AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter11
“Yes! Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
Vanessa’s words were the last I heard as the air sucked out of the room and everything went silent.
The staff looked devastated, clapping their hands mechanically. The fae, who moments before had been reserved and slightly turned off by Vanessa, now stood, clapping.
Not that I could hear it, but I could see the enthusiasm that lacked before was now there.
Now that Vanessa would be their future queen.
Noah beamed as he stood at the front of the dining hall. Staring out at his people with his fiancée by his side.
Vanessa waved her hands in front of her eyes, wiping and pressing her face as she sobbed. The prince’s arm wrapped around Vanessa's waist as she stared down at the enormous diamond on her hand and leaned into him.
Thunderous clapping and hollering hit my ears suddenly, as the sounds inside the dining hall came crashing back. I let out a breath and felt Nicole’s arm slide around me. I had no idea if she was holding me up or providing comfort, but it was most likely both at the moment.
“I know that we face many dangers right now, especially with the Seelie declaring war once more. It is more important than ever to present a unified front. With my fierce and incredible fiancée by my side, the Unseelie throne is secured in our family, and we will continue to lead you and work with you to stay safe. To stay protected. And to maintain this way of life we value.”
A few fae cried out in support, shouting, “Hear, hear.”
Nicole moved closer now that we all had to be on our feet, our of respect, and was now full-on hugging me. My breathing became labored, but my friend’s arms grounded me. Enough that I didn’t run from the room, from the palace.
Vanessa would be here forever. Tormenting me. Trying to humiliate me.
How could I stay here now?
“These are our lands, we are one people. And we will succeed under my parents’ reign, and one day, under our reign. Raise your glasses to your future queen, and the fae who will be by my side forever.” Noah raised his glass and the fae throughout the dining hall followed suit.
“To the family Driscoll,” rang out in the hall triumphantly.
Hesitantly, so did the staff, though our glasses were kept lower. With Nicole’s silent support, I joined in as well even though my stunned heart was breaking.
Dessert was brought out on magnificent platters to the guests. There was enough that we were served more than usual as well, but after forcing dinner into my stomach, I didn’t think I could take any more.
Chatter around me sounded like droning, a light and constant hum that I couldn’t make out or pick apart. I sat with a smile on my face, nodding every once in a while to look engaged, even though I didn’t hear a word that was said.
The guests left the hall a little here and there as the evening came to an end. Vanessa’s forced laughter rang in my ears like a track set to repeat simply for torture purposes.
Soon, the hall was practically empty. The tension between the king and queen could still be felt, as cool as a winter breeze floating in the air. Many of the staff members busied themselves, promptly leaving the moment they saw that there were no more guests and only palace members left.
They’d be out of the danger of the duchess.
But for me, there was no escape. Chin up, little heart, I heard the king’s words in my mind and repeated the mantra as my inner fire lit and flourished the more I said it.
Vanessa’s friendly gaze was still on display until she had the royal family at her back and faced me from across the room. She zoned in on me and her beautiful smiling face disappeared as she let a fury take over. Her narrowed eyes and scowl made her look like a different person as she made her way toward me.
The king was watching her back as she came my way. Nicole squeezed my hand once, not drawing attention from the others, and I was grateful to know she was there, even though she couldn’t face Vanessa’s shitstorm with me. I stood from the table, stoic with my hands folded in front of me.
I was beautiful. I was strong. And she would take no satisfaction in knowing my heart.
“You, with me. Now,” she said, hissing like the snake she was.
She walked out of the hall as I followed close on her heels. Silence was better than listening to her rampage on anything that had happened that evening. And I allowed the silence to make its way into my mind overall. Nothing to distract me, and no use in thinking about everything that had happened.
Vanessa marched into her room and sat at the vanity. “Brush. My hair requires one hundred strokes on each section. Undo it and proceed.”
Given what had happened between us, saying “Yes, milady” or acknowledging her order didn’t seem necessary. She knew I’d have to do it. And so I’d simply obey.
