Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Roderick had brought me back to the vault as soon as he’d sensed Wilhelm returning to it.
“Don’t be so afraid to push back a little with him,” he’d said before leaving. “You are meant to be a princess, after all.”
“If I get locked somewhere worse for that, it’ll be your fault,” I’d told him.
He’d only grinned in mock confident villainy. “If you do, I’ll come get you again.”
And wonder of wonders, I’d slapped him on the chest playfully, and grinned back. “You’d better.”
He was gone just in time for the vault door to scrape open. I at once feigned being overcome with relief and ran out to Heinrich. His arms came around me loosely, providing no actual comfort.
Wilhelm raised a gaslamp into the vault to check on his new riches, then swung to face me, bearded face twisted with fury. “Where is my gold?”
“I told you I was exhausted,” I said, letting my voice break. “And I can’t work when I’m in distress either.”
“You should have turned this whole room by now,” he shouted, loud enough to make me wince. “I gave you the whole day.”
“You punished me for the whole day!” I yelled back abruptly.
Wilhelm stomped closer, but I steadied myself with Roderick’s promise, that he’d come for me if I were punished again, and held myself steady against the prince.
“Step away from her,” he ordered his son. “Now!”
Heinrich instantly obeyed, stepping far away from me.
I straightened, heart hammering with the fear that he’d strike me.
But my interlude with Roderick had left with enough nerve to stand up for myself.
“Your Majesty, I can give you what you want in one way and one way only; if you treat me like you would the gold you covet.”
The king frowned, his eyes searching my face in confusion. It was as if he couldn’t believe I was defying him. “And how’s that?”
“As something precious,” I said, taking a step closer to him of my own volition for the first time. “I have an ability you wish for. I am also a princess who will wed your son and be the mother of your heirs. The least you can do is take care of me while I give you all that you desire.”
He grudgingly listened to me then asked, “And how exactly would caring for you get me what I desire.”
“By not exhausting me or my power. I can only handle the amount I made the first day. After that, I need to rest, to eat, to live the life I did back home.”
“But you’re not back home,” he spat, as if the mention of my country enraged him. “You are at my mercy.”
“And as long as I am mistreated you will not get your gold, and it will be all because of how you treat me, not because of my whims, or my father, or the war with Arbore,” I explained as patiently as I could.
“Just let me do a certain amount at a time. You’ll still get your priceless dragon’s hoard, but just not immediately. ”
“But I want it now!” His voice boomed through the room. “I want what I am owed, what I should have had back the minute the war was over!”
It was truly terrifying, seeing such violent petulance from a grown man, especially one who wielded so much power.
“Good things come to those who wait,” I murmured, trying not to tremble under his bulging gaze.
“Father,” Heinrich finally spoke up. “It’s not like she’s going anywhere. She’ll repay us what her father owes in every way possible, in gold and in offspring. Instead of exhausting her to death, and getting nothing, just let her take her time.”
“Am I supposed to wait nine months for my repayment to be complete?” Wilhelm snapped, the hand not holding the lamp clenching.
Fear that he would choose that moment to strike me had me staggering back, hands up to show how defenseless I was, my voice going a little shrill. “Maybe a month?”
“That is when you are meant to be wed,” he reminded me.
“Perfect timing then!” I said, all my bravado draining, leaving me feeling nauseous and lightheaded. “I finish this vault, and we get married. All debts are repaid, and everyone is happy.”
Wilhelm eyed me distrustfully. “I doubt that.”
“Please,” I found myself begging again. “Just grant me this month, so we can all get what we want.”
The king scowled, looking from me to the vault with its now-mismatched door, and then let out a low, grunting breath as if to hold back his fury. He pointed at me, wagging his finger warningly. “A month. Not a day longer. Or there will be no wedding.”
“A month,” I gasped, hands still raised. “I promise.”