Page 51 of A Tale of Treachery

“What do you think this is about?” I asked, hoping there would be some alternate reason why I might get called to the king’s office. Maybe it wasn’t due to what Aiden did after all.

“I’m not sure. We are possibly being monitored. Don’t say anything until we know for sure. When we get in there, let me do the talking.”

Well, there went my hopes. It had to be about Aiden. I cursed under my breath and side-eyed the door, willing it to open. This meeting needed to end as soon as possible.

Suddenly, as if I’d conjured it with my mind, the door creaked open, and Thomas appeared. “The king will see you now.”

Redmond and I eyed each other and slowly rose from the sofa to enter the king’s office. The door slammed shut behind us, and Thomas disappeared.

I snorted. Lucky man. I would have run away, too, if given the chance.

Redmond cleared his throat, and my attention shifted to the room in question. I sighed with relief as I looked around and noted it was the office, not the bedroom. But my relief was short-lived. The king was dressed in a tight gold outfit and seated behind an ornate wooden desk. Aiden stood tensely at his side. Not only was Aiden in attendance, but so was Ryken, performing his duty as the king’s assassin and protector.

I’d nearly forgotten that it was in the assassin’s job description to guard the king during meetings, but seeing him here was a relief. Maybe this meeting wouldn’t be so bad.

My hopes were dashed when I noticed the cloud tinting his aura, coloring it a dark shade of silver. He leaned against the wall, radiating pure distaste, a cutting figure clothed in black leathers and hood. Malice drifted off him, and he stood there, tightly pressed to the wall, like his vexation alone would hold it up.

He already knew what the meeting would be about, and judging by his tense posture, it wasn’t good. I shot him a curious look, then shifted my attention to King Drake and Aiden, curtsying as Redmond bowed at my side.

“I didn’t expect you to come, Redmond,” the king began. “I don’t recall sending you an invitation to this meeting, but seeing as you are here, why don’t you both come and take a seat? There is much to be discussed.” His passive-aggressive tone was difficult to ignore.

Redmond’s eyes met mine, the puzzle pieces connecting as he slowly realized why we were here. A warning flashed in his eyes, one that advised me to proceed with caution and let him do the talking. He took my hand in a symbol of unity and guided me to the chairs, a move calculated to let the king know that there would be no getting to me, not without going through him.

I slowly lowered myself into the seat and stared at Aiden as he chewed his bottom lip, clearly nervous about whatever would be discussed. He should be nervous. If this was about what I thought, I was going to be furious.

“What’s this about, Your Majesty?” Redmond asked, his expression stern. “Dahlia is my ward, so I would expect to be invited to this meeting.”

The king narrowed his eyes at my guardian, irritated that he would dare to challenge him. “She is a consenting adult. Therefore, I felt no need to include you. There are some topics of conversation that need to be discussed, topics that might make you uncomfortable, considering how you’ve raised her as your own. But if you must know, this concerns the relationship between Dahlia and my son. He came to me with the brilliant idea of pursuing your ward.” He paused to briefly shift his glare onto Aiden before continuing his discourse. “Obviously, that will not happen, seeing as he is engaged to the princess of New Hazel. But since they have decided to consummate and pursue this relationship behind my back, I’ve devised an alternative solution. Dahlia will move to the palace immediately and take on the title of Royal Mistress to the prince.”

Aiden was engaged! When in the world did he get engaged?

My breath caught as a rumbling growl emanated from the corner of the room. The air stilled as the king went completely silent in the wake of his assassin’s outburst. Even the king was terrified of crossing some unspoken boundary with Ryken.

Interesting.

Redmond smiled at the assassin, grateful for the interruption. A brief glimmer lit up my guardian’s eyes, and I cringed. Aiden scoffed and glowered at the assassin, appraising him with a look of contempt.

The king moved to speak as if he hadn’t been interrupted, but the slight shaking of his hands hinted at anxiety. “The Princess of New Hazel has been notified of the add-on concerning the prince and will be visiting next week to begin their courtship and marriage preparations. Dahlia will be under guard, considering how she’s been sneaking away at night,” he said to me directly, a withering glare lining his face.

That little—Aiden had told on me.

“She will still be allowed to study under you in the sanctum during the day, but at night, she is expected to perform the duties to which her title alludes. She will wear clothing befitting her title. No more of this dressing in scholar cloaks and trousers.” His eyes raked me up and down, taking in my uniform disapprovingly, as if the idea of trousers on a woman was insane. He turned to Redmond. “Do you have any questions or concerns?”

My blood boiled. Not only was this whole idea crazy, but the king had referred to me as an “add-on,” like I was some type of inhuman object. I wasn’t an object and refused to be owned. I liked my life the way it was. Hell, I loved it. I had a freedom that few women possessed in this world, and I was not about to become some prisoner in a gilded cage.

Aiden had taken things too far.

Before Redmond had the chance to open his mouth and answer the king, I shot out of my seat, the movement causing my chair to fall back and hit the floor with a loud bang. “Absolutely not! I don’t agree with any of this. You can’t just completely upend my life without asking first. I don’t consent to any of this!” I shouted, chest heaving and limbs shaking.

It was no way to speak in the presence of royalty, and the men went silent at my outburst. The king’s face turned beet red and sweat dripped down his temples.

“I am the king, and you will do what you are told!” He slammed his fists down on his desk, spittle flying from his mouth. Turning toward Redmond, he said, “I don’t think you or your ward understand the situation. This is not a request. This is a demand, and she will do as commanded.”

“With all due respect, Your Highness, we will need some time to discuss the terms of your decision. This is not a minor demand that you are making. I am aware that your word is supreme, but I should have some say, considering I am her guardian,” Redmond argued, likely buying time to consult the books on law and find a loophole around the king’s word.

Aiden suddenly cut in. “Her things are currently being moved to my wing of the palace. What my father has decided is not up for discussion.”

My eyes locked on him, and my mouth dropped open.

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