The princess’ hands were shaking as it dawned on her that the power she had been trying to hide had resurfaced once more. She was both a mixture of afraid and angry with what this would mean to her.
Afraid of herself and the destruction she might bring, angry with Aleksander for bringing it out of her without consent.
Her ruby eyes blazed as they slowly lifted to meet the prince’s gaze. Prince Aleksander noticed the sudden shift in her mood the moment she had brought up the vision he gave her several hours back. He almost forgot they had argued about it, but now he was reminded.
"I hate you," came the spiteful words from the princess. "You don’t know what you have done. You don’t understand the implications of your thoughtless acts."
The prince knew he was at the wrong and he didn’t really care back then. But after he experienced firsthand how powerful the slave princess actually was, Aleksander slowly started to reconsider his actions towards her.
"You will need to tell me why if you want me understand," Aleksander responded to the words full of hatred that spilled out of Elys’ mouth. "If you had just answered when I asked the first time, I wouldn’t have thought about showing you that vision."
The princess was disappointed in his reply.
In a swift move, Elys sent the dagger in her hand flying towards the vampire in front of her. Prince Aleksander was caught off-guard, but his reflexes were fast enough to catch the sharp blade right before it reached the center of his forehead.
"I don’t appreciate this gift you just gave me," he said sourly.
"That’s too bad then. I had been meaning to send you lots of those since the day we were wed," Elys retorted. "Perhaps I should look into other things you would be happy to receive. How about a stake through your heart?"
Aleksander threw the blade clanking to the table. It hit the bowl of salad he had set aside awhile ago, and the leafy greens and edible flowers spilled to the ground. His eyes turned cold and he looked at the princess who obviously wasn’t happy he was able to counter her attack.
"I’d much rather not receive anything you give when you are like that," he said with a disinterested face.
"Well, I wouldn’t be like this if you would just admit you were wrong in the first place," Elys crossed her arms below her chest.
"I am the type of man that does not – that never apologize," Prince Aleksander raised an indignant chin. "Get your act together and submit yourself to me. Be a good little wife."
Elys scoffed in enragement.
"I regret that I ever thought you had a bit of hope for change," she said, covering her face in dismay and spoke to herself, "sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice to offer you help. You are utterly hopeless, Prince Aleksander."
She had stupidly assumed the prince would have understood by now that she wasn’t the type to back down. The princess did not appreciate his constant gaslighting at all.
"I didn’t ask you for any help," the prince smashed a fist on the table, "You offered yourself. You have a problem with your attitude just as much as you point out that I am without hope."
Elys squared her shoulders as she responded, "I did warn you that my attitude would merely reflect how you treat me. No wonder you stayed a lowly bastard prince. Perhaps you should tone it down several levels and be more like a prince rather than an asshole."
Aleksander choked on a lump in his throat with the insult the slave princess threw at him. He didn’t imagine this would be the outcome of his choices back then. Perhaps he was truly wrong, but his pride sat too high up in the sky for Aleksander to humble himself and admit it.
The prince looked away as her words cut him deep. She always had a way with words that ended up affecting him far too long. She made him rethink his choices without even realizing it.
Elys left Aleksander speechless.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"Your highness, Prince Aleksander and Princess Elysianne," a woman’s voice called out, "her majesty, the Queen, is ready to meet with you now."
Elys glared at Aleksander for a few more seconds before another series of knocks came and interrupted their silent war. The servant outside called out, "Your highnesses, is there something wrong in there? Do you need anything?"
"It’s fine, we are fine!" Elys responded to the servant, "we will be out in a minute."
The princess angrily grabbed the dagger on the table and slid it under her skirt. She stood up and composed herself, breathed in and out, tidied her dress and then looked at Aleksander with pure hatred.
"Get your shit together," Elys spoke through gritted teeth, "now let’s go and meet the Eastern Queen so we can quickly return to this argument. We are not done."
The princess grabbed her satchel and she walked to the doors, her heels clicking in an obvious angry walk. She was about to turn the doorknob and open the door when she glanced back at the prince and said, "Are you not coming, husband?"
Elys made sure to emphasize the last word she said, making sure that Aleksander heard the sarcasm and irritation in her tone. The prince bit his tongue in an attempt to keep his bruised pride that bred anger at bay, and then stood up quickly and joined Elys.
The two of them walked through long corridors in intense silence.
"His highness, Prince Aleksander Arodorlean, and her highness, Princess Elysianne Ardorlean seeks an audience with the Queen Euphemia Zemyatur," the servant announced as they reached the main palace.
The doors of the Eastern Queen’s throne room creaked open, and the royal couple entered with an elegant bow. The quirky teenager that rode the giant bluebird had a totally different air as she sat in her regally green throne of flora.
Queen Euphemia’s face conveyed the Western royals were actually unwelcomed.