CHAPTER 11
Andie
I groaned and blinked my eyes open. My forearm ached, but as I brought it to my eyes, I could see that it had already healed over. Only a thin, pink line told the story of my attempt to take my own life.
“The medics here are very good. Almost as good as my own.” I heard from across the room.
Standing by the window was the King. I didn’t remember his name, but remembered his face and bearing from the sentencing. He was taller than I remembered, and seemed lost in thought - less imposing at the moment. I couldn’t imagine why he was here, or what I was supposed to say to him.
“They inform me that you are not healing from your…ordeal,” he continued. I had no response, so I remained silent.
“I confess the information we have regarding humans is scant. It has been two moon cycles since the incident with my son. I thought you would be well provided for here, but they tell me you have not left your room. That you lie in the dark all day, refusing to eat, drink, or speak to anyone. Is that true?”
“I guess so,” I muttered.
“Is this normal human behavior?” he asked.
I cleared my throat, unsure what to say. “I suppose it is probably a common trauma response,” I managed.
“Why?” he asked.
“Why what?”
“Why would a human attempt to take their life? Some Ptexari will choose to end their life when they know the end is near or if they are no longer able to physically function. For instance, if they have a terminal illness they cannot recover from, or they lose multiple limbs and do not wish to be a burden to their families or to society. In these cases, it is not unusual to decide to take one’s life.
You were assaulted, but you are in good health, physically at least. You can do the same activities as before.
Why would you turn your back on the gift of life? ”
I didn’t know how to explain this to him.
My reasoning would probably seem silly or petty to him.
But I took a breath and tried anyway. “Humans are susceptible to mental as well as physical illnesses. In my case, I’m plagued by nightmares reliving my trauma.
I’m also struggling with isolation from my own people.
And the people here are, frankly, unkind, by human standards, at least. I suppose it’s hard to explain how devastating isolation is for a human. ”
He paused, ruminating over my answer. Jeez, this was a weird conversation. Describing my reasons for attempted suicide to an alien monarch was not on my bingo card for this year.
“What do you mean that the people here are unkind?” he asked. Ugh, that’s what he focused on. How rude is it to tell a member of royalty that his servants are high school mean girls? I mulled over how to respond.
“The servants here resent me for the Prince’s punishment.” There, that was as diplomatic as it was going to get.
“You are saying they do not treat you with respect?” the King inquired.
“They don’t believe that he raped me. They believe it was my fault, and they resent that he didn’t, uh, mate with a local girl,” I replied.
The King seemed genuinely upset by my answer.
“I see,” he said. “Giving a victim the perpetrator’s belongings, including their home and lands, is a standard practice to compensate the victim in judicial proceedings.
The servants should not have been surprised by this.
They should have accepted the outcome, especially given that I was punishing my own son and would not do so without cause. ”
I had nothing to say to that. Discussing my assault was not easy for me - much less so with the father of the man who raped me. Awkward.
“There is a village close to the palace. If you are amenable, I would like to move you to a small cottage there. I believe the villagers will be kinder to you, as you say. I will make it known that you are under my protection. Or, if you prefer, I can provide you with a suite of rooms in the palace,” the King said.
I didn’t know how much that would help me overall, but I did want to get out of this house.
It was his house with his decor, his history, and his staff.
Having to live here was messed up, but until now, I hadn’t had any other option.
Still, I didn’t think I wanted to live in the palace and deal with a different crop of servants who would probably feel the same, even if they didn’t say it out loud.
“A cottage in the village sounds good. I would really appreciate that,” I said.
He nodded.
“Why are you helping me?” I asked.
He looked to the side. “You are not going to like my answer,” he replied.
“I think I should hear it,” I persisted.
He took a deep breath, then exhaled. Looking me in the eye, he said, “By our laws, even though you did not consent, you are my son’s mate. You are my daughter-in-law, and therefore you are my obligation in my son’s absence.”
Say what, now?