Nerves bubbled up in my stomach as I reached for the door handle. I had told Killian that I wanted to find out the truth for myself, but now that I was here... A dense lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard. Killian had been highly opposed to the idea of me confronting her, and his nerves were starting to wear off on me. I had spent weeks living with this woman, so why was I suddenly afraid of her? Even if she was a queen once, she was simply Minerva now. People were capable of change, after all. Even if the stories Killian told me were true, perhaps that was simply the person she used to be. All this time she had been nothing but kind and hospitable to me, so there was no reason for me to fear her.
She did try to marry me off to Milo, though...
I shook the doubts from my mind. She arranged the proposal to protect me. That was nothing to cast doubts on. When I thought back on our time together, there wasn’t a single circumstance in which I had felt distrust with her. Everything would be fine; it was only Minerva, after all.
With my confidence renewed, I pressed against the door and stepped inside. As the door swung shut behind me, I instantly noticed a familiar pair of ice blue eyes glaring at me from beside the fire.
“Oh my realms, thank goodness you’re back!” Minerva flew from her chair and wrapped me in a tight embrace. I accepted her affection, slightly suffocated from her strong hold. She hugged me so tightly that her nails dug into my shoulders, but I couldn’t fault her for being worried—she hadn’t seen me since I stormed out this afternoon.
“I’m sorry for being gone so long; I had a lot on my mind,” I squeaked out beneath the crushing squeeze.
Minerva finally released me after hearing my suffocated voice, then let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m sure you did, young lady, but that doesn’t mean you can go running off for hours at a time,” she scolded, placing her hands sternly on her hips. “What if you had been married to Milo already? If you had run off like that, he wouldn’t be able to protect you. We’re only trying to do what’s best for you, dear. I don’t understand why that’s so hard for you to grasp.”
She pressed a tender hand to my shoulder, but I didn’t feel open to her soothing.She still doesn’t get it. Why was she so determined to pair me with the sorcerer?It was hard to believe that she was a murderous queen in a previous life when she was so protective of me.
“Minerva, I don’t want to marry Milo,” I stated firmly, jerking my shoulder away. “I’m not a child; I know how to protect myself and who to be weary of. Mr. Nevio is a fine man, but I have no intention of spending the rest of my life in a burrow just because I’m afraid others might try to take advantage of me. I appreciate you trying to look out for me, but I’m not the type to run and hide.”
Minerva stepped back, a new surprised light staining her expression. I had been nothing but an obedient guest ever since we met, so my fresh wave of independence likely came as a shock to her. A new wave of thought crossed her charming features. Without speaking, she calmly returned to her chair, folding her hands gracefully in her lap as she did so. I wondered if that was the proper posture that a queen would take...
Her sparkling eyes met mine with a more serious gaze. “So, you don’t want to live in the shadows, do you?” she asked quietly, an eerie tone slipping into her melodic voice. “Then what about standing in the light? You are the princess after all. Why don’t you simply claim your rightful place and put all the guessing to rest? You wouldn’t have to resort to hiding if you simply accepted your new role.”
My mouth fell open.Where was this coming from?I thought she wanted me to hide and stay safe? Now she wanted me to claim the crown? She spoke as if the solution was so clear, yet she hardly knew more than a few rumors about my supposed royal status. Something was off...
“Minerva, there is no proof that I’m the princess, and even if there was, I’m no ruler. The truth is, I’m just a bandit. Before I met you, I spent my days robbing wagons and terrorizing Ashbourne soldiers. I’m not cut out to be a princess or a queen. All I want is to return home and go back to living with my mother.” I approached the woman and sat in the chair beside her. The fire’s warmth tickled against my arms and face, sending comforting washes of heat through my nervous bones. When I finally met her gaze, the ice in her eyes was overwhelming and instantly nullified the warmth I had gathered.
“Don’t be a fool, Nixie,” she spat harshly, a fresh sneer curling her perfect red lips. “That life won’t be there for you anymore. Now that people know who you truly are, you only have one option, and that’s to become queen. If you try to return to the life of a common peasant, you’ll only be hunted for your crown. That’s why it’s best for you to take control of your position now before anyone can pose their influence upon you.” She stood from her chair, glaring down at me with an authority I had never seen from her. Her body blocked me from the crackling fire, and I felt an even stronger cold creep through me from her glare.
I remained frozen from the fresh chill, my heartbeats slowing from the growing frost. She had never lost her temper like that before. I took a deep breath, steadying my heart before asking what might very well be a deadly question. “Minerva... do you feel this way, because you were a queen once?” My voice shook. Her determined gaze flashed between shock and fury. For a brief moment all I could see was fiery anger blaring through her, and I felt a heavy regret for not heeding Killian’s warning.
“Yes,” she said tightly. “I was queen...” She stepped around me, walking quietly toward the front door. Her demeanor changed after that moment. The previous kindness that lit her face drained away. An icy chill ran through the cottage as I silently watched the stoic woman dig something small out of a cluttered crate. She didn’t utter a single word, but the glance she shot me was full of anger and tension. My heart pounded frantically as I watched her unveil the scavenged object in her hand.It was an iron lock. My adrenaline spiked as I watched her click the lock on the front door in one fluid movement.
“Minerva! What are you—”
“Quiet, girl,” she hissed. I sank back into my chair obediently, completely shaken by this sudden change in my sweet hostess. She returned to the cluttered crate and began digging out another item, this time tucking it blindly into the pocket of her apron. “I had everything worked out, and I’m not letting it slip away just because I lost control of another daughter.”
Her steely voice rattled me, and I stiffened in my chair. “Daughter? But I’m not your—”
“Oh, but you are,” Minerva said in a sickly sweet tone. “My sweet Nixie, all those years ago when I rescued you from the palace, I never knew who you truly were.” My stomach lurched as I realized what she was implying. She laughed lightly as she noticed my panicked expression, a slight twitch forming in her eye. “Once you marry Milo, we’ll present you as the new king and queen of Sybettal. No one will argue having a powerful sorcerer as their king, and as your adoptive mother who rescued you, I’ll easily be made a duchess. Obviously, you have never been taught how to run a kingdom, so I’ll have to take the reins until you’ve met the proper standards of royalty. With the three of us working together, we’ll rebuild Sybettal into a fearsome kingdom. If we join forces with Ashbourne, it should be simple to put Isalla and Drancos back in their place.”
A hateful smile drew across her pristine features, and I felt myself nauseate. “That’s an absurd idea! My entire village knows who my real mother is. Do you really think they’ll just stand by and watch you claim me as your fake daughter? And besides, you lived in Isalla for most of your life, how are you going to convince anyone that you raised me?” I asked sharply, my temper beginning to elevate dangerously.
“Oh, darling, don’t you know anything about politics?” she asked arrogantly. “You can spin whatever truth you want, as long as you have a way to silence those who don’t agree. I’m sure Ashbourne would be more than happy to keep a few measly villagers quiet once we pledge our alliance.”
I felt my heart seize.Mother... She wouldn’t.
“It’s a rather simple equation, my dear,” Minerva stated flatly, fiddling mindlessly with the concealed item in her pocket. “If you want your mother and neighbors to stay lively, then I suggest you go along with everything I say. As long as you nod and smile, no one will have any reason to believe a few mindless peasants, and your dear mother can continue living peacefully in the slums. It’s up to you to protect them, so I suggest you play along.” Her pearly teeth gleamed in a wicked smile.
My anger spilled over, and I sprang from my chair, ready to rearrange her perfect face.No one threatens my family.I got within a foot of her, and she pulled out the item she had been concealing—a thin dagger with a vicious point.
“Ah, ah, ah, you might want to keep your distance, dear.” she tutted in a mischievous tone. “This dagger is dipped in a very special poison. Just one knick will send you off into a deep sleep for at least a few days. As much as I would like to call it an early night, I do believe the wedding will go much smoother with a conscious bride, don’t you agree?”
I took a cautious step back, still glaring fire at the devilish woman.Has she been planning this all along?I eyed the blade nervously—it was beautiful and pristine, nothing like the worn-out dagger I had left with Killian.
“What makes you think that Milo will want to marry me when he knows I’m unwilling?” I questioned hotly. “He’s been hiding for nearly his entire life. Why would he want to change all that and become a king? He’d likely barely be able to leave the palace anyway.”
Minerva laughed, her dainty voice no longer suiting her malevolent persona. “Because it was his idea, of course,” she said smugly. “Do you really think that a mighty sorcerer would be content living in a hole all his life? When we first met, we made a small bargain. He would build my home and ensure that I always lived in comfort, and in return, I would rid him of his solitude. It was pure luck that the princess of Sybettal came stumbling across my front lawn. When the idea was proposed, Milo was more than happy to accept the role of king. As our kingdom’s new ruler, the citizens would have no choice but to fear his power, instead of hunt it, and I would be back where I truly belong, in a palace. You truly have become our good luck charm.” Her delicate laughed grew louder until it shifted into a far more deranged cackle.
I took another step backward, not sure how unhinged she had really become. “Minerva, this is crazy—”