Chapter 19
"What on earth are you talking about?" Amelia asked, confused as to how her father won anything today and her being a distraction. None of his men returned home. How was that a win?
"I was hoping there would have been a victory with the men I chose to tag along for the trap I laid out but you can’t win everything. What is more important is that Killian separated from another group of his men. Thanks to their king following the trap I lined up for them, I was able to capture the men from the group Killian left. I let it slip to Killian about my trap being bait," said Richard.
Amelia wasn’t sure if her father expected her to be clapping for him capturing men from the north. Did he forget she said none of their men returned? Staring at his face, Amelia realized there would be no point talking to her father about what happened today.
Capturing some of Killian’s men while he killed all of theirs was not a victory but she no longer had the energy to explain that to her father. Maybe this was a moment where silence was the best response? Her father’s actions today will catch up to him. It was unfortunate everyone else around him had to pay the price.
"Where are you going child?" Asked Richard when Amelia turned around and walked away. "Have you realized how wrong it was to doubt me? I said to tell me why what happened when you met Killian. Why did he release you? Did you offer your virtue?"
Amelia kept walking with her head held high and her fists clenched. She wanted to yell at him but for some reason, her body felt defeated.
"Should I get rid of the young men I had lined up for you to meet? No one will want to marry a princess sullied by the northern king. And how am I supposed to know if it was only him? Though your appearance looks clean it can be deceiving. Go to a doctor Amelia," said Richard.
Amelia didn’t allow his words to affect her. He was talking about her possibly being taken advantage of by Killian as if it was nothing. This was his daughter who could have been taken advantage of and tormented but instead of trying to comfort her, he was mocking what could have been a horrific experience.
"You’re right. I shouldn’t have come here. What point is it in trying to talk to a fool," she said to Cyrus when she exited the throne room. "My father will always be a fool and everyone here will die because of it. Why haven’t you tried fixing that wound," she glanced at his shoulder.