Solace P.O.V
As I dismounted my stallion, a guard hurried forward, extending a hand as if I were some fragile porcelain doll. I didn't take it. I unmounted from the saddle in my own, my boots hitting the stone with a solid, familiar thud that made him recoil in a mix of fluster and amusement. Let him be embarrassed; I had no use for his assistance or his etiquette.
"Welcome, my lady," a man approached, his clothes crisp and unfamiliar. The crest on his chest marked him as the palace's new valet. "The Majesties are already in the throne room and have been expecting your arrival this very instant. If you wouldn't mind, I shall escort you."
I gave a curt nod. I knew these halls better than he probably did, but I let the servant play his part. As we walked, I scoured the changes—the decorations remained largely the same, stagnant as the air in this place, though the chandeliers had been upgraded. Much bigger, brighter and made with pure diamonds. New diamonds hung from the ceiling, sparkling with an opulence that felt heavy and suffocating compared to the stars I'd been watching earlier.
'What a way to flaunt.' I commented through my mind as we pass along the halls. Truly, the crown haven't changed a bit even with a new reign. They are still the same. Eager to flaunt the wealth it isn't truly theirs.
Shaking my head, and a smile with mockery I focused my sight to the hallway. When we reached the massive oak doors, the valet knocked, the sound echoing like a death knell. The doors swung open, and I stepped into the belly of the beast.
My eyes narrowed immediately. The Elders of Aevum were there, lined up in their ivory robes dripping with gold and gemstones. And in the center, the King and Queen sat in their cold, glorious might. Mockery me in their oh-so-called sweet smiles. Yet I saw through.
I gave a shallow, perfunctory bow. I saw the Queen's lip curl in a scoff, but I ignored her. "Your Majesties, a pleasant evening," I said, my voice steady. "I've arrived on time as you wish." I turned my gaze to the Elders. "A delightful evening, Your Graces."
"Arise," the King's voice boomed, rattling the stillness of the hall. If I were just a merely commoner I would instantly shiver and bow down immediately on my knees but sad to say I am not. True, the King's voice has the authority and power in the air. And everyone would immediately obey his command, but again, I am different.
I lifted my head and met his gaze—a pair of grey orbs that felt like oily stone. He stared at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. It wasn't just authority in his eyes; it was a hungry, unmistakable lust that turned my stomach. A feeling of nauseous hit me like wave but I concealed it inside.
I cleared my throat, the sound cutting in the silence. I wasn't here to be a spectacle. "I apologize for my rudeness, but I must ask: why was I called here tonight when I should be resting in my own home?"
"Ah! Always the impatient one," the King remarked. A smirk played on his lips as the Queen shot him a look like a poisoned dagger. He didn't seem to care. The Elders shifted in their seats, their discomfort palpable. "You haven't changed, my lady... but to answer your question, you are called here for a reason. For the Empire's sake, to be precise."
"Ah. Another war, was it?" I didn't hide the bite of impatience in my tone. But beneath the bravado, my gut twisted. An unsettling weight pooled in my stomach, and my hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of my sword.
"Patience, young lady," one of the Elders droned.
"You are summoned here to negotiate--," the Queen spoke finally. She looked at me like I was a lifeless doll, her eyes filled with a cold, simmering fury. I waited, sensing the trap before it snapped shut. "--A decision--," she continued, "--between life and death."
A laugh bubbled up in my throat—short, soft, and entirely mocking. I bit my lip, looking around the room at their serious, sombre faces. They looked at me as if I were a madwoman.
"Still not over your unsuccessful attempts, you're Majesties?" I asked, my voice laced with a dangerous amusement. "You are truly determined to get what was never yours. It's truly amusing to see... yet also a pity." Mockery drips through my tone. And like a trigger, their faces immediately changed. Much more evident and transparent.
I watched the colour drain from the King's face before it turned a mottled, furious red. I had struck his pride—the one thing he valued more than his crown. He saw me as a harlot he couldn't bed and a weapon he couldn't wield. Seeing him lose his composure, watching his ego crumble under the weight of my words, was the only thing making this midnight visit worthwhile.
"My, my, such a wondrous claim," the Queen snickered twitching in anger. I can already feel her killer intent but I didn't fret nor shiver in fear.
"Did I fret, my Queen?" emphasizing the word, the hall just went dark. "—Oh! I am truly enjoying this…But no matter you aren't worthy of what I possess."