"I'm aware, Your Majesty." Thorian responded. "The prince may be locked up, but he still has value. An alliance with Veldenar could easily place you out of this situation."
Aislyn leaned forward. "You want me to use the prince to secure an alliance with the same Kingdom that may be currently plotting my downfall for imprisoning their crown prince?"
She leaned back. "Do you take me a fool, Vex?"
The room fell quiet. The council members glanced at each other. Even the General, who was usually calm, looked uneasy.
Vex smiled.
"The people of Veldenar do not care for their prince, Your Majesty."
Aislyn raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know?"
"Veldenar is the strongest of the five Kingdoms in Lyseria. If they really wanted him back, Ilvandoria doesn't have half the soldiers to stop them. But they still haven't come for him, have they?"
Silence.
"But then again, that doesn't make him entirely useless." Thorian added.
"..Entirely useless?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Thorian nodded.
"Whether his people care or not.." He added. "He still remains their Crown Prince. If you're able to form some sort of friendship with him, he may be able to help you to Veldenar, where you'll be safe."
Aislyn stared at him for a while and then—she laughed.
Not a soft one, but one that sounded mad.
"Y-Your Majesty—" the General started, worried.
Aislyn didn't even glance at him, she looked straight at Thorian.
"You want me to befriend.. that inhumane beast?" She asked, still laughing. "A man who wiped out his entire lineage, just to climb to power? Does a sort even know what friendship is?"
Her smile dropped and she arched a brow. "Tell me, how do you expect me to 'charm' the Crown Prince into helping me when I presume he spends his nights thinking of all ways possible to murder me?"
Thorian held her gaze with a calm expression. "I believe the prince will see your use. It's in his best interest to keep you alive. Not because he fancies you, but because he needs you. If you die, he stays locked up. But if you escape into Veldenar, he goes free. You both win."
Aislyn tilted her head. "Like you said, Veldaris are powerful. Why would he need my help?"
"Because.." Thorian said. "If he hasn't escaped already, it means one of two things, Your Majesty. He either doesn't want to—or simply, he can't. That means you still have some power."
"—And what if she gets to Veldenar and he kills her the moment she arrives?" Iridia cut in, folding her arms.
All eyes turned to Thorian.
"Then she takes a blood oath before we leave."
"It's an old Ilvandorian ritual." Thorian added. "Only this kingdom knows of it. You take his blood, you press it onto a carefully written contract, once sealed, if he tries to kill you—he dies instead."
For a second, nobody said anything.
Then—
SLAM.
General Vael shot to his feet and slammed his hand on the table. "A blood oath?!" He shouted. "What nonsense do you speak?! A blood oath would tie the Queen to that rogue! They would become—"
Aislyn interrupted with a sigh.
"Mates."
She massaged her aching temple. "We'll become mates."
A violent cough echoed from the other end of the table.
Solas adjusted his robe with a grim frown. "Your Majesty, that cannot happen, not in a thousand years! A union such as that—mating with a foreigner, a Veldari no less—goes against centuries of law, even common sense! That man is not just a prisoner—he is the embodiment of chaos."
"I agree." Iridia chimed in, her brows pulled tightly together. "From trying to avoid one disaster, we'll be walking straight into a bigger one. You'd be tying your fate to someone who might very well destroy you."
Aislyn's gaze drifted lazily across the table, pausing briefly on each council member. But when her eyes landed on Thorian, a frown formed on her face.
He looked calm, too calm, as if he hadn't just dropped a verbal plague into the room—like he hadn't just suggested she sell her soul in exchange for a blade-wielding beast in royal clothing.
Her fingers constrained into a fist.
"This meeting," She spoke, standing. "Is dismissed."
She walked out.
---
Leaning casually against the pillar across from the council chamber, Serenya wore her signature smirk. Her dark hair was perfectly coiled, not a strand out of place.
"Well, well. Someone's having a rough time ruling a crumbling Kingdom." She purred.
Aislyn gave her a sideways glance. "Shouldn't you be haunting the west wing with the other ornamental relics?"
Goodness, she was always lurking.
Serenya fell into step beside her. "You wound me, truly. But then again, watching you pretend you belong here is the only entertainment left in this dull palace. It must be truly exhausting, balancing a crown meant for someone else."
Aislyn's lips twitched "Jealousy isn't a good look on you, Serenya."
Serenya smiled. "Jealous? Oh no no. I'm simply being patient. After all.. once that beast snaps your neck, guess who they'll crown next?"
So, she had been eavesdropping? Fascinating. She thought peeping through keyholes was beneath the latter.
Aislyn stopped, turning fully to face her. "You wish to rule a crumbling kingdom?"
Serenya straightened, lips curling into a sneer. "It's only crumbling because the people want you gone. You're a glitch in the bloodline, Aislyn. Once you're out of the way, things will return to their natural order."
Aislyn gave a faint smile. "Of course."
She turned to walk away, but then—
A hand snatched her wrist.
"That's it?" Serenya asked, brows knotted. "You're done talking?"
Aislyn stopped. She slowly looked down at the offending grip, then back up—meeting Serenya's eyes with calm.
"Release my hand, Serenya."
Serenya's nostrils flared. "If you hadn't been married off to my father, I would've been Queen, a real one, a competent one!"
Aislyn yanked her wrist free, her voice dropping. "That's your burden to carry. Do not throw it at my feet."
And with that, she turned on her heels and walked away.
Her heels echoed through the long, dim hallway as she walked further down.
But then— Click. Click.
Aislyn heard someone's footsteps behind her.
At first, she dismissed it, believing it was just a guard.
But then the rhythm changed. It became faster, closer, heavier.
She stopped.
The steps stopped.
Silence.
She turned slowly and her right eye instantly widened, mouth parting in horror as the color drained from her face.
She stumbled back and dropped to her knees.
"It.. it cannot be.. Impossible!"
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