The King's Pain.

***

Chapter 38.

~Karl~

"You shouldn't have gone that far. You made her feel unwanted," Lord Rowland said for what felt like the tenth time.

I had told him everything that happened at the dining hall. He hadn't been there this morning—he was busy overseeing the final preparations for the games.

Now, we were making sure everything would be ready before tonight. The sporting complex was being decorated by professionals. I wanted the whole city to be in awe when they saw what we had created.

"If you ask me, you humiliated her in front of everyone," Rowland continued. "And worse, you chose Queen Fortuna over her."

I sighed. "Fortuna is my queen. And in this case, she wasn't wrong. My mother didn't tell me about inviting Katrina. She just went ahead and did it. I had important family matters to discuss."

Katrina wouldn't betray my family, but what if my mother had invited someone else instead?

Rowland shook his head. "You handled it poorly."

He picked up a bucket of paint and began working on one of my sculptures. It was the one with horns—a reflection of what I truly was. A beast.

"I think you're only taking Katrina's side because you like her more than Fortuna," I muttered.

The sun was rising higher. The heat was starting to affect my mask. I needed a new one. This one was getting old. Maybe.

"No, Your Highness. I'm just being honest," Rowland replied.

I scoffed. "I suppose we see things differently."

My mind drifted back to the sight of Katrina sitting next to Prince Elvin, whispering to him.

Of all people, why him?

I shook my head, recalling the way they had leaned in, speaking in hushed tones. What had they been talking about?

Rowland stopped painting and looked at me. He noticed the sun affecting my mask.

"We should go under the shade, Your Highness," he suggested.

I nodded. Maybe some distance from the sun would help clear my mind, too.

He handed the bucket to one of the workers and we moved to one of audience spots and sat down. 

"Are you sure we shouldn't go inside?" he asked. 

"No, Rowland," I told him. "I don't have much time left. My birthday will soon be here. I don't think the mask is the problem. My condition is getting worse." 

Lord Rowland sighed. I could see the concern in his eyes. My problems were his. He was the brother I never had "we will come up with a solution before tonight. Maybe we will get a metal mask for the sun or tonight fire." 

His suggestion was a good one but it was going to be a problem "now, the people are going to scared of me more. I'm finally becoming a devil, they always thought I was. Even Katrina," I rubbed my palms together and took a deep breath. "She is the only one that gives me…that woman stir something exciting in me yet I humiliated her today because of my jealousy." 

"You really annoyed her. You have to make up before it's too late" lord Rowland advised. 

"How? You know how I'm bad at all these? I don't know how to please all these women and when I try to, the other get hurt. I never wanted so many women in my life…the situation calls for it, Rowland. I had no choice and now they are going to be the death of me." 

"That's not true. I would've been a mess if I were in your shoes," Rowland said, trying to encourage me. "You've done so well in this time. Look around at what you've accomplished. Your father couldn't have dreamed of this success in fifty years, let alone ten. I'm proud of you, my friend."

His words lifted my spirits. Maybe I'd been too hard on myself—and on Princess Katrina.

"I have an idea," Rowland continued. "Gift her a beautiful dress. Make her feel special tonight. Maybe it'll change her mind."

"But my metal mask will scare her," I said, running a hand through my hair, careful not to loosen the ropes securing my mask.

"No. It'll be gold, beautifully designed. She'll like it."

I chuckled at his optimism. No one liked a masked beast. But Katrina had never asked about my mask. Was she afraid, or did it simply not bother her?

"Fine, Rowland. We'll do as you said," I agreed. Hopefully, tonight would go well.

**

~Katrina~

We had been waiting all day for Queen Fortuna to come out and give orders, but she never did. Marissa told me she had returned from the dining hall and locked herself inside. Instead, Angelina, her maid and the head of the servants, gave the orders.

It seemed the queen had bigger problems to deal with. She was already on bad terms with the king. I wondered if he would divorce her once he learned the truth—she was a murderer.

"Maybe it won't even surprise him," I said as Marissa combed my hair. I stared at the mirror. I didn't look as pale as yesterday. "They're birds of a feather. You told me they were childhood sweethearts."

"They've known each other since childhood. Their relationship is complicated, but no one dares to question it… not even the queen mother," Marissa said. "Both of them scare me. Their idea of fun isn't fun at all."

"What about Lord Rowland?" I asked. No one had mentioned him. The day I met him in the garden, it seemed like he didn't like me.

"The king's friend—more like a brother. He's the son of the late commander. His father saved the former king's life, and after his death, they took Lord Rowland in. His mother is related to the king, but I'm not sure how."

"And Queen Fortuna? Is she a princess?" I asked.

"No. Her father was a musician. They weren't from Xylonia, but they lived here for about seven years, so she grew up in the palace with the king and Lord Rowland," Marissa said. She finished combing my hair and began styling it. "When her family had to leave, she refused. The queen took her in… like a daughter. Less than two years later, she became the Queen of Xylonia."

That was a strange way to rise to power.

"Originally, she wasn't the one meant to marry the king. King Karl was betrothed to his cousin, Princess Arabella," Marissa explained. She picked up another pin from the table and secured it in my hair. I enjoyed hearing all this.

"I heard some of the older servants say the princess was supposed to marry the king the year she turned sixteen."

"So what happened? Why didn't she marry him?"

"I have no idea. That same year, the king married Fortuna instead. There was chaos and protest. The king abandoned a princess for a middle-class girl. They said the queen's seat should belong to someone with royal blood."

Wow. There was so much I didn't know about these people. I should have asked Marissa sooner. But what happened to Princess Arabella? I had never heard that name in the palace since the day I arrived.

I was about to ask when a knock on the door interrupted us. Marissa opened it, and the royal tailor walked in carrying a tray.

On it lay a beautiful yellow dress made from the finest fabric—material usually reserved for the king. He wanted me to wear it tonight.

"What is wrong with him?" I muttered, running my fingers over the rich fabric. I had never seen anything so luxurious. On a normal day, I would have been thrilled to wear it, eager to impress him. But not today. "He humiliated me this morning, and now he's trying to buy my attention."

"It's tempting," Marissa admitted.

"Yes. A pity it won't be worn tonight," I said, biting my lower lip and shaking my head. Marissa looked surprised. I was going to turn the king down.

"It's already evening. Get me the black dress. I'll wear that instead."

"My lady?"

"Do as I said."