THE MOST ENTERTAINING

I am not a queen because I rule, I rule because I am THE QUEEN.

Birthed in my heart. Alive in my veins…

*************

For the first time, Nadezhda and Zorgan were sharing a carriage, and the ride was unsettlingly quiet.

Regaled in simple slacks and a matching burgundy coat that was a minor distance from his knee, Prince Zorgan’s attire had gold buttons and spoolings designed to cast that glow of command around him.

He had his hair trimmed, let loose, and at his shoulders.

Nadezhda’s attire was starkly different from the one her chambermaids had carefully selected for her. She had held off on making her decision until Zorgan was done dressing and awaiting her in the first hall.

Zorgan had skilfully steered from her question about his family and her gut told her today might be another day for them to appear like a proper couple.

The twist in her appearance was that she had chosen a black gown that hung off her shoulders and covered her foot. Next, she strapped a burgundy corset with slight gold thread work on the rivets and by its boned sides. The hairpins fixed at the back of her hair also paired in colour with the corset.

‘If we are to appear before the intrepid and formidable Royals of Valcresh, we have to appear as a harmonized front.

Yes, I’ll have to do this before a bloody dog tries to sniff something.’

She had prepared her response to whatever Zorgan’s aggravating question could be because of her choice of subtly synchronizing look with his, but Zorgan had been taciturn. It was like he had not even noticed her when she was descending the stairs.

During the ride, the horses galloped on a bump that sent Nadezhda levitating above her cushioned seat. She lurched forward with a surprise yelp but Zorgan’s hand snaked to the side of her head before she could hit a partition in the carriage.

‘‘Thank you,’’ Nadezdha uttered, and he gave a single nod. He retrieved his hand as she repositioned on her seat, and his hand folded to deliver faint, impatient blows to the roof of the carriage.

The glower on his face could darken every part of the earth and Dorian must have felt the verve.

‘‘Steelheart!’’ He demanded.

‘‘Pardon me, My Lord. There were some-” Dorian began, an attempt to explain but Zorgan was far from interested.

‘‘My ears aren’t intrigued by whatever reason you have to give. Absolutely No Recurrence!’’ He ordered his voice slightly on the rise.

‘‘Yes, My Lord,’’ Dorian responded.

Nadezhda could feel how prickly Zorgan was, and she was forced to bite her tongue.

There was likely no way Dorian could have navigated the circumstance, but it was clear whoever would point that out would have his or her head bitten off.

Nadezhda could feel the thrum of the emotion beneath the burgundy, and it tempted her headstrong nature to be accommodating. She didn’t even know Zorgan was capable of yelling at anyone apart from her and she could feel that whatever was ruining his mood was awaiting them gleefully.

She sighed.

*********

When Zorgan had mentioned a court for prisoners, Nadezhda could not have been expecting that it meant half of Valcresh’s habitants were going to be gathered in an arena to watch men and women have their lives reinitiated or ceased.

The rough expanse of sand was towered by weathered stones and structures that seated heated humans. A raised dais was adorned with rich tapestries and plush seatings for the King, Queen, some royals, and high officials.

As Zorgan and Nadezhda strode toward the dais, there was a peculiar grin on the lips of a brother-sister duo.

‘‘I told you San, they were putting on a show in the Grand Castle. Do you see the distance between the both of them? It’s like he doesn’t even realize someone is trying to match his pace. How pathetic!’’ Princess Evadne noted.

‘‘Don’t tell me you are still webbed in that infatuation you have over him? He’ll never be King and he’ll never see you in that light. Regardless, you are his sister, half or not,’’ San replied in an irritated tone only his sister could hear.

‘‘You might be my brother but he isn’t. Have you forgotten what we found about Mother?

Even if he is, you know that wouldn’t be able to stop me.

Now, wear a smile on that obscene face, will you?’’ She asked as her eyes ate into every heavy step of Zorgan.

‘‘Zorgan..’’ Evadne crooned. She didn’t give him a moment to respond before she planted her hands around him. They were notable steps from the central point of the dais where the King and others were.

‘‘It’s pleasant of you to grace here. I was beginning to think you have forgotten about me’’ Evadne pressed. Zorgan returned the embrace, and Nadezhda felt a weird sourness in her taste buds.

‘‘You know that’s impossible. It’s always amicable being close to you. I hope you can forgive me’’ Zorgan replied.

She shook her head lightly, still not breaking the embrace although Zorgan’s arms were already dropped from behind her.

‘‘Eva, I’d like to introduce my wife. It was terrible of me not to have done so before and during the wedding. Another reason to forgive me sister’’ Zorgan piqued with a teeny smile that was barely revealed.

Evadne sharply broke the embrace along with her chirpy look, but still, one of her hands was fastened around Zorgan’s elbow.

‘‘Sister?!!’’ Nadezdha inwardly questioned with a scream. ‘‘What’s with her and why does she look miffed?’’

‘‘I’m Nadezhda. Great to meet you, Princess Eva,’’ Nadezhda said warmly. She stretched an open palm to Evadne who looked from Nadezdha’s hand back to her face.

After a heartbeat, she responded.

‘’Evadne to outsiders. Please don’t make such a mistake again, Nadez-the new wife.’’ Evadne responded with a tight smile and blinking eyes. Prince San slightly turned his face to the side to keep from smiling while Zorgan was left utterly stunned.

He was about to speak when Nadezhda smiled broadly. She used her other hand, which wasn’t extended, to grasp Princess Evadne’s hand that wasn’t holding onto Zorgan and clasped it to her hand that was still stretched.

Shaking both hands in her hold and maintaining that smile she said, ‘‘Princess Eva or Princess Evadne, this is the first time we meet. And you must know that you shouldn’t make a fuss when your name doesn’t hold much meaning!’’

Evadne’s lips involuntarily fell apart while Prince San’s face turned red.

Evadne and San looked to Zorgan whose eyes were on Nadezhda. He was grinning and doing it hard.

Nadezhda dropped the smile and released Evadne’s hand before glancing at Zorgan. She proceeded to strut towards where other royals were waiting. Zorgan gave a curt nod to San and warning eyes to Evadne, before eating up the distance to his wife.

‘I almost forgot I have the most entertaining woman for a wife’