Page 38 of Framed in Florals (The Emerald Realm 3)

A hot red rushed up my neck from a fresh burning anger. “A peace treaty!? After you just murdered Drancos’s king!?”

“Well, that and a new trade agreement, of course.” The prince shrugged casually. “Drancos truly does have the best soil. I’m sure Ashbourne could benefit greatly from some reduced trade laws. It’s not as if Drancos’s puny excuse for a military could handle our forces if a war should break loose.”

My blood boiled inside me. How dare he?! After all the turmoil and heartache he put this kingdom through? Now he thinks he can take advantage of a mourning son?It was absolutely sick.

“Not a chance,” I said boldly. “I won’t let you use me to take advantage of this kingdom. Drancos deserves to take revenge on Ashbourne, and you and your men must face the consequences of the crimes you’ve committed.” My hands tensed into fists. I wasn’t going to be the reason Jasper had to form a treaty with his father’s killer. King Garrett deserved justice.

“Well, that’s too bad…” the prince tsked, “because the only other option is the one where you die.” My face went white, and I noticed a small smile pull at the corner of the prince’s lip. “Before I heard the prince was after you, I planned to leave you here in the woods. It would take at least four days to walk to the nearest town, and that’s only if you know the direction it’s in. I figured that if anyone ever found your body, they would just assume the murderous flower child got lost on her escape and perished from starvation. However, you’ve been deemed innocent now, but that doesn’t have to ruin the fun, now does it? I could still leave you here and let my little secret die with you. Then, when I return home, my father can send his condolences, along with a few squadrons of soldiers to assist in the hunt for King Garrett’s murderers. We’ll likely have to find another poor chump to frame, but the results should be the same. Prince Jasper will have almost no choice but to accept an alliance after we’ve found the killers. It’s a win-win situation for me, honestly, but one takes a little less time…” His dark eyes fell on me.

So those are my options?If I remain a hostage, I’ll get to be with Jasper again… But he will forever have to live with the pain and grief of knowing who killed his father, yet never being capable of bringing them to justice. If I stayed in these woods, I would very likely die in a few days, and Jasper would still be deceived… But at least he would get a chance to be at peace with his father’s death, right? My brain twisted and turned. None of these options were good. Either way they left Jasper in pain—either by losing the chance to avenge his father or by losing me.Would losing me hurt him just as badly?

My mind flicked back to the Ashbourne prince’s words. Surely Jasper cared for me if he was willing to make the whole kingdom search for me. He loved me, and I loved him. It was hard to admit, but I wanted to be selfish and stay alive. If I remained a hostage then Ashbourne would win, but I would get to be with Jasper. Wouldn’t that be enough?

My heart tensed and twisted as I calculated my options. An idea flicked into my mind, but my stomach twisted at the thought. There was one way that Ashbourne wouldn’t win, but it was risky—and it wasn’t a guaranteed victory.Did I really dare? Would I survive?Doubt flooded my brain as I considered the risks of my new plan. An image of Jasper’s blue eyes and kind smile filled my mind, and my heart constricted at the thought of never seeing those eyes again. But I had to do this; I had to be brave. It wasn’t just for myself or for Jasper, but for Drancos as a whole.

I can’t let them get away with this.

“Leave me,” I said clearly, strength resonating behind my tone. “I wish to die in the forest as opposed to aiding you any further in your plans.”

The prince raised an eyebrow, then narrowed his gaze “You would rather starve to death, cold and alone, than be returned safely to your beloved prince?” His voice oozed with skepticism.

I straightened. “Yes. I have been a pawn in your game long enough, and even if I survive to see Jasper again, I don’t think I could live with myself knowing how much I’ve hurt him.” My voice cracked a little, that part was a little too true. “If I die here, he will mourn me with his father, and I’ll go down as a martyr. But if I live, the kingdom will despise me for putting Jasper in the position of allying with a kingdom ruled by monsters. Let me die here and be remembered as the innocent I am, and let Jasper at least gain a false peace that he avenged his father.” I let out a tense breath, hoping that my reasonings were valid enough for the prince to believe them. The fear of being abandoned in this forest began to overwhelm me, but I pressed it down and stood as bravely as I could.

A smooth laugh rose out of the prince and he pulled out his sword. I flinched at the sight of the setting sun glinting off the steel.He wasn’t going to kill me now, was he? He said he would just turn me loose in the forest.My heart rate increased as the prince closed the distance between us. I attempted to move back a step, but my bound ankles made it impossible to do so without falling. The blood drained from my face as the prince raised his sword in front of his chest. I bit my lip to keep a cry from slipping out.

I’m sorry Jasper, I tried.The blade flashed in front of me and I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the sting of death.

But no pain came… Instead, a sweet relief graced my ankles and wrists as blood flow returned to its natural pace. I opened my eyes and looked down to see the rope binding my feet and hands had been sliced clean through. I let out a sigh of relief as the prince snickered at my obvious fear.

“Alright, flower girl, I’ll grant your wish.” He smirked. “Diplomacy is always easier to maintain when it’s not based on threats. Father will probably prefer awillingnegotiation, anyway. He always liked to keep his shady elements hidden. And selfishly, I much prefer you dying alone than with a Draconian crown on that pretty little head of yours. This seems like an even trade for all the trouble you’ve caused me.” He sheathed his sword before he turned back to his men. “Load up! We’re crossing the border tonight. Arm yourselves and get moving.” The men scattered, grabbing swords and helmets before climbing back aboard the caravan.

“Before you go…” I asked softly, “may I at least know your name?”

The prince whipped his attention back to me with a puzzled expression.

“I’m going to die anyway,” I explained hastily. “May I at least know whose name to curse as I starve beneath the trees?” I tilted my head with a more humored light in my eye.

The man laughed. “Conan,” he said in amusement as he bowed dramatically. “Prince Conan at your service, milady. Feel free to curse the name all you’d like.” He stepped onto the back of the wagon, one foot still dangling off as it slowly pulled away. “You wouldn’t be the first to do so.” He winked before they disappeared into the darkness, leaving me to die.

chapter twenty-four

The forest quickly grew dark. The looming trees cast eerie shadows across the ground. My body tensed at every sound, fearing a wild animal was lurking behind me on a hungry prowl. My bare feet brushed lightly against the forest floor, feeling the different textures in the dark. Most of the foliage I felt was moss, but occasionally my toes would brush by a tuft of grass. Each time I felt the soft blades, I adjusted my direction toward their growth.

Only a few times did I truly curse Prince Conan’s name. Okay, maybe more than a few… I knew that staying with him would only secure his victory over Drancos; therefore, the only hope the kingdom had of avoiding his deceit was for me to break free and warn Jasper. The odds of surviving in the woods were not good, but they weren’t entirely unlikely, either.

What Prince Conan didn’t know was that my knowledge of plants extended beyond only flowers. My father had taught me a litany of botany skills and information that had already begun to aid me. With any luck, these skills could save my life. The sole of my foot stepped directly on another blade of grass, and I once again shifted my direction. A majority of the forest floor was made up of moss, which primarily grew in shade. Grass, on the other hand, required sun to grow, so by following the patches of grass, I was likely to reach a sunnier area of the forest.

A larger patch of grass, the size of my own foot, brushed against me. I breathed a smile of relief as the patches continued to grow larger and fuller. More sun meant more plants, and the more foliage I found, the better chance I had at foraging some food and gaining a sense of direction.

I continued walking until every one of my steps was met by the glorious soft blades. The moon was probably in the center of the sky by the time I finally laid down to sleep. My rest was entirely fitful, due to my growling stomach and the unsettling noises around me. I tossed and turned in the grassy patch until the sun drew my eyelids open. My eyes itched from lack of moisture as I blinked them awake. Now that the sun was out, I could see where my blind travels had led me.

The trees overhead were far sparser now, allowing golden beams of morning sun to shine through the thin leaves. The grass was thick and surrounded by other various shrubs and plants that sent whirling relief through me. My stomach growled with excitement as my eyes fell upon a bush that had sprigs heavy with berries. I would have run straight to it if my eyes hadn’t first fallen on the small stream that lay beyond it.

I bypassed the bush entirely and ran to the clear water. My parched throat rejoiced at the sweet taste of the spring, and I instantly felt as though I could think clearer. My stomach growled once more, sloshing uncomfortably. I turned my attention back toward the berry bush, but this time, I inspected it more closely.

A frown spanned my face as I recognized the subtle differences between what I thought was a boysenberry and was instead a poisonous blue-night berry. My stomach gurgled once more, detesting against my brain’s logic to stay away from the beautiful fruits. Turning away from the poisonous bush, I began to forage for other plants. With my mind slightly refreshed from its drink, I was able to identify and procure a collection of wild onions, edible mushrooms, and even a few walnuts. I munched on my bounty, feeling instantly rejuvenated. My spirits lifted, along with my energy, as I continued my walk, now following the stream.

As long as I kept my wits about me, I should be able to keep foraging for food. If I stayed near the water source, I wouldn’t go thirsty, either. A loose rock poked at my foot, and I winced from the new bruise.This would be so much easier with shoes…I thought back to Sapphira and the girls and wondered what they were doing, now that I had been declared innocent.

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