Midnight

Chapter 31 Threads Undone #3

The question was exactly what Luci wanted to ask, but unfortunately, Max beat her to it as he came out of the library a few doors down.

“Lucinda is trying to thwart Brielle’s match-making plans, and Brielle has decided that is not an option, even though free will is important,” Lucien said, walking towards them with Brielle in tow.

Odd to agree with Lucien, but then nothing really made sense anymore.

“I’m going to put you down now, but only if you promise to hold still so we can all talk like civil people,” Lucien said.

“I am so mad at you!” Brielle said.

“Yes, but do you promise?” he asked, clearly enjoying himself.

Brielle sighed and mumbled something.

“What was that?” Lucien asked.

“Fine!” Brielle yelled.

Chuckling, he gently put her down, but did not remove his hands from her shoulders lest she bolt for it. She glared at him while she smoothed out her dress.

“You were supposed to be on my side,” she pouted.

“I am on your side, little dragon. Which is why I’m not letting you interrupt that meeting,” he said, bending to press his lips near her ear. “Maybe you’ve forgotten, but I have a vested interest in the dissolution of your engagement.”

Midnight above, stars save them all, but Brielle bit her lips and gave a small shiver at his words. To the point that Gladys cleared her throat, and Luci thought about vomiting all over the plush red carpet.

“Gross,” Max said.

Indeed.

Recovering with fully crimson cheeks, Brielle shot him a glare.

“Then why are you stopping me?” she asked.

Shouts sprang to life down the hall just beyond the door, stilling all of them.

Yet none of the Vencia line seemed the least bit concerned. In fact, Lucien winked at her and said, “That’s why. If you behave, you can listen, which was what I was trying to do before you barreled down the hall like a wild banshee.”

“I know we shouldn’t, but I want to listen too,” Gladys said, slinking by and pressing her ear to the door.

“That is exceptionally childish,” Max said, crossing his arms.

“Come on, little dragon,” Lucien said, turning Brielle towards the door.

By some miraculous force, Brielle didn’t force open the door but instead listened beside Gladys.

“I think I’ve lost my mind,” Luci murmured.

“You might as well go listen to. It’s about you anyway.” Max said.

Luci pointed at herself. “Me?”

He rolled his eyes and knelt next to the door, listening beneath Gladys. They looked ridiculous. Three royals and a noble, all with the ears to an ornate white and golden door. Meanwhile, the shouting grew in intensity.

The smell of cinnamon ran through the air, and Luci threw her hands up.

“Now you want to show up!” she said.

The smell grew, singing her nose, and she knew by now what that meant.

“Fine!” Luci ground out.

Lucien shot her a white-toothed smile and gestured to the spot next to him as if he’d left room for her out of the kindness of his heart. Good thing it was a big door because Luci didn’t argue despite the fact that she should have packed her stuff and run away while they were distracted.

“You are out of your mind if you think any of us will let that happen.” Lord Treveon’s voice shot through her straight to her heart.

She’d heard that tone once before, and it was something she tried not to remember. The hatred in his voice was as poignant as the day he threw her onto Picadilly Street.

“I’m not interested in what you think the limit of your power is, Lord Treveon. I appreciate all you and everyone else here have done for Meridea, but I am not asking you anything.” Ira said.

His voice was iron-clad and without a hint of indecision. Despite the horror of her situation, there was a pride deep down in her at hearing him like that. It only reinforced her conviction, though. She was doing the right thing. He was meant to lead.

“You forget, your highness, the crown cannot function without the nobles. We are your army and your treasury. Without us, you will be facing revolts within the month.” Lady Annabeth’s father said.

“I am well aware which is why I am giving you the courtesy of discussing my decision with you before I formally announce it to the kingdom,” Ira said.

Luci’s stomach flipped, and her head felt fuzzy.

“What is he doing?” she whispered.

“Being a lovesick idiot,” Lucien said.

“I’m proud of him,” Gladys said.

“Don’t let Luci mess it up,” Brielle said to whoever.

“You can’t mess up an already stupid plan,” Max said.

“I think what my son is trying to communicate is that there is no reason anything needs to change in our relationships. I assure you, there may be some difficult feelings to work through, but nothing we are not capable of. We’ve known each other since we were children, Stephan. Surely you can understand.”

That was probably the worst thing the king could have said to Lord Treveon. Sure enough, Luci could practically feel the heat from his fury through the door.

“Understand? Understand! Your son is spurning my daughter for a servant! What is there to understand about that, Rupert?”

Luci wanted to die. Hanging for treason would be better at this point. She slid down the door and collapsed onto the floor in a stunned mess.

“What an idiot,” she said to no one in particular.

“Exactly what I told him,” Max said.

“I also told him that,” Lucien said, earning a small smack from Brielle, though it only made him chuckle.

“I told him too,” said Gladys. “Sorry, Luci.”

“It’s all right. It is a terrible choice, truly.” Luci murmured, wondering if she could become one with the floor.

“She will be your queen regardless of your wishes, so I suggest you watch your words very carefully, Lord Treveon,” Ira said.

“Light above, I am going to die,” Luci said, heart pounding furiously in her chest.

“This is the most romantic thing that's ever been done,” Brielle whispered.

Well, at least she was having a grand time of it. What an idiot he was. Declaring that he was going to marry her without even asking her. Creating a feud with his greatest supporters, all for a ridiculous sentiment. All without asking her. What if she didn’t want to be queen?

“What if I don’t want to be queen?” Luci asked no one in particular.

“Nonsense, you’ll be lovely at it,” Brielle said, before hushing her.

“I did try to tell him he should ask you first, but he said that you would try to be noble and run for the hills so no one had to make any sacrifices,” Gladys said.

“Which she was about to do before I stopped her,” Brielle said.

“Darling, you're perfect, but can you be quiet for a moment? I’m trying to listen.” Lucien said.

“Gross,” Max muttered.

This was all some sort of nightmare. Her worst fears are coming to fruition. All she ever knew was living for Brielle. Now that Brielle was healthier than Luci could ever be, Luci hardly knew what she wanted. Destroying a kingdom and being responsible for Civil war certainly wasn’t it.

“What if I don’t want to be queen?” she said with more conviction.

The shouting grew louder from the door, but Luci knew one thing. If she was forced into something she absolutely didn’t want, it. Good intentions or not, that was exactly what Ira was doing to her.

So Luci, now in control of her own fate, stood on her own two feet.

“Do you smell cinnamon?” Lucien asked.

Yes, she did. Without asking anyone to move, Luci walked two steps and opened the door. All four eavesdroppers fell on top of each other as the door opened, but Luci merely stepped over them.

Maybe she didn’t want to be queen.

The chamber was long and narrow. A fireplace burning right to the west of the room, while a table twelve seats long on both sides sat, but only a few were even sitting in them.

Most were standing and staring at Luci and the four people scrambling to stand up.

Portraits of Vencias' past hung all around the room, watching and judging silently.

Above the fireplace was the largest of portraits of all.

The original Vencia. Responsible for the extinction of magic.

He was a menacing sort of man with a permanent sneer and a grizzly beard that covered his lips. Eyes dark enough brown that they might have been black. His hair was long and shaggy, reflecting the beast he was. He ruined so much, but she’d changed the course of his destruction.

Cinnamon burst all around her, and it was like Elowen was standing beside her, giving her strength.

Words were flying all around her, but Luci took a grounding breath, and when she turned away from the portrait, she found Ira at the head of the table watching her with his piercing green eyes.

“Lucinda,” he said, too many emotions buried in one name.

“What if I don’t want to be queen?” she asked him.

Around them, chaos was unfolding. Lord Treveon was holding Brielle, tears falling down his face.

Lucien was exchanging rushed words with his father.

A group of nobles was in a circle talking loudly while the rest of the nobles who remained seated were watching it all happen.

Max and Gladys were standing to the side as if trying to be out of the way.

“Then you won’t be queen,” Ira said, stepping forward.

Irritation ground into Luci’s bones. How dare he try to patronize her?

“I just heard you tell Lord Treveon I was going to be queen regardless of his wishes, but what I'm asking is what about my wishes?” she snapped.

The corner of Ira’s lip tugged up, and Luci contemplated the consequences of hitting the crown prince in front of everyone. Every step he took towards her was an increased risk to his personal safety.

“Your wishes are the only thing I care about,” he said.

Luci was seeing red, and if she could summon Elowen, it would have been to cast a curse on the crown prince of Meridea.

“Fine, I don’t want to be queen,” Luci said, standing her ground even though every step he took closer to her with unwavering intent made her legs weak.

His smile grew. Dimples on full display. He reached up and snatched the decorative ribbon from his lapel and tossed it to Gladys, who was once again trying to hide her smile behind her hand. Someone should have told her it wasn’t very effective.

“There, now the crown goes to Gladys. Are you done being difficult yet?” he asked her.

Difficult. Like she was the problem and not him, just throwing around titles and crowns like this was Sunday dinner.

“What if Gladys doesn’t want it?” Luci asked.

“I’ll take it,” Lucien called.

Ira shrugged and finished his heart-stopping walk to stand in front of her. He had the audacity to look at her like she was all he needed in the world. It was the worst possible scenario because her fire was turning to ash, and without it, she would lose all her courage.

“Lucien will take it,” he said, “So again, I’m asking you, are you done being difficult?”

Luci’s lip quivered a fraction, and Ira lifted his hand to run his thumb over her bottom lip, and for just a moment, it was just them.

“Why are you doing this?” she whispered.

“Because I love you,” he answered quietly, just for them.

“And I don’t want to lose you to things you see as obstacles, so I am removing them.

If you want to run because you don’t love me, then run, but it won’t be because you think there is some invisible line you can’t cross.

I’ll make you queen if you want, I’ll abdicate, and we will live here and travel; we can live in Thornhollow for all I care. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”

He understood her perfectly. It undid a knot in her that long since was a part of who she was.

“You were proclaiming me as queen because after that, there could be no other walls,” she whispered.

He bent down and pressed his lips to her ear.

“What will it be, Cinderella?”

A shiver ran through her, and she reached out, gripping his arm lest her legs fail her.

“What if you regret it?” she asked.

He pulled back and cupped her cheek, running his thumb over her cheekbone.

“Not even magic or fairy godmothers could make me regret choosing you.”

Everything he said made her legs a little more unstable, and her heart was ready to give out at any second, beating outside her chest. He was offering her the world on her terms, and all she had to do was give one simple answer.

“Yes,” she whispered.

The word was out before she even made up her mind. It was ridiculous, and the consequences were unforeseeable, but his smile lit her up from within. All her life, she’d lived for another, and while she couldn’t make herself regret a moment of it. His smile. Her answer. They were undeniably hers.

Ira’s smile faltered for a second as disbelief ran over his face. It was there and gone in a moment, blinked away while his eyes searched hers, all humor long gone.

“Yes?” he asked her.

Luci’s answering smile should have been enough, but then again, it felt good to say what she wanted without hesitation.

“Yes,” she nodded.

Ira claimed her mouth in one fell swoop, not a second of hesitation. His lips were unrelenting, like he was trying to claim the word, and she opened for him, letting him. He pulled her closer to him, and she fell into him, her prince. Hers. Her choice.

When her head was dizzy, and she was thoroughly kissed within an inch of her life, she gasped out a breath and leaned her head against his chest, steadying herself. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“What was that?” Lucien asked.

It was then that the Luci realized that they were not alone at all. They were in a chamber with the most powerful people in the land. Luci buried her face into Ira’s chest, again wondering if being swallowed whole by the floors was an option.

He squeezed her a little tighter and had the nerve to chuckle.

“You both were there, but it was like a wall formed in front of you of air, and we couldn’t see through the blur,” Gladys said.

“It smelled like cinnamon,” Brielle said.

Elowen. For the first time, Luci considered that having a fairy godmother came in handy. Murmuring a small thanks to Elowen, Luci lifted her head and met Ira’s gaze, silence saying everything they didn’t need to.

Finally, never breaking his gaze from her, Ira said,

“Oh, that?” he smiled. “Lucinda brought back magic.”

Everything that erupted around them was white noise that had nothing to do with them at all.