aim of single-handedly breaking that alliance but then I saw you instead. Because I was dressed up as a commoner, no one could recognize me. The first thing that caught my eye, was your hair. Its blazing color of fire was so enthralling and so were your eyes that I only caught a brief glance off. You were sitting by your window with a girl I assumed was your handmaid, talking and laughing and that was when I first fell in love Princess. For days after my return, I could not get you out of my head and so I asked father to request a portrait of you. It’s been the only thing that had been keeping me sane and I can see your beauty has grown no less. I have lost count of the number of times I had been riding to your kingdom to see you, back when my father was still alive,” My heart was beating really fast and not to mention unrhythmically in delight.

“Are you saying yesterday was not the first time you laid your eyes on me?” I questioned. I had solely thought I needed to win Leon’s heart but instead, his heart had already been mine before I even knew it.

“Yes, Elizabeth. I could never have seen someone this breathtaking. You have the kind of beauty that others only dream of. I know this may be hard to believe, considering how much negativity has surrounded you while growing up but I do hope you’ll find it your heart to reciprocate my feelings for you. I would not lie to you that the people are happy about your position here. My own blood, younger brother actually resents you so much, enough to want to get rid of you,”

“Theo? I would not be surprised,” I countered.

“No. Not Theo. He might have quiet the temper but he knows how much you mean to me. He would never lay a finger on you and in this entire kingdom, he is the only other person you can trust with your life. He was with me every single time we rode into your kingdom to see you. It’s my blood brother Fabian I’m talking about. He is only nineteen seasons old, turning twenty in a month and the next in line for the throne,”

“Theo was with you?” Considering how Theo openly resented me, it was hard to believe he had been with Leon every time he rode to our kingdom.

“Yes. He is the only person I trust and that was why I made him commander of the army. He is not just my brother through my father, he is my confidant and best friend too,” It was almost hilarious how highly he thought of his annoying brother.

“Anyway, now that you know you are not just a queen by name but also the queen of my heart, I want to reassure you that I would willingly lay down my life for you. Once the seven days are over, we will show the citizens of Varci that you are more than just an illegitimate child; you are the Queen they need,” he said.