chapter twenty

I linger a moment with my knuckles on the wood, hearing the conversation. It could technically be called eavesdropping, but Lucas wouldn’t mind. I’m sure he listens to an occasional conversation of mine every now and then.

Chloesa’s auburn hair, straight and magazine-like, is all I can look at. She’s stunning, basking in the light settling on her head like a halo. A good match for Lucas’ looks. Her voice almost makes me forget she’s not much older than a child.

“We can’t celebrate our wedding the day of the queen’s wedding,” she complains, tilting her head, her hair falling like a river. That’s the way our world works. A fifteen-year-old talking about her wedding like it’s her birthday party.

“We can’t make it after,” Lucas mutters, but I can hear the scowl in his voice.

“Well then,” sighs Chloesa. “We’ll make it earlier.”

I resist the urge to laugh as I wait for Lucas to reply. I can almost hear him swallow. “We—we aren’t ready. Alexa’s wedding is in seven days and—”

She cuts an impressive brat figure. Sounding familiar, her voice carries with concealed annoyance. “You’ll find my mother can arrange events fairly quick. She’s amazing at wedding planning, did the same with my brother. It’s not like you have a choice, Lucas.” There’s a hint of defiance in her voice, mockery. They’ve grown close. “Unless you don’t want to marry me? I mean I—”

“Let’s make it in three days,” Lucas caves in. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

Chloesa’s laugh is heard, chirpy and alive. “This is normal lives for us. Be lucky you got someone as beautiful—”

“And annoying,” interrupts Lucas.

“—as me.” She laughs again, throwing her head back. “Are you scared? Come on, we’ve known each other for quite a while now.”

“Not enough,” he mumbles. I echo the sentiment. She shrieks as he pulls her close. “But it’ll have to do.”

They’ve grown too close.

I burst through their door, interrupting their kiss. “Lucas!” Chloesa pushes herself away, smiling softly at me like a doll would, green, wide eyes and pink cheeks. “You wished to see me?” I paste an innocent smile in my face to stop me from retching.

He nods once, annoyance flickering in his eyes. I interrupted their moment. I wince at the thought of what they would’ve done, had I not interceded. He recovers quickly, waving a hand to me. “Sister, long time no see.” Then, to Chloesa he adds, “I’ll see you tonight, yeah?” She nods back. I should’ve known Lucas’ charm would end up making its way to her head sooner or later.

I tsk at him, sitting down on a chair next to his dressing room. I quirk an eyebrow, his tall figure hunching to kiss Chloesa goodbye. “You’ve grown quite... close,” I observe once she’s gone.

He closes his eyes for a moment, leaning against the door. “She’s pretty.”

“And you don’t think with your head,” I mumble.

A pillow flies through the air, hitting me on my chest. He picks up another one, a warning. I smile at him, shrugging him off. “I heard that. She’s quite annoying too. Reminds me of someone.”

I roll my eyes to the back of my skull, raising my chin. “Anything you want to tell me?”

“You were eavesdropping, weren’t you?” He shrugs. “I don’t need an answer; I know you were. Seems like my wedding got rescheduled—not to my benefit—because of yours.”

I nod. As much as it pains me, this is something we were raised to do, put our well-being after our people. He knew he’d make sacrifices. Part of me aches at the thought of rushing him to the altar, but I’m reminded I’ll join soon thereafter. We’re both scared, trying to honor father’s wishes. “Well, better to rush things along, though I doubt you two haven’t—”

He raises a hand to stop me. “How’s yours going?”

I thank him for not allowing me to finish the thought. “Fine, I guess. Odin’s mother and Aunt Heaven are doing everything. I just have to show up.” I stand up, touching his shoulder lightly. He leaves the door, trudging by the foot of his bed. “Which reminds me, you’ve grown quite close to Odin, too, haven’t you?”

“When he’s not with you he behaves almost normally,” he replies, eyes trailing my movements as I look over my shoulder, wandering across his room. It’s neat, immaculately so. Product of the thousands of maids coming into his room whenever he’s out training or joining me in countless meetings. The chandelier winks with the sunlight streaming from a closed window. The air smells like strawberries, Chloesa’s brand.

“Which tells me you may have some information he refuses to give me. How are the focal points? How’s our army holding?”

He shrugs again, eyes falling to the floor. “I don’t know much.” “You know more than I do,” I shoot back.

He concedes. After the swift move I pulled, requesting to meet the brides, the more information I have, the longer I have some shaky leverage. He knows this. Instead of scolding me for being spontaneous, he doesn’t prod at my stupidity. “The rebels are gaining territory. Three cities are under their command now—which is costing quite a bit for the crown. They think you’ll be easier on them since the speech you pulled the other day.”

I bristle, stopping by his mirror. It takes a glance at the small box brimming with gold to find father’s rings twinkling at me. “Three cities. Which ones?”

“Parlo, Kirme, and Wehpan.” Though Odin’s machinations were enough to recover

Taylorless and the Weaponry state for a while, there is no denying the intensity and spread of the Brides. Not anymore.

I stop, turning around. “Isn’t Kirme the border with Lanin?”

“Yeah. Weird thing is, the rebels haven’t even tried to cross it. The decrees there are less tough because, well, the monarchy there wasn’t able to hold up to the riots. Sort of what’s happening here, minus the boring, manipulative council and the rich, handsome general.”

I ignore his jab. Lanin. Lanese’s allies—where the armies are coming through. I regret not being able to share this information with him. Duncan was convincing, and the less you know in this world, the less at risk you are. It’s the reason why Odin’s been holding back information from me. If a queen doesn’t have answers, though, she looks for them.

“So, the wedding,” I mutter, trying to steer the conversation away from the topic. He’s innocent. I’ll have my talk with Odin tonight. Any information he’s feeding Lucas should be given to me too, at least. “Are you scared?”

He shrugs, his particular gesture. His face twists into a pained expression poorly masked with a thin smile. “It stalled yours long enough, so I’m happy about it. Chloesa’s not bad either.”

My chest sinks. I’m the reason why he’s being wed this young. I wish I could’ve given him the freedom I’ve longed for. “I don’t think you understand what being wed entails.”

He raises his eyebrows, smirking. “Neither do you. We’ve never done this before.” And luckily, we won’t do it ever again.

“But you’re taking it with such a—such a stride. Are you sure you aren’t... afraid? Or at least anxious?” He’s stronger than I am, ruled by rationale rather than feelings. I wish he’d feel as scared as I do. Doubts steal my quiet silence, clustering in my chaotic mind.

He drops the mocking face, replacing it with a concerned look. He knows me too well not to read me. “I’m not, but you are. You always want me to feel the same way you do.” He waits for a second, looking for the words. “Odin hasn’t—he’s never mistreated you, right?”

My back stiffens. “No. Why?”

“Other than that, I don’t see a reason why you should be afraid. If I must say so myself, he adores you. I’m glad he’s the one you’ve chosen.”

Dad chose him, I wish to correct him. I swallow the stubborn words. Speaking about father hurts.

“I don’t think I’m ready,” I whisper, twirling a piece of hair in my finger. “I’m too young for children.”

“But that’s the way this world works, sister,” he mutters, green eyes reaching mine. “And if there’s something you are, it is wise enough to find your way around fear.”

****

I stop the kiss, pulling back. The kiss gave me enough time to think the words through, wield them and twist them so they sound right, so they convince him. “It’s not fair. You’re—you’re putting him at risk.” The words come out rushed. Better get my thoughts out before I’m distracted by his touch again.

He looks at me funny, dropping his hand from my cheek. “What do you mean?”

The bed gives out under his weight as he takes a seat. I follow along, leaving a space between us. A handy thing. If it all goes to plan, the space will be closed by him relenting to my desires, feeding my hunger for information. “You’ve told Lucas more than what you’ve told me. Three cities under the brides’ control, one of them in the border with Lanin. I should know about this, Odin. I am queen.”

Silence.

“I can’t tell you everything I know.” Paranoia rises in my chest, only to be deflated soon after. “I don’t want to give you more to think about.”

I appreciate the efforts, I truly do. But he knows I need the answers, a good idea of what I’m dealing with. I might be a reckless queen, but not an ignorant one.

I scowl. “The more you keep from me, the more you tell him. If there’s something I’ve learned is the more you know, the closer you are to death. Lucas won’t bear that weight. It’s why I’m queen and he isn’t a king.” I know how I must sound. Moody and annoying.

But Lucas always, always must come first. “If you refuse to tell me what you know, I’ll refuse to sleep in the same room as you once we’re married.” I hold my ground, boring my eyes into his. He must understand the importance of this.

My threat lingers for a while longer in the air, stretching. “You are serious.”

Mentally, I praise myself for holding my composure. “Yes, Odin. Care to reconsider how much you let me know?”

After a long sigh, he nods. I can tell how hard this is for him. “Fine. Duncan was right, they’re using that piece of the border to bring soldiers through. At least two thousand.”

“We have double the amount in the border,” I whisper, remembering the numbers harshly scribbled on a decaying piece of paper back in the war council. “Why—”

“Because it’s not the number with the brides in. The brides quadruplicate the number of soldiers in James’ disposition.”

I blink at him. “Eight thousand people against five thousand Alemiss soldiers?”

He nods. “And a thousand or so coming from Lanese for us. Although we can’t know who they’re loyal to anymore. Your aunt is quite wise for putting a Lanese general at their front but giving them the exact contradictory orders I do.”

My head fills with information I don’t know how to juggle. Compared to his knowledge, I’m a child. Politics I can handle,diplomacy. But war? “I—I don’t know what to say.”

By the arm he pulls me close, leaning his head on my neck. “I told you not to get worried about that aspect. I’m handling it. What you have to be worrying about is the stupid council, Lucas’ wedding, and ours.”

I shake my head, standing up. Another quality of mine is stubbornness. “Speaking of council, I have a meeting in a couple of minutes, and I’m sure Lord Denly will be insufferable.” I wait for him to understand my double meaning. He doesn’t. “Now, you’re about to be king... would you mind joining us?”

He smiles, a kid on Christmas day. “Thought you’d never ask,” he sing-songs as he hoists his weight up, taking my hand while turning off the lights.

The walk to the meeting chamber stretches forever. I feel anxiety rocking in my bones, growing in my chest. It keeps me from remaining still. I never should’ve done what I did, but the reckless part of me still sees the meeting with the brides’ leader as the only choice we have of settling this before my country is back in chaos.

When we near the entrance, Odin’s hand graces my back. “If he so much as raises his voice—”

“Queen Alexandra!” Denly’s voice makes Odin grunt, my chest heaving. His empty threat is interrupted.

I smile begrudgingly. “Lord Denly,” I acknowledge him as he opens the doors, holding them for me.

The stern, judging looks don’t face me anymore. I stride along, smiling as I know mother always did, taking my seat at the head of the table, Odin to my right. “Councilmen, a pleasure to be here once again. This time, your future king has joined us.”

I don’t miss the look on Yulin’s eyes. Even if I have agreed with their terms to a quick wedding to produce an heir, he is still uncomfortable with whom I’ve chosen. Odin nods, his permanent smirk gone. “My pleasure,” he echoes, crossing his arms.

“The wedding is being celebrated sooner than we thought, Your Highness,” Lady Elle remarks, eyeing us both with pink cheeks and soft eyes. Her tone is light though, almost proud. I don’t know the woman, but I thank her for her kindness secretly.

“I’m aware of it, but I’m also aware of the risk Alemiss is taking and how we must do everything sooner to diminish the impact the brides have on the crown. This weekend will serve as a swift distraction, with Lucas’ wedding and ours.” I take Odin’s hand in mine, both to provide the image of a steady couple ready to rule a country, and to draw strength from him.

Lord Iges is quick to smirk. “While we are pleased with the sudden marriage happening, we aren’t pleased with your moves against the council. Can we really expect a selfish queen to rule over our people?”

The same threats that once cornered me set a determining fire alive in me. I’m already queen. His words hold no real power.

“We intend to give you the best advice, Alexandra, but making the play for diplomatic pressure won’t work under our discretion.” Lord Denly’s eyes are slit, taunting. I won’t buckle.

I nod. “Whether you are agreeing with it or not, the speech was made public that very day. I’m sure you understand we don’t see eye to eye in this specific issue, but did you always see eye to eye with my father?” The blow is low, and the hidden meaning drips in my voice.

“What we’re trying to say,” Lord Jacons interjects, smoothing over Denly’s request, “is we’re no longer sure of the role the council plays on your rule if you deflect our advice. We all have the wellness of Alemiss and the monarchy as our focal point.” His eyes would be kind if not for the stupid smirk on his thin lips.

Earlier suspicions arise again as I see him shift his weight from one foot to another.

I’m surrounded by people I don’t know, who wouldn’t think twice before getting rid of me to place someone older, more malleable, a man, in my place. The very same people who got my parents killed.

“The role of the council has always been important. You see, my father followed your advice all the time, and the war got nowhere. In fact, it got more gruesome and violent.

The castle has been sieged twice. The offensive strategy isn’t working, so I think it’s time to apply the diplomatic strategy now.”

“The riots have gotten worse, though,” points Iges, his mustache moving at the same rhythm as his lips. “We’ve lost three cities.”

Odin chimes in. “Three cities with no real harm to the crown. We recovered the Weaponry state and the capital is safer than before. Those three cities aren’t lost either, we are using our soldiers in the castle this week for the special events. Soon, I’m confident your armies and mine will recover them.” I sigh, relieved. He’s right.

By the looks of the people around me, they acknowledge his wisdom on these topics.

“The meeting is happening, as I suggested it. What kind of queen would I be if I went back on my word? You don’t have the obligation to be there. Be confident whatever information I consider important for the crown will be revealed to you shortly thereafter.”

A lie, albeit a necessary one.

I can only hope I made the right call.

________

hii! another chapter. i love Chloesa's character. she's so airy?? let me know if you liked it / would like to be tagged !

thanks for reading

@goldenmel