Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The door opened, and Cassius joined her. Maggie quickly bowed her head at the sight of Cassius. "Your highness," she said, raising her head with a smile.

Anastasia opened her mouth to speak but held herself back. 

"I did not have the chance to greet you last night about the successful wedding," Maggie said. Without saying anything, Cassius walked away. Anastasia raised a brow, and the smile on Maggie's face fell.

"Do you really want to greet me or mock me that I fell unconscious at the wedding?" Anastasia asked. 

"The Elders think this is a bad omen," she said. "They're shipping Ms. Emily with Cassius. Perhaps he could take her as his mistress."

"If Cassius wants a mistress, he would find one for himself," Anastasia said. 

"You are not frightened that someone would take your place?" Maggie asked.

"Unless this wedding—" 

Anastasia took a step forward. "If you value your job as a maid here, then you should watch your tongue."

"And what are you going to do? Not as if you have the power. No one sees you as a Queen in this Kingdom," she said.

 "Dare me." Without waiting for her response, Anastasia walked away.

Reaching the dining room, they ate breakfast. After they were done eating, Anastasia and Cassius walked outside the castle to the garden.

"How are you doing?" He asked.

 "Fine," she replied. 

"You know a week from now the ladies of the court will be here. You will do your duties as Queen of Blackwood Kingdom," he said.

"I can never be your Queen," she said.

 He looked at her without saying anything. As she sat down at the bench, she wondered if the ladies of the court would ever welcome her.

"Do you miss your old life?" He asked.

 "A little," she replied. 

"If you want, I can invite your friends and family," he said. 

She shook her head. "I don't have any friends." 

He smiled. "You will be Queen in a few days. You will get tired of women trying to make friends with you. But you should be careful. Not everyone that smiles at you is your friend."

Anastasia didn't know how to respond, so she stayed quiet. 

"Ana," he called out, and she turned around. He grabbed her chin, and as he opened his mouth to speak, they heard a commotion from the gates.

Cassius quickly stood up, drawing the sword out of his sheath. Before Anastasia knew what was happening, dozens of guards hurried to her, blocking her from the gates. 

"Ms. Anastasia, we should take you upstairs where it's safe," one of the guards said.

"What is happening?" She asked, trying to see through, but she didn't see anything. 

Their big backs were blocking any little space. They were trying to protect her. Protect her from what? Before the guards could answer, she saw an arrow hit one of the guards, and he fell to the ground.

She didn't understand what was going on, and more guards were trying to protect her.

 "Attacks from the villagers," one of the guards answered. "They're trying to kill you." 

Kill me, Anastasia breathed out. She didn't know the hate from the people went this far.

"This way," one of the guards guided her where to follow. She heard arrows passing through the air and hitting the walls of the castle before falling down. All she could think of was whether Cassius was safe or not.

They guided her upstairs, taking her to her room, and she hurried to stand by the window. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for Cassius. Then she saw him. He grabbed one of the villagers, pulling the heart from his chest before throwing the man to the ground.

Then she saw about two men rushing inside the castle. They were coming for her. Her heart raced with panic as she hurried inside the closet to hide.

They eventually found her room and they walked in. She heard footsteps, their eyes scanning the room looking for her. The door opened again, and more villagers rushed in.

It didn't take long before the guards arrived, and fighting erupted through the room.

They're fighting because of me. Everything that is happening is because of me. You need to do something, Anastasia.

She pushed the closet door and walked out, breathing heavily. "Stop," she said, and they turned around to face her. "Lock yourself in the bathroom. This place isn't safe for you," one of the guards said.

"No," Anastasia shook her head. "All of this is happening because of me." She then turned to the villagers. "Kill me now. Isn't this what you want? Do it."

One of the men blocked the distance between them, raising the sword to cut through her neck when Cassius appeared from nowhere and grabbed the man's neck, shoving him to the wall. 

"Why are you planning to kill my wife? Your Queen?" Cassius asked the man.

"She is not my Queen!" The man spat. "She is a traitor. She deserves to be killed." His words hurt Anastasia down to her spine, and she stumbled back.

"You might be thinking she is a traitor, but you know nothing about her. You haven't stayed with her to understand her," Cassius spoke. She could see he was trying to convince the man. He couldn't kill everyone in the Kingdom for not respecting her. He needs to convince them and make sure she is not as evil as they think.

"We don't know to know her. She killed the King. She is capable of killing anyone, even you," the man snapped.

 "I am your King!" Cassius roared. "My father deserved his death."

"I cannot believe her charms are finally working on you. Perhaps I should kill you first," the man charged towards Cassius. Before he could reach him, Cassius grabbed his neck, raising him to the air, and threw him against the wall. Then he reached for his sword and sliced the man's neck.

"Killing your people for a woman you barely know?" Another man spoke up. Cassius killed him too, and then he killed everyone until they were laying dead on the ground.

Anastasia remained seated. She had just watched Cassius kill his people because of her. She didn't know what to say.