One week Before
I had stood on the parapet next to Daroth. He wore his golden tunic trimmed in black, his dark hair pulled back in a low bun and my uncle's crown encircling his brow. He looked like a king incarnate in the Irisidean royal colors. I had been dressed up for the occasion as well. The black dress Daroth had for sure picked out himself was backless with long pointed sleeves and detailed with a large golden floral pattern down the front. I wore my own diadem, my long brown hair left down and loosely braided over one shoulder. Kohl rimmed my eyes, causing the gray in my irises to stand out.
The gray of a tainted soul.
"People of Irisidea, we come together at this time of mourning our King and his adored brother. We are saddened by this turn of events. Princess Namina is most heartbroken over the loss of her loved ones, but I have done all I can to be by her side and console her in her time of need as we…"
I tuned out his deceitful words and began studying the crowd. Some of the people I recognized. Servants, courtiers, and courtesans I had known all my life were intermingled among complete strangers. A group of mages caught my eye where they stood off to the left, their purple cloaks shimmering in the bright morning air. These were the few mages who had been cordially invited into the gates of the inner palace for the announcement. While magic was a coveted thing in Irisidea, it did not mean one who had it would be praised or paid for the skill automatically. Those of lower classes still had to earn their place in the world through hard work and grit. Some with magic, like myself, were born into positions of monarchal power and comfort and never had to worry about such things. Then there were those, including Daroth, who had used their magic to gain place in politics and climb the ladder of Social Order to find a more comfortable spot. There were many mages scattered throughout the ranks of the court who had done good for themselves, but none so powerful as the one who stood at my side now.
Even I had not any clue of how great his power was until I had become the target of it.
Daroth explained, while I stood by his side silently, that the King had left instructions in the case something was to ever happen to him to leave the kingdom in the hands of the Council of the Advisors. As the only Advisor left, Daroth would automatically become King. My own birthright meant that I was to be Queen Regent to whoever was chosen as my husband. Our relationship was no secret, but placing the rightful heir on the throne along with the High Advisor was a sure way of avoiding any and all rebellion.
I didn't understand how the people could not see the deception before them.
He had planned all of this.
They were about to crown a monster.
As Daroth spoke to the crowd he held my hand. To the people it would look like we were united in this time of tragedy. We certainly looked the pair, regal and royal, as we were dressed. What they did not see was the tightness of the grip that caused me to flinch in pain. It was to hold me there to his side. To remind me who was in charge of whom. I may have been Princess but he always would have the upper hand. I flinched as his words brought my focus back to him and away from the crowd.
"…an outright act of war. We are investigating the murder as we speak and if the Gallenians are responsible, we will have our revenge," he continued.
It was the dumb rhetoric he had made me come up with myself. I hadn't wanted to put the blame of my family's death on the kingdom of Gallen, but a blame had to lay somewhere in order to cast wary eyes away from Daroth and I. It wouldn't have been unbelievable for such a thing to have happened anyway. The strife between the two kingdoms was growing stronger each day. If only these precious people knew it was my fault their King was dead. This would be a hanging, not a celebration of the impending wedding and coronation to come.
I didn't know which occasion would be scarier. Either way I was going to lose my life.
"But fear not, dear citizens. I, the High Advisor Daroth, and your beloved Princess Namina will always rule in fairness and goodness. To show our good will we will be hosting a ball in celebration of a new age open to all here in Renor, with the wedding and coronation to follow the morning after. Then will come the day when we may root out that unspeakable evil and give Irisidea the prosperity it's people deserves."
As he finished speaking to the crowd he turned to me and cupped my face in his palm before leaning in for a chaste kiss on the lips. I complied.
All part of the act.
"And I cannot wait for that day" he whispered so only I could hear. It was a mocking, dark whisper. His nails dug into my jaw ever so slightly.
The crowd of courtiers, mages, and peasants alike exploded into cheers and manifestations of gratitude. While only several hundred people would hear the announcements here at the palace and right outside the gates, the rest would receive it through messengers that would carry the word throughout our small country. Soon everyone would know about next week's events.
One week.
My stomach churned.
I met Daroth's eyes and saw only the glint of triumph in their ice blue depths. It ignited the small fire in me that I had thought had long ago fizzled out.
"Careful, Advisor. You're simpering. You wouldn't want to go and give yourself away." I said the words with enough venom as I could under the circumstances. I waved to the crowd as it began to hush and disperse. All to keep up appearances.
Daroth chuckled at my words.
"And you wouldn't want to anger your future husband, would you? Come, lets not keep our guests waiting Namina." His fingers traced my bare back down my spine. I only stared at him coolly before grabbing his hand from behind my back and pushing it away. He laughed and placed his hand back where it had been as he led me back into the shadows of the prison I had once called my home.