Chapter 236: Back to Shore
The lifeboat shook roughly in the waters, so much so that even the two men who were rowing the boat turned pale. The look in their eyes was desperate, and Soleia noticed that they had even subtly started to row even faster in fear that their prince would send them to their watery graves if they were any slower.
Soleia’s lips stretched into an ugly grin.
"Rather prideful of you to think that you have shown even the slightest bit of kindness," she said. "You are the most selfish, arrogant man I have ever had the misfortune to meet in my life."
Satisfaction bled into Soleia’s body as she watched Ricard’s expression turn darker and darker with every word she said. It was a statement enough to warrant a death sentence. But that was exactly what she wanted.
Soleia wished to worm under his skin, cause him so much anger and disgust that he would slip up and kill her. Death was exactly what she sought, cowardly or not. She would rather be dead than end up as Ricard’s wife, only to die like his many wives before.
Ricard’s fists clenched together, and likewise, the blood ropes around Soleia’s body tightened so much that it quickly became difficult to breathe. Even though her mind was prepared to die, her body wasn’t. She struggled against the bindings, trying desperately to fill her quickly depleted lungs.
All of a sudden, Ricard loosened his grip, and Soleia instinctively gasped for air. Her body slackened against the boat as Ricard sat back, idly resting his cheek against the back of his hand.
"I suppose Raziel was right," Ricard said. "I do need to watch my anger. It is so easily exploited by people who do not fear death."
Soleia coughed, choking on her own spit as she tried to regain steady breathing. Before she could properly gather herself, Ricard curved a finger, and Soleia went soaring towards him.