Page 57 of Beguiled
Even though I was no longer on the Isle of Outcasts with my official Testing, I could still continue to grow no matter where I was or what challenges I faced. In fact, perhaps that was the true Testing—to mature my entire life in every circumstance and to accept that even kings weren’t exempt from growth, especially kings who hoped to do great things for their people.
Whatever the case, I had to present myself to Queen Margery with the bearing of a king. To do any less with this crafty woman would diminish my chances of securing Pearl and Ruby.
Squaring my shoulders, I started through the doors and into the great hall. The room was teeming with guests, and at my appearance, the murmur of their voices faded, leaving only the soft strum of a harp. I strode forward regardless of the attention upon me, infusing each step with determination and purpose.
Drawing near the dais, I scanned faces, finding Gregor’s in the shadows of the kitchen hallway where he’d told me he’d wait. Pearl wasn’t amongst the nobility. Instead, the queen sat upon her throne, watching my approach with undisguised interest.
As I regarded the queen in return, I had to stifle my surprise at how beautiful she was. Although I’d only seen Pearl’s face above her veil, it was obvious she’d inherited her mother’s beauty. They shared the same elegant features, same lustrous raven hair, and same mesmerizing green eyes.
I stopped at the bottom step of the dais and waited for Lord Anise, the nobleman who’d served as my companion since entering the castle, to now present me to the queen.
“Your Royal Majesty.” Lord Anise stepped out from behind me and bowed low to the queen. Perhaps in the past I might have been impressed by a young man like him—handsome, witty, and clearly having earned the queen’s favor. But after months of living with the outcasts, I saw past his outer demeanor and recognized him as someone who was looking for advancement at court by any means possible. Men like him weren’t trustworthy and could easily switch loyalties depending on what they could gain.
He rose and then bowed toward me, although not as fully. “May I present Prince Mikkel Holberg, son of King Christian of the great kingdom of Scania.”
I refused to kneel before this queen. Doing so would feed her appetite for power, and I couldn’t allow her to believe even for a moment that I was weak in any way. Instead, I dipped my head in the greeting between equals.
She held out her hand. Each finger contained multiple rings with varying jewels, and her wrists, numerous bracelets of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. She was obviously putting her wealth on display—or at least what she had left of it.
I couldn’t ignore her as I wanted to do, but I waited several seconds longer before I took her hand and pressed the barest of kisses there. As I straightened, her gaze was cool, as though she recognized my slight toward her authority.
“Your Majesty, thank you for the invitation.” I infused as much coolness into my tone as possible.
“Princess Pearl insisted.”
That was a lie. Pearl hadn’t wanted me to come near the queen, had wanted to protect me from the same ill will that had befallen Vilmar. But if the queen wanted to play this game of deception, I would allow it.
“I could not deny her,” the queen continued, “especially when she indicated you are willing to provide sanctuary to Princess Ruby.”
“Scania is willing to provide sanctuary to both princesses. After all, they are family.” Since my mother was related to Queen Margery, Pearl and Ruby were my distant cousins, though family ties had nothing to do with why I wanted them to live in Scania.
“You are gracious to make such a generous offer. However, since both colluded in plotting treason, I must hold at least one of them accountable. Do you not agree?”
The queen’s attention flickered to a side room. Was that where she was holding Pearl? I had the urge to run over, throw open the door, and set Pearl free. But I held myself back. I had to use caution, or I’d cause more trouble for all of us.
“I know nothing about treason,” I answered. “But Princess Pearl has assured me of her desire to leave Warwick. She will nevermore consider returning and will live out the rest of her days in Scania.”
The queen’s keen eyes remained upon me as though trying to read my mind. “Princess Pearl is beguiling, is she not, Your Highness? Surely you can agree a beauty such as hers has the power to influence a man, even one as strong as you.”
I had to answer carefully lest I fall into one of the queen’s traps—one of the many she was setting for me with each sentence she spoke. “Princess Pearl is indeed beautiful. But she has proven her true power to influence comes from within.”
The queen sat back against her throne, a smile playing upon her lips. “She has already beguiled you.”
I shook my head. “No—”
“I see it in your eyes. You care about her. Dare I say you even love her and wish to take her back to Scania to be your wife?”
A part of me wanted to tell the queen the truth, that Pearl was already my wife. But would the queen be more agreeable to my bargaining if she felt as though she had more to give in exchange for an alliance, especially if she could offer Pearl as my bride?
I needed to force her hand now, in front of her court. Then we would have witnesses to whatever agreement we might reach. “I am prepared to provide you an alliance with Scania in exchange for both princesses.”
“You are but a prince and have no authority to make such a decision.”
“I shall be king.”
The queen smiled, but her lips were thin and her eyes cold. “What about Prince Vilmar? What if he becomes king instead of you?”
Something in the way the queen spoke baited me, almost as if she hoped I would be willing to work against Vilmar to eliminate my competition for the throne. I kept my expression neutral, unwilling to reveal that the bond with my brother went beyond our Testing and that I would never betray him.
