Her Mother's Wrath

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CHAPTER 26

POW!

A resounding slap echoed in the throne room as Scarlet's face was promptly sent to the side.

Her cheeks stung as though the hot sun descended on her face. Yet, her assaulter was no way near done.

POW!

Two more slaps followed each time she lifted her head and soon her eyes watered with the tears rolling down her soft cheek.

It was at this point that she lifted her head with both fists clenched at her side and her eyes partly closed, preparing for the next incoming slap when King Blade's voice roared in the throne room.

"ENOUGH!"

Queen Diamonique's hand was suspended in the air, incapable of continuing her assault on her daughter.

Her veins popped on either side of her forehead as she clenched her jaw. Her breathing ragged beyond words.

This was her precious daughter, but gods be damned, did she care about the sorry state she was in and the danger she had put herself in.

"Hmph!"

She dropped her hands to her side swiftly and turned her head to the side.

"I should do more than just hit you. It seems the privileges you enjoy as a princess have spoilt you. I will discipline you and correct that stupid mindset in your brain."

"Enough I said!" King Blaze bellowed once more.

He knew the wife he married.

Although when he first met her, she was as charming as the morning sun and radiant as she carried herself.

But never once did he think such a beautiful flower would become so vicious as the thorns of the rose.

Yes, people usually said life in the royal household could change one. But not when he was certain his first queen was not anything close to a troublemaker.

Then why did she change and become ruthless in her dealings?

Keeping his thoughts away, he centred his gaze on his beloved daughter.

"Scarlet, come."

She kept her head lowered and walked past her mother.

"Head's up. You are a princess," Queen Diamonique reminded and turned over so she was facing the throne.

"Give me a reason why you did what you did?" Blaze asked and let his left-hand slide on his throne's armrest.

"I wanted to see the fireflies," Scarlet lied.

"You know how much I hate lies," Queen Diamonique interrupted.

Not wanting her to butt in any longer, King Blaze shot a glare at his wife, forcing her to clamp her lips shut.

"If that is so, why did you not inform us and have us send someone with you? Why sneak out for days leaving your mother and I worried?"

"I did not want to disturb you, Your Majesty. Also, I knew you might not allow me," she lifted her chin up, staring her father straight in the face.

It was a moment of truth. He would not have allowed it.

"Exactly. I received word that the prince would be arriving in a few days. What if you had met some bandits on the road and got ambushed like the last time? What would you have me say?"

"That the princess is indisposed and cannot attend the wedding."

She had finished her sentence when Queen Diamonique snapped her head in her direction and glared coldly at her.

"I warned you, not another word to defy this marriage."

Ignoring her mother's warning, Scarlet took another step forward and bowed her head first before speaking. "I am sorry father but I do not want this marriage. I do not know this prince."

"Which is why he is coming. He wishes to meet with his bride."

"The exact same words I told her specifically," Diamonique chimed in.

Once more she was silenced by his stare and kept mute.

"It has been decided and there is no going back on my word. As a princess, your duty is first to the kingdom which means choosing a respectable man as your husband and king to continue the royal line."

"Then I do not want to be a princess."

POW!

Where the slap had come from, Scarlet could not tell. All she knew was her ears rang out the sounds of the slap severally before the ringing in her ears stopped.

"Not another word more from you. Guards, take her to her room and lock her up. I want everyone to monitor her. If she escapes again, I will have your heads."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Ignoring the king and his wants, Queen Diamonique dished out her order.

The longer Scarlet stayed there uttering words that would make her lose her inheritance, kingdom and God knows what, the more she knew would not control her anger and hit her again.

After everything she had done to ensure that her stupid daughter would ascend the throne, after all that weighed down on her conscience, she had the guts to run away without thinking.

No. She never planned on letting her scot-free with it.

Fireflies be damned!

Once the doors to the throne room had been closed with Scarlet gone, she turned back and faced the king with her upper body lowered before him.

"Forgive me for taking action without you," she apologized, keeping her head down.

"Had I not done that and let her speak again, I do not know where my anger would have led me."

King Blaze breathed out. He understood her but she was at fault too.

"I understand she is your daughter but she is mine too. Hitting her repeatedly undermined her authority before those beneath her and you undermined mine."

Her knees dropped quickly before he got to say anything else.

"Forgive me, husband. I never meant to. As for Scarlet, I wish she regains her authority because her actions cannot go unpunished."

"Hmm."

"Should anything had happened aside from her getting her ankle strained, you will look foolish before the prince. All I did was have your best interest at heart, husband and nothing more. Forgive my rash actions."

For the next minute, he kept silent and thought about her words carefully. Yes, he needed to prioritize how the other kingdom saw him.

Should they perceive him as weak and incapable of handling his own daughter, how would they deem him fit to rule his people?

"Fine. You are forgiven but ensure she you send the royal physician to treat her wound."

"Yes, Sire. Also, I would like to propose we ask for all flyers concerning her missing poster to be removed at once. We must wipe the record clean of this before the arrival of Prince Jasper."

"Yes. See to it as well. You may leave. I want to be alone."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

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