13 Royal wedding (3)

Olivia took it upon herself to explain her importance to Francis so that he knows his limits and doesn't try to cross them. It was important to her that Francis understands that she was the only one who mattered in Arimelari and he will have to respect her.

She left Alexander's room and marched into Francis's room. She despised Francis because he threatened her reign. He was the only person who has made her power around the prince reduce. Before the prince worshipped her every word but now he dares to threaten her for the sake of a boy he picked up in the streets.

She didn't bother to knock and just walked in and was about to start scolding Francis but stopped. Francis wasn't alone in his room but had company, she stared at the queen of Arimelari with bitterness but the queen just smiled.

"Like I was saying before we were rudely interrupted. Feel free to tell me if anyone troubles you in my palace," she said directing her glare at Olivia. "You mean a lot to my son so that means that you mean a lot to me too," she added.

"Thank you," Francis replied nervously.

"How sweet. But you are a royal now and being that you have to learn to be strong and brave. Life in a royal family is not easy but you need not worry as I am here for you," she said and excused herself. She pulled Olivia out of the room with her when she left.

"Let go of my hand!" Olivia yelled.

"Do you think by yelling loudly is when you will be heard. The truth is that it doesn't matter how loud you yell. Alexander is not going to listen to you like he used to, Francis is going to make certain that he doesn't whether the boy himself knows that or not," she stated happily.

"I am going to enjoy wiping that smile off your face when he fails. How many women have you brought for him but each of them failed to snatch him away from me," Olivia said with a lot of confidence and pride.

"In competition, it is never a good idea to be overconfident, and mind you, I was not the one who brought Francis here. And from what I gather Alexander was the one to beg him to accept to marry him. So I doubt that you will do anything."

"Just you wait and watch how I make your darling Francis dance to my every tune."

"Empty can are the ones that make the loudest noise. Your words are nothing but empty threats," the queen said and made her way to her room.

Princess Olivia was left standing in the corridor gritting her teeth. She hated that the queen had the nerve to talk to her like that. She hated having to bow her head to anyone let alone a boy like Francis. She was boiling and trembling with anger. Her whole life she has never felt more insulted than this.

She rushed to her room and banged the door behind her with a loud thud. She went to her bed and dropped her fuming body on the king-sized bed. She cursed the queen and Francis in her heart as she didn't dare do it out loud. She was standing on thin ice and it was of at most importance that she doesn't screw up. She needed to find a way to win over Alexander's favor like before and be his favorite wife again.

She was no loser and she didn't accept defeat easily, she sat up on the bed and took deep breaths to calm down. She needed to have a clear mind if she were to come up with a good plan to win over the prince. She had an idea of what to do and smiled. With her surprise for the prince, she was certain that Alexander will never look in Francis's way again.

She called her servant Mira and whispered instructions into her ear. "Do whatever you want Francis but the prince is mine," she said. She retouched her makeup and left her room to go for a walk. She was no longer in the mood to see Francis.

Francis who had heard the conversation between them couldn't help but feel even more worried. He was yet to settle into the palace and already there were fights because of him. He sat down and prayed that the gods could show him the right path.

He got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to take a bath. The small pool was filled with hot water and petals from different flowers giving the water a sweet smell. He stepped into the water and dipped his body in the water. He felt warm and relaxed. He looked out the window and admired the beauty of the sun.

Once there was a time that he used to play in the sun. He would run around the fields with his mother and even play with the animals in the woods but ever since the king put forth the decree that all the subjects of Arimelari will work at night and sleep during the day he didn't have the chance to enjoy the sun anymore. He closed his eyes and relaxed as he enjoyed how the sun felt hitting his body.

He found himself in the dungeon that he was in before, the mark on his neck glowed brightly in the room. He walked into the dungeon and found the dragon sleeping. He recalled their previous conversation as he moved closer to the dragon. He watched the dragon from his head to his tail and wondered if that was how the prince looked in his dragon form.

"I see that you have return young Francis," said the dragon opened his eyes slowly. Francis was not as scared of the dragon as he was before but he didn't dare to get too comfortable. "What question troubles your mind little one?"

"I can't decide whether or not I want to be with the prince. He is under a curse and is a dragon. What if he ever hurts me?"

"The question should not be whether or not he is capable of hurting you or not but rather is he willing to. And you tell me what fault is it of his that he is cursed as he had not wished for it. Don't you think it will be wrong for you to reject him based on something he cannot control?"