Page 18 of Crown of Hearts
Elara
“Shall I get you anything else?”
I shook my head as Anesta poured the last bucket of warm water into the tub. She picked up the clothes strewn across the floor, where I had left them. It didn’t sit well with me. She shouldn’t have to pick up the things I’d scattered like some spoiled child.
“No, thank you. You can leave me be.”
She seemed hesitant to leave me alone. I felt a twinge in my stomach. Serving the queen was one of the most highly esteemed duties a person in this kingdom could have. By tradition, a queen had many ladies-in-waiting and servants, but I preferred that Anesta handle most of the tasks herself with the help of a maid.
It was ridiculous really. A few months ago, I was pickpocketing strangers and climbing trees.
Now, I couldn’t even draw a bath by myself. Not that I was ungrateful for having a warm bed to sleep in and a full belly every night. But having all this, while so many outside the palace walls suffered, seemed wrong. I was starting to become overwhelmed with guilt.
I sighed, tilting my neck back to allow my head to rest against the edge of the tub.
My arm stung from the warm water, but the cut was small and would heal quickly.
With all this power, I had yet to make any significant changes. In fact, after the past few weeks, including Lord Edgar and the maid, it was safe to say that I was only digging a bigger grave for myself. I felt doomed no matter what I did.
Perhaps I should pack a few things, slip into the stable at nightfall, and ride away as quietly as possible.
My cabin in the forest was still there and I had enough money to travel to the border and cross into Norrandale, but then what? Where would I live and what would I do? And what would happen to Everness? If I didn’t do something about the state of the kingdom, then who would? Lance... perhaps not.
I groaned, sinking so that the water engulfed me completely. It was comforting to have the warm water cover me. With my eyes closed, the world became dark and silent and peaceful all at once. My anxious heartbeat slowed down.
No wonder Lance didn’t particularly care to be king. I couldn’t imagine anyone ever wanting to take this position willingly. My lungs ached to breathe but I wasn’t ready to go back yet. I just needed a little more peace.
Rhen was right. I needed to do something drastic, and I needed to do it sooner rather than later. I emerged with a gasp, the water spilling over the edge of the tub onto the tiled floor. I had never expected this new life to be easy but becoming Queen of Everness required a lot more sacrifice than I’d been prepared for. How did people fight over these titles for ages? How did men kill each other for this position and this power? I’d been sitting on the throne for weeks and I’d yet to understand it.
The water droplets ran down my face and I brushed them away from my eyes. I knew what I had to do, but I really, really wished there were another way.
* * *
Lance sprang awake as the prison guards splashed a bucket of cold water onto his face.
“Good morning.” I leaned back against the hard metal bars of the prison cell. Lance coughed and recoiled in the chair he’d been snoring in. His black hair plastered his forehead, his long lashes fluttering rapidly.
“How can it be a good morning when you’re screaming and my head is pounding like a bloody drum?” he muttered. I realised that Lance hadn’t been sleeping — he had passed out drunk. I should have expected as much.
“You look terrible.” It’d been weeks since I’d last seen Lance. Weeks since he told me the truth about who I was. Weeks since everything changed. Lance’s hair had grown, forming slight curls to accompany the newly grown facial hair. It didn’t suit him. The sight of him brought back so many unwanted memories, and I wanted to hate him for all of it. But my feelings aside, I knew I needed him. Just for now. And then I could go back to hating him as much as it pleased me. But in that moment, he was all I had.
He heaved a little and tossed his hair back, properly meeting my eyes for the first time. “Well, you did throw me into a prison cell, sister. How did you expect me to look?”
I moved away from the bars and approached him. “Are you saying that you didn’t deserve it?”
He grinned almost devilishly at my words and my blood began to heat in small fury. Maybe coming here was a mistake. Was there nothing that could unnerve him? He was the one who was locked up. He was the one who was at my mercy. He lost and yet... of the two of us, he was the one smiling.
“Leave us alone,” I ordered the two guards, my eyes never wavering from Lance.
“Your Majesty?”
“Was I unclear?” My tone was dismissive enough that they left without another word. The prison smelled unpleasant, and it reminded me of the night I spent down here myself, not knowing if I was to be executed at any moment. It was almost as terrible as the night at Woodsbrook Manor. I tried not to shudder at the thought.
There would for ever be a small scar on my thigh because of Lance. Because of his greed and stupidity. Because he was willing to risk me for a stupid necklace that wasn’t worth more than any of the other jewellery in the palace. If Lance had no problem throwing his sister in a cell, even if it was to keep up appearances, then I had no problem doing the same to him.
“You never really wanted to be king?” I crossed my arms, staring him down as if I could intimidate him.
“You know I’m not fit for the role. There is no use in beating about the bush. And—” he gestured to the cell — “I didn’t have much of a choice with your little band of thieves.”
