The queen gave a decree that everyone should summon to the palace in the next two days. The decree was passed around the kingdom. “Are you certain that the prince would arrive with the girl?” Kim asked the Queen.
“We can only hope.” She answered him. Her heart was beating fast so she had to take a seat and calm herself down. Things in the palace were too hectic for her to handle alone but she has been doing a great job.
“Your Majesty,” Chloe called as she bowed her head before the Queen.
“What is the matter?”
“Prince Zod just sent a message,” she handed her a Scroll.
“What does that Prince want now? Taking Xenia isn’t enough for him?” Kim asked.
The Queen rolled down the scroll and the first thing she saw was an invitation for his engagement to Xenia which would take place in the palace in the next two days. She was so angry that she squeezed the scroll and threw it on the ground.
“Your Majesty,” Kim and Chloe called.
Kim picked up the scroll and read the content of the letter. After reading, he folded the scroll and clenched his fist. “What does the scroll say?” Chloe asked.
“His engagement to Xenia is in three days.”
“Really?”
“That is why I am so pissed off.”
“Your Majesty, I would suggest you take some rest,” Kim advised.
“How can I rest with all this going on?” She asked. “The people are dying because of the curse. My son…” she paused.
“Your Majesty, I think we should have faith in the Guardians and your son,” Chloe suggested.
“The question is, what would happen if my son comes in and sees that his worst enemy is getting engaged in our palace?”
“We can explain things to him. We can’t go against the demands of the people of Euphrates because right now, we are at their mercy.”
“And should that be the reason they take us for granted?” Kim asked.
“It’s fine,” the Queen sighed. “The most important thing is the arrival of my son.”
Chloe was happy with the news. Finally, she has gotten rid of Xenia and all that is needed for her now to have her way with Lucas. If she fails to get him, then it won’t be Xenia’s fault but her fault. She curtsied before the Queen with a bright smile on her face. “I would love to take my leave now. I have to join the other maidens.”
The Queen nodded and gestured for her to leave.
Kim turned to the Queen after Chloe had left and asked her if she was going to let Prince Zod get engaged to Xenia. “I don’t think this is fair on her.”
“The deed has been done. She agreed to go on with this.”
“She did that to save…”
“I don’t want to hear any more talks about Xenia. As I said, what’s important is the arrival of my son.” Without taking a look at him, Queen Elise took her to leave and went into the palace.
Kim stood there looking so frustrated. He wondered how Xenia was doing over there. “In just a matter of time, Xenia, you’d be free once again.”
~~~
Xenia was in the kitchen preparing dinner for the prince and his father when she overheard one of the maidens talking about her engagement. She got so curious that she left what she was cooking and approached the maidens. “Excuse me,” she said. The maidens turned around to look at her. “I am so sorry to bother you but I overheard one of you talk about my engagement with the prince.”
The maidens looked at one another. It was supposed to be a secret. The prince would punish them if he ever finds out that they linked out the secret. “We are sorry,” was all they said before running out of her presence.
She wanted to run after them but then remembered that she was cooking. She went to the kitchen to finish what she was doing.
After the food was ready, she served the father in his room and took the prince’s food to his room. When she got there, she saw the prince kissing one of the maidens. She wanted to leave but the prince told her to come in while he sent the maiden he was kissing out of his room.
She placed the food on the table and was about to leave but the Prince held her hand and when she turned to look at him, he said to her, “feed me.” She didn’t know whether to feel disgusted or not. She sighed and sat slowly on his bed. She opened the food and spoon-fed the prince.
“You are silent, why?” he asked.
“I have nothing to say,” she answered as she continues to spoon-feed him.
“What can I do to make you fall in love with me?”
Xenia looked at him and she scoffed. “Do you think I can make myself fall for you? I know I am the one that has the heart but I can’t tell it who to love and who not to.”
“Now you are talking,” he smiled at her.
So, he said that just to make me talk? she wondered.
“Do you know why I love hearing you talk?” The prince had finished eating and was lying down on the bed with his face turned towards her. She didn’t say anything so he went on. “Because your voice reminds me of my mother.”
She looked at him but his eyes were already shut. “What kind of childhood did you live?” She asked him.
“A rough one,” he answered her.
Her eyes widened in shock when he spoke. She thought he was asleep.
“I never intended to be this way. I had a perfect picture of how I wanted to be when I was little but…” he opened his eyes and looked at her. “…people change people.”
“Did your m…mother made you this way?”
He smiled and shook his head. “I made myself this way.”
“Why?”
“What do you think?”
I don’t know. I just feel like you love being an a**hole. She said to herself. “I don’t know.”
“I promise to grant you one wish if you can find out the answer. Until then, I need you to get yourself ready for the engagement ceremony that will take place at Havilah three days from now.”
“Three days?”
“You may leave.”
“But…” His glare made her shut up. She packed the plates, bowed her head, and left his presence.