Chapter 31: ...To Die
The moment Aideen walked through the door of the Meeting Room, she sensed him – the scent marked with poison and hate; the dreadful stench that erased the lingering presence of Tillian around her right away, replacing it with the disgusting presence of the rotten royalty.
Everything about King Euris Ruan was making her blood run cold. The way his royal uniform rustled when he moved, the way his breathing was always somehow heavier than everybody else’s, the way he continuously cleared his throat with annoying, startling coughs...
But the most intimidating thing was his voice. Cold, detached, serious, monotonous. These were the qualities of his voice he only showed to those whom he despised.
And now, this voice was filling the Meeting Room once again.
"Long time no see, Princess Aideen. I am glad to see you well. It looks like your stay with His Grace Duke Valentine has not managed to erase the color your face acquired while you have been living with Lord Constantine."
Aideen looked away in an attempt to hide her distressed expression which only brought a wide smile to the King’s face.
"Come, take a seat. I hope you still remember your way around here."
He watched as the princess carefully made her way toward the opposite end of the long table, and once she finally took her seat, Euris placed the official decree right before him, and continued,
"You have no idea how disappointed I was to hear that you wished to break off your marriage with the Count. The man was generous enough to take you in when nobody wanted you, giving you a chance to prove your worth. However, not only have you failed to fulfill the only task laid upon you, but you also betrayed his trust and the trust of the Royal Family. Ungrateful as always."