To Bewitch a Devil

122 Only to your kind

Zavian stopped her hand as she was about to run the comb through his hair again. He lowered the comb unto the table and looked at her through the mirror.

“Is it wrong to think of yourself as the same caliber as the Princesses?” He asked. “Or even as a Queen? Is that such a bad thing to think about for yourself?”

Neera was stunned at his question. The King must have hit his head during his hunt, for he was spewing nothing but delusional nonsense. But when she looked into his eyes, they didn’t sparkle with humor. He looked serious, but if he wanted her to play along with his charade, she would.

“I can’t, your Majesty.” She simply answered.

“I want to know why not.” He pressed for more.

Neera removed her gaze from his and fixed it on the floor. “Not even in my imagination has that ever occurred, your Majesty. Being Queen or Princess does not belong to us humans”, she would remind him of that knowledge since he seemed to be in need of it, “only to your kind.”

Zavian turned in his chair. Because her eyes were downcast, and he was sitting, he was able to look directly at her. She was becoming uncomfortable, he didn’t look like he was about to drop the topic any time soon.

“And you have never once thought about if it was you I choose to make Queen?” He asked her.

Neera staggered away at that. What was he saying? “Your Majesty, please can we not talk about such a matter? Forgive me, but I would like to return to combing your hair.”


.....

“I asked a question, Neera”, Zavian was on his feet at his words, his tall frame looming over her. She only managed to back away a step before he placed both his hands on her arms to stop her from going any further. “Would it be such a bad thing?”

“Yes”, she responded in a heartbeat. “Yes, your Majesty. It would be terrible.”

Zavian studied her for a moment. “But I don’t think it would be.”

Neera gasped at his utterance. There was still no hint of a joke in his statements. She looked away from him and around the room. She didn’t know how many days now that she had slept on the bed next to him, or how easily she was getting used to his presence. They had both been so carried away, but Zavian was still living in the bubble that they both were in, only thing was that anytime the bubble would pop, the reality of both their lives will glare at both their faces.

She should have gone back to her room after the first signs of healing. No, not that time. She should have gone back to the maids’ chambers the minute he put her new room opposite him, just before she was kidnapped. It had been gradual, and at that juncture, it was blowing out of proportion.

Zavian needed to wake up.

“I believe you have a council meeting you have to get ready for, your Majesty.” She said instead. Zavian allowed his hands to slide down her arms, and he stepped away from her to go get dressed.

He said nothing more as he left the room, and Neera knew she had to put an end to this fa?ade that had become her life. She would choose her old life over and over again if it meant getting the order of things back to normal.

...

Freya was entrusted with matters in direct regard to the people in the Kingdom. To make it easier for the people, she was going into town since the King himself had other pressing issues to look into.

So she dressed in an expensive but practical dress to allow for ease of movement. What she didn’t expect as she mounted the chariot was to see Princess Kitana coming over, and in her plain royal blue gown, Freya knew she was dressed to go outside the palace as well.

Kitana stopped in front of her, and after they both exchanged greetings, she said, “I would like to accompany you in your duty, your Highness.” A smile washed her lips as her eyes squinted;

“That is unexpected and unnecessary. It would do you more good to stay within the walls of the palace.” Freya advised.

“And lose my mind?” Kitana laughed a little. “It is a very grand castle, your Highness, but I want to explore the Kingdom. And coming along with you is the best way I can learn about it, should in case, I end up as Queen that is.”

Freya mulled over it, but not for long. “Very well then. I could use the company.”

They both mounted the chariot, and the guards accompanying them rode off. Kitana entertained Freya’s ears with the similarities and differences between her Kingdom and Zavian’s. Freya found the intricate details interesting to listen to. On formal visits to Kitana’s Kingdom, which wasn’t very much for Freya, the details that Kitana supplied were nothing like the usual boring talks of politics she was used to.

Freya watched as Kitana spoke; her minimal hand gestures, her voice, her choice of words – with a high and low pitch to draw one in. She would make a great queen, she thought, from being so adept with her environment and her ability to communicate them without boring her to death.

When they reached the town’s square, a few people had already gathered in wait for them; it was a peaceful Kingdom, and the visit was mostly done for the sake of keeping the balance of that peace. Both Freya and Kitana alighted, and Freya set to work immediately.

Kitana made herself useful by adding her chip-ins and giving advice here and there, all of which amazed Freya. When they had seen about ten people, Freya suggested a little break.

“You have no problem handling the affairs.” Freya pointed out.

Kitana smiled. “I know, your Highness. It is something I wish to put to better use someday, and I am looking forward to and hoping to win the next contest.”