26. TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SIX
Darius
“Acensus makes more sense. Each citizen can check in, report losses and damages, and make their requests. Assessors can still go around and make their own incident reports for comparison if you want,” Mina points out.
Lord Duponte scoffs at the notion and pauses his incessant pacing. “Queen Mina, with all due respect, you’re still learning about our great empire. You are hardly in a place to make suggestions about economics.”
“The city was turned upside down by criminals. People’s lives have been disrupted; the very people who make your economics function. Making them feel seen and heard will only aid the process of restoring the city to its former glory.”
Lord Baueman fusses with his mustache, the white-blond mass a stark contrast to his brown cheeks.
He and Lord Duponte keep glancing toward me, silently urging me to intervene.
Mina’s ideas hold no less value because of her gender or station.
The longer they take to realize that, the more I want to remove them both from their positions as councilors.
The adrenaline from yesterday’s battle still pulses on the edge of my consciousness, crying for an outlet. If Mina hadn’t insisted on handling them herself, I would’ve given in to my desires twice over.
I rest my fingers on the hilt of my sword again. Both men track the movement with an audible swallow.
“Fine. We’ll each gather our results and compare them this evening. Then decide the next course of action,” Lord Baueman concedes.
“Perfect. We will reconvene after dinner then,” Mina agrees. “But be prepared. We won’t retire for the night until a plan is established. I will not leave Brastrova without knowing the city is set up for success.”
Mina used her education to strong-arm me into letting her lead the restoration process for the extra two days we are in the city. She argued for a week, but the tour can’t be put off that long.
A part of me is tempted to grant the extension. Albeit for selfish reasons.
Last night was unexpected. I let my guard down—or more like Mina tore it down. Her fingers dug into my scalp, extracting secrets and emotions I buried years ago.
Her presence washed away the stress and fear that were caked on thicker than layers of blood. I would’ve struck down anyone else on the spot for entering against my orders. Her fearlessness should’ve gotten her killed, but instead I let her take control, following orders like a child.
I should be more upset, but the results make me want to do it all again. Maybe this time with Mina in the tub with me.
The soft touch of her chaste kiss stoked a fire deep within me. I’ve never wanted someone as badly as I want Mina. Until she gives the word though, I’ll honor my vow. Even if that means easing my burdens alone or ignoring the desire altogether.
Mina certainly has no problem with the latter. When I joined her in the bedroom, Mina’s warm concern was replaced with cool indifference, as if our moment never happened.
I filled her in on what transpired following the battle. She insisted on helping the city for a few more days. I caved. We went to bed.
Uneventful. Disappointing.
A foreign pang of longing pulls at my chest, and I try to smother it with willpower alone.
The vixen in question notes down instructions to set up a meeting spot and allocate resources. Lady Victoria eagerly assists, freely giving advice on how best to bring Mina’s vision to light.
Both lords excuse themselves and go to work as well, but not before directing their poorly veiled disgust at the women. I crack my knuckles, easing the ache to draw my sword.
The sound draws Mina’s attention. She glances down at my hands and shakes her head with a knowing smile. After passing off the documents to Lady Victoria and Jaime, we’re finally alone.
“Not that I don’t understand your desire to cut out their misogynistic tongues, but I think we’ve had enough bloodshed for the entire tour.”
“Your idea is better. Wouldn’t it be easier for me to force them to accept it, instead of compromising with smaller minds?”
Her laughter makes my chest tight. She leans against the table next to me, and I try and fail not to think about those long legs wrapped around me. Or her soft moans when I licked that sweet spot at the base of her neck last week.
Fuck, I need to focus. I have too much on my plate to be distracted like this.
“Those smaller minds are your advisers,” Mina scolds. “They need to learn to respect me, and that can’t happen if you interfere. You were skeptical of my brilliance at one point too. They deserve the same chance to grow.”
The difference is that I’m already open to change.
My goals for equality started with destroying class systems and awarding advancements based on contribution, not bloodline.
I want women to be treated with respect, yet I wouldn’t have considered dismantling gender roles if Mina hadn’t stormed into my life.
She is living proof that women can do and be anything if societal limits disappear.
Perhaps if the old kingdoms had been more like Kalisham, Mother’s fate would’ve been different. Both queens could’ve focused their energy on something other than survival and the fleeting glance of an old man.
Title, succession, power. Will the changes I’ve made or the ones to come really be enough to alter the greed in people’s hearts?
“I’ll only allow so many opportunities,” I concede. Her confidence in their ability to change far outweighs mine. Hopefully, she’ll prove me wrong. “Let me know if I can be of assistance.”
“Of course, but I won’t need any.” She swings away from the table and walks toward the door, her hand pausing on the frame. “Will I see you for dinner?” A bit of the tenderness she showed last night peeks through, wreaking havoc on my pulse.
We’re both swamped today. Normally I’d skip food until well after sundown in order to get everything done. Time is a limited resource that needs to be allocated with a firm hand. We have none to spare on pleasant meals together.
“Of course. I’d like to hear your findings before you present them.”
Mina’s eyes light up. “Until then.”
I dig my fingers into my temples, grinding my headache into submission.
We spent half the day investigating the raider attack with little to no results. The men we captured are merely criminals who roamed unchecked before Brastrova joined Veloria. They saw an opportunity to take over after the majority of my soldiers returned home.
The ones who remained in Brastrova were slaughtered. Men I trained to be observant and fierce let criminals overtake them. I guess even the strongest can become complacent, especially with the exhaustion that accompanies years of war.
Still, I find the timing of it all a bit odd. They took over just after the regional monthly report got sent out. They wouldn’t know that date without inside knowledge.
My council thinks it’s just a coincidence, but things rarely are.
Staefan sent riders out to neighboring homes and towns to gather intelligence, so the day isn’t lost. By tomorrow we’ll have an account of the raiders’ movements leading up to the ambush at least. We’ll also know if any other towns were raided and are in need of assistance.
A disapproving sigh breaks my train of thought. Alexi slumps in the chair across from me, feet on the table, his left boot crumpling a paper trapped under it. He and Staefan are in the middle of a staring competition.
“If you are done measuring dicks, Alexi has somewhere to be.”
Alexi rolls his eyes. “She’s well guarded right now. Every person who enters the meeting area is searched per your instructions. She’s safe.”
He knows better than most that safety is merely an illusion.
Staefan sets down the first batch of reports that Jaime dropped off. “Natalie hasn’t left her home. She’s grieving and refusing contact. Victoria and Kailani are assisting Mina as we speak. And unsurprisingly, Elena sought a meeting with Duponte.”
“I don’t like her,” Alexi chimes in.
Staefan cuts him a look before continuing, “Elena claims to be sick from yesterday’s events, but not so horribly that she can’t voice her concerns about Mina’s actions.”
“What concerns?” I ask.
“It would seem that the part of yesterday’s battle that horrified Elena the most was Mina’s participation in it. I believe the words irresponsible and a distraction to the soldiers were thrown around.”
“Mina saved their lives. While Elena cowered in a carriage, Mina held her own. Not a single raider made it anywhere near them.”
Staefan’s smile is proud as he pulls out an arrowhead.
Another battle souvenir to send Tayla. They’re convinced the tradition is what keeps him safe, but secretly, I think Tayla just likes to hear the stories behind each item.
“The soldiers confirmed as much. She even saved a few of them from a nasty blow. The death count would be higher on our side if Mina hadn’t stepped in. ”
“Is that what Duponte assured Elena?” I ask. A sinking feeling in my gut tells me the answer already.
“No. He’s agreed to bring her concerns to you directly. The battlefield is apparently no place for a woman.”
He’ll use this incident to argue against my ruling to allow female soldiers. He’s been the most vocally opposed since Mina and I presented the plan. This tour acts as a recruiting ground but also an opportunity to prove us wrong.
An ambush would've been a great opportunity to undermine Mina in battle, though it only proved her prowess.
“Look into his movements before we left for the tour. If this ambush was anything more than poor timing, I want to know about it.”
Alexi stops playing with the throw pillow. “You think this wasn’t a coincidence?”
“Things rarely are.”
Concern crosses his face before the usual carefree Alexi returns. He abruptly heads for the far window.
Staefan shakes his head. “He should at least wait until you dismiss him.”
“He’s always done what he wants.”
I don’t mind the thought of his quick return to Mina. If someone planned the ambush, who’s to say the mastermind won’t try again? Unease worms its way deeper into my stomach.
I need to figure out who was responsible for the attempts to harm Mina on our wedding day and prepare for the attacks yet to come. I can’t fully protect her without more answers.
Fate will only bless us with victory so many times before the worst happens.
Staefan studies me from across the desk, his eyes dropping to the page crumpled in my fist. “It isn’t like you to get so worked up. Something else has you on edge.”
I smooth the paper out. “I’m allowed to be frustrated. Kalisham will be a prestigious addition to Veloria, yet there have been a number of attacks on Mina that could jeopardize our success. Zala makes the most sense as a culprit, but I have a feeling our threats lie closer to home.”
“So, you’re concerned for Veloria? Nothing else?”
Despite doing a decent job of hiding my growing attraction to Mina, Staefan knows me better than anyone. He was on duty that day, one of many rookie knights assigned to Mother’s wing.
“I don’t want history to repeat itself,” I admit quietly.
I tried to convince myself that the fear I felt for Mina yesterday was fear of losing Kalisham, but she’s more than a tool. She’s a chance at my redemption.
I was too young to save my mother, but I’m not that little boy anymore.
Staefan leans forward. Sunlight catches the scar on his cheek, a present from my father for his friendship toward me. His brown eyes are a mixture of understanding and determination. “We won’t let it. We’ve both come a long way since then, Darius.”
The rookie knight and the weak prince. The last two people my father expected to take his throne. He underestimated us and lost. Whoever is targeting Mina will share that same fate.