Chapter 14 Trust
Eryx
“ W hat did you say? To make her come back?” Esmeray asks, her voice full of curiosity and concern. We— my sisters, Hadeon, and myself— all sit in the office, adjacent to the throne room. The room is furnished with opulent decorations of gold, purple and blue, reflecting the grandeur of the palace. I take a deep breath before responding to Esmeray’s questions. It had been several days since we returned from the woods.
“I told her most of the truth. That’s all I’m willing to share.” My tone is resolute, signaling an end to the discussion. While my words may have convinced Verena to return with me, there was something else at play in those woods. A mysterious force that even my horse sensed. Something happened within those trees.
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Esmeray’s concern is evident in her voice as she speaks again. I roll my eyes at her but she doesn’t back down. Her mismatched eyes, one brown and one bright blue, stare intently at me as if trying to read my thoughts. “You know what the prophecy says, Eryx.”
“Of course I know. It’s been engraved into my memory since her funeral. It doesn’t matter. It’s not happening anyway. The only reason she is staying, is so I can figure out why she’s in the prophecy. Please leave me, I need to get this work done.” I say, rubbing my temples to ease the creeping migraine. My sisters sigh in unison glancing to one another as if in some secret conversation, something I’m sure they practice, and Hadeon escorts them out before following them and closing the door.
I sit back in my chair, letting out a strong groan of frustration. I am so tired. I wish I never would’ve learned of that bloody prophecy in the first place, stupid witch.
As the sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows across the palace grounds, I found myself drawn back to the woods where it all began. The forest looms dark with trepidation, the rustle of leaves sounding like whispers in the wind. Determined to uncover the truth that lay hidden within those ancient trees, I grab a lantern and set off into the fading light.
The path was overgrown and twisted, as if nature itself was trying to keep me away. But I push forward, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. These woods are dangerous to those with no knowledge of them. I continue wandering, hoping to find something of meaning, praying for the witch to show her face again.
* * *
Verena
Bringing up my proposition to Eryx feels like walking on thin ice. On one hand, he had been surprisingly kind to me in the woods and I can’t help but feel drawn to him. On the other, he was the notorious Dark King— known for his cold demeanor and past tragedies. The thought of him with another woman, possibly the late princess who should have been queen, made my heart ache with jealousy. However, I push those feelings aside and try to focus on our mission.
Meanwhile, Hadeon seems to have all the inside information on Zorya’s scandals while I was left in the dark. It frustrates me to no end as we sat in the library, attempting to learn about their culture. No matter how much I search, I can’t find a reason for their crest depicting a raven and a snake. And even though Ruelle was by my side, I couldn’t bring myself to ask her about it — she seems too kind to burden with such questions.
I have felt like a prisoner my entire life and after everything I have been through, I will not waste another second feeling the same.
“I need to speak with the king,” I start, adding “please,” for pleasantry. Ruelle, who sits with me in the library, jolts from my sudden speech.
“What of?” Ruelle asks. “I’m sure I can pass it along, he is very busy.” She tries and I smile as if it’s a welcoming idea.
“It is not something I can discuss with others. I will only speak to him about it and he will definitely want to hear it.” She purses her lips, eyebrows furrowing, before nodding.
“I’ll send a maid to see if he is available to meet with you.” I nod and continue reading, trying to ignore the burning sensation from her stare. I was not going to be embarrassed in front of a whole court again, if he said no. This will be a private conversation.
I continue reading, pretending to be calm and collected but really on the inside, I was screaming.
Part of me wants to avoid men altogether after Dryston and Hadeon. I can’t say I didn’t love Dryston. We’ve been betrothed my entire life and for most of our childhood we are close friends. But, when I think back on it, he was always fond of bullying me before he stated that it was just because he loved me.
Thought I’d have to grieve my old life but being here, it’s easy to slip into the way they live, to forget where I came from and what had happened to me. Was that a bad thing? Should I hate myself for it? In fact, I wasn’t even sure I knew what I wanted anymore.
Ruelle’s voice breaks through my thoughts, pulling me from my reverie. I stand up, letting her lead the way since I still had no clue where I was going in this massive palace. My heart pounds faster as we approach our destination — the king’s office. I hadn’t seen Hadeon since I came back, and to be honest, I was grateful for that. I wasn’t ready to face him yet and I pray I don’t run into him now.
We come to a halt in front of an ornate door but before Ruelle could knock, I step forward and do it myself. It gives me a small sense of control in this nerve-wracking situation. Ruelle gives me a supportive smile before Eryx’s voice calls through the door.
“Good luck,” Ruelle whispers, her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be out here waiting for you.”
Her attempt at comforting words actually work, somewhat calming my racing heart.
I take a deep breath and step through the threshold into Eryx’s office. The room matches the opulent style of the rest of the palace, but there’s also a cozy feeling to it — perhaps due to the warm lighting and comfortable furniture.
“Verena, to what do I owe this visit? It was something to discuss in private?”
His observant gaze, filled with curiosity, fixes upon me. Despite his muscular build and imposing demeanor, there was a hint of exhaustion in his features that I can sympathize with.
Summoning my courage, I began to speak. “I have a proposition for you,” I state confidently, though I can’t hide the tremble in my voice.
He reclines in his chair, crossing his strong arms over his chest as they strain against the fabric of his tunic. Though he exudes an air of disinterest, I can sense a spark of interest beneath the surface.
As his intense gaze roams over me, I stand tall and try to steady my trembling hands behind my back. Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself for his response.
“Ah, yes. The proposition.” He nods. “Not interested,” he declares with finality, causing my stomach to drop to my feet.
“But you don’t even know what it is,” I protest.
“And I don’t need to,” he replies firmly.
“I disagree.” I say louder, irritated like I have never been before. His eyebrows raise and I step closer to the desk, resting my now steady palms on the dark wood, ignoring the papers strewn about. “I have something you are very interested in. Hadeon might have been at court for five years but I have been there my entire life. I have been princess my entire life. I came here knowing Dryston would underestimate me. Hadeon might have been my guard, but he was not privy to information that I was. Getting raised and trained to be queen has it perks.” I inform him. It’s mostly the truth but I still can’t get the picture of the war table out of my mind. When I went to drop off Dryston’s wedding present, seeing where he planned to drop Zoryan scouts and army groups was something no one else saw.
My gaze remains locked with his, unyielding. A surge of determination electrifies my body, a feeling I’ve never experienced before but now crave. He leans forward, intertwining his long fingers and resting them on the desk. After a brief pause, he speaks. “Go on,” he says, carefully considering his options. My eyes flick to the black marking on his hand, the one that appears in my dream. What did it mean? I push the thought away. Right now, my focus is on convincing him.
“I have all the information you could possibly want on Dryston and Zorya’s plans to attack Khyrel. It’s all stored in my brain,” I tell him confidently. “But I can’t do this alone. I need your help.” Despite trying to make it sound simple, I’m still anxious about how he will react. “I want revenge. Against Dryston and against the court.” These words are spoken with a fierce determination, fueled by a burning desire for retribution.
He smirks but I can sense the irritability from him, “I can just torture the information out of you and not help you in return.”
“You can certainly try .” This seems to make his arrogance pause. “But I personally do not believe anything you do to me can be worse than the emotional or physical torture I endured with him .” His hands tense on his arm rests, squeezing them so tightly I was surprised it doesn’t shatter. He rolls his shoulders back. Honestly he probably could do worse than Dryston did but I still wouldn’t break, especially if it’s the only leverage I had.
“How can I help you then?”
“Marry me.”
He laughs.
He fucking laughs . My cheeks go red, suddenly, and I am ready to walk out but I fight against my urges. “You can’t be serious,” He chuckles out.
“Deadly serious. We don’t have to necessarily follow through with a wedding or marriage. But when Dryston hears that you are getting married, he’ll throw a hissy fit when he sees me by your side. A huge one. He’ll make mistakes,” I pace back and forth. ” I start talking out my plan as I wave my hands around for emphasis, “You are on the brink of war with him because he is an asshole. He is already planning on attacking you first and I know how and where. You and I pretend to be engaged in a betrothal and it gives me enough power to get revenge. You get knowledge which is arguably more powerful than the strength you’d give me, and we destroy him. We can kill him.” I breath heavy, out of breath from my rambling, waiting for an answer from him. He takes so long to answer that I doubt he ever will. I begin walking toward the door, “Think about it if you must. It is a seemingly big decision. I don’t blame you for wanting to not risk it but I am speaking the truth.”
I open it, about to start walking out of the room but his voice stops me. “Wait.” I close the door.
“I care too deeply for this kingdom to endanger it with a war on our own soil. My court and people will not accept a simple marriage of convenience; they must believe that I have found true love.” It surprises me to hear this from him, knowing his aversion toward women except for his family.
“They have such strong convictions?” I question, not used to a kingdoms whose people who care so much for a persons reason for marriage.
“Annoyingly enough, yes. And if we don’t make them believe it, Dryston will not either and it will fool our plans. I will,” He pauses, looking desperately uncomfortable s he adjusts his dress shirt, “I will have to court you, make it seem as if we are falling in love.” He breathes out, pained by the thought. If I cared, it would hurt my heart but truthfully I do not. “We can not tell anyone other than Esmeray. I trust my court but not that much.” I nod, agreeing even though I don’t trust her but for now I will have to trust him. We will have to trust each other.
“Looks like we’re getting married.”