Chapter 35
1167 Words
THIRD PERSON'S POV
“Kalvin! Kalvin, slow down!”
“What?”
“Have you lost your mind?! Have you forgotten where we are?!”
“No…”
“Then why in hell would you do that? Do you know who that man is? He’s a madman! A madman!”
“This is why I didn’t want to come.”
“Keep your voice down stupid! Walls have ears.”
“I don’t care…”
“Remember what happened at the last ball? Two representatives died of ‘food poisoning’. Do you want that to happen to you?”
“What of the way he talked about you?”
“Kalvin, you are the crown prince of Zerramond. The things that have priority in your life concern Zerramond and only Zerramond. To that purpose, I am inconsequential.”
“You are family to me.”
“Oh for the love of… now why I see why uncle asked me to follow you. That girl has made you lose your mind.”
“Ariana didn’t do anything.”
“Ariana is dead! What will it take for you to believe that? It has been five years Kalvin, five years! Even if she’s still alive, do you really think you two can have a happy marriage? Do you think she’ll be able to love you fully?”
“All I want is my wife back.”
“Kalvin, let me ask you something. Let’s say the reverse happened. Some wild man came into the castle, slaughtered everyone, including me and you happened to be the only one to survive because you were visiting your wife’s kingdom. Would your first thought be to return to your wife’s kingdom for shelter or would you be consumed with the thought of revenge for the ones you dearly love?”
Prince Kalvin turned mute. He didn’t speak for the next few minutes and Susanne shook her head.
“Look, I know you’re relying on hope but forgetting about Princess Ariana is the best course of action. Let’s put up with King Mival now and wait for our safe return so we can plan appropriately.”
“I could help her,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“I could help her. I could help her take revenge.”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous. You cannot say or do something like that and consider it a simple task. Casella is a big nation. The leadership has changed and the man in charge is a general. Do you know what that means? He will trample our kingdom and any notion of resistance. Do you think you have the upper hand here? Do you think we’re equal? Why do you think Uncle sent us here? Remember the rumors.”
“I didn’t think you were one to believe in rumors.”
“I don’t. I believe in proving them and I have.”
Kalvin’s eyes widened at the surety in which she said it. The rumors were big and ridiculous ones that Kalvin cast aside.
“Where is the proof?”
“I’ll collect it tonight. For now, let’s go and apologize and finish that brunch. We have more than one week here and if we start on the wrong foot, we will suffer for the rest of our stay.”
“So, you’ll agree to the proposal to marry Prince Kron?”
“Gods, no! Why would I marry someone who hasn’t been detached from his mother’s t**s?”
“Weren’t you saying we should be polite?”
“Of course I did. I didn’t say you should act like a fool. Just go apologize.”
“Wait till they find out you’re a deviant.”
“If you shut up, they won’t. His sister at least looks attractive. Are you sure you won’t take the offer?”
“Is this revenge?”
“A little. I’ll take her.”
“Of course you will. Let’s just do this and go. I can’t stand looking at that bastard’s smug face any longer. Do you know how much it angers me to be in the presence of someone who ruined my marriage and sit still?”
“I hate him as much as you do but just be nice, okay?”
“Okay.”
The two walked back into the greenhouse, meeting a more awkward situation than they left. The person Kalvin thought resembled his dead wife was on the floor, holding on to a child while she bled out. Everyone had expressions of disgust except the female duchess who looked worried, the young duke who was rising and Prince Kron who looked away.
Kalvin couldn’t describe what came over him but his feet moved faster than his brain, walking to where she was. At the same time he grabbed her left arm, the duke grabbed her right, both of them hauling her up.
Her eyes flitted to them in panic and surprise, snatching her hands back. She covered up the child in her arms and bowed deeply.
“I am deeply sorry for showing his majesty such a disgraceful sight. I will excuse myself now.”
King Mival gave a shallow wave and she immediately ran out. From the corner of his eyes, he could see the only female in the room that cared about her fidgeting in her seat. And the young lord, he just gave him a strange expression and returned to his seat.
“Prince Kalvin, what brings you back?”
“I was reprimanded that my behavior was disgraceful and I should apologize so I came to do so. I apologize for walking out. I was upset and I shouldn’t have let it control me.”
Everyone in the room could tell it was insincere. Susanne kicked his shin and years of experience made it so he didn’t flinch, keeping his eyes on the king. King Mival responded with a smile and spread his hands gracefully.
“All is forgiven. You are still a young man. I’m sure once you’re grown, you will understand things better.”
“Of course. Since his majesty is older, surely you can teach me?”
“Of course. It so happens that it’s almost time for our annual winter hunt. There’s a breed of animals that are active in this period and are hard to catch. We’ll be having a hunting tournament and the one with the most prey gets a special gift.”
“I’ll be more than happy to participate.”
“Oh, I’ll be participating as well. Please, try your best.”
“I will, thank you.”
Throughout the rest of the brunch, the King made small talk with the Kalvin, Kron and practically ignored everyone else. When it was over, the female duchess ran out of the door, heading out in the location where the last woman went. Kalvin wanted to follow after but he reined in his patience, walking Susanne back to their assigned quarters.
- Writer
