I Rejected My Mate, The Prince

Chapter 6

**Clarissa’s POV**

I can't see clearly through the blur in my eyes, a result of a stream of tears that taints my vision. Anger, hatred, and hurt are flowing through me.

I'm making a frantic exit from the west prison, and the palace maids I pass in the corridor can't help but stare. Athena, my unwavering shadow, keeps pace as we head for the North Palace. There, I intend to request an audience with King Teagan, Prince Cone's father. My purpose is to plead for the cessation of the execution order.

Prince Cone's utter lack of empathy has driven him too far. An innocent palace guard stands on the precipice of execution simply because the Prince misunderstood a mere accident as a deliberate offense.

The Kingdom of Goldova strictly forbids physical contact with royalty, but what transpired between Matthias and me was neither a crime nor an offense—it was a tragic accident that should never have escalated to this point. In fact, Matthias deserves commendation for his heroism, yet the Prince condemned him to prison, and I had been blissfully unaware.

This has spiraled beyond tolerance, and I cannot remain a bystander. I will not allow Matthias to be unjustly executed, nor will I permit the other two men to meet their end for a petty crime like theft. They deserve mercy, a punishment far less severe than execution.

"My Lady! My Lady, you're moving too fast!" Athena calls out, her voice laced with urgency, as she struggles to keep up. "Please, slow down, My Lady."

But I disregard her plea.

A man's life hangs in the balance because of me, due to a single mistake. I can't shake the suspicion that the Prince views our exchange as something more, merely because I knew Matthias's name. I should have been more cautious.

The King typically holds daytime assemblies to address daily matters. At night, he retires to his private residence, an area inaccessible to anyone but the Queen and Crown Prince Corrigan, Prince Cone's elder brother.

The front of the assembly room brims with guards and servants, an undercurrent of intimidation pervasive in the air. It leaves me ill at ease, as though all eyes are scrutinizing my every move as I approach the entrance.

"I need an audience with the King," I assert to the guards at the door.

"Your Grace," one of them acknowledges with a nod, "the King is currently in a meeting. Please return at another time."

"It's an emergency. You must let me in."

"Your Grace, that's not possible."

Desperation wells up within me. These guards are merely following orders, but I cannot leave without speaking to the King.

"Then I shall wait here," I declare firmly, prompting the two guards to stare at me in disbelief, as though I've grown an extra head. "Since you refuse a princess her rightful audience with the King," I attempt to project authority, although I feel woefully out of my depth. Arrogance is not a trait I'm accustomed to. But, perhaps, living in this palace will teach me.

The guards reluctantly nod, apologizing once again while explaining they must adhere to orders.

I step back, my heart heavy. "Athena, what time did the prison inspector say the execution would take place?"

"He mentioned dawn, My Lady, which means anytime from 5:00 AM tomorrow. Although, it might occur earlier to ensure the bodies hang in the square by morning. That's how they usually do it."

"Usually?" The realization that executions are common in the palace sends a shiver down my spine, but I try to shake it off. "No need to mention the part about the bodies. I won't allow anyone to die, Athena. So, we'll wait until the meeting concludes."

"Understood, My Lady. I'll find a chair for you."

"No, I'll stand. It's the least I can do for the sake of justice."

Athena nods her compliance. "Of course, My Lady."

So, we stand there for the next three hours and forty-seven minutes, waiting patiently until the people inside start to file out of the assembly room one by one.

"Princess?" A voice calls, and I turn to see the Queen and her entourage approaching.

"Why are you standing here? Shouldn't you be in your quarters? Did the King summon you?" The Queen inquires.

I offer a respectful bow of my head as I greet her. "Your Highness, it's a pleasure to see you. I do seek an audience with the King."

Her brows furrow with concern. "What seems to be troubling you, my dear?" She gestures for me to follow, and her retinue of servants falls into step behind her. Athena and I trail behind as we make our way to her opulent royal pavilion.

Seated comfortably, the Queen graciously offers me a cup of fragrant jasmine tea before I begin to recount the reason for my presence.

"You should not have ventured into the prison, Princess. It's a perilous place. If that is all, you may return to your chamber. I shall see what I can do."

Her expression conveys concern, although her foremost worry appears to be the fact that I ventured into the prison. I've just informed her that three lives hang in the balance, set to be lost by tomorrow morning unless the King intervenes, but she seems to be more worried about reputations.

Can I trust her?

Can I entrust the fate of these three innocent men to an aging woman, comfortably seated on a lavish couch, sipping her tea?

She doesn't strike me as an empathetic figure, someone who genuinely cares about the lives of the less fortunate. I'm tempted to relent, to let her handle it, but her demeanor raises suspicions within me. Can I simply return and leave the lives of these innocent men in her hands?

"Your Highness, I am grateful for your time and attention," I express my gratitude, deciding to follow her wishes and depart. "May you enjoy the remainder of your day. I hope that the innocent will be saved, and those with minor offenses granted a royal pardon. I've learned that one of them has a wife and child."

The Queen responds, "You needn't concern yourself, Princess. Your focus should be on acclimating and producing an heir for the Prince. Leave this matter to me." It's as though she subtly implies that I'm meddling in affairs that shouldn't concern me.

I offer another nod, showing my appreciation, and then take my leave.

However, I have no intention of simply relaxing and waiting only to end up hearing the news of Matthias's execution. The last thing I'll do is trust the words of a royal I barely know. Royal promises can be elusive, and the Queen did not vow to save them outright. She only mentioned that she would see what she can do about it.

Thoughts of Matthias occupy my mind throughout the remainder of the day—the memory of his smile, his innocence, his kind, hopeful eyes. He exudes joviality. I can't fathom the reason behind the Prince's lack of empathy or why he has acted with such cruelty.

Could it be that he imprisoned Matthias out of jealousy?

I don’t think so. The prince doesn’t even like me enough to be jealous.

I shake off the thoughts as I enter my lavishly appointed bathroom.

The grand marble bathtub, adorned with gold accents, invites me to take a relaxing bath and free myself from the turmoil of the day. I decide to indulge, filling it with warm water scented with fragrant rose petals. The soothing aroma envelops me as I undress and step into the bath, the water soothing my tense muscles.

I sink into the water, letting its warmth wash over me. Closing my eyes, I try to clear my mind of the troubling thoughts that have plagued me. For a moment, I allow myself to simply exist in the serenity of the bath, the worries of the world outside temporarily forgotten.

After a while, I emerge from the bath, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, though my troubles remain. Wrapped in a soft, plush robe, I make my way to the intricately designed four-poster bed that dominates my bedroom.

The elaborate silk curtains that surround the bed offer a semblance of privacy, even within the confines of the palace.

I climb onto the bed, its sumptuous sheets inviting me to rest. I take a moment to contemplate the day, the faces of Matthias, Henry, and Dan haunting my thoughts. I wonder if my actions will make a difference, if I can truly sway the fate of these men.

Exhaustion begins to settle in, the weight of the day bearing down on me. Despite my reservations about the Queen's intentions, I know that I've taken the first step toward advocating for justice. It's a role I never anticipated playing as a princess, but I cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.