Page 8 of The Princess and Her Grand King

The high lords scrambled to their feet, bowing deeply as he swept past. Razarr fell into step beside him. "Your Majesty seems to be in a great mood today."

"Oh, Razarr. Every new day comes with its own brand of happiness, is what it is."

Walking through the corridors of Greyrock, slaves scurried out of his path, eyes cast down, avoiding even the air around him.They do not deserve to share the same space as me.

"Grand Lord Zaiper." A voice he knows all too well stopped him.

Turning with an exaggerated whirl of his robes, a full smile plastered on Zaiper's face. "If it isn't Lord Ottai. Tell me, how are you, my dear friend?"

The fourth ruler’s glare was coated with disgust.

"I know what this is about," Zaiper crossed his arms smugly. "Go on, ask me."

"I heard you ordered the execution of those men. Is that true?" Ottai asked, furious.

"Of course it is. They stole grain. They deserved to die."

"We donotkill over the crime of stealing. What the hell is wrong with you?” Ottai hissed, stepping closer, his face inches from Zaiper's. “We have punishments, atonement. Death is not how we handle this!"

"Perhaps, before,” Zaiper conceded with a shrug. “But I'm thinking of changing things around here. It’s come to my attention that we’ve been far too kind."

"You cannot execute four of our people because they were hungry enough to steal grain for their families!" Ottai's rage flared hotter. "One of them has a pregnant bondmate! She needed food!"

"All excuses, Ottai." Zaiper barely suppresses a yawn. "We must send a message that famine is no excuse for theft. Why face public humiliation in death when you could simply die from hunger?"

The fourth ruler gave him a look of pure hatred and revulsion. If they weren’t in such a public space, Zaiper had no doubt the grand lord would have thrown a punch.All of this over four worthless nobodies?Ottai is so boring.

"The grand king would never have allowed this!" Ottai spat.

"The grand king hasn't been to court in over a year. The grand king can barely pull himself out of his own head long enough to recognize reality. He doesn't even know there's a critical famine in his kingdom." Zaiperhatedreferring tohiskingdom as Daemonikai's, but he needed to make a point. "So do not stand there lecturing me on what 'the grand king' would or wouldn't allow. The male is half-dead. The living have to move on."

“You speak with such callousness, words unbefitting of a ruler. You have ruled beside Daemonikai for over three thousand years. Youshouldbe better than this."

Zaiper sucked teeth, waving Ottai off. "Oh, stop being soprim and proper, Ottai. It's not a good look on you. How does sweet Morina even tolerate this self-righteous attitude? You are just as responsible for what happens in court as I am."

The male reared back. "Never! I—"

"If you’d bothered to show up in court, you could have been part of the decision-making. All of this—no,someof this—could have been said in court. Instead, you waste your time out here, lecturing me like a young lad." Zaiper's voice dropped an octave. "Maybe if you spent less time caring for two lost causes, you might actually make a difference."

Ottai’s face twisted in fury. "You think I don’t know what you are doing? You think I don’t see through your games? You want the throne, Zaiper.You want to be Grand King."

Zaiper didn’t bother correcting him. He no longer aspired to be Grand King. His ambitions had grown, evolved into something far greater.

He now wanted it all. To be the sole ruler.

The one to reshape Urai under his reign.

"You think terrorizing our people, executing them over minor crimes like stealing grain or having a beastflare in public gatherings—something beyond anyone’s control—you thinkthatis going to get you what you want? These people fear you, Zaiper. They will never support you. They will never vote you in."

"Ah, but that’s the beauty of it, Lord Ottai." Zaiper smirked, draping an arm around Ottai’s stiff shoulders, pulling him along.

Ottai’s entire body tensed at the contact, but he had little choice but to walk with him. “I do not need their votes. Daemonikai is gone. Don't get me started on Vladya. And you? You care more about them than you do your own people. I’m the only one left."

Ottai looked away, guilty. The male looked more exhausted than Zaiper had ever seen him, beaten down by the weight of the past year.

"So, tell me, Ottai." Zaiper pulled him a little closer. "Why would I need their vote when I am all they have left?"

"You disgust me."

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