The Rebel and the Icequeen

Mocking the Minister

Louises POV 

"It seems to have hit him really hard," says Eliv as she combs my hair. 

"What do you mean?" I ask. Sometimes she jumps in her mind so much that it is hard to follow what she is saying. 

“Well, the little rebel, he's in love with you. At least in love with Lou. He still seems to despise the queen in you. " 

"Do you really think so?" I ask just to be on the safe side, to make sure that she doesn't make a fool of me. 

“Yeah, he said he was worried about Lou. He asked me not to tell the Queen anything about Lou visiting him. It's all a bit twisted. " 

"We could test how far his loyalty goes for Lou," I suggest. Only later do I realize how strange it actually is what I'm doing here. I just have to be careful that he never finds out. 

“How are you going to do that?” Eliv asks, looking at me a little worried. She probably has doubts about my sanity. I would probably do the same if I hadn't been stuck in this madhouse for such a long time. 

"You will see, but I need your help, you mustn't tell him anything, ok?" 

“Whatever you want, your Highness,” she says and bows slightly, “I just want you to be careful. Don't give your heart away so easily again. At some point he will be executed and then you will not be able to save him. " 

"I know Eliv, don't worry." My heart was broken long ago and has never healed properly. I don't even know if I am still able to love. 

"I just don't want you to suffer more than you already have." 

She puts the hairbrush to one side, curtsies and leaves me alone. I don't really know what to do with my day now. Liam is still too weak to entertain me. So I'll probably attend the audience and tease the minister to make the day go by. It's strange, but since Liam came into my life, it's almost like I'm looking forward to the hours with him. Actually, I don't even know what I was doing before. As if you had finished a good book and now you don't know what else to fill your time with. 

I put on make-up, put on the many precious jewelry and bracelets and leave my room. I walk through the deserted castle. The few I meet bow low and look at the ground. I used to think it was awe or respect, but now I think it's pure fear. Afraid of me, my husband, and the atrocities that will befall anyone who makes a mistake. I suddenly feel very lonely in a castle full of people who fear me. 

I straighten my shoulders and press my lips together. Just before I enter the throne hall, I put on my carefree smile and step forward to the two thrones. I sit down elegantly on the smaller one and have the minister called. 

"The report," I demand before the minister can ask what I want from him. 

"But your Royal Highness," the slimy minister contradicts me in a whisper. 

“The Minister's report,” I urge again, “should you not be able to carry out the simplest tasks, such as reporting, then I don't see any benefit in you and will have to replace you,” I say in an ice-cold, matter-of-fact voice and look over him and his body. Bored, I look around the hall, even if there is nothing exciting to see. He should notice how unimportant he is to me. 

“Yes, of course, Your Royal Highness,” he replies piqued and bows deeply, “so the report. Today there is another public march against the crown. The mob will march to here in front of the gates of the castle. Large groups of people are already forming in the streets and singing hate chants against the king. I have arranged ... " 

"I'll decide how to deal with the insurgents," I interrupt, delighted to see how offended he is by it, even though he tries to hide it and be professional. 

"I have already done preparations," he contradicts me, but one look from me makes him fall silent. 

"As I said before, and I hate to repeat myself, I decide how to proceed," I say snootily and enjoy the moment of absolute power and superiority. I'm not usually power hungry, but putting idiots like him in their place amuses me a lot. 

“What do you have in mind?” He finally asks and bows one more time. 

“Well, I think the insurgents should be allowed to assemble. However, should they become violent, damage or destroy other people's property, they will be stopped. If some of them profess to be rebels, they will be arrested immediately. " 

“But your Highness!” Says the minister, horrified, “The mob must be crushed immediately. Nobody is allowed to publicly hostile the king. He is the absolute ruler and has to be honored and respected by everyone. " 

I give him a skeptical look. Either he's really mentally disturbed or he's absolutely crazy. I still don't understand how this man became a minister. 

"I'm afraid your hearing is damaged, so I want to show indulgence and give you another chance," I explain with feigned patience. He looks at me blankly for a moment and then seems to understand my words. 

"I just gave an order that I want to see carried out, Minister," I add to make it clear who is in charge here. He presses his jaws together and bows.  

“Of course your Highness. I will take care of it immediately." He takes a few steps backwards, still in the hunched position, then turns quickly to leave the room. I too get up and leave the now empty room. On the way back to my rooms, I make a quick detour to a window facing the courtyard and the city to see the riot. I can't see much, but what I see is enough for me. Hundreds of people populate the streets and protest against the king, poverty and injustice. Their calls and screams can be heard up here, even if I cannot understand the individual words. One man carries a torch, the flames a close to the haystacks, a child is running around screaming for its mother. People getting pushed aside and stomped on, because there is not enough space for all the people. It is horrible seeing all of this and being powerless to it. Whatever I would do now, would help no one. I just hope the rebels or whoever is responsible for this is happy now, that there are so many people getting injured, losing their homes or getting captured. 

If this continues, the king will return home sooner than planned. That would not only have dire consequences for me, but also for the people. If Darion were here now, he would have all these people thrown into the dungeon and then forget about their existence. He tolerates absolutely no doubt about his power and superiority.