BARGAINING WITH FATE

Hale's POV

That laugh. It was back. But this time something was different.

I wasn't sure what.

Maybe it was the way there was a tinge of sadness lacing behind that laughter. Like a shade of blue amongst a bright yellow hue.

Was she okay?

What was going on?

I wasn't even sure whether this was just a figment of my imagination or a part of my past I didn't recall.

My past.

I hated thinking about it.

Maybe because whenever I tried to, I just drew a blank. All I could recall were the memories I begged to forget.

I knew I didn't have a sad childhood.

A hard one, but not a miserable one.

I knew I had happy memories. I strongly knew that.

But then where were they?

Why couldn't I find them when I tried to?

Maybe these questions were what made me hate my past.

"It's okay. It's okay. It- it's all going to be okay."

What was she even talking about?

What was going to be okay?

When was this woman going to stop haunting me and let me get one peaceful night. Her voice was soft. Honey-like and smooth. Her voice wavered as she spoke. It felt like she was trying convince whoever was in front of her, but at the end, she was trying to convince herself even more.

She was bargaining with fate. Almost desperate. In front of my eyes was just a blank space of nothingness. Nothing but black. Nothing but darkness. Devoid of any possible light. I tried to close my eyes even harder, hoping I could see who she was. Her voice was a lot different from Davina. Davina's voice never shook or wavered. It was one of the most steadiest voices I had ever heard. Davina was strong. I wasn't so sure about this woman. She was probably far from that. I opened my eyes and sighed with annoyance. I couldn't remember the last night that I got more than four hours of sleep. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x

"Smile. At least the staff won't think that you are being tortured."

I looked at Davina who was stabbing her into her meat. I had gone to the east wing to have my breakfast. I had expected to be alone but to my surprise, Davina was already at the table. There were all different kinds of foods, but I just took my regular. A few bread slices, along with red beans. I had some bacon on the side, but I rarely ate it. One of the maids just poured some juice in my glass. I didn't really care, which one it was. I was going to drown it down at the end anyways.

"So, how's training going? I hope the co-colonel isn't much of a trouble for you."

I waited for her to reply while I took a spoonful of beans into my mouth. "It's going great."

I wanted it to be true. But I was well aware about her sarcasm.

"Davina, just tell me how the army is training? Are the new recruits good enough? We have an interview today and I am sure that the Mortales would be eager to know about the progress of the recruits,."

Today we had our monthly live interview that would be broadcast outside the castle.

Davina, me and the council head, John Wickman, would be interviewed. I was sure of the questions they would be asking.

But I was too used to it to care.

Once the interview is over, we will move out to the balcony to make an appearance.

It's been eight years of making regular monthly appearances, but I still haven't gotten used to the number of people standing out there, waiting to meet us.

To meet me.

"As I said, Hale, it's going fine. The great Victor that you have appointed has been a pain in the ass for me, but I can't do anything about it. As if having one of you wasn't enough, i have to deal with another man who keeps reminding me about my worsening health, which I must say, is not deteriorating."

I wanted to grin in victory.

I didn't have an idea about how Victor was as a person. Sure I made him go through a whole set of tests to examine his physical strength and knowledge about how to manage a team.

I didn't want to pick any high rank soldiers from the army because once Davina had regained her health, I would have to put the soldier back to his original position.

And I wasn't sure how he would even react. I could easily let Victor go, once her iron levels are back from being dangerously low.

"Good. It's good to see I appointed a good man."

I heard her snort and shook my head at her silliness.

"Good man, my ass."

"What was that?"

I gulped the orange juice down in a few sips, and waited for her to reply.

"Nothing. Just nothing."

Under all that strength, there was a little kid. And I wasn't sure which one I considered my best friend.

"Be sure you are ready before the interview starts. I want today to be flawless. I have a council meeting, right now, so I will be leaving now."

"Yeah, I will be. Don't worry."

I nodded and turned around. It was nice to have left the hall with a smile on my face. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x. xx. x x x. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Once I was done with my shower, I turned the knob off. The Mortales preferred the usual showers while Lormeians preferred taking baths. It was honestly a wonder how they even afforded all of that. Plus, a shower saves much more time.

My hair had grown a little too long then I preferred. I would have to get a trim soon.

I would have to pick a suit for the interview today. Black would do well.

I remember the days when my mom used to pick my outfits out. I still remember her telling me stories about how she used to enjoy dressing me up as her daughter. She always wanted a daughter, after my brother. I rarely thought about him

Especially since i never gave myself the time to do so. He always wanted to. be the king. Always went on and on about how the Lormeians were just power hungry humans with magical powers that supported their desire for power. It never occurred to him how power hungry he was too.

Maybe that's why he ended up losing both his life and his throne.

I walked into my room and found a dark blue suit carefully laid in front of me on my bed.

Vina.

This was her peace offering. We rarely apologized to each other. All we did was do something for the other that we knew they hated.

I smiled and began putting on the white shirt that had no creases. I put on a pin of the Mortale emblem on my lapel. Once the blazer was on, I looked myself in the mirror one last time, and began to walk towards the council room. I was glad that everything was fine between her and I.

I hated fighting with her.

I hated fighting with family.

"So this concludes the meeting, Your Highness. We hope to hear more from you about the annual ball after the interview and the balcony appearance."

I nodded and got up.

"Sure. Us attending the ball would is a hundred percent positive. Mortales cannot miss it or back down. RSVP at least 200 seats for the royal Mortales, their families and the palace staff. Also, RSVP another 400 for the civilians. I plan on announcing it in the interview today. Two members from each mortale family can attend the ball. Anything else?"

I stood up and straightened my suit.

"No, Your Highness. Nothing else. Thank you for your time and presence."

I curtly nodded and took my leave. The annual ball was more of a competition and less of a symbol of our unity. And honestly, I couldn't care less.

It was just another custom between the two kingdoms and I just wanted to get done with it. On the plus side, I would want to see how Rosabella's attempt to outdone us works.

I walked into the court and saw how the set looked a little different this time. There were four thrones. All coated with blue sapphires. The third one, or the one in the middle being the largest, while the other three were significantly smaller. There was a podium at the center. A microphones was resting on the seats near the podium.

There were maids and servants, and other guards trying to take their spots. John was already in his seat, wearing a plain black suit. Davina was still not here.

She had been made to wear a dress today, unlike from her daily outfits. She probably hated John for asking her to do that, but we needed her to look slightly more approachable, which she wouldn't have in her all black training outfits.

Victor came onto the set but he didn't walk towards his seat. He kept turning back and whispering something behind the curtains.

Who was he talking to?

After a few seconds, Davina walked onto the set wearing a blue dress that melted into white. Like strands of ice were weaving their way to the floor. She hid it quite well, but I could see how nervous she was.

She hated getting into dresses. And she hated these interviews too.

She ran her hands down her torso, straightening imaginary wrinkles.

I looked back at Viktor and saw his eyes gleaming. Was there something I didn't know about that was going on?

She walked up to me, and smiled.

"See, I told you to not worry."

I shook my head, and smiled back at her.

"You look stunning."

She grinned and looked around.

"I know!"

She patted my shoulders and walked over to her seat. Viktor followed her and sat next to her.

I looked around once again.

Every single person had someone. John's wife was waving at him, while Viktor was trying to not get his face slapped from Vina.

Until now, I had never felt this need to not be alone. This desire to have someone.

What was it that was driving me this vulnerable. It almost felt like there was this empty part of me and I needed someone to fill it.

I took my seat and smiled at the camera.

There were so many people looking at me, but none who is ready to see the world with me.