Chapter 14

I stood in front of my doors and groaned.

Stupid conscience.

I swiveled on my feet and headed back for the library.

At first, I had been more than eager to ditch the prince but my foolish soul got the best of me.

The halls were still teaming with courtiers reeling from the night's events.

I walked along undisturbed until someone fell in step next to me.

"That was awful don't you think? But I guess that's what happens to people who try to take what doesn't belong to them."

The nerve.

"Well, the nobleman wasn't married. Who are we to judge who he spends his time with."

I took a sharp turn hoping to get rid of her.

"Oh, Princess Roan I believe we got off on the wrong foot," She slipped her arm through mine and pulled me along in the wrong direction " I'm dreadfully sorry for slapping you but I felt threatened. I hope we can put that all in the past."

I was not going to apologize. This was a fake attempt to get me to let my guard down.

What was this, a nursery game?

"You never went to finishing school did you?" I shook my head "Oh pity. We might have been friends."

I doubt it. I strongly doubt it.

"Well since you weren't there how could you have possibly known. People like us can't just diminish our blood nobility out of kindness. So that is why I am reaching out to you despite our previous standing."

This had to be about Teresa.

Why else would she start with such dialogue?

"What I need to tell you is rather long and shocking. So I would prefer to tell you this in a more private setting. How about tea tomorrow afternoon? I'd tell you tonight it's so grave but Newt is waiting for me in his chambers and he hates to be made to wait."

I narrowed my eyes."Oh? How about you set up a time with one of my ladies, I believe I'm very busy these next few days. Teresa is in charge of my schedule so you should speak with her."

Janson was in charge of my schedule but she didn't need to know that.

Suddenly, Isebelle stopped, she roughly pulled me to the back the way we came and started to rapidly walk away.

Her plan failed and I didn't know which outcome I preferred.

Newt called my name and I had no choice but to stop and look at him.

He was rushing to meet us and the annoyance that was already present on my face turned to severe aggravation. I felt my sense of propriety start to slip the closer he came. I could not handle both of them at the same time. It was too cruel to my state of mind.

"Roan, I'm so glad I found you before you headed to the library. It's under key and I can't seem to find the librarian. Regardless, would you accompany me to the map room?"

What would be a good excuse?

"Well, I'm glad I found you also. I believe tonight's events were too much for know how this week had been for me, moving here, the whole thing with the infected, the window escapade and now this. I don't think I'll be able to stay awake any longer. I'll see both of you tomorrow."

My plan was under effect and it was proving quite successful.

"Agnes tell them to push it farther back."

A strong Suecian tradition was archery. The symbol of a bow and an arrow could be found practically anywhere in the realm.

I wasn't stellar at it but it helped pass the time.

"Your grace, I believe someone is here to see you."

I rolled my eyes "Tell Janson I'm rather busy avoiding people."

"Your Grace."

Aggravated, I put the bow down and turned towards her.

"Yes?...Oh."

Prince Newt stood behind Agnes. His arms were crossed and he didn't look too pleased.

"You're lousy at keeping promises."

Some people can't just take a hint.

I pursed my lips and slowly approached him. The frozen grass crunched underneath my feet and I breathed in the burning winter air. I had chosen an open field with a spare tree every 100 yards. It was separated from the castle by some woodland. I had found a spare page and made him drag out what I needed. It was fairly cold but nothing I wasn't accustomed to. I couldn't say the same for the poor boy.

"Prince Newt"

"You have denied all of my requests for tea, lunch, and I had to bribe my own staff to find you."

He would be a terrible politician if he kept throwing all of his cards out in the open.

"Look Newt, It's not personal. I'm sure you're lovely but if I'm quite honest being around you is quite unpleasant for me. Not because of you but because I have to marry you."

What a relief to have that all out in the open.

He raised an eyebrow "Oh and you think it's a walk in the park for me? Do you even realize how rude you are?"

I blinked twice and moved my head back.

Did he retaliate? No one had ever retaliated.

"There is a difference between candor and poor manners. Perhaps if you were more attentive instead of bragging all the time you'd be able to differentiate."

"Oh please. You're rude and mean and you enjoy it. The only reason no one ever says anything is because they're too afraid of you."

I gasped "As if. Brittanica intimidates and bullies half the world but I don't see you complaining then."

He shook his head and scoffed "What my uncle does has nothing to do with me. His atrocities are not my doing and they do not have my approval."

I nodded my head slowly and looked up "Yes how terribly dull of me. It's not like you can do anything to stop it. Silly me."

I scoffed and turned around.

I heard him gasp in frustration right before he pulled me back my shoulder.

"Did you just touch me?!"

He rolled his eyes "Oh I'm sorry your majesty. Would you like me to get you a hot towel for your non-existent distress?"

"Just leave me alone and we'll get along splendidly."

I turned quicker this time and began to walk away but he deemed it appropriate to follow.

"Well I'd love to but I don't think that's going to work with our job description."

I handed the bow and arrow back to the page and turned to face him.

"I sure we can think of something that will work."

"Wonderful. Let's discuss it over tea."

I rolled my eyes "Again with the tea. It's all you people ever talk about, tea. Nothing will ever get done here if there's ever a tea shortage."

"Roan all I want to do is to talk to you. Maybe that way you'll to stop thinking I'm a griever."

Oh, that was a good one, I should start calling him the Griever Prince.

"I already told you it is not personal. Perhaps with time, I'll get over it or something. "

"We don't have time Roan. I'm trying...there are things...reasons I can't. The last thing I wanted was this marriage," That made two of us "But due to certain circumstances, circumstances I'm trying to make you privy to, it has to happen this way and I don't want to end up in solitary bitterness."

This boy should've been a thespian.

I sighed "You're going to need all the help you can get when your ruling."

He scowled "What?"

"You reek of desperation but luckily enough for you, I've been cursed with a conscience and it's forcing me to be nice to you."

His lip corners turned slightly upwards into a smirk

"So we'll have tea then?"

I shook my head "Absolutely not. I'm sick of going to tea. You're going to show me your private art gallery and then you can confabulate all you bloody want."

"Hiberia was right," I said and shook my head.

"Hiberia is never right," Newt said.

We were strolling through the famed art gallery and I was of course fascinated and giddy to be looking at such masterpieces but I would rather die than have Newt know that.

"You did steal all of the ancient art pieces. Or would you dare deny it?"

I turned to look at him. I was smiling and I would personally be chastised later for enjoying myself.

"If the Hibernians can't be bothered to read a full contract then they shouldn't be negotiating with valuable pieces, to begin with."

I was about to retort when I saw a painting that left my mouth open mid sentence. I ditched the prince and rushed to examine it closer.

It was the glorious depiction of a wooden ship on blue waters and purple skies. The sun was setting and on the horizon, you could make out tiny black dots that resembled ships.

"All right Newt. If you can tell me what this paintings significance is I'll sit with you and have tea all you want this week. This time in sake of my honor."

Newt squinted his eyes and approached the painting slowly.

I was starting to lose my patience when he finally said something.

"This work was painted on one of the migrating ships that brought the immune children to our shores. Mathilda White was the creator, she was 13 when she came up with this. Sadly, she died during childbirth."

I shook my head "Tsk, tsk. Not quite there but I'm sure it's for the best if we never have tea again."

"What? The only other significant factoid about this painting is that the White hereditary line continued on to form all of the different tribes."

I feigned sympathy "Pity. You were so close. Well actually considering that you deny anything that isn't in your favor-

"Roan I refuse to acknowledge that the Rhine tribe had anything to do with the maze."

"Then we will have no tea then."

Newt rolled his eyes "We'll have tea sooner or later."

"Later is my preference."

We continued to walk and look at the paintings. It became a game of the witts and I started to forget how I had vowed to hate him.

He wasn't insufferable or terrible, the notion left a sour taste in my mouth.

The joviality we had shared was halted when Minho appeared.

"When I was told you two had been seen together I nearly slapped the poor liar. Imagine my surprise to find it to be true."

We both turned from the effigy we had been examining. I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes.

"Minho" Newts tone was warning. Almost pleading.

"Don't fret. I just wanted to confirm the plans for the trip. Did the lady agree or is she throwing another tantrum?"

He was obviously referring to me. I wondered if I could frame him for debauchery and have him drawn and quartered.

"Minho, if you could just behave for once the entire nation would be grateful. And I already told you as long as we're not sleeping in the dirt I don't care where we stay."

Minho smirked and his mischievous aura regenerated.

"Wonderful. I'll remind you, you said that if there's any complaining. Roan can be my witness."

He forgot my title. Could he get any more offensive?

I didn't want to go the Brighton Woods but what choice did I have?

I couldn't have this simpleton thinking I was some fickle child.

"So when do we leave for this fair you all seem so excited about?"

A/N

Hello, readers! If there is any. Anyways, I got this review saying that Roan was over the top rude. Now I can see where this is coming from but I was wondering what the rest of you thought. In my head, it made sense 'cause you know she is this privileged girl who's always been told she's better than anyone else 'cause she is nobility and also the position she is in is very you know stressful and people lash out in unfavorable situations.

So I was wondering what you guys thought...

Is she too rude?

Appreciate a lot if you would let me know in the reviews.