The Courtesan

Chapter 93

“You’re a woman,” she said in a low voice. I didn’t reply, covering my face.

Of all the ways she could’ve found out… was there no sane person in the Royal family of Zerramond.

“What are you all looking at?! Get back to your work.”

They immediately disbanded and an isolated space was created around us. She sent Lion and Tyler a glare and they both left, giving me looks of pity.

“I have a very important question that I need you to answer honestly.”

“... Please go ahead.”

“You’re princess Ariana, aren’t you?”

“... Yes, yes I am.”

“I would admit I was part of the people that believed you had passed away. I called Kalvin crazy when he said you were still alive. But when I received news that you were truly still alive, I kept Kalvin as far away from you as I could. Why are you here?”

“He dragged me here. I didn’t come here of my own violation.”

“Let me guess. You’re the reason he’s fighting the church.”

“No, he’s doing it for the people of Zerramond. I am a simple person that would feel safer if I wasn’t in a place where people were lynched for the dumbest reasons by a group of religious extremists.”

“In the first place, this was your fault.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s because of you that the church was able to weasel into the heads of the King and Queen.”

“Sorry, but are you trying to blame the failure of your own monarchs on me? Your monarchs failed to identify the growing problem and when I kindly point that out, all of a sudden it’s my fault that your monarchy almost collapsed?”

“You’re the sole reason why he went mad.”

“The sole reason? If I recall correctly, Kalvin hasn’t been in the right state of mind for a long time, before we got married. So, what you’re saying is, after I got word that my kingdom was in trouble, I should have folded my arms here because my husband needed me? If you were in my shoes, would you have done that?”

She didn’t say anything, opting to glare at me.

“You have absolutely no right to say anything you have just said. To me, you sound like a petulant brat, which is not something I would expect from someone in your position. I am here, in this kingdom while a madman is destroying my own because of your beloved cousin. I am doing everything I can so don’t you dare try to invalidate my effort just because you couldn’t live with your own mistakes.”

She still had no response for me and so, I walked away. It was infuriating just how easy it was for her to throw accusations about when they had become too lax because they thought the church wasn’t capable of something as big as kingdom domination.

They were already freely killing people under the nose of the monarchy. What else couldn’t they do?

I spent the rest of the day annoyed even as I did my work. Tyler and Lion tried to ask what happened but one look from me and they didn’t say anything. Eventually, they blabbed to Kalvin and he came running.

“You look like you’re about to murder someone.”

“If you’re unlucky, you just might be that someone.”

“Why are you upset?”

“Because apparently, I’m the reason you’re mentally unstable”

“... Who told you that?” his face darkened.

“Your beloved cousin.”

“Susanne… why?”

“She knows who I am. She then proceeded to tell me it’s because I left that you went mad and your parents believed in the church.”

“... None of that was your fault. I’m so sorry Ariana.”

“I’ll be leaving after the competition. I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“If you’re leaving because of what she said, please don’t. Susanne can be insensitive and mean but she truly means no harm…”

“If she knows, that means the rest of your family knows. It won’t be long before they come knocking.”

“Ariana, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“No Kalvin. From now on, I’ll protect myself and watch my own back. I’m tired of being helpless and relying on you. I’ll carve my way myself.”

“I’m more than happy to let you do that. I only wish that you do not hate me. If you do, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

“So you’re threatening me with suicide?”

“No! I would never. My problems are not your responsibilities and I would never force them on you. Ariana, loving you is my problem. I don’t want it to be a burden on you. I don’t want my family to be your burden. I’m not going to force you to love me back. Just please, don’t hate me.”

I sighed, caving in. It was hard to stay mad at him when he was being so pitiful. I reached for his hands and squeezed it.

“I don’t hate you. I don’t like many things you’ve done but I don’t hate you. I wish you’d stop them though.”

“I’ll try my hardest. Thank you for being so kind even though I’ve been an arsehole.”

“The biggest. But, you’re better than most men I’ve met.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“That wasn’t… never mind.”

“How’re the preparations coming up? I heard Lion dismissed the church guards.”

“I told him the captain of the guards was the one who denied me entry into the knightage and he used that to completely cut the church off from participating in the competition. Now, they wouldn’t be able to exert their influence since they’ve offended the prince.”

“... Trust Lion to take advantage of the situation. He’s occasionally useful for things like this.”

“I think he’s plenty capable. He hasn’t been given the chance to display that capability yet.”

“What? Are you standing up for him?”

“Yes. He is my teacher after all.”

Kalvin pulled me closer and kissed me till I was breathless.

“If you speak of other men like that in my presence, I’ll seriously be jealous.”

“I didn’t know you were the type to go back on your word. You just said you’d try harder to not be an arsehole but look at you.”

“... I’m sorry.”

“No, that doesn’t cut it anymore.”

“Then what should I do to be forgiven?”

“Number one, make your cousin apologize. Number two, follow me back to Casella.”

“I was planning to make her apologize anyway. But why should I follow you back to Casella?”

“I’m going to cleave the territory into two and create a new Casella, which would directly be in leagues with Zerramond. Together, we’ll take on Perimas and occupy King Mival until I can claim the other half of Casella.”

“Alright. I’ll follow you. In preparation for that…”

He leaned closer and pecked my lips.

“All hail the future Queen of Casella, Ariana Stavenger.”