Chapter 4.

Kael's POV

“The name is Mara Vaelthorn.” Hyacinth said, putting me in a tight spot. I wanted to repay her for the humiliation she put me through the other day, and her gasp made me feel like I already won, only for her to easily corner me again.

“May I know her name so we can continue with the occasion?” The priest asked through a mind link. Hyacinth was looking at the priest with a smirk, wanting me to embarrass myself even more.

“Her name is Hyacinth Vaelthorn.” I responded to the mind link.

“We are here today to join king regent Kael Ashveil, and princess Hyacinth Vaelthorn…” The priest began, and his voice faded as he kept speaking.

“So, you know my name.” Hyacinth scoffed, shaking her head like she had caught me red-handed.

***

I had asked for her name the previous day after court. Dacian had suggested seeing her again, but I wasn't up for it, and stooping low to see a human wasn't on my list of things to do.

“What's her name?” I had asked him.

“You're getting married and you don't know her name at least?”

“I know she's a Vaelthorn, and I know I was supposed to marry a Sophie. It has always been in my father's books.”

“So, she's Sophie Vaelthorn?” Dacian interrogated.

“Are you telling me the name or do I have to figure it out myself?” I hissed.

“Hyacinth Vaelthorn. That's her name.”

“The name is too good for such a human.” I growled, and Dacian scoffed.

***

“Don't push it.” I said, and she scoffed.

“I can see you didn't bother informing me about the wedding being today.” She hissed.

“Do you read?” I asked.

“What do you think?” She responded quickly and defiantly. I wished we were in a closed space so I'd punish her.

“Well then, you'd have read it in the contract your father signed that the wedding would happen the day after you arrive.” I growled, and she suddenly went quiet.

“Do you make decisions without properly consulting the other parties involved?” Hyacinth asked as the priest tied our hands together, mumbling some words while everyone stood on their feet. “How would you be a good king if you don't.”

“How I rule is none of your business.” I responded harshly while the priest signalled at us to keep our tone down. He took my right hand and slashed it with a knife. He did the same with Hyacinth. She hissed in pain, hiding the pain she felt. The priest made us shake hands and tied them together.

“Burns, doesn't it?” I taunted.

“You make jokes often?” She rolled her eyes at me.

Slowly, the slashes healed, and I could feel it. By the time our hands were unwrapped, they had completely healed up.

“I'm pretty sure I was slashed right here.” Hyacinth said with her gaze fixed on her healed palm.

“Well, it's magic kind of.” The priest answered. “It shows that your souls have been merged into one.”

“For the time being…” I quickly added , but she seemed unbothered by my words.

“You may kiss your bride.” The priest said, and I sent him a death stare. I had never been more irritated by the thought of kissing a human, more so a defiant one.

“I think a handshake would do.” Hyacinth suggested and stretched out her right hand.

It stung that the lowly human was the one to suggest it, but it did no harm. We shook hands, and the people shouted. Hyacinth was grinning from ear to ear like she had won a battle, and like she hadn't bawled her eyes about this wedding.

I was still very pissed at the “your souls have been merged into one” bullshit by the priest.

I was drifted away by several people that wanted to see me. They were either congratulating me with the intent of lobbying for favors, or for political reasons. I barely ever got tired of them because it was my duty as the King Regent.

On the other side of the room, Hyacinth was clearly drowning , being interrogated by nobles who saw her as below them.

“Are you going to do something about that?” Dacian asked, stealing me away from one of the nobles.

“I wouldn't care on a normal day, but she bears my name now, so I have to do something.” I said with a calm tone.

“So…?” Dacian asked.

“Go and get her out of that mess over there, and make sure the nobles can't reach her. Leave her handmaiden with her, and when this is over with, let's have dinner so I can go to bed.” I said, and he immediately went to do as I wished.

I watched him push the nobles away and gently take them a bit away from prying eyes.

“Your Highness.” Another noble called, and I was soon distracted.

Night came in a jiffy, and we were to have a wedding dinner with the nobles, and leaders of each faction. Hyacinth looked bored and tired of the wedding. We had been here since noon, and I'd only expect that she'd be used to court life already.

How could a princess be so unruly?!

“Is there anything the princess would like us to know about herself?” One of the noble ladies asked. She was clearly setting her up for mockery.

“Well, I don't enjoy parties and gatherings such as this. I enjoy reading books instead, and going for horse races.” Hyacinth answered with a bright tone. I was disappointed that she didn't see that it was an obvious bait.

“Oh, is it because the South is so poor and can't afford such things?” She asked with a chuckle that circulated round.

“Oh dear, you must be mistaken. The four factions joined together aren't half as rich as the Vaelthorn family.” Hyacinth clapped back.

“Four factions?”

“The last one has no money? Remember?” Hyacinth said , and murmurs rippled through the room. I heard Dacian scoff. I was annoyed by everything that was happening in the room.

“Well, isn't it true that you're just a broodmare that'd be discarded once you've fulfilled your purpose?” Jake Lavendar of the Radical Faction burst out. He was clearly offended that Hyacinth had mocked the faction’s state of penury. “You're just human garbage that'd serve a quick purpose and would be discarded soon enough.”

There were laughs all around the room as the wolves agreed with his words.

“You're beneath acknowledgment, and I wouldn't waste my time on you, fucking human pet! You should be served as a meal on my table, not given to the most important citizen of the North!”

Several nobles agreed with him, while a few others just saw it as condescending. Everyone looked up to me to say something, and although I was boiling with rage that he'd speak to someone that bears my name in such manner, I decided to wait it out.

Hyacinth had a smirk on her face regardless of what he had said. She looked at him for a long, unhurried moment. Then she picked up her wine glass, took a slow sip, and set it back down.

She turned to look at him then, the way someone examines something mildly unpleasant they've found on the bottom of their shoe.

"I want to make sure I'm understanding this correctly." Her voice was perfectly conversational. "You…" she gestured vaguely at his general existence with her index finger

"...with that face and whatever is happening with your scent right now, are calling me garbage?" She paused, letting it hang in the air.

"I've smelled actual garbage. It was more pleasant." She picked up her glass again. "And considerably better looking."

She took a long sip while the room held its breath.

“I won't sit here any longer and entertain this disrespect to your Queen!” She snapped, and there was still silence.

She stormed out her handmaiden following behind her.

Then, there were murmurs all around the room…

“We've got ourselves a mad Queen.”