Chapter 116: Within Two Days
My father walked towards a seat in the room and lowered himself to a seat in the room. I didn’t dare to the same, my father always loved to be above others so that meant I was to stand while he sat comfortably in his seat, staring down at me like I was nothing but the dirt under his shoe, watching me while he watched me like a predator sizing up its prey.
I knew I had to tread carefully and be watchful of what I had to say because even the smallest thing could set him off. I forced my trembling hands to still, keeping them clasped in front of me. If I showed even the slightest sign of fear, he would seize it and used it into something against me, so I had to keep my composure. Not just for my sake but for that of my child’s too!
"Well?" My father prompted, "Get on with it then, don’t keep me waiting!"
Taking a slow breath, I willed my voice to remain steady as I spoke. "I did what I thought to be right, father."
His brows raised up in amusement. "Hmm, what you thought to be right?" He chuckled darkly and I knew of he was standing up, he would have hit me again across my face. "What you thought to be right is it? And what exactly did I warn you about thinking Dahlia?"
Never to try that shit again? I wanted to say but instead I bowed my head and decided to chuck the whole thing to some silly girl fantasy. "Apologies, your grace. I just didn’t want to be too appear too easy, after all I am the daughter of the great king Sigurd, he doesn’t get to treat me like that and then get me that easy."
My father hummed disgruntledly, his fingers tapping an agitated beat on the armrest of his chair. "I suppose that may be true but then again, you do not have any right to play hard to get. Do you even think you can afford the tiniest bit of pride, Dahlia?"
I fisted my hands at my side, already knowing how he would like to answer but I just willing to play by his rules this time around. "Of course not, but I just thought..."
"And what have I said about you thinking?" My father roared at me, his voice snapping like a whip. "You are no queen, a poor excuse for a wife and a daughter. You have no right to think because you are nothing but a pawn. My pawn, daughter and you will continue to act as such!"
The words he spoke hurt me to the core and I have never wanted to hit my father more than I ever wanted to right now. My hands trembled at my sides but I drew in deep breath to calm myself. I had learned the hard way it was futile to argue with him, that it would only lead to pain and humiliation. So the only way to end this was to kill him which unfortunately I couldn’t, so I had to endure his tyranny, same with all those people.
Clenching my hands at my side, I bowed my head once more. "But of course father, I understand." I said even though the words left a bitter taste in my mouth.