章 5: 4 Truth
Amaris continued to lead King Rhys further into the garden. Somewhere she knew that no one will be able to listen in to their conversation, wherever it may lead. The further they walked, the more King Rhys wondered where Amaris was taking him. He followed her until she came to a stop in a small clearing area. A unique fountain was at its center. 'Oddly enough it was calming to be here,' King Rhys thought to himself.
Amaris went to a small marble bench and took a seat. She looked up at King Rhys and patted the spot next to her, indicating that it was okay for him to take a seat near her. "Come on now. I promise I don't bite," she joked when she noticed his hesitation. With a small smile, he took a seat next to her.
"I guess we can take this time to get acquainted with one another. Should I go first or would you like to do the honors?"
Amaris took his words into consideration with a slight tilt of her head. "Well, you can speak freely here. No one will stumble upon us here."
Now that statement on its own was a tempting offer. King Rhys took his time before asking her one simple question. "What do you think about marrying someone with such a history as myself?"
Amaris couldn't help but be taken off guard by his bold question but smiled internally at his wording. She chewed upon her lower lip as she contemplated how to respond to his question. After careful consideration, she finally answered his question. "Well, there are a great many things I have heard about you. Be it rumors or things from my own mother. Some people paint you in a distasteful image. From what I've seen so far, I don't think I can say much more without spending more time with you."
King Rhys took Amaris' words into account. Their conversation venturing further on plenty of topics. Near the end, he realized she kept avoiding one topic. The details of their marriage so he asked in a way that she could not dodge answering. "Do you have any questions about the arrangement of our marriage?"
The look she gave alone confirmed one thing. 'She didn't know what she was getting herself into.' He found it upsetting to know that she didn't know about their engagement not too long ago. To his knowledge and from what he was told by his mother and Lady Kalilah, she always knew but he now knew those facts to be wrong. In a nervous mannerism, Amaris eyes King Rhys as the silence and tension seemed to grow. King Rhys sighed before asking Amaris his next question.
"Do you think you can fall in love with a man with such a history as myself?"
Amaris eyes widened as she began to fidget with her hair in an unladylike manner. Shyly, she looked at King Rhys from the corner of her eye to make sure he was joking. She caught him looking at her with serious eyes as a smirk played upon his face. King Rhys couldn't help but show some emotion as he watched her reaction closely. Finding it cute and refreshing at the honesty behind them. She silently debated if she should answer his question.
"You'll find out sooner or later," she said in a coy matter. King Rhys gave a hearty laugh and smiled widely at her. Enjoying her response, their conversation continued. Somewhere in their conversation, King Rhys grew concerned and grabbed Amaris. Leading her back to the ballroom. He gave a small bow and told her that he would be back after discussing somethings with her parents. Amaris looked downward in a nervous manner as she watched him walk away. Disappearing within the crowd of nobility.
King Rhys found King Cyrus and Lady Kalilah together. He stopped in front of them and gave off a cool demeanor. "I think we have some things to discuss King Cyrus. Privately." Kalilah gave a nervous glance over to King Rhys and grabbed her husband's arm before he could cause a scene.
"We should go to the study to avoid wandering eyes," Kalilah suggested. Cyrus silently agreed and led the way to his study. Guards following close behind them. Once within the study, Cyrus sat behind his dark mahogany desk. Kalilah standing behind him. Resting a hand gently upon his shoulder in support.
"What is going on here?" Cyrus asked cautiously as he eyed the King of Speirs's wearily. King Rhys, who stood next in the center of the study. A small yet cold smile graced King Rhys's features. His demeanor intimidating King Cyrus.
"What did you want to discuss King Rhys of Speirs?" King Cyrus was cautious of his wording.
"It's in concern to our marriage agreement. I knew that Princess Amaris was to be my bride since the beginning of the arrangements, yet Amaris did not. Why is this?" King Rhys plainly stated. Amusement shining in his eyes as he watched King Cyrus's face turn red with rage.
"What the hell are you talking about?! My daughter was never promised to anyone. Especially to the likes of you!" King Cyrus' voice boomed throughout the room, causing Lady Kalilah to jump slightly from the sudden change of his tone.
"I'll show you any proof that you want if you truly don't believe me, but I think you should ask your wife about this matter before we continue discussing this. After all, she invited us here so we could announce it today," King Rhys simply shrugged as King Cyrus's attention was now on a very pale Lady Kalilah.
Lady Kalilah opened her mouth and closed it repeatedly as she tried to speak, but no words came out of her mouth. Being put under the spotlight suddenly made her nervous, even more so with King Cyrus watching her very closely.
"Is this true, Kalilah? Did you know about this the whole time?" King Cyrus' voice cracked as he asked her these questions. King Cyrus once soured face turned into one that was sad and disappointed. Lady Kalilah was speechless before him, and she looked away from him. His disappointment only deepened further.
"No need. I would like some time alone with Lady Kalilah to further discuss this matter since I was not made aware of this matter," King Cyrus glared at Lady Kalilah. King Rhys bowed his head and left the study. Leaving them to discuss this little situation between them.
After King Rhys left, Cyrus turned to Kalilah quickly. His anger plain on his face. "What have you done Kalilah?" He demanded to know. His fingers already tapping on the desk impatiently as he waited for her to respond to his question. With a heavy sigh, Kalilah walked over to the bookshelf and pulled a book off of it before walking back over to Cyrus. She opened it, taking out a document, and placed it in front of him.
"This is the marriage contract. I am sorry that I hid it over the years from you but that was the only possible way I could think of finding something good for our daughter," Kalilah admitted to him. Cyrus took it from her and read it's contents, a sense of dread filling him.
Kalilah had sold their firstborn daughter like a lamb to the slaughter.
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