Chapter 20: still tied up
Chapter 20: still tied up
16th century
Jamie watched the tied up king and he still looked at her with careless attention. she must have been rumbling about her childhood for a long time. So long, she didn't notice that sensation was beginning to return to her big toes.
How long did she talk about her childhood? hours, maybe. She had never really told anyone what happened when she was exiled from her castle. in Eastern hemisphere, Princess Jamie was the only Princess who was famous for committing an abomination and breaking the rules of knighthood. she was a bad princess.
"I know what you are thinking?" Jamie muttered. It was obvious on the king's face.
"Do tell me what I am thinking, Monisha?" Alexander was suddenly looking intently at her. No one had ever accused him of being transparent before.
But here was his Queen, who broke the rules of her kingdom, almost became a Knight of her kingdom then exiled for ten years because of it, lived in the forest most of her life, claiming she could tell him what he was thinking.
"You think me insane for my blatant disregard for the tradition of the very people I want to protect and rule over"
"No. I think your father should be hanged upside down for sending you off to a forest to be raised like wild animals"
"Don't talk about my Papa like that or I am going to kick you on your head. King Jared did what was best for me. life in the castle was suffocating me" Jamie suddenly missed her home. Not the castle but the little cottage she lived for four years.
"You are Queen over the largest hemisphere in Derkal, Janessa. Don't you think life in the castle learning about history and politics would have aided you in that role?" Alexander asked her.
Jamie felt the anger in her raise to the tip off point. How dare he!
"I am sorry you are stuck with an ill-mannered, no corset wearing wild animal like me, his Highness. But I didn't ask to be kidnapped! I didn't ask to be Queen over the largest hemisphere in Derkal!"
Jamie would have stormed off in anger except she was still temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. She simply turned her head and stare into an empty space. Darkness would be upon them soon.
Alexander knew his Queen was feisty. Just that the thought of Janessa all alone in the forest was enough to send him right over the edge. Alexander knew how she felt about physical strength and she might reckon she could handle everything that was thrown at her but the forest was no place for a princess and the future Queen of his kingdom.
"Are you going to ignore me for the rest of our lodging in the forest, Janessa?"
"Yes, his Highness" Jamie muttered.
"You have quite the temper, my mid-knight Queen. Did you really defeat all your opponent in the tournament?" Alexander was impressed. He shouldn't be. He knew a lady had no business in the arena and he would never condone it in his kingdom but he really was impressed.
"Yes. All but one. The King declared it a tie."
"Hmmm"
Alexander and Jamie were silent for a while. Her legs were slowing beginning to feel again and soon she would be able to escape the dreadful king.
"Why are you called the devil of Aradale?" Jamie wanted to feed her curiosity.
"I don't know" Alexander told her bluntly.
"I heard it was because you really ARE the devil" Jamie told him. It was a rumor that she had in Namura.
"Do you believe I am the devil?" Alexander wanted to know her opinion. Only hers, mattered.
"No. I don't believe you are the devil, Alexander. But I think you don't mind being called one"
Jamie was right. He really didn't mind that he was considered the devil. A mytical creature damned to be in a pit of hell for all of eternity.
"Maybe I am the devil"
"Tell me about your childhood, Alexander" Jamie felt if he knew him as a child, she would think of him as less of a threat.
"No"
"No?" Jamie was surprised he denied her request.
"My past shall remain where it is. You shall not poke or spy or bother me about it" Alexander knew he had just made a terrible mistake. Asking Janessa not to do something was like giving her a mission.
He knew she was going to make it her mission to find out about his childhood and then, she would truly despise him.
"Yes, Milord" Jamie knew she was going to find out one way or another.
"I am serious, Janessa"
"So, am I. Let me escape and I don't need to sniff out your childhood tales" Jamie gave him a way out.
"No. And don't think you won't be punished for attempting to run away again, Darling"
Jamie felt chills run down spine just thinking about ways Alexander was going to punish her.
Alexander knew that his threat got her quiet but that only made him think about his childhood.
He had lied to her. He knew why he was called the devil of Aradale. He knew because his father was the first person that called him the Devil.
He couldn't help but let his mind wander. To those days when he was soaked in blood and the only thought on his mind was when he was going to kill again.