21 Killian's reality
Adriele almost fainted, she signed up for marriage, not the next Queen. What game was Darren playing with her life?
The party went on *smoothly* for the rest of it. When it was done Adriele wanted to get answers out of Darren.
As she walked to her room with a dazed look, Delia saw her and didn't dare to look at her. "She might have felt betrayed," she said and sighed
"Why, will she? This is the dream of so many girls out there" Deborah the Queen's closest handmaiden said
"Yeah, it is the dream of many girls but not Adriele's. Since I came to know her I have known she is reserved but free-spirited and again she is a kind person but she has been cheated, I just hope she can cope"
"Hmmm,"
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Getting into the room she could not find Darren and decided to wait for him. She looked around at the decorated room, rose petals on the bed, the dim candlelight burning, it was really romantic but all she felt was the pain of been deceived.
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"Congratulations, bro, sorry Crown Prince," Michael said to tease Darren and an unspeakable expression flashed over his face when he heard that.
"Darren, I know you're angry but we had no choice, face it I am going to die and the throne will have to be yours sooner or later"
"I am not angry, just disappointed. You kept this a secret from me. So what if you give up on your life? That has nothing to do with me, but being King is a punishment, why do I deserve to pay a high price like this?"
"It's the price you have to pay for being born a Royal" Killian said
"Born, eh? I remember telling you so many times to get married and have a baby, so he would..." Darren said but was cut off by Killian
" Darren, you know my reason for not doing that"
"And you know my reason for not wanting to be King," Darren said as he stormed out the door.
"Let him be, he might come around" Michael tried to assure Killian
"He has been your friend for more than a decade, do you really believe what you just said?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't think he will come around but I am hoping"
Killian made a *hmph* sound
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Adriele was so deep in thought that she didn't even notice when a figure opened the door and walked into the room.
Darren walked silently towards the woman on the bed with her head bowed and supported with her knees
"Hey, *WIFE*"
Adriele was so startled she jumped off the bed and hit her foot which she didn't notice at the moment. Which caused Darren to laugh out loud
"What is your problem? Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"You walk into the room and don't make any sounds just to scare someone for your amusement?"
"Yes, but only you, no one else has that pleasure"
Frustrated with Darren's constant taunting she asked "Darren, what did I do to you?"
"Nothing yet but you can do something now" he winked at her
"Oh, stop that. What is the meaning of what just went on out there?" She didn't beat about the bush
"What?" he asked innocently though he knew exactly what she was talking about
"You're so frustrating, why are you playing with my life, why did you trick me into becoming the next Queen overnight?"
"If that is your issue then I can get another woman to be the Queen," Adriele looked at him like he was going crazy "right enough of this, today is not the right day to talk about it," he said staring at the decor.
"Prince Darren Knightdale, what is wrong with you? Why are you toying with my life? You tricked me into marrying you and now I am given a responsibility I can not handle and you say ENOUGH?!!!!" Adriele cried out and Darren's eyes became dark and he looked angry, he pulled her to him and said "Whatever predicament you are in today is all on you, I told you to make a cure as soon as possible but you didn't, now I am stuck with this responsibility too"
Adriele tried to free herself from his grip but couldn't and she continued to yell "What does making a cure have to do with this? I wish that unmentionable person could just die and..." but before she could finish Darren pinned her on the bed with him on top of her and claimed her lips with his forcing his tongue into her mouth. Adriele's eyes opened wide, she didn't expect him to kiss her again like this, they were arguing. He kissed her roughly until she was almost out of breath then he bit her and let her go.
Adriele gasped for air as she got the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. He actually bit her, she could feel the pain on her lips.
"That's just a warning, don't you ever talk about that person dying ever again. Today is your nuptial night, instead of pleasing your husband, you argue with him, didn't your parents teach you well?" He said as he had walked out of the room
Adriele was dumbstruck by his words, *PARENTS* they left her too early to teach her about marriage. Adriele smiled bitterly.
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For the rest of that week, she didn't see Darren, and she was already so tired and gave up looking for him. Delia tried to comfort her telling her it's not that bad being a Queen and Adriele had to fake a smile every time. Today she was walking towards the garden lost in thought, she was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the figure which had stood in front of her and she hit a strong chest and almost fell, but Killian was flexible and fast enough to support her immediately.
"Thank you, your highness and I apologize for not looking where I am going too" she bowed
"It's okay, no need to be so courteous towards me," he said and Adriel just smiled and was ready to leave,
"He is not at fault, he didn't know"
"He? what does the Prince mean by he?" she thought to herself?
"I don't follow, your Highness" Adriele said
"Please just call me Killian, we are family now and Darren didn't know he was going to be made Crown Prince on that day"
Really now, he didn't, but even if that was true it still doesn't justify what he did and said to her.
"It doesn't matter what he knew or didn't, he is the next King and I will be the Queen," she said the last word with a lot of sadness, and anyone could sense it. "But the question still stands, why is he chosen and not you?"
"That is a complicated story though" Killian replied
Sensing he was unwilling to talk about it, she took her leave and started to walk away when he said "Come with me, I will tell you everything you need to know"
They were in an extra room outside the main building, when they got in Killian closed the door behind him. Adriele started to get nervous but quickly pushed the thought away, Killian has always been a pure gentleman and what could he possibly do? They were still in the Palace.
"The reason he was made Crown Prince instead of me is cause I am sick, really sick"
Adriele gasped, is he the one he had been looking for a cure for? Is that why he said it was her fault?.
Now she understood why he got so angry when she wished for the death of that person, it was his brother. Darren might not have the best relationship with everyone but there was one thing she was sure of and that was he cared about Killian a lot.
Killian explained to her, more of his illness, but he didn't tell her much about his healer. Adriele felt pain in her heart, she could not believe she wished for him to die, how was the Queen Mother feeling? Knowing when her son was going to leave her.
"I'm sorry" was the only thing she managed to say
"It's okay, it's not your fault. Darren is a little difficult... okay he is a lot difficult but he is a good person, just need to understand him and I can promise you that he will take care of you now that you're married"
"Do you know he forced me into this marriage?"
"Yeah"
"How? Do you know the reason?"
"Well, it is not that hard, I had been observing your mood whenever the marriage was being mentioned, so I took a lucky guess"
"Do you think others have this guess too?"
"Nah, don't think so, most people just ignore their observations, while others don't observe at all. And I know he might not show it but he cares about you, if he was willing to marry you, then he does"
"tsk, he cares about me, hmph. He only cares about you, and he is willing to use me to cure you" Adriele thought and gave him a sad smile.
