Chapter 129: I Wouldn’t Dare
Igma💙;
"It’s a very foolish way to fail, don’t you think?" He then questions me, and logic abandons my mind.
He knows!?
For how long has he... And he did nothing about it!??
"K-king Wilhelm... you know?" I can’t help the question, and then he takes a deep breath before standing up.
"That my second son is being manipulated by a little con artist who has an impressive mastery of psychology? Of course I do." He replies as he walks behind his throne and stares at the flags gently swaying.
My jaw drops as I stare at the man.
He gently holds the hem of one of the flags, and he raises a brow. Then he turns to me while holding up the fabric of one of the flags.
"Silk! A very expensive choice for an indoor flag, don’t you think?" He says, like he’s impressed but also curious.
"Liandria has always had a taste for the finer things of life." He adds as he lets the flag go and starts trailing his fingers along the top of the throne as he walks.
My mind scrambles for one single, tangible explanation for why he hasn’t done anything about this, but I come up with nothing.
"There’s this saying I really like." He then says out of the blue, and I shut my eyes.
This was a lost cause.
Why did I think this madman would...
"When you’re in Rome, act like a Roman." He adds, and I open my eyes. He turns to me, and I just stare in blank irritation.
"If you can’t beat, join them." He then adds in a sing-song manner as he starts walking down the stairs.
He stops at the foot of the stairs and smiles at me.
Why is he smiling!?
Fuck, I’m not letting this go! His son is about to screw himself over, doesn’t he care!?
That filthy dog might get pregnant for Rhydian. Doesn’t he care!?
"King Wilhelm, do you not care about the mistake Rhydian is about to make!? Bram is going to get knocked up..." I begin, but he cuts me off.
"That won’t happen." He says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and I feel goosebumps rise along my skin.
"How!? My foolish cousin already trusts the boy over me. Bram will get his way. The only person who can stop him is you. Why aren’t you doing anything!?" I scream before I can stop myself.
And then. Only then does his smile reach his eyes.
His eyes erupt with a twinkle before he starts walking over to me. However, that look doesn’t trick me.
I know better than to trust this man or think I can predict him.
"I’m sorry, King Wilhelm. Rhydian isn’t foolish. I didn’t mean that." I apologise, even though I’m lying, and he snorts.
HE SNORTS!
"Oftentimes, my boy can be a bit... narrow-minded. I can’t call him a fool cause I’m his father, but you have all the freedom in the world to. Use it when you need it. Especially when he’s behaving like one." He says, and he finally gets to me, and I blink at him.
He stands beside me, and my skin crawls at how scentless he is.
I still can not understand how he’s able to do that. Not an ounce of his scent can be traced. I’m pretty sure only a few people know what his scent is.
"Look at that throne. In a few years, who do you think is going to sit there?" He questions, and I stare at the ornate, golden throne at the head of the hall.
"Rhydian?" I reply, and King Wilhelm shakes his head in negation.
"A king. Whoever sits in that throne becomes the author of Howleroot’s fate." He replies, and I turn to look at him.
"Leadership is a lot more than a title. A leader must be calculative. Attentive. Wise." He continues, and my brows crease as I stare at the man who’s staring ahead at the throne.
"Keeping that in mind, do you think Rhydian is ready to be king?" He questions as he finally looks at me, and I hold my breath as his gaze holds mine captive.
"No," I reply honestly, and he nods.
"And how does one learn?" He asks, and I swallow.
"By experience," I reply, and he smiles again with yet another nod.
"Now, tell me. Why haven’t I done anything about our pest problem?" He questions, and I slowly look away from him and back at the throne.
"...Because you want Rhydian to learn for himself," I reply, and there’s silence.
"The fact that I’m not doing anything doesn’t mean you can’t. If you can’t beat Bram at his game..." He speaks again, and my heart skips a beat as I finally understand what he’s saying.
"Join him!" I exclaim as I turn to King Wilhelm, and he smiles at me before gently tapping my shoulder.
He turns around, and as he walks away, he speaks.
"I’ll stop by Alana’s room later. I’m pretty sure the poor girl hates being confined to a bed."
******
Koda;
I stare at the fragile little doll staring at me from under his lashes.
My fingers curl into a fist when I see that he’s truly here.
"Alpha Koda? Is something the matter?" Seun questions, but I can’t take my gaze off the young man who’s staring at everything in the space except my face.
"Hi..." He croaks, and my gaze hardens.
He looks away, and Kishan speaks behind me.
"Master Elián, you have an injury?"
Elián shuts his eyes like he was hoping I wouldn’t tell them about his irresponsibility.
"What!? But you seem... Is it serious?" Seun questions, and I don’t give Elián a chance to reply.
"Yes. It is serious. He had surgery just this morning, and here he is. Standing in your hut instead of resting in ours!" I scold, and he quickly looks up at Seun, who now looks worried.
"It’s not like that. It doesn’t even hurt. I promise!" He complains, and I raise a brow.
"Koda, you’ll make them worried!" He scolds me, and my jaw drops.
"They should be worried. You..." I begin, but stop.
I think I’ve done enough scolding in front of an audience. I’ll caution him properly when we get back home.
"We have to go," I note, and his face falls.
"What? But I just got here." He pouts, and I roll my eyes as I approach him.
"I didn’t even get to..." He begins but stops, and this makes me raise a brow.
"You didn’t get to what?" I question curiously, and his eyes sneak over to the baby sleeping on Seun’s chest.
"I didn’t get to carry the baby." He pouts, and I blink at him in wonder.
Seun stifles a chuckle, and I let out a breath.
Without waiting for anymore of his complaints, I close the space between us and scoop him into my arms.
"What are you doing!? I can walk!" He scolds as he hits my chest, and I grit my teeth.
"The fact that you can doesn’t mean you should right now," I note, and he pushes his lips out further in a bigger pout, and I almost laugh.
"I’m sorry for the disturbance. We’ll take our leave now." I say with a bow to the Shannas, and Kishan bows back.
"Let me see you out." He says, and I secure Elián in my arms before heading out of their house.
•••••••••••••
"That was embarrassing!" Elián scolds as soon as I set him down on the bed, and I shut my eyes.
He’s been chewing me out since we left the Shanna’s hut.
Complaining that I embarrassed him by carrying him all the way here.
Was he honestly expecting me to let him walk back all the way here?
"Now, they’re going to think I’m some kind of creep who was desperate enough to visit their baby right after my surgery!" He continues, and I open my eyes.
"Do you have any idea..." He begins, but I sit on the bed beside him and lean close to him.
"How are you feeling?" I question, and he slowly curls back the finger he was pointing at me as he seals his lips.
I lean closer as my fingers slide under his shirt.
"It’s hot this morning. You shouldn’t be clad in so much." I add deliberately to tease him, and I watch a blush colour his cheeks and nose.
"I...I... Well, I wore it so... so people wouldn’t see the..." He begins, but I lean closer to him.
"May I take it off you?" I question, and his eyes widen. His cheeks grow redder, and I smile.
"I don’t... you don’t... im not sure it’s a... erm..." He starts stuttering, and I smile before locking my lips with his.
I kiss him gently, and even though he was frozen at first, to my surprise...he kisses me back.
I break the kiss with and as his flustered face stares at me, I smile.
"Don’t you like it when you’re this gentle? Do you always have to fight me?" I whisper, and that small pout returns to his lips.
"Are you calling me troublesome?" He pouts, and I smile as I kiss his pouted lips.
"Of course not. I wouldn’t dare."