Chapter SIXTY- TWO: CLARA ONCE AGAIN
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I just came to talk to you. More like spend some time with you. I mean if we are going for this event together then I need to get to know more about you. Would you not tell me to come in?” I smiled and he let me through.
“So what are you doing?”
“It’s not like it’s any of your business but I am working on my speech.”
“Oh, can I help?”
“No. I was thinking by now you would have said exactly what you wanted and gone.”
“Since you never want to let me out and do stuff, I thought that I should come here myself.”
“But I am busy.”
“Don’t worry, go on with whatever you were doing I will just sit here. Just act like I am not here.”
He scoffed and began reading his speech out loud again.
“Can I say something?” I said just after he was done saying it for the second time.
“What is it Clara?”
“Your speech.”
“And what about it?”
“It sounds so much like you.”
“And what is wrong with that?”
“Everything. It is washed up and deprived of everything that it actually stands for. Do you know how you sound? Well let me tell you, arrogant, pompous and so fucking annoying.”
“You said that you were going to be quiet and act like you weren’t here. I guess you just can’t keep your mouth shut.”
“Who do you intend on delivering this washed up speech to? Some bunch of kids?”
He walked up to me, “I never asked for your opinion, Clara.”
“I am only trying to help. So you don’t go out there and end up showing everyone how much of a jerk you are.”Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
He chuckled, “You think you are so tough now Clara. I can have your head hanging over the pole the next minute if you keep pushing me to the edge. I know that you might feel that you are of great importance to me that is why you think that you can speak to me anyhow but don’t get too excited. Everyone has a replacement.”
I watched him speak, if only he knew how I wanted to crush him. So he would never get to utter another word of his arrogance again. As I walked out into the hallway, the thought to just flee the palace and never turn back hovered in my head. But I had no place to go. No place to return to. I had no idea if my parents were still out there and where they would be. It had been years since I last saw them and I still wasn’t satisfied with the way that I lived.
Ever since I left the manor, I haven’t really thought about the blood moon and all that I had seen in Ryan’s office. And sometimes, it still felt like a dream but whenever I saw Kieran, I knew that it had happened and still happening. Ryan could have gotten mad by now looking everywhere for me. I hope he doesn’t see the note with Kieran’s contact and connects the dots.
For the first time since I arrived at the palace, I would be leaving the palace with Kieran. Wearing a fancy dress and looking like one of the nobles as Kieran’s plus one. I didn’t know why he wanted to portray me as that but every time I thought about it, it felt good. To be chosen. But all the same, Kieran’s ruthless behaviour was still spoken in town. I didn’t want to be seen as one of his accomplice but it didn’t matter, everyone already thought so and it would be a lot worse after he delivered that speech. I wouldn’t be able to overlook the stares from underneath the knitted brows of the people. I already had so much enemies at the moment and adding more would only mean suicide.
I exhaled forcefully as soon as I got close to the door. And then turned back again heading to his chambers but then just by the hallway, I sighted him handing a brown envelope to a man and as soon as he was out of sight, I followed behind him. He got into a room and I walked over to the window peeking through it. It was a printing room.
“He was going ahead with the speech after all.”
At that moment, I sighted the man walking towards the door and I hid away. I only heard the door and footsteps towards the opposite direction. And then I hurried into the room and made some edits to the speech.
“What the hell have I done?” I muttered as I walked back to my room.
…
Kieran took my hands as we got down from the car into the hall. The hall just as I had expected was filled up with people from far and wide, people of high status in the werewolf council. And they all looked up to us. And for once in a very long time, I felt important. And wanted by everyone as they took photos of us. Kieran smiled too and it all struck me when the announcement for his speech came. I hadn’t done much of a change on it. Only changed his words that depicts arrogance into what was friendly.
As Kieran stood there watching the paper that laid in front of him, my heart pounded for a second. He looked back at me and at that point, I knew just then that he knew what I had done. I smiled back at him and walked out of the hall leaving him to read out my words. It was either that or be seen as the Lycan King who could not deliver a speech and the Kieran I know would not trade his reputation for just a speech. This time, I had outdone myself. He deserved it.
Before the speech, I had observed him and the people he mostly mingled with and as soon as he climbed up the podium, I made sure to speak with everyone of them. I could see Kieran’s eyes on me several times. It was as though he should flee the steps and come hear what I said to them. But instead I would just smile and move to the next person.
“Ma’am, are you leaving just yet?” The driver asked as I walked over to the car.
“Yes, I have this bad headache and I really need to go and rest. I know your master asked you to wait so I would just take the cab instead,” I made to leave.
“Wait ma’am, it is true that he asked me not to leave but you are in distress and I need to take you back. I would he right in time to take him back too.”
“Oh that’s so thoughtful of you,” I chuckled.
After a long tired nap, I was awoken by a knock on the door. I opened it to find two guards by the door.
“You have been summoned by the King.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”
“He wants you now.”
“I know, I said I will be there.”
“We are sorry but we have to do this.”
“Do what?”
The guards held my arms and pulled me.
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
But they said nothing as they kept on dragging me along. I tried to get my arms free but their grip were stronger as always until I got to Kieran’s chambers. And then they threw me on the floor.
“Leave us,” Kieran ordered and the guards left shutting the door.
“Really?! You had to send your guards to drag me here?”
“You have outdone yourself Clara. You have just been a pain in my neck since you came.”
“This is just the beginning. I will not let you or anyone treat me any lesser.”
“You complained that you were being locked away and you did nothing right?”
“This is about the speech,” I laughed, “Well that was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what is coming.”
“What is coming huh? I know what is puffing your shoulders. This little freedom I give you, right? And you have developed wings. What if I clip them off?”
“Let’s see how that goes.”
“Oh Clara, so daring. From today henceforth you are a maid and do you know the best part? You would work directly for me. Wash my feet prepare my bath and do as much as I please.”
“You can’t do that to me.”
“Oh well, I already did. You aren’t so tough now are you?”
“I used to wonder why I have never seen a woman around. The one you can call a mate, that’ll make you laugh and bring warmth to you. But now I know, no woman would ever want to be with a beast like you. No one would last in your arms.”
“How dare you?!” He roared and walked sharply towards meand grabbed my neck pulling me against the wall. At first, my breath slipped away. But I could still see his eyes. From a cold set of grey eyes to a much warmer pair and his grip on my neck lessened. And then, the unthinkable happened.