Chapter 2

ATHENA

The king and I don't get along so the fact that he "requests" my presence is anything but good. To start with the king and the word good are two very parallel lines. Which should be expected from someone as powerful as King Augustus, the shrewd king whose requests are always an indirect command.

As I slowly approach his study my chest becomes heavy and I'm filled with panic. No child is supposed to feel this way around their parent but unfortunately I do. I knock on the door and hear the voice that caused my nightmares.

"Enter," he says. I swiftly opened the door, enter and close it behind me. Though I don't move from the door.

"Your majesty," I bow. The respect I portray on the outside does not reflect the distaste I bare on the inside.

"Have a seat," he points at a chair in front him. I take seat and thank goodness for the table between us, it reduces the risk of physical encounters, like the hands brushing or hair pulling. And yes the hair pulling has happened. The thought of it sends a shiver down my spine.

"You can stop the formalities I am your father after all," if by father he means tormentor then okay.

We sit in silence for what seems like forever. The tension between us could be sliced with a knife. I honestly can't remember the last time we spoke like this, alone, behind closed doors, without him having to pretend I matter to him. To which I don't.

You know why? Because I'm not a boy.

Yeah boys matter more than girls when it comes to being royal. Apparently we're just cunts that are born to serve arseholes like the one before me.

"So how have you been?" He asks. For some reason he's being suspiciously calm.

"I've been . . ." Terrible, helpless, life's been going bad ever since and your existence is making it worse. "I've been doing well."

"Hmm that's wonderful to hear," he says. If I was uncomfortable before then his response makes me feel way worse. "I know you're wondering what I could possibly want from you since we haven't spoken in months. Well what I want from you is very simple. All I want, no, need from you is to behave in front of my guest when he arrives."

Seriously, that's simple. All I have to do is follow my usual routine, bow, smile and keep my head down.

"Yes your majesty," I reply.

"Oh and one more thing when he arrives address me as father, King Darious prioritises family. Also show how much you love me by giving bright smiles," now that draws the line.

How does he expect me to show how much I "love" him by smiling? I freaking resent him and his whole existence. The courage he has to actually say such is outstanding.

"But the thing is your majesty I don't love you so I can't possibly smile as if I do," wow, I'm surprised I sound so confident because I'm trembling on the inside. "I also could never address you as father because I don't consider you as my father."

"Though I'm pretty sure your so called mother married me so I could be you father," he gives me a knowing smirk, "or at least the father of the son she couldn't bare." My body becomes rigid at upon hearing his words and his smirk turns into a wide murderous grin.

"I'm deeply sorry I wasn't born with testosterone but instead a uterus," I say sarcastically.

"You're just as usel—," his response is cut short by a knock on the door. "Come in."

"Father King Darious has arrived," says the illegitimate son, Rowen. He looks at me with disgust then looks back at the king. "Should I bring him in?"

"Yes, Rowen," the illegitimate son nods then leaves.

We remain in slice until King Darious joins us. As he stands up to greet King Derious, he gives me a stern 'behave yourself' look. I wish I could to defy him just to prove a point but his guest looks absolutely terrifying. The moment his eyes land on me my skin erupts with goosebumps.

His aura is dark and menacing though I would opposite about his looks. His chocolate brown eyes are deep and velvety, with a smooth, even tone that's reminiscent of melted chocolate. With high cheek bones, a chiseled jawline, jet black hair and milky pale skin. He looks like he came straight out of a painting. Though something about him is odd, he looks dead. Like a living corpse.

They acknowledge each other then start talking as if I don't exist. Well, it's not as if I ever did to him but now it feels down right awkward. I wish I could just disappear. Ugh.

They both start to approach where I'm seated and Augustus is still giving me that look. Though I pretend not to see it. I stand up from my seat as an act of respect.

"King Darious this is Athena my daughter and Athena this is King Darious of the Tenebra Kingdom."

"Your majesty," I say as I bow my head and curtsey.

"What a pleasure it is to finally meet you," King Darious says.

Finally?

What on earth does he mean by finally?

"The pleasure is all mine," I keep my head down so as to avoid his gaze. Though I can't avoid the way his aura is filling the room.

"Why don't we have a seat," so far this is the only good thing Augustus has said.

We all take our seats, and to my misfortune, King Darious sits beside me. If I felt awkward before then I don't know what I feel right now. But I certainly feel assaulted by their presence, scent and dominating auras.

"Princess Athena, I must say you look just like Amelia. Though there's a slight difference in the colour of your eyes," says King Darious. I don't know why but his words bring tears to my eyes. I quickly blink them away, I can't cry in front of them. "Your mother and I were very good friends."

"You never mentioned it," Augustus says with a quizzical expression.

He glances at Augustus, "I must have forgotten to." Then he brings his attention back to me, "Amelia always said that if she had a daughter she'd name her Athena because that was her favourite place to be at back home."

"May I ask who was this Athena?" I ask with deep curiosity.

"Well, it's not who but what. Athena is the name of the petal orchard we have back home in the palace. She would spend hours tending to the flowers or dancing with the doves."

"She'd do that here too," talking about her brings a smile to my face.

"I hope you inherited the love too."

"I have but I'm not the best dancer," and I'm not lying. I can dance but I'm not amongst the best. Arthur on the other hand is a million times better than me.

"That's exactly what Amelia used to say but she was one hundred percent the best," I thought I knew my mother but I looks like he knew her more.

"Athena, how about you go get ready for dinner. And look your absolute best," of course Augustus had to ruin the mood . I nod in respect and prepare to leave.

"Princess Athena when you're free I would love to have a chat with you," King Darious smiles. He actually smiled at me.

For the first time in ten years someone other than Arthur has made me smile. He was my mom's friend, a part of her past I never knew. Now that he wants to have a chat with me, I'll find out more about her. I can't wait for Arthur to return so I can tell him all about it.

I rush up the stairs and go into my room to take a shower. The feeling of cold water against my skin is cooling, it brings a sense of peace only it can provide. Though I hurriedly get out because of my demons demands. They honestly won't leave me alone.

I wrap a towel around my body and go into my walk-in closet to choose a gown. Most times the maids would help me get dressed though today I'm not in the mood for that.

I adorn myself in a blue and white gown, paired with white platform shoes–a deliberate choice since I've never been a fan of heels. The obligatory tiara, which I've grown to resent, sat atop head and my delicate hair pin, to finish it off. It has always been my good luck charm. I don't wear anything make-up because I don't believe it's necessary for the occasion.

Just then I hear a knock on my door, "Come in." It's none other than Arthur. "When did you start knocking?" I ask.

"Uhm . . . Since today, also I didn't want to see you naked."

"It's not anything new."

"I guess," he shrugs elegantly before walking towards me. When he finally reaches me I look up at him and he looks down on me. And I'm not short, he's just really tall. We stare into each others eyes for what seems like forever before he lifts his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You're a mysterious creature, Athena."

"I believe so too," I continue stare in his. "And so are you."

"I believe everyone's mysterious Athena."

"You're being strange. That reminds me I met King Darious of the Tenebra Kingdom today. He said he knew my mom, he also said he would love to have a chat with me."

"King Darious hm. I've heard of the Tenebra Kingdom but I've never heard of their connection."

"He said they were friends."

"That's nice."

"I know right."

Our conversation is cut short by the sound of carriages outside. For the first time in minutes I look away from his eyes and head to the balcony. There are so many carriages for just one dinner but considering all these guests it's a ball.

"I think we should go down and see what's happening for ourselves," Arthur says from somewhere behind me.

"I think so too." I head to my table to get one last thing before we leave. My perfume. It has always been the last step of my routine.

Once I'm done applying my perfume, we head to the ballroom. I'm honestly curious why he told me to get dressed up then the large amount of guests. Is he dying? Now that would be good news, maybe he has cancer because I remember great grandfather Edgar II died of cancer. If not cancer maybe a terminal lung disease that lets you live only for a month. Hopefully he's only living for three weeks.

We reach the ballroom and see a table full of gifts. Some are pots of gold that look like they came from the end of the rainbow, perfume, the rarest silk and the rest are wrapped in the most exotic wrapping paper.

Who the hell brings gifts for a dying man?

It could be for the grieving family. After all nobles don't grieve like the rest of the world. They usually bring gifts that are supposed to offer some sort of comfort.

"What's with all the gifts?" Arthur whispers in my ear.

"I want to know too," I whisper back. "Have you seen the doctor anywhere?" I ask as I search for the doctor in the crowd.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"No specific reason," if hasn't seen the doctor then he's not dying.

"What's going on?"

"I just wanted to know if he could give some more of that sleeping concoction," I lie.

"Well he's not hear so I guess we can go see him tomorrow," I'm so grateful he believed me. "If you'll excuse me I'm going to discuss something with Lots Eric. I'll be right back."

I watch Arthur as he slowly disappears into the crowd. Once again I'm all alone, the way it always is when Arthur leaves. The way I despise crowds and what makes it worse is it's a crowd full of nobles. Looking around I see a few familiar faces the rest are foreign. I continue looking through the crowd until I spot a very disturbing face. Duke Camelthorn. He only ever attends balls where important announcements are made. That reminds me of the last time I saw him ten years ago.

He's the one who announced my mother's death to the kingdom while Augustus 'grieved' in the hands of his new wife, Odelia. He also announced the arrival of the illegitimate son. Now that I've come to think of it he's the bearer of bad news. So there's a high possibility the king is dying. That won't be so bad, now would it? For the kingdom it might be but most certainly not for me.

I'm taken out of my of thought by the sound of someone hitting their spoon against a glass. Glancing towards the direction of the sound only to see the bearer of bad news. Our eyes lock and he gives me a smirk then proceeds to snap his fingers and the servants start serving wine.

Did he just freaking smile at me?!

And why the hell would he tell servants to serve wine when the king is dying?

What the . . . Is he not dying?

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," Duke Camelthorn says, "It is in my greatest honour to call upon our glorious King Augustus to make a toast," something seriously doesn't feel right.

Augustus leaves his throne and walks to the front of the room next to Duke Camelthorn who bows and leaves way for Augustus to pass. He stands up front with a glass of his own in his hand.

He glances around the room meeting everyone's gaze head on building up the anticipation. Then he finally speaks, "We are gathered here today to toast to the prosperous union between two kingdoms. This union will bring forth a dominant line of power, a generation of proud rulers that will bring victory to both kingdoms. This is a moment of joy that will last forever. It melts my heart not only as a king but a father to announce that my gorgeous daughter Princess Athena is engaged to Prince Cedrick of the Tenebra Kingdom. Oh how I wish her mother could be here to see this. She may not be here physically but she forever lives in our hearts and wherever she is, she is just as proud as I am. So tonight we toast to a prosperous alliance and a beautiful union."

"To love!" He toasts.

The crowd roars with cheer and shouts back, "To love!"

I'm too stunned to speak or even move. He said he wishes my mother was here when he's the cause of her death. Now he's sold me for some alliance. I knew something bad was going to happen but I didn't expect it to happen to me. My throat dries and my eyes sting with tears, I can't cry in front of people. I'm strong and I'll prove it.

A lot of people congratulate me I thank them and smile. Pretending to be okay is something I excel at so nobody can tell that this is all just a facade. Few people personally present gifts to me apart from the one's that are on the table. I give them to the servants to keep them. Though I have no plans of using them. Making my way to the door with calculated strides so as to avoid anymore unnecessary wishes from anyone else. I feel someone grab my wrist . Turning around I see a face I hate as much as Augustus, the bearer of bad news.

I get my nerves under control then speak, "Duke Camelthorn."

"Princess Athena," he smiles still holding my wrist, "I came to personally congratulate you on your engagement."

The audacity of this pig.

"Thank you," I release my wrist from his hold and walk away before he can say anything else.

The moment I'm out of the ballroom my confidence fades. I can't believe I'm engaged to a man I've never met. My feet move on autopilot and in no time I'm in my room. Seconds after I close my door tears start streaming down my cheeks. I can't bring myself to wipe it or move so I sit on the floor.

I knew my fate was cursed but I never thought I would be sold for some alliance. If only my mother was still alive then I wouldn't be here but no he just had to kill her and now he's sending me off to another kingdom. If he knew he didn't want me he should have killed me.

The emotions I'm feeling need to be released but I'm not strong enough to stand up and get my poetry book. So I let the emotions take over me and my chest tightens. My breathing becomes shallow, I'm gasping for air, my eyes sting with even more tears, I can no longer perceive my environment. My body starts trembling, I haven't felt like this in a while. It's the only time I feel closer to my end without having to worry about my demons demands.

I feel warm arms wrap around my body, whispering words I can't decipher. My hand is placed on the person's chest right above their oddly calm beating heart. I regulate my breathing with the pace of their heart beat. My breathing becomes controlled and my vision slowly becomes clear.

"Arthur," my voice comes out barely above a whisper.

"It's okay, I'm here for you," he soothes.

"Thank you," I hug him tightly. He hugs me back.

"You're always welcome Thena."

Arthur carries me to bed even though he knows I hate going to bed without washing up. He cuddles with me until I fall asleep.