DO I REALLY WANT REVENGE?
Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
All of the chapters of this story has been beta'd by the lovely dowlingnana and the chapters with mistakes are being replaced.
My chances of wooing her were looking very bleak at the moment. Well to be more precise, at the moment that man entered and said "My Queen." I thought that I would get a chance to talk with her before heading for Vargia since there was no way I was going to let her go without me. Then she turned and let my parents know that she would be honoring every vow she had made while there. Shit, we all knew to what she referred.
I was waiting beside our car that was going to take us to Vargia. It was during this time that I was hopeful to be able to talk with Isabella wanting to see if we could come to a comfortable arrangement for getting to know one another and to be able to peaceful co exist. Then surprise of surprises I got informed that I would be riding in the fourth car back with just my escort while she was in a different vehicle.
Now we are heading to Vargia with nothing resolved. It was greatly concerned with how we would proceed forward at this point. For from the moment she was referred to as Queen and handed the letter that was addressed to her, she had become cold and distance. I can only pray that I could reach her on some level. Otherwise, life was going to be one hellish bitch.
CHAPTER 4: DECISIONS AND HARSH WORDS
From the time Bella and Edward with their entourage arrived back into Halston things had been moving in a fast forward position. Bella had been locked in meetings all day, every day with her councilors and advisors. They were bringing her up to date on the state of the country which included the security, financial and all areas in between. From that she was in discussion with the people that had helped arrange her father's funeral and were now helping with the upcoming coronation ceremony that was coming up in no time and the surrounding celebrations.
At times Bella felt like her head would explode from all of the information that was being forced into it. But, it was her duty to her people to stay on top of things. She could not afford to allow personal feelings to interfere with what was best for her people. Every so often she would catch a glimpse of Crown Prince Edward as he was trying to be included. It finally got to the point that she was going to have to talk with him. She sent Lady Alice to find him, letting him know that she would have a word with him in her office.
Lady Alice found him talking to some the coronation planners in the hallway near the throne room. After capturing his attention, the Queen's request was relayed to him. He excused himself from the people he had been speaking to and followed Lady Alice back to see the Queen. Edward didn't ask for any information as to why she wanted to see him. But, he was hoping that he might be able to get some answers of his own.
Lady Alice knocked on the door, opened it and motioned for him to enter. Once he was before her he was struck by her beauty all over again. They had been married a week, but, have had no chance for a honeymoon or a period of getting to know each other. This is not what he wanted, but at this moment he was not able to find a way to change the tension that existed between them. The way his marriage to her was brought about was less than desirable, but, unavoidable. His people needed the help that was being denied them for some reason. Now to bring about that help he had to sacrifice his heart's desire for a while. At least, he hopes it was just for a while. She had seemed pretty determined to keep all vows she had made to make all that had been involved with her abduction to suffer.
"Prince Edward, thank you for answering my summons immediately. It has been brought to my attention that you have been trying to involve yourself in the planning for the coronation as well as other areas concerning the running of my country. I would like for you to account for your actions."
"I have been trained from almost my birth to handle the affairs of my country. It is not my habit to be with nothing to do or allowed to contribute. I am sure the same training, since you are an only child, has been given to you, but, we are married and supposed to be a team. Let me assume some of the responsibility to help ease the burden. Our coronation is just in a matter of days and then everyone will know that I do have the authority to be able to issue the necessary orders. But, at this moment, without your word I am having a hard time getting anyone to listen to my instructions. It is becoming very frustrating."
"That is because you have no say in the running of my country. You live here now, but, it is not your country. And, understand me now, you are not, I repeat YOU ARE NOT included in the coronation. Your family is not and will not be welcome here. They are a bunch of criminals and I do not condone entertaining such elements." The coldness of Bella's words was unmistakable.
"Wife, I can understand your feelings. But, you must understand that we had tried everything we could, peacefully, to bring relief to Wystonia. Nothing was working since no one was listening. What was done to you was not what we wanted to do, but, tell me what other options we were given when nothing else was working. When no one was willing to listen or try to work with us.
"Be upset with me, but, not Wystonia. I have so much that I want to say. Have wanted to say to you for so long, and I do realize that I have lost that possibility. But, I do expect you to honor the agreements you signed to help my people; to help Wystonia."
"Your people; you're right, we are married and I am a sovereign queen of my country while you are a crown prince. So, tell me husband who has more importance here? Which country should have your loyalty? You are now, my hostage. You will be expected to fulfill your duties as my husband as I say and see fit. Nothing more and nothing less will be acceptable."
"I don't accept that. I will not be used against Wystonia." He tells her with his voice conveying all of the anger he is feeling from her statements.
"Listen to me and listen well. You have no choice just like I wasn't given one. I will not have you crowned king of Vargia. And, when the noble oaths are given you will be the first one to pledge your service and loyalty to me on behalf of Vargia. I am considering having you break all communication with your family and giving up your status in Wystonia, but, have not decided to do that as yet. So, don't push me.
"Once you have sworn your loyal oath and I feel comfortable that you will keep it, then and only then, will I put you in charge of overseeing the agreed to agreements given to Wystonia for their relief.
"I am dealing with what my father left undone, catching up on the necessary handling of government security for my country and trying to find a way to deal with the people that murdered my parents. It was your actions in Wystonia that brought about their death so don't expect me to have much sympathy for you or the problems of Wystonia at this point. However an agreement is just that and I shall honor my word to the letter."
Edward shook his head and wondered what had caused her to be such a coldhearted bitch. Her head snapped up quickly and a hand left an imprint on his face before he ever realized that he had spoken aloud his thoughts.
"You, your family, and agents causing the death of my parents happened to me." She informed him with steel resolution dripping from every word leaving her mouth.
"I am not stopping you from communicating with your family at this point as long as it is only general topics. You will have the freedom to come and go as you choose, but only with the escort that I have personally assigned to you. And, you may go ahead and start getting ready to oversee to the help that Wystonia needs. Also, I will not require that you give up your status in Wystonia at the moment. But, don't give me reason to regret the amount of latitude that I am allowing you. Otherwise, I - Never mind, I'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
The venom spewing from her mouth was enough to almost kill all hope that Edward had of ever convincing her that he had feelings for her or of convincing her to give him a chance to prove himself, and, to give him a chance that they were not aware of what the outcome would be due to the actions they had taken. How can he even convince her to trust him enough to let him help with discovering who had killed her father. Her statements about her mother had him puzzled since Queen Renee was not here.
He needed more information so Wystonia could be of help. With the investigation coming from an unlikely source, more is able to be uncovered. If only she would listen to him with an open mind. He knew that his parents would do everything possible to help, but, Bella would have to be willing to accept what was found.
Her team is going to be hampered just because of who they are and where they call home. This is going to limit the information they will have access to and they can't go in with accusations without proof. Damn, her hands are going to be tied, but, she will not listen to one of the people that feels is at fault. If only they had had some kind of warning about what their actions were going to set in motion. Hindsight is only good as a lesson learnt once you get pass the circumstances.
Bella watched Edward for a moment or two then she told him he was dismissed. Edward opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but, then thought better of it so he just turned and left the room.
Since their arrival he had been assigned the heir apparent apartments while Bella has occupied the royal apartments. All of her things had been moved before they had arrived; unfortunately he hadn't brought much with him so he was rather short in choice of clothing as well as other items. But, Edward was determined to keep trying to get through to Bella as soon as he saw a weakness that would allow him a chance.
A/N: We have an idea of what Bella's treatment of Edward is going to be. Can Edward get a chance to reason with Bella about giving him a chance to have Wystonia do the investigation for her? Did Edward's actions and his involvement in her kidnapping destroy any chance he might have of gaining her trust, her love, or getting her to give their marriage a chance? How long do you think he will allow her to continue with her current attitude? What action is going to be taken against Noragia? And who is calling all of the shots from that country? And why are they so interested in having all of the control?
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