Finally, he nodded, a single, sharp movement of his head. The verdict was delivered in a voice that commanded obedience. "The Queen has a point," Christopher said, his gaze fixed on her. "We will reconvene tomorrow with a new directive. Varrick, Eldor, you will put together a small delegation of engineers from both kingdoms. They will have two days to present a cooperative solution." He turned his attention to the other elders, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. "The same for the trade and fugitive matters. A new approach. A collaborative one."
The elders murmured their agreement, a wave of surprise evident on their faces. Jackline had changed the course of the meeting with two minutes of defiance and common sense. She had proven her worth in a world of wolves.
She walked back to her spot beside the empty throne, her legs trembling slightly, her victory a small, but significant, one. She had survived his trap, and she had proven her worth. The king was a monster, yes, but he was a calculating, intelligent one who respected competence, a trait she was banking on.
He dismissed the court, the elders bowing and filtering out, their gazes on her now filled with a new, speculative interest. Only Christopher remained seated on his throne, his eyes still fixed on her, a silent, unreadable void in a sea of sunlight streaming in from the high windows.
Alex couldn't hide the laugh that was threatening to come out. He strode over, a wide, genuine smile on his face. "You handled that situation well. The King must be proud of you."
She couldn't hide the smile of victory on her face, a small, triumphant curve of her lips. "I'm sure he is," she said in a sarcastic tone, staring pointedly at her husband. "Right, my dear husband?" She was truly enjoying this moment of one-upmanship.
Alex chuckled, leaning against the throne beside her. "The throne suits you," he smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Prince." She brought up the title intentionally, a playful jab at his earlier deception.
"I still prefer the royal guard title." He winked, a charming rogue to the core.
The man who had been silent the whole time, a looming, cold presence on his throne, cleared his throat. The sound was a sharp, final period to their light-hearted moment. He looked distinctly displeased at the two of them, the easy camaraderie an offense to his cold nature.
"Ramien." He called out, his voice cold and flat, a command that sent a shiver down Jackline's spine.
The guard who was standing behind Jackline responded in a shaky voice. "Y-yes, my K-king." He presented himself before Christopher and bowed, his face downcast, the fear evident in his posture.
"What did I tell you about letting the queen come here?" The voice was all ice, all kingly fury contained in a deceptively calm tone.
"The queen wouldn't listen, she..." Ramien tried to explain, his voice trembling.
Christopher raised his hand, a silent command for him to be quiet. "So you're telling me she was too strong for you?" He stood up, his tall, imposing figure walking slowly down the steps of the dais towards the cowering guard. "Then I don't see any need for you to be a guard."
Jackline couldn't stand what she was witnessing, the cruelty in her husband's simple words. This was the monster from the stories, the "Shadow King" in full force.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Ramien pleaded, his face a mask of shame and fear, his eyes downcast.
"It was not his fault, I..." Jackline tried to explain, stepping forward, the anger rising in her again.
"For this, you will be punished. One year in the dungeon." Christopher said, ignoring Jackline's comment as if she hadn't spoken at all. The cold indifference was worse than any shout of rage.
"No!" She stood up now, her body a small, defiant barrier in front of Ramien. "You can't just punish him for bringing me here. That's absurd. What do you mean by a year in the dungeon?" The sheer injustice of it made her blood boil.
She couldn't believe this man. He was a tyrant, a monster who used his power to crush those beneath him without a second thought.
Alex was enjoying the show before him, a spectator to a drama no one had ever dared stage. No one had ever stood up to Christopher, let alone a woman, his new queen.
"Guards, take him away." He said, his eyes on Jackline, a silent challenge in their depths. He turned his back to walk back to his throne, dismissing the matter as a trifle, then stopping in his tracks as she spoke again.
"If you want someone to punish, then punish me. I'm the one who made him disobey you anyway." She just blurted that out, the words a challenge to his authority. She knew he couldn't do it; punishing a Queen was unheard of, a political nightmare that would cause an uproar. It was a card she was willing to play.
Christopher took slow, deliberate steps closer to her, never breaking the eye contact. His tall height in front of her was imposing, his broad shoulders blocking out the rest of the room. When he stood in front of her, she couldn't see what was on the other side. He looked at her with those cold, attracting blue eyes, a dangerous abyss that drew her in despite her fear. The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension, a challenge met with a promise of consequence.
"As you wish, Princess." His voice was a low, dangerous purr, and the smirk on his face was a chilling promise that he would be more than happy to oblige her.