Chapter 108: Chapter 108: ROMANTICALLY?

VALORIA WILDEROSE

We’re frozen and silent until Calliope speaks up, trying to fill in the silence.

“Those are plans for this year’s solstice. We wanted to plan out the course of events before we got them to you to ask for approval—not like we would dare to do them behind your back, Your Majesty—”

“Sure, you can host your festival this year or whatever.” He responds before she can go on about needing to make sure her plans were good enough before meeting him personally.

His abrupt unexpected response forces another double take from the three of them, staring at the man they now silently doubt is the same person from the rumors five years ago.

The tyrant king who slaughtered thousands without blinking, now casually approving a solstice festival like it’s nothing.

“Use whatever hall can contain the participants. You have my permission.” He continues, tossing the folder back on the table, a prideful smile splayed on his lips again. “This devilishly handsome-looking fellow has some paperwork to fill out.”

With that he walks off as mysteriously as he had appeared.

My eyes follow him, shooting enough daggers and hoping that at least one materializes enough to actually hurt.

It doesn’t. Of course it doesn’t. Nothing ever does with him.

“What was that about?” Elodie speaks first, rising from her knees, looking at me like an alien with three heads.

I can hear the wheels in her head spinning at an impossible pace, and it’s terrifying. She’s going to make this into something it isn’t, and there’s nothing I can do to stop her.

“Valoria?” Calliope looks at me with silent confusion, waiting on me to confirm or deny the silent accusation hanging over me.

I swallow hard.

“I-I can explain. And it’s not what you think.”

“Are you and His Majesty seeing each other, romantically?” Elodie finally settles on her own deduction with eyes widening like it’s a confirmed truth.

“NO!” I rush to deny it before she can solidify it. “E-Eww! Gross, no way… we aren’t… we haven’t…”

“Wow.” Calliope nods slowly, considering what Elodie has said.

Neither of them listening to me. Typical.

I sigh from frustration that drags me closer and closer to the brink of pulling my hair.

“Stop feeding nonsense to Calliope… it’s anything but that. We’re not seeing each other and there’s no romance, just—”

Now I freeze again, unable to come up with the words that should follow after “just.”

Just what exactly? Enemies?

Enemies don’t kiss or argue. Enemies don’t humor each other in conversation or admit in the most embarrassing way that they consider the other person attractive enough to be annoying.

Enemies don’t stay by each other’s bedside through the night, holding hands until one of them falls asleep.

It’s much more complicated than that, and I haven’t let myself stew in it long enough to decide what it is.

“H-He just… I m-mean, we… no, c-cause there’s no we, j-just…”

My mind begins to unravel, unable to come up with a good enough response on the spot.

Until Yara’s fist slams right into the table with a loud bang that shocks everyone out of it and forces our eyes on her.

Rather than interested or confused like the other two, she’s furious, showing emotions on her face unlike her usual self and looking right at me.

The accusatory gaze pierces a blade right through my heart.

“Yara…”

“Have you forgotten who he is and what he’s done?”

Her first two questions twist the blade already digging into me, forcing me silent. Suddenly guilt, impossibly heavy, weighs on my chest.

“I…” I can’t speak.

“He’s evil. He’s a horrible monster that devours everything good in its path, and he will consume you whole the second you lose your guard around him.”

Her words ring cryptically before she turns and storms off towards the direction of our rooms, leaving the rest of us silent and speechless—and me especially plagued by the anger in her eyes.

I want to run after her, but my feet feel glued to the ground.

My legs give way and I sit down before I can fall, replaying everything that just happened over and over again in my mind, cursing myself for being an idiot for saying anything at all.

Not just for that—for letting myself be dragged into all of this up to the point where things have gotten so complicated.

For forgetting, even for a moment, what he truly is.

“It’s okay, Valoria.” Calliope slowly sits again, reaching out to hold my hand in an attempt to comfort me, with a smile. “She’ll come around. It’s just sudden and a lot to take in at once.”

“There’s really nothing going on,” I repeat again in a low, defeated tone.

“You sure about that? A minute ago I would have given you two a room to yourselves,” Elodie comments.

I throw her a glare and she shrugs.

“I wouldn’t be entirely against it. I get the whole dark, brooding, and dangerous thing he has going on for him. It’s hot; I subscribe to it.” She comments casually. And then her eyes flicker to Eros again with a wink. “Don’t get jealous. Forbidden romance is still my favorite trope.”

He shudders, looking away from her—not fast enough.

I roll my eyes at her. Even in serious moments, she can’t help herself.

“Are you sure it’s nothing?” Calliope leans closer to me to reconfirm.

I hold her gaze firmly and nod.

“I swear it isn’t, and it won’t ever be anything. I promise.”

The words feel heavy on my tongue. Like a lie I’m telling myself as much as her.

“Okay. I believe you, and with a little time, Yara will too.”

Her hand squeezes mine with a reaffirming tug, and I’m grateful for her consolations, wearing a hopeful smile because I want to be.

I want to be hopeful that I’ve not fucked up and ruined my relationship with Yara.

I want to be hopeful that she doesn’t hate me yet.

I want to be hopeful that I’m not already too far gone.

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