I know these chapters are short, but I write more than one at a time. Whatever.
Chapter 5: Help and Hinder
"Who is this?" Roger asked politely. "You resemble dear Jonathan… but you are different. Very different." He purred.
Kalasin smiled at him. It was not a nice smile. "Princess Kalasin of Conté, Roger- but soon you will call me Queen."
Roger's evil grin broadened. "Why, how nice to meet you! I think we can help each other…"
"I think we can. But remember- if you ever even try to work against me, dear Duke, I can and will kill you in an instant. I know what Thom did not- that if you bring someone to life again, you can control whether they live or die. And if you betray me, you will die."
Roger's eyes narrowed. "Smart of you. Whatever coerced you to raise me against Jonathan?"
"I was not coerced," Kalasin snapped. "That bastard refused to let me be Queen simply because I am female- even though with Crown Prince Roald dead, I am the eldest child. That asshole named Prince Liam heir. That I will not stand for."
Roger sat down and steepled his fingers in front of his face. "Much has happened in the years I have been gone," he said. "You must tell me everything."
~*~
Kalasin smiled. Now that she had Roger on her side, Jonathan could never stand against her. She would have his life within a week- by her own hand.
Jonathan's death had become an obsession. She wanted her father dead, now, and even the thought of him sent her into a mad fury. She knew it as an obsession and kept careful track of that- Roger may use it against her, and he could only be trusted as far as she could throw him.
Meanwhile she kept up her acting skills and acted like a sulky princess. Even Thayet was fooled. Though Kalasin had no hard feelings towards her mother- Thayet had stood up to Jon, even though Jon had displayed the usual Conté stubbornness and refused to even listen to her.
~*~
Thayet growled as she sat across from her husband, not even listening to his words. A thick vein pulsed on her forehead, her eyes were bulging, she was hissing spit.
And she still managed to look gorgeous.
And she hated it. Everyone saw her for her looks, not her personality. They just saw that pretty face, and added two and two- she was pretty, so she must be stupid. Gods. Finally, Thayet couldn't take it anymore. She shoved past Jon and ran out the door to her private room.
I hate being beautiful! She thought furiously. Jon only married me for my looks, I know it. I even bet her knows it.
On her cosmetics dresser was a razor, a pair of scissors, and some shaving cream. I'm going to do it,she thought. I'm going to do it.
The Queen of Tortall picked up the scissors and savagely hacked her long black hair off until it was scarcely and inch long. Then she slathered on shaving cream, and ran the razor up and down her head until she had no hair left.
Then she took the knife from her belt and ran it across her face in various places, knowing the marks would leave awful scars. She heard the sound of a door opening and slamming behind her.
She turned around.
She looked at Jonathan.
He looked at her.
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Ooh, I love it! Thayet debeautifies herself! Review!