Coal Crown (Forging Royalty)

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Coal Crown (Forging Royalty) Page 15

by Maggie Lee


  “These look like coloring books!” I point out.

  “That is because they are! The kids are done with formal lesson plans, it’s time to learn in a fun way. We are going to color through our last two weeks of lessons.”

  I laugh with her as we go over her plans for keeping the children interactive. It’s a phenomenal idea and once again I’m honored to be working with her. I’ve never had another teacher who didn’t just give up the last few weeks and play movies.

  Class passes quickly, and it’s evident that the last two weeks of the school year are here. But, Ms. Buss’s plans are working, even if the kids are overly active and getting antsy already. We work with the kids all day and I’m happy to see them still learning something, but my best part of the day is lunch.

  I write another letter to my brother, hoping to be able to mail it to him without getting caught again. I would feel better about it if I knew he was getting them, but there’s no way for him to write back and the letters reach me. Not anymore, now that I’m banned from the grocery trips and all outside activity.

  As the day comes to an end, I loathe the idea of going home. Having to get ready for a stupid dinner, where I’ll have to watch June and Arden perform as the cutest couple the kingdoms ever seen, no thanks.

  Will anyone notice if I don’t come?

  When the driver pulls to our front gates, I’m unbuckled and out of the door before he completes his stop. Hoping to avoid any watching eyes, my path is odd as I cross around the front flower beds and go straight into the gardens. With the temperature as low as it is and the sky spitting out little flurries of snow, I decide that I’m going to hide in the greenhouse until the last possible second. Hopefully, Alexis won’t mind getting me ready quickly.

  My heart almost stops when I see a dark figure on the other side of the greenhouse, messing with my flowers. My heart speeds even further when I realize its Arden.

  “Arden?” My voice comes out a whisper as I rush the rest of the way into the greenhouse.

  He turns with a picked flower in his hands. "Does it count if I give you a flower from your own garden?”

  I shake my head in confusion, that wasn't what I expected him to say. He has this way of zigging when I think he is going to zag. While that usually excites me, today I’m a little annoyed.

  "What's going on? Is there something wrong?" He shakes his head no to my question and appears think about it for a second.

  "I'm assuming you haven't been to your room yet, or you would know why I'm here." Confusion mars my face, and it’s evident I’m lost.

  He crosses the distance between us and I stand stock still, unsure what to do at this point. I can't keep up with him and our violent tug-of-war. How did we go from not being on speaking terms to him picking me a flower?

  "What are you doing in here, Arden?" My voice shows my annoyance at these games.

  "I came to see you, before dinner tonight." He sighs, and I get the feeling that he’s something holding back.

  "Just tell me," I plead, in the most indifferent way I can.

  "Maybe I just wanted to spend some time with you?" He closes the distance between us and we’re almost chest to chest. I hold my breath when he leans forward and runs the soft petals of the rose he picked across my cheek.

  "You’re not allowed to want to spend time with me, I'm going to be your sister in law one day soon."

  I take a small step back and that seems to be the catalyst for everything that happens next. Before my foot even touches the ground, Arden is wrapped around me and we’re moving backwards. My back hits the glass of the greenhouse and Arden's face dips to meet mine. His lips crush into me and the world explodes around us. I'm so consumed in him that I barely feel his hands as the roam my body, but when he gives me a small reprieve for air, I finally feel his fingers run up my spine and then just barely trace up my neck. Goosebumps spread across my chest when he slowly slides his fingers into my hair angling my head so he can attack my lips again. A war battles between us, everything we have wanted to say and more comes through in our passionate embrace.

  Arden pulls back first but presses his forehead against mine, both of us not wanting to break contact, but needing to breathe.

  "I really shouldn't have done that." Like a knife to my heart, I bleed.

  "Fuck you." I use those words for the first time in my life as I push him away with all of my strength and then force my way by him.

  I don't get far before he turns me back around and holds me in my place with only his gaze touching me.

  "I said I shouldn't have done that, it doesn't mean I didn't want to. It also doesn't mean I don't want to do it again right now."

  "You...shouldn't." My heart aches and the reluctance is evident in my voice. I try to mask the hope in my eyes, but I see it reflect in a small lift of the corners of Arden’s lips.

  "I know." He steps closer and I accept the embrace that comes, putting my hands on his chest. He's as hard as I remember him to be, and he smells of a musk mixed with metal and smoke. Everything about him feels like home now, more than the palace has for years.

  His lips meet mine and the kiss is gentler than our first and second, more like an apology. Maybe, like the goodbye we know is coming. At this point, I’m too emotional about it all to tell. Everything is coming so quick, and my ability to process is shutting down.

  When we separate, air and sense start to funnel back in the little distance between us. How can I want someone so much, and not be able to have them.

  "You need to get ready for tonight, but first, I wanted to warn you before it came out. You seem to keep getting blindsided."

  "What? Is Father literally going to perform your nuptials at the dinner table?" I try to push away from his chest, but his arms pull me in tighter. My joke hurts me far worse than it does him.

  I turn my face away, trying to look anywhere but at him before tears pour down my face. Arden moves in closer and puts him mouth against my ear. "He wants us to go secure six month visas and set up a stay in Grantafe. We could find somewhere near the college if you wanted to come."

  "Would I be allowed to...?” My question fades out and my last word is just a breath.

  "I won't go unless you can. I know I can get June to push too. I won't leave you here that long, not alone." He has more excitement in his voice than I've ever heard before.

  "You really think?" I slide my hands up his chest and grab his face, pulling him back so I can look into his eyes before I kiss him. "Thank you!"

  "Will you come with us to set everything up, you and Kraus?" His mention of Kraus pours water on my fire.

  "Oh no." The words comes out involuntarily, but this time, he lets me have some space when he sees the panic in my eyes.

  "What's wrong?" His voice comes out gruff, and I don't doubt for a second that he would destroy whatever it is that has me upset.

  "We're standing here, like this, while both engaged to other people." I cry out, but continue to put distance between us until we aren't touching. I need space, being this close to him crowds my judgement.

  "You're engaged! When?" His words come out in a feral growl.

  "I'm not yet. But soon."

  "Over my dead body!" He starts to close the gap between us, but the greenhouse door opens and he freezes.

  "Miss, you need to come get dressed or you're going to be late for dinner." Alexis tries to hold back her knowing looks, but it still makes me blush.

  "Alright, I'm coming." She waits for me, instead of taking it like dismissal I meant it as. "Goodbye Arden, I'll see you at dinner."

  Arden stops me, grabbing a hold of my hand. "Don't give up just yet, come with us?"

  "Arden, I can't miss my possibly last two weeks of teaching to play this game again," I say defeated.

  "It won’t be your last two," he says with hope.

  "I can't play this game, Arden. Not anymore." I pull my hand from his and follow Alexis out. She doesn't mention the tears that fall down my face the whole walk, an
d I don't ask why she stayed, but I'm thankful for it all the same. I'm not sure I could have said no if I was alone.

  Chapter 18.

  "I have an outfit laid out for you, I can leave you to yourself if you would prefer?" she asks, opening my door for me.

  "I think I would like some time, come back in a little bit to do my hair?" She gives me a nod and goes on her way.

  The room is cold and empty, but that could just be a reflection of how I feel right now. I take the few steps in and fling myself on my bed, prepared to cry it out before changing into my evening wear.

  A small envelope bounces off of the bed beside me and I flip myself over the side of the bed to chase it down. Is this what Arden was talking about?

  'MACKENZIE' in my brother’s handwriting across the front makes me squeal. How did this get here? My father took them all and this is a fresh envelope! How did he get this here?

  I rip open the package, careful not to rip the letter in my excitement.

  Dear Mackenzie, I hear we’ve been caught, it was bound to happen eventually. Don’t take it too hard. I’m safe, and you soon will be. I’m sorry he’s punishing you for the things you’ve said to me, just know you aren’t alone. What Father is doing isn’t acceptable any longer, the country is starting to agree with that. He’s becoming paranoid, obviously he was looking for any reason to doubt you as the future queen, and you know how father fears the rebels. Do you think you could ever be a rebel, middle sister? Anyways, I received a letter last week from Arden, an old friend of mine and June’s. I haven't been as forward with you, and I still can't, but I wanted to tell you, keep your head down. We’re trying.

  His letter is short, but receiving one at all makes me feel better in some ways. I reread the letter over a hundred times and seem to feel differently about it each time. Everything is so coded, but what sticks out is that he’s friends with Arden. The puzzle continues to spread into smaller pieces with each one I find.

  I’m a little angry at myself as well. If I had just came here first I would have found Arden after and we could have talked about this. I wouldn’t be sitting here alone and as confused as I am. He has to have answers, if he will even tell me them. I’ll do what Teijan says and keep my head down, but I still want answers.

  As I reread again. A knock on the door startles me and I drop my letter. In a haste I shove the letter under my mattress and try to look nonchalant as I call out, "Come in."

  Alexis enters and sees me on the floor, I get a sympathetic smile as she helps me up. I'm dressed quickly and then on to hair and the little bit of makeup I’ll let her do. I have shed too many tears lately to wear a full face, it just isn't worth it.

  I can't have the person I want anyways, what does it matter how I look? Kraus is going to eventually falsely marry me whether I look a mess or not. Guess that's the perk of being an actual mess and virtually useless.

  "Thank you, Alexis. I look lovely. You've done a wonderful job. Take tonight off, I'm sorry you've been so busy with me lately. I promise, that ends tonight." I mean it when I say it to her, I'm done with the games and walking around like a ghost. I can’t go back to two weeks ago, but I can become someone better than she was, someone who’s learned from all of this, and maybe I can be someone who takes control of her life.

  "It's been no problem, have a nice dinner." She excuses herself and I'm left alone to go downstairs instead of being escorted like usual.

  I take a seat at the end and hope that no one particularly talkative sits with me tonight. Usually the elder men who are content to drink their dinners sit down here. I guess that's a perk to being early to dinner, I'm not forced to take the seat chosen for me, I can be wherever. So down here with the drunks it is.

  People file in and I watch them take their usual places, luckily the table is pretty full when my sister and Arden join us. They take their usual place seated next to Father and are so busy in conversation that they don't even notice that I'm not across from them. Every seat is filled with our royal family and advisors tonight. Queen’s and king’s advisors are seated around my uncles and their families, the room is full and vibrant.

  Everyone normally becomes silent and still when my father’s arrival is announced, but the room actually stiffens as he enters. I almost envy the control my father has over everyone for just a second, but it snaps back at me that it's why he is the way he is. Abusive and controlling. Power and possibly grief has taken him.

  I hope Arden won't rule like that.

  "Good evening, let’s begin eating and once everyone is done, we can go over the plans for the December Solstice." He greets the councilmen closest to him, and shakes hands with my uncles before having a seat. Despite how tense the room just felt, everyone lightens with his joyous mood. Father is always a presence in public. I wonder what his consultants would think of his actions behind closed doors. They probably already know how he is. For decades, kings here have gotten away with murder. It's disgusting.

  I eat my dinner in silence as the people around me mostly drink as I thought they would. They never question me or my seating, but do occasionally ask me questions as to include me in their conversations. I learn a lot from my spot, they don't all agree with even hosting the December Solstice while we have a war on the horizon. They believe the excessive spending and king’s choices are part of why we are looking at a war. I stay quiet, soaking in the opinions of the people closest to my father.

  The more they drink, the more they talk, and it becomes evident by their opinions and comments that he stopped listening to their advice quite some time ago. They fear the council won’t listen to them either, as they’ve had no luck so far. I never give a true opinion one way or another, but try to be gracious and understanding.

  Once I'm done eating, I start looking for a way to excuse myself. Father won’t let me do anything with the December Solstice, of that I’m sure. He starts speaking to everyone about the plans and mentions the barely dressed event coordinator sitting beside him. She looks barely of legal age, and I’m sure he didn’t hire her because of her planning capabilities.

  When he announces that service can take away the plates, I use the distraction to push from the table and carry things out with them. I go mostly unnoticed except for Arden finding me on the way out. I throw him a pointed look towards June and only get sad eyes in return, before he snaps back and returns to the conversation he was having.

  With my new resolve to be finished with their game, I turn my head and focus on breathing evenly the whole way out. If he can snap back that fast, so can I.

  I spend the rest of my night rereading the letter my brother sent, until I hide it away the best I can and finally fall into a restless sleep. All night I toss and turn, at ends with myself until the sun comes up to start my day. I don't have any plans other than preparing for my upcoming week, so when June joins me with our breakfast trays instead of Alexis, I let her stay. We eat in a companionable silence until we run out of food.

  "Good morning?" she finally asks me as I flip the last scrap of egg around on my plate for the fifteenth time.

  "Good morning," I mumble back as I continue flipping the egg around.

  "What are your big plans for today? Or actually, the whole next two weeks?" I let out a full groan at her question.

  "I'm not going with you, Kraus can, but I'm done with this all." She looks at me with wide eyes.

  "Kraus won't come if you don't, and Arden won't leave you here without Kraus or him staying...and Arden can't possibly stay. He has to go make connections as the next King of Schrielle," she says everything very matter-of-fact, like she just told me that water is wet and the earth is round.

  "Then I guess Kraus and I are staying. I'm not discussing it, would you like help packing?" I shut her down with a very firm tone.

  Defeated, she gives me a small nod, so I follow her out and into her room. Everything looks almost identical to mine except for the colors. We both have full four poster beds with matching white nightstands and a lar
ge armoire. Our colors are similar but just a shade or two different. Her room feels colder than mine, and I’m not sure if that’s because of our mental distance. June has been different since she got back.

  “How long will you be gone, and what are the climate conditions? Will you have ability to launder?” Still in her solemn mood she gives me a pathetic raise of the shoulders. I’m not sure how to help her, I simply cannot go. I have school, and this could be my final two weeks. I also will not go along on some twisted double date sort of trip.

  Not even for my own life will I watch their now public romance blossom. Kraus shouldn’t be forced to endure either. Neither of us deserve it, even if they don’t mean to torture us. Kraus, he would go for June, I know it. However, it is not fair to him and I won’t subject myself. Not anymore.

  “Well then, let’s start over packing. A day dress for every day and then four or five evening gowns. You can rewear those without laundering since you won’t get them dirty. You are going to need to take a kit for makeup and hair, since I assume, you are not taking a maiden with you.” I get a sad nod.

  Without waiting for her, I begin pairing shoes to dresses and then throwing them on her bed. When she has fourteen outfits ready, I pick out four evening gowns with shoes to match. All she needs to do is get her beauty kit together and something to sleep in.

  If she weren’t going as the future queen, I would pack her some pants to wear. Those would be more comfortable and she would probably fit in better since most women don't wear the lavish dresses we wear every day. But, unfortunately she has to look her part.

  Something about being forced to wear dresses all of the time makes putting them on some days completely unbearable. I love when Father is away and I can sneak around in pants, I would burn my dresses on his doorstep one day if I actually had any backbone.

  She watches me fold her dresses for a moment before jumping up to help. The fire coming back to her eyes. She isn’t sad about us not going anymore, now she’s very evidently mad.

 

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