Çhapter two - Arrival at the palace of doom

Celeste

A week later.

I stared out the window of the carriage, my blood boiling with rage and something else.

Maverick had arrived in the Palace before the sun had risen, demanding my presence, and now, here I was on my way to my doom.

“Don't look so sour, princes.” Maverick’s words broke into my thoughts. “It's your wedding day, smile a little.”

“It's General to you.”

“Not anymore. Your old title will no longer hold weight in your new position as King Edgar's wife.”

I ignored him, not bothering to dignify his statement with a response. I was too erratic, and I didn't want to spill any unnecessary blood. There was only one man I wanted to kill, and I was on my way to marry him.

The image of my soldiers and warriors crying as I told them the price I had to pay for the war to be over appeared in my mind briefly to torture me.

“Nothing to say, princess?’ Maverick continued. “I am talking to you,” he tapped my knee, and my maid, Selena, snapped beside me.

“You will not touch the princess or disrespect her by touching her without her permission,” she snarled.

Mavericks turned slowly to Selene and slapped her across the face with the back of his hand with no warning. “Know your place, servant.”

My reaction was swift, and out of reflex, no thoughts behind it.

I pulled out my dagger from its sheath in seconds and pressed it against Mavericks' throat. “Do that again,” I said, my voice strained, “and I will send your tongue back to your king.”

“Feisty. The king will love you.” Maverick grinned.

I was ready to slit his throat and watch him struggle for breath, but I didn't. I had a better idea.

For my wedding present, I would have his head instead. He was entirely too cocky for a messenger, and I itched to put him in his place.

My eyes narrowed into slits, and I pressed the dagger against his neck just a little deeper, my anger palpable. Blood seeped down his neck as he stared at me unfazed.

“Apologize to Selene,” I growled, all of my pent-up anger and frustration rearing its head.

“I will do no such thing,”

“Yes, you will.” I gritted. ” I will not ask again, apologize before I take the choice away from you,” I glared, pressing my dagger into his throat.

“Sorry, servant…” he croaked out when he realized how serious I was.

“Just sorry will be fine,”

He glared at me before glancing at Selena. “Apologies,”

My nose flared before I let go of him and took my seat again.

I glanced over at Selene, who was holding her cheeks with wide eyes.

I gave her a nod, letting her know that I was never going to let that happen again.

Maverick took out a handkerchief and wiped his bloodied neck. He was staring at me with awe, but I completely ignored him.

****

“We are here!” Maverick's voice penetrated the air loudly as if I hadn't been aware of that fact for over ten minutes since we entered the main Capitol.

I stiffened, my senses on high alert. I was now in enemy territory. There was no going back now.

I looked out the window to scan my environment, only to find myself admiring the exterior of the main palace as it came into view. A colossal building loomed in all its glory.

I hated it.

The carriage finally stopped the door opened. Maverick stepped out first, offering his hand to help me out of the carriage.

I ignored it completely and walked past him like he wasn't there.

I was a general. I didn't need a hand to climb down a flight of stairs. Especially not from my enemy.

The place was truly magnificent, a huge show of power. A rectangular building painted a dull cream color, paired with golden window panes. A fountain of a young woman pouring a bucket stood at the center. The shrubs and grass around were trimmed and manicured.

A line of guards in black and crimson stood at attention, their eyes blank as stone. No one moved, not even when I passed by them without so much as a bow. Good. I wasn’t in the mood to tolerate fake pleasantries.

Selene walked behind me in silence, her cheek red and swollen, her head held high despite it. She was brave, braver than most, and that alone made me angrier. Not at her, but at the chains wrapped around both our wrists. Chains forged from politics, power, and greed.

Her presence was soothing. She'd been my lady in waiting ever since I was twelve and was one of my closest allies and friends.. Shed even insisted on coming with me, knowing how dangerous it was to be here.

Maverick, the snake, walked beside me with that smug grin plastered on his face like a second skin.

“Try not to stab the king on sight,” he said, tone light, mocking.

“I make zero promises,” I said with no emotion as Maverick led me to the king’s Throne room.

As we advanced into the palace, I couldn't help but notice the extravagance of the palace. The pretentiousness of it was not lost on me. There was a chill to this place, a chill that seeped into your bones and warned you of danger.

I couldn't believe I was doing this, marrying a man I once swore to kill, a man who killed my warriors in battle without mercy.

No, this was the only way. I was doing the right thing.

I would avenge my men by killing the bastard of a king and taking his Kingdom alongside.

Maverick stopped in front of a huge mahogany double door where two guards stood watch.

They pulled the door open, and Maverick went in first. I followed him closely into the unusually large Throne room.

The room was large and imposing, with floor-to-ceiling windows and golden statues placed strategically against each pillar.

A tall figure stood, staring outside the window, dark and ominous.

I stood in wait as Maverick went ahead to inform him of my presence.

“The place is large, Princess,”

Selene whispered, her eyes darting from one corner of the room to another

“Indeed.”

The man at the window turned slowly and the room seemed to still with the weight of his presence.

King Edgar

He was taller than I expected. Almost as tall as my father. Which meant about six inches taller than me.

He was dressed in all black with a red-blooded cloak clasped at his shoulders.

His dark hair was slicked back, and a jagged scar ran down the left side of his face, a souvenir from one of the many battles he no doubt relished.

His eyes met mine, Sharp, cold, and unreadable.

For a moment, no one spoke; the silence was deafening, but I refused to look away. If he was expecting to intimidate me with his cold gaze, he was in for a rude awakening.

“Princess Celeste,” He finally broke the silence, his voice deep and smooth. “Welcome to your new home,”

“General Celeste,” I corrected.

There was a pause.

The tension in the air thickened like a brewing storm.

Edgar's brows arched slightly, amused or offended, I couldn't tell. He was hard to read.

"Ah, my apologies... General Celeste," He stepped down from the stairs with calculated elegance, every movement deliberate like a panther stalking prey.

He looked like he didn't have a single worry in the world.

His voice held no mockery, but there was something laced in it, respect, perhaps. I didn't care. His admiration meant nothing.

"Title aside, we are to be husband and wife by nightfall, tomorrow," He stopped before me, tall and unwavering. "There's no need for swords between us.”

I smiled thinly. "That depends entirely on your behavior, Your Majesty,” I said curtly.

Behind me, Selene let out a slow breath, and I felt her anxiety like a second skin.

Edgar's eyes flickered to her.

“I see you brought your maid; loyal servants are hard to come by.”

“She's not a servant, she's a friend.”

“Even better, loyalty out of love and not of obligations is the best.”

“Hmmm.” I didn't like how casually he spoke or how amused he seemed to be. It seemed he was trying to get something out of me, and I didn't find it very funny.

“Your hair… It's beautiful,” he murmured, stepping forward to touch it like we were long-time best friends.

The bastard had never been told no in his life, and it showed.

I stepped back. “Please refrain from touching me. We might be getting married, but make no mistake, I find you repulsive.”

His hand stopped mid-air, and he grinned, his eyes dancing with maniacal amusement.

“I am going to enjoy this more than I anticipated,” he said boldly.

“I am not here to entertain you, King Edgar,”

“No, you're here to end the war.”

“Indeed,”

“And maybe kill me as you go,” he added casually.

I was taken aback by his bluntness, but I didn't let it show

“Glad we are on the same page, Your Majesty,”

He chuckled, a rich sound that bounced off the wall of the palace.

“I cannot wait to see what you try.”

He grinned. He was enjoying himself. This was a game to him. One to entertain him, and I hated it. I hated him.

“Maverick, take my bride to her chambers. We wed at sunset tomorrow, give her everything she desires.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Wait. When will my cousins be released?”

I demanded.

“When you become my Queen,” he said as if I should know.

“And what is the guarantee that they will be released?”

“Think what you will of me, Celeste, but I am a man of my word.

I glared at him before nodding in agreement. “Alright then,”

“Have a nice evening,” he smiled, taking my hand and kissing the back like a gentleman. Even though half the world knew him as evil.

I snatched my hands away and turned, irritated by the sudden spark that went through my hand from a single kiss from an enemy.

Maverick once again led the way to my new chambers.

“Good job on not cutting the king,” he whispered once we were far enough from the Throne room.

“Do not celebrate just yet,” I said coolly.