Page 11 of Royal Lies

While Everetta was distributing the freshly cooked meat, on which I have no clue how she managed to do so, considering they were raw just moments ago. Never mind, I don't want to know. The small glint of pride and smug satisfaction in her looks is enough to deter me from asking. Rolling my eyes, I turned back to the well, using some ice magic to clean it of its grime, before filling it with a bit of ice. I'll have to ask Everetta to melt it down later, once she's done playing goddess. A role I'm sure these villagers now see her as. Ugh! If this wasn't all part of our plan for the crown I would have waited to aid these things after my coronation.

Being the cunning wolf that I am, I'd already expected as much. Given how utterly useless these incompetent rulers are compared to us. It was only natural that they were hungry, broke, and utterly desperate for their next meal.

I smiled at the thought of how much of a 'knight in shining armor' we'd be in their eyes. Better yet a god and goddess I suppose. Once we challenge these so-called rulers for their crowns, there's no doubt the citizens will side with us. For it is the citizens. The broken ones lining the streets, not those sitting on chairs made from the hands of the poor, who truly rule the kingdom. But if we can control those peasants, then, well, the kingdom might as well be ours. Besides, it's only right to give back to those who will support us. For now, we'll just have to plant the seeds of rebellion.

"Everetta," I pointed toward the well gesturing for her to melt the ice. Looking towards me and then at the well, Everetta sighed, pouted, and trotted along toward me. Once the ice had melted into liquid, the villagers were lined up to receive the much-needed clean water they craved. And yes, of course, there were the constant thank you's and looks of worship. Some eventried to hugme, with their grubby little hands! As much as I detest the thought of those savages touching any part of my body or clothes Ihadto put up with it.

This was all for our plans. All for our bloody plans. I must endure this torture.

I repeated the mantra in my head as I felt the dirt-stained muck of their bodies pawing at my clothes. I tried not to shiver in horror for it might hinder their affection towards us. I needed them to think that we were truly kind and quite frankly shunning their touches away would state the contrary.I suppose I am quite generous that way. Allowing such magic-less creatures to touch me. Hopefully, they will remember our acts of generosity when we ask for their support. Then again this was mainly Everetta’s court. So I suppose I didn't necessarily need to show as much kindness as she did. This wasn't going to be my people after all. But alasIam quite the giving fae, so I had helped.

Once we leave, they will no doubt be starved again, which is why we must leave a little guidance for them. By that, I mean planting a magic stone I crafted with Everetta's help. This plan was my idea of course. This stone with the anti-monster ruin will ward the village from beasts too strong for these mere simpletons to fend off. Only fodder for their bellies will be allowed in. Everetta and I will train those who seem strong enough to be taught such skills. But of course, we can't stay long so we'll imprint the necessary skills into their minds with magic. Since I lack the necessary gift to do so. Everetta boastfully used her creative ability to alter her gift and make it possible to cast such magic. It seems she's learned quite a lot from that one book.

Maybe I was a bit too quick in giving it back to her.

In the meantime, we'll provide a small food supply to those we deem strong but kind. But I wouldn't be shocked if these barbarians decided to hog more of the food instead of sharing itwith the village. Everetta thinks otherwise. How there wouldn't be any form of greed as this village had endured starvation together. "So, it would only make sense that they wouldn't take food away from one another." Or so she says. After ugh, five whole days we departed to other villages. Performing the same tasks and enlightening the same skills in each village. Hopefully, they will remember our kindness when Everetta returns for her crown.

We did this until we reached the center of the Summer Court, which was the only prospering city in this rotten court of heat and sweat. Once we left the outskirts of the villages and small towns. The surrounding forest, though still damp and lacking the true joy it once held, thrived more. Don't get me wrong the closer we got to the capital the more the trees and roots seemed to be drained but it was only near the core of the capital that the forests finally seemed to thrive.

It was like layers of a tree trunk. The farthest layers of shrubs seemed to thrive the farther we were from the capital of the Summer Court. But as we continued down the layers closer to the core. Or in other words the middle layers. It seemed to wither but then at some point towards the layers closest to the capital. Say for example the last three layers of a tree's lifeline. The forest and greens seem to thrive once more. How strange. What's more, it seems the three main cities prospered, but none were as prosperous as the central capital city of this court. Something was definitely going on with the 'Summer Court' but what?

Chapter 4

Flynn

Life was boring. The constant twirls of gates opening and closing. The nonsensical chatter of so-called guests with their lines of pearl necklaces and diamond rings. The unchanging shine of glass and sapphires under the chandelier as they danced.

At least that was what it seemed at first. Until I discovered the hidden meaning behind each smile and gleaming compliment.

Everyone was just a hound, ready for their next fix of gossip. They were dogs, always vying for attention whether it be for my father or me. Seeing how cold my father seemed to be in both business and women, they all clung to me instead. Hoping to charm me into their snares. To pull me under the sheets and ensnare me in their beds.

At first, I found it a nuisance. A disgraceful display for nobility but then I learned that these leeches, these hyenas, these non-stop chatter bugs were useful. I suppose we all have our parts to play in life.

Wine tends to loosen the tongue when their heads are filled with greed and envy. Whether it be from alcohol or lust, the truth starts to spill out. Take last night for example. The dear wife of an aristocrat just accidentally spilled the little detail that the Marquis of the House of Dyrian was now filing for bankruptcy due to one of his many illegal actions. For one the man was caught in a slave trading ring. He had to have known he could only go so long hiding under the radar before we caught up to his little acts, right? Though, what use would I have for that specific information? I'm not quite sure yet but I'm sure I can find use for it later.

Gossips tend to be half-truths filled with more fantasies than actual secrets. They aren't very useful, not unless you're the one spreading them. Take Viscount Gilmore of the Kiln House, sentenced to execution for a crime he didn't remember. The man forgot his place, and I simply had to remind him of it. The man should think twice before threatening a princess of the Winter Court.

"Flynn." A voice as cold as a winter's blizzard commanded.

Turning my head from the dazzling displays of flowing skirts I looked up towards the scowling king. As always his white-blue hair was neatly styled back as he narrowed his chilly iceberg irises against mine. Never once has this man shown any emotions besides a scowl and grunt not even towards his children.

"Flynn, I need you to go visit your mother. I hear she took in a new prisoner."

Did he always have to shout the way he did? It was like he needed everyone to know what he was saying at all times. How annoying.

Yet, despite his steely attitude and raucous voice he never really elaborated much in front of others. Then again it wasn't as if he would call me in later to discuss finer details either. He never did. Perhaps he didn't trust his children as well. You can never be too careful, especially around others. Not even the servants. They tend to spread the most gossip, whether it be imaginative or outright lies. But I already knew what he wanted.

If my mother, the Summer Queen, took any prisoners it wouldn't have normally been any of our concerns. Except this time I heard the prisoner was special in some way. It's said she could commune with the stars. An oracle, or so the rumor mill gossiped. As I said, these jubilees do have their purpose. Most of the gossip I heard comes from these so-called dances after all. It seems my father has heard the news too. I nodded lookingup at my Father's ice-cold blue eyes and unwavering bulky rigid stance just like his heart.

I could practically read the disappointment oozing from his pores. He's already mentioned it a couple of hundred times. Why I, the heir to the Winter Court, could never fight like a true man. How I was so limp that I could barely lift a sword. He's made it abundantly clear how he's always wanted a stronger, more powerful son than the scrawny stick of a boy I was. Compared to the wall that was my father, anyone would look like a stick. But I suppose with my lack of skills I was even more of a fragile twig than anyone else. If it wasn't for my physical appearance of pale blue hair and cobalt eyes, I was sure people would have questioned my birth, what with my lack of physique.

My body just wasn't made for combat. I've tried. I just couldn't hold a sword no matter how many cuts and bruises I endured. The hours of training seemed like nothing when you look upon how weak I appear.

Placing a hand to my right chest I bowed respectfully, after all, he was still the king, "Of course Father,” I bowed my head in a sign of compliance, barely holding back the bite from my tone.

Just because I was weak didn't mean I couldn't fight using other means.I nearly wanted to shout back at my so-called Father. I had tried to prove to him that strength might lie in other tasks. But as always he wouldn't hear of it. Even if he was king, he was still trash to me. He's never shown the least bit of interest in anything me or my sister had done. Sometimes I wish he would just show us some form of love. Even just one acknowledgment of an achievement we completed would have been enough. Give us some sign he cares for us. Why else would he keep us around? Why would he keep me around?

I used to wonder how I could even be remotely related to this beast of a man. Then again it wasn't as if I was as innocent as everyone believed me to be. Like I said I can fight just with othermeans than brute strength. Only the king and my sister knew of my true intentions behind every smile and act of kindness. The sneaky tricks pulled in the shadows were never really my father's style but it was mine. Unfortunately, this too was a disappointing behavior for my so-called father. If it wasn't a show of physical power, it was nothing. Even if it did keep him from getting his head chopped off.

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