Chapter 10 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
Horrified gasps crash like waves around the ballroom. It’s pure chaos. Half the crowd fix their eyes on the seething prince, while the other half gawks at Father, who appears to be just as shocked as the rest of us.
Ignoring them both, my attention homes in on my sisters. My rapid breaths settle as I see they’ve already grabbed Liliana and formed a protective circle around her.
Thank the Stars.
We won’t let him take her without a fight. I’m just about to shove through the crowds and join them when Father pushes up from his throne and raises a single palm.
Everyone in the ballroom freezes.
“What is the meaning of this, Hugo?” Father starts, lowering his commanding palm.
“What happened to your hand, and what is this about my barbaric ways?” He scoffs.
“I have no issue with you marrying one of my daughters. In fact, I feel I have been most accommodating so far, but I’m afraid you cannot have Liliana. She is simply too young to be married.”
“Then we will hold off on the wedding ceremony,” Hugo spits, sending another roll of gasps across the hall. “But I’m taking her home with me now.” No. “I won’t stand to spend a second longer in this palace than I have to. Not with you and your savage ways!”
I’m about to open my mouth and scream at the prince when I feel a firm hand press on my shoulder, silencing me.
“Ruby, wait,” Kaz hisses into my ear. “Just trust me. I won’t let him take your sister.”
“Trust you?” I snarl, but Father’s voice pulls my attention back to the dais.
“I can’t allow that, Hugo.”
Yes, thank you!
“You’re forgetting we had a deal!” Hugo snaps back.
“Would you rather the alternative?” His words make Father’s cheeks pale, as if there’s far more going on here than a simple arrangement between two monarchs.
“If you’ve changed your mind about my bride, then I’ll happily take whatever else you can give. Your palace, perhaps?”
“No,” Father says coldly. “It is decided. You may take Liliana. You have my blessing.”
What?
“FATHER, NO!” I scream. This can’t be happening. With a snarl, I pick up my skirts and shove through the crowds.
“Amaryllis, wait,” Kaz hisses, but I’m already long gone. Trust in the Scorpion be damned. He’s already failed me once. If I want to protect my sisters, I have to do it myself.
“You can’t let him take her!” I rasp the moment I reach the dais.
Father scowls at me. “Get back down to the floor, Amaryllis. This matter doesn’t concern you.”
“She’s my sister,” I wheeze. “And he’s a monstrous brute. Have you not seen him with your daughters? How he’s made so many of them cry?”
“Poppycock!” Hugo huffs, but I ignore him, keeping my gaze fixed on Father.
“If he wants a bride, then he can take me instead.”
“Ami, no,” Father grumbles.
“I’m not letting Liliana leave with him.” I fold my arms. “You’ll have to throw your own heir into the dungeon before you can take her away from us.”
For once, the intensity of my glare matches Father’s, but before he can reply, he’s cut off by the sound of Hugo’s grating laughter.
“Oh, Sol,” he cackles. “It appears you’ve been too soft with them. Let me handle this one.”
Hugo charges towards me, snatching my arm and yanking me to his side. Furious, I thrash against his hold, but there’s little point. My willowy arms don’t stand a chance as he drags me towards the exit archway.
“Father, please, stop him!” I beg.
Ignoring me, Father addresses our audience.
“Get back to your party,” he declares. “I want to see you all celebrating the upcoming union between Prince Hugo and my dear Liliana. This is a cause for celebration.” His tone is flat, but the crowd still cheers at his announcement – the entire crowd apart from my eleven sisters, who watch me with huge, wide eyes as Hugo hauls me outside.
“Behave yourself, brat,” Hugo spits. The moment we’re out of the ballroom, he shoves me against the palace wall.
My back thuds painfully against the golden bricks.
“I always knew you’d be trouble, but I never thought you’d be stupid enough to actually stand up to your father. ” His cackle makes my insides curl.
“I won’t let you have her,” I growl, pushing my palms against the wall to steady myself.
Hugo laughs in my face. “Try and stop me. Or better yet, perhaps you should come along too? I’ll make you watch while I marry your dear sister.
We’ll have so much fun together.” He grins in a predatory way.
“It’s been years since I’ve had a wife so young.
And just for you, once she’s thoroughly broken and much too old for my liking, I’ll have her sent back here as a token of my generosity.
Maybe then your father will have some new daughters for me to claim—”
“Stop!” I sob.
“...Lovely fresh ones, even younger than—”
He jerks. There’s a strange gurgling sound from his throat.
His eyes turn dull.
Lifeless.
With a final gurgle, his knees buckle, and he’s collapses to the floor. I hear the sound of a blade being torn from flesh.
“Are you alright?” someone asks, but I can’t quite tell who. My vision is blurry as the garden around me spins.
“Amaryllis?” the voice calls again. “Ruby?”
Hugo’s on the floor. There’s a circular crimson stain growing on the front of his doublet.
Stars. He’s…
“Dead,” I squeak, finishing the thought out loud.
“Yes,” the voice replies, but this time I look up to meet my saviour.
Kasimir stands in front of me, worry pooling in his green eyes as they fall over my shaking body, like he’s searching for something.
“Did he hurt you?” he asks in a dark tone.
My breath stills. He’s searching for injuries.
I shake my head. “You killed him. You… you actually killed him.”
“Yes,” he says calmly, “I’m sorry you had to see this side of me.”
This side of him? Minutes ago, he was a gentleman.
We were laughing as he held my waist and spun me around the dancefloor.
Now we’re here, and he’s standing in front of me with a dripping red dagger in his hand, completely unfazed by the dead man on the floor – as if he’s done this a thousand times before…
But of course he has. He’s an assassin.
I want to laugh, but all I can do is stand frozen in place, inches from the growing puddle of blood.
With a heavy breath, Kaz cups my cheek.
I don’t react.
“You’re in shock,” he says quietly. Stooping, he lowers his face until it’s inches away from mine.
“Listen to me, Ruby.” He brushes my cheek with his thumb.
“I want you to go for a walk around the grounds. Don’t take too long.
Just get some air. Then come back in a few minutes and go back into the ballroom.
When you get there, cry if you need to, but tell the guards that a group of men attacked Hugo and dragged him towards the forest.” He blinks, staring deep into me. “Can you do that for me, Ruby?”
I shudder. “Go for a walk,” I repeat wistfully. “Yes, I can do that… There were men, but I didn’t see their faces, and I’ll speak to the guards about it.”
“There’s my good girl.” Kaz smiles, brushing a kiss against my forehead.
After slowly leading me around Hugo, Kaz squeezes my hand one last time before I wander towards the palace grounds.
For my walk.