Female NovelChapter 274
KANE
Even as a child, I had been well aware of the fact that my new stepfather didn’t love my mother.Though the King of Wegalla had always treated us well, and Margaret never complained about his lackof attention or kindness, it wasn’t difficult to tell that he didn’t share any affection toward her. Truthfully,Asher’s father had only married Margaret because she had been his late wife’s maid. After SeleneCollins’ death, the king was desperate to learn any and all information he could about the queen, andhe saw his union with my mother as an opportunity.
He asked Margaret to tell him everything about the late queen: how she had laughed, how she wouldsmile, the things that brought her happiness. Every single detail about her. Selene was the only subjectof their conversations, and while my mother didn’t outwardly protest or refuse him, it bothered hergreatly.
She had told me once that she believed the king was just trapped in his regret. He regretted that hehad neglected his beautiful and beloved wife. He was remorseful and told my mother once in a drunkenstupor that life felt unbearable after Selene’s death.
Despite the king’s words and actions, Margaret was fully convinced things would change. She believedthat if she tried hard enough, she could help Asher’s father forget Selene.
But it was nothing more than a delusion in her mind.
Things didn’t improve, not in the slightest.
One day, I had even heard the king ask Margaret to imitate Selene.
I didn’t remember what I had wanted that day, but I had overheard the conversation when I wasroaming the halls of Merliscire in search of my mother. I had been searching high and low, and when Iarrived in the corridor near their room, I heard voices filtering out. I froze for a moment and then quietlycrept toward the room until I was just outside of it. I crouched down low to ensure I wasn’t detected andheld my breath as I listened in.
Their conversation was nothing noteworthy until the king asked my mother to speak like Selene. Itwasn’t a typical order, more like a plea, and when he spoke the words out loud, Margaret had laughed,thinking it was a joke. The moment she had laughed, the king’s demeanor changed and his pleasturned into a command. He told her that as her king, he was giving a command and she had to obey.
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Margaret had done as she was told and obeyed, though she was ashamed to do so. When herimitation didn’t meet the king’s standards he berated her and told her she was a terrible actress.
“I thought you knew Selene the best,” he snarled at her. “That’s why I married you, Margaret. But itseems like I made a mistake.”
He left the room soon after and Margaret broke into tears. Thankfully, the king hadn’t seen me as herushed out into the corridor, and once he was gone, I ran in to comfort my mom.
As I looked at Kiara, I found it hard to speak. What I wanted to say wasn’t going to do me any good, norher. I wanted to say that marriage without love often leads to something tragic and horrible.
It was true, considering how Margaret and the king had ended. And it was the deepest secret I held inmy heart. I would never find the courage to confess to my brother that Margaret had been complicit inkilling his father. She had once confessed to me that she had put an end to the late king’s life usingsome sort of chronic poison, and while killing was never the answer, I couldn’t blame her for wanting anescape from the cruelty.
Kiara waited patiently for my answer, as if it was going to decide her future for her, and when I didn’tspeak, she reached out toward me and gently touched my arm.
“Kane?” she asked softly as her lovely eyes stared into mine.
I snapped out of my daze at once.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I’m just a little distracted. I don’t know, Kiara. I wish I had an answer, but Idon’t have one for you.”
The light in her eyes diminished and her gaze dropped at once.
“That’s fine,” she said quickly, and then she nodded her head. “It was st upid of me to ask, of course.You’ve never been married so you wouldn’t know.
She glanced at the window again and then sighed.
“I appreciate your honesty, Kane,” she said. “In the past… suitors would say without hesitation that theywere madly in love with me, as if they thought I was too slow- witted to know they were lying. But I’mnot. I know most of those men were liars. They only wanted me because I’m the Alpha’s daughter.Their sights were only set on power and a complacent wife.”
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“You shouldn’t demean yourself,” I said softly as I tried to make sense of her words. “Kiara, you’reclever and kind… you deserve so much more than a man who would underappreciate you.”
“Thank you for saying that,” Kiara replied, and she gave me a small smile. “I was happy when you saidyou wanted to marry me. I had heard about you from cousins and friends who came to visit Anemondat festivals. You’re even more charming than the stories I’ve heard.”
She stopped suddenly and then rose from her chair.
“But I don’t think we should get married,” she said, and then she nodded her head. “Thank you for yourtime, Kane. I hope you have a pleasant night.”
Before I could utter a word, the Alpha’s daughter turned and started to walk out of the room. I jumpedup from my seat and immediately followed her.
“Kiara-” I called out, but she glanced behind her and stopped in place.
“If we hadn’t met under such a circumstance, would you have ever considered marrying me?” shewondered as her eyes trailed over me. My lips parted, but before I could give her an answer, shecontinued. “I think Darwin might be the better choice for me. He might be a bit too old, but I know hislove for me is real. He’s been here for me longer than anyone else and he’s loyal to my father. Hewould respect me and treat me well. Perhaps it would be better for me to marry him instead.”
A lump formed in my throat and I wanted to say something, but again, Kiara stopped me, this timeholding her hand up.
“I’m not like my father,” she said. “I know the king of Wegalla is in trouble, and I believe Sky Prideshould do their duty and support the king. Even if I marry Darwin, I will persuade him to help you,Kane.”
“I don’t think he would,” I countered before I lost the courage to do so. “And I don’t think it’s a good ideafor you to marry him.”
Silence hung in the air as my voice disappeared. I hadn’t meant to blurt out the last sentence, but it fellout of me before I could stop it. I didn’t think she should marry that fool of a Hand, but I couldn’t figureout a good reason to give her. I didn’t want to deceive her and tell her that I loved her or promise her aperfect marriage. It would also be cruel to say that I distrusted Darwin and knew she wouldn’t be happywith him without being able to offer her something better.
But it was true.
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I wanted better for her.
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She was kind, smart, and beautiful. She didn’t deserve to settle like she thought she did.
Before I could say something more, abrupt knocks on the door cut through the silence, and then thedoor opened.
One of the soldiers who had been appointed to watch over Roxy stood on the other side.
“Pardon the intrusion, Lord Kane,” the soldier said in a panicked voice. “The sorceress has escaped.”