Chapter Six: The Raven

Emily's POV

The Next Day.

It was morning already and a maid was sent to my room, to call me out for breakfast. I haven't had the privilege to sit in the royal dining room before. My first experience was the last time I got accused of poisoning Jack, this made me a bit skeptical but I have to go. In my own way, I was trying to push everything that happened yesterday to the farthest corner of my mind.

The more I think about it, the more I would hurt myself with my negative thoughts. The demolishment of the throne room, right after the throne rejecting me, makes me feel as if I'm jinxed.

Perhaps my instincts of believing Jackson needs me were wrong. I might be the person he needs to stay away from.

I was still deep in my thoughts as I walked through the corridors to the royal dining room. Some maids were whispering words to their ears with their eyes on me. It was obvious that they were talking about me.

Their words:

"She climbed too high for someone with no roots. This is fate putting her back in place."

"I agree with you on that. An orphan trying to be the Queen? She should’ve known better. Look what it brought—ruin.”

"No wonder the King has refused to crown her all these while. She doesn't belong here,"

"Such audacity from someone with no bloodline or status.”

“Hey, shush. She might hear you,” they began to disperse after noticing me. Well, they know I was here initially, it was just part of their mockery.

Each hateful word was like a blade, slicing through my fragile heart. My chest tightened as shame and grief coiled around me, the weight of their scorn pressing down on my shoulders.

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I forced myself to keep walking, my head high despite the cracks forming in my heart. I wouldn’t let them see me break, not here, not now.

My steps increased and I arrived at the dining room. My head was hung low because of my eyes, they were slightly red due to the tears I was holding back.

Jack's scent filled my nose when he stood up to pull out a chair for me.

“No, thanks,” I chose to sit elsewhere — opposite Lady Elena. I bowed slightly as a form of greeting and the maids began to serve my food.

“Jack,” my grip on the spoon tightened when I heard Kiara's sweet voice. Took in a sharp breath before stuffing the food inside my mouth.

He didn't respond, so she continued, “I was thinking if I could play chess with you since….”

“Do you want some meat?” She was cut off when Jack suddenly asked me, adding more meats to my plate.

“Please,” my voice was laced with a hint of irritation. As if I don't want him to talk to me at all. I returned the meat back to the big plate and continued eating my food in silence.

“If anything had upset you before you got here. Keep that cocky attitude of yours deep inside your pocket and give the King the respect he deserves,” Lady Elena snapped, her voice rising with each word.

I shut my eyes, trying to stabilize my breath and hold in my tears. But I failed, all my pent-up frustrations were too heavy to stay buried in my heart. Especially with what the maids did just now.

It's better if I just leave. The food wasn't tasty anyways.

“I-I'm sorry,” I stuttered to Lady Elena, trying to hide my tears. I wiped them off, standing up, Jack also did at the same time.

My eyes found his, which were filled with worriedness. He came closer and pecked my cheeks, long before I could stop him.

“I have some urgent matters to take care of. But I promise to come to your room whenever I'm free,” he smiled at me sweetly, trying to wipe my tears but I dodged it.

His finger brushed through my cheeks, our skin making contact made his smile widened.

Then he whispered, “Can you feel that?” He chuckled at his own words.

I glanced at Kiara, who was fuming badly with her glare throwing daggers.

And Jack walked out of the dining room.

I took in a long breath, exhaled soundly before turning to leave. But Lady Elena’s voice rang through the room.

“Who are you leaving your leftovers for?” She snapped, “Aside from being an ingrate, you want such an amount of food to go to waste when there are some people starving somewhere. For instance, where you came from. You were so skinny and thin when you got here and now……”

“Pardon me, your highness,” I interrupted her. Her words didn't get to me at all, she was trying to hurt but it was useless.

Without looking back, I walked out of the dining room.

“Jackson will hear about this!” I heard her yelling after closing the door and headed to the dining room.

The garden was the only place no one could find me. It was peaceful and also, it reminded me of my mother.

Amid the vibrant blooms of the garden, I wandered gracefully, my fingers brushing over the petals of the flowers.

My eyes sparkled as I admired the shades of crimson, gold, and lavender, each one a masterpiece of nature.

I plucked a delicate marigold, its golden hue glowing softly in the sunlight, and tucked it behind my ear, the petals contrasting beautifully with my sunbeam curls.

I wanted to get lost looking at these beautiful flowers and forget all my worries.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the sound of a raven flying.

“Croooaaak, cr-r-ruck,” my head whipped toward that direction and I saw the raven flying towards the council chamber.

Jack mentioned he has urgent matters to take care of. It didn't cross my mind that it might be about the throne room demolition.

Perhaps it's a bad omen.

Soon, I heard a loud roar that made me tremble in fear.

“If they want war, then they will surely get a war!” Jack roared angrily and I was shocked. He has never sounded this angry before.