As the white fades away, I find myself back in the present still in Phoenix's warm embrace. I sniffle and pull away noting that his grip on me was loose. How considerate of him... where did this nice man come from anyway? "Are you feeling better, my queen?" He asks before standing up and offering me a hand to help me up. I take his hand and stand up. "Yes... I'm better now. Thank you." I wipe my eyes and sigh.
Phoenix offers me an arm which I take and he escorts me back inside. "... I am only loyal to you." His voice is low as he speaks. "If you ever need help... and get out of this... just know that I will help without hesitation." I look up at him and see his eyes are red. I can tell that he's serious about what he's saying too. At this point, I'd love to see Tristian's head on a stake but I shake my head. "I know... but I can handle this, sir Phoenix." I offer a half-hearted smile. "Thank you anyway."
Phoenix stares at me for a good while before looking forward. "Got it. I'll do as you say, my queen." I can't tell if he's disappointed or not. I know I am! Anna is more patient than I'll ever be! I look around the palace quietly. I notice there are a lot more of Tristian's people around than yesterday. Our union brought our kingdoms together so that's to be expected but... I don't see any of my people.
I tighten my grip on my guard's arm and swallow hard. I already have a bad feeling but it seems that Anna does too. "Oh, there's my little wife." That dark tone makes me turn cold. I look up and see Tristian standing at the end of the hallway. His cheek is only a little red from my slap and dread creeps over me.
He said that I'd pay for that... but at the time I was just so angry. Then other choices were just trying to talk it out or insulting him but a firm slap on his cheek? It was the only logical option!
Tristian chuckles darkly. "What's wrong, wifey? Feeling nervous now? After all, you hit your husband rather hard." He steps towards me and scowls when Phoenix steps in front of me. "Out of my way, commoner!" He growls. "Oh, I forgot to mention! You're fired so get the hell out of my palace!" No! I can't lose one of my only allies!
However, Phoenix doesn't move and stares at Tristian blankly. "Are you deaf or stupid?! Get out!" My husband spits. Phoenix only cocks his head to the side. "... My employer is Queen Anna. On my contract, I only have to listen to her." He says bluntly. When Tristian stares dumbly, he continues. "I have also a blood vow with her. I only listen to her orders. Therefore, you cannot fire me. Only my queen can do so."
A blood vow? I think I've heard about it before but the details don't come to mind. Tristian looks livid at this news though. Ha! He can't take away my guard! "My queen told me to respect her choice of a husband. So I will." Phoenix says. "But I won't allow you to walk threateningly over to her. I must keep her safe." Tristian growls and shoots me a dirty look before storming off.
I let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, Phoenix. Just be careful... don't anger him. You protect me... but you don't have anyone protecting you." I touch his arm and he nods. "I'm aware, my queen. Don't worry about me." His teal eyes meet mine for a moment. "Shall I take you to your room to freshen up?" I nod and we start to walk back to my room. I have a bad feeling though... like something is awaiting me tonight.
~That Night~
It feels weird sitting on the bed where that happened just last night. I hold myself and stay quiet having already dismissed Riley. I fear that Tristian will come in and have his way again. My hips are still sore and bruised from his roughness. As the night comes on though, I start to relax. Maybe I pissed him off enough to not show? Or he's found a real woman since he sees me as so revolting.
I lay back and close my eyes. I can feel Anna's sadness... it chokes me like I'm swallowing sand. She only ever wanted someone that would accept and love her even after learning of her double gender. She wanted sweet romance and gentle kindness. I don't know all of her history but from what I've seen, I get it. After being treated the way she had all her life, she wished to belong. I had that same wish too until I finally gave up on it and just tried to survive.
I swallow hard and sit up. After putting on a robe, I step out onto the balcony attached to my room. I take in the view and feel a sense of calm. I can see the garden from here but also beyond the palace walls. The soft glow of the town, the trees before... the sky full of stars and a half moon... it's all beautiful. My eyes linger on the trees. "... I miss you, my silly boy..." I find myself saying with a cracked voice.
The longing in my tone... makes me think he was her first love. First loves usually work out in games and stories like this... way more than the childhood friend trope anyway. He seemed to be getting abused too. Is he dead? I honestly hope not. He never pops up in easy mode... maybe he has to do with this hidden end but who knows if I'll be able to find it.
A sudden scream jolts me out of my thoughts. That voice... no way! "Riley?!" I rush over to the door and when I open it I'm greeted by Phoenix who seems to be more on guard. "Anna..." he looks at me then back out. "Stay behind me please." He seems to know I'm going out to see what the noise is. I give a curt nod before blinking when he puts his jacket over me. Is the robe not enough? He doesn't look back though as he walks forward.
His little gestures make my heart skip a beat at times. His expressionless face is still a turn-off but everything else is just perfect... no focus! It's not the time! Be thirsty later!
As we walk over to the maid's room, I see a lot of the maids outside their rooms with pale faces. "What's going on here?" They snap their gazes at me. "I heard Riley scream! What's going on?" They look at each other nervously. "Your majesty..." I have a bad feeling about this... and so does Anna as my body moves forward. "W-wait! Don't go in!" They stammer. Phoenix gently grabs my arm and pulls me behind him. Otherwise, he doesn't stop me from moving ahead.
What I see next makes it hard to breathe. The room is a mess and I see Riley standing there blood all over her while a knife is in her hands. She's trembling her face white as a sheet as there lies one of Tristian's men. I don't need to ask what happened because I can see her gown is torn, her undergarments discarded onto the floor, her hair is messy and tears are running down her face.
"Oh, Riley..." I step forward wanting to be by her side. I'm enraged by this. She's the sweetest girl I've ever met and I assume she's not even sixteen yet. "M-my queen..." she drops the knife and backs into the wall. "I-I just... I just wanted him... to stop... w-why... why didn't he stop?" My heart breaks for her as she continues to cry without making a sound.
"What the hell is going on here?!" I freeze hearing my husband's voice. As I turn, I see him standing there. One look at his man and Riley makes his eyes darken. "How dare you kill one of my most trusted men?!" Tristian rushes forward and I find myself putting myself between him and Riley. "Stop it right there!" I hold out my arms. "Don't you dare put your hands on her!"
Tristian growls. "She murdered Ralph! She needs to be punished so get out of my way!" When he raises his hand to strike me, he freezes when a sword is pressed against his throat. Phoenix narrows his now red eyes at him but says nothjng. "What is the meaning of this?! Call off your guard, wife." He hisses.
"Not until you look around again." I snap. I'm surprised to hear Anna getting so angry since she's always so soft-spoken. "It's obvious what that man did to this poor girl. She's only just turned fifteen! Would you have let it slide if he lived?! I have a zero tolerance for bastards like him targeting children!" Tristian glares at Phoenix as he doesn't lower his sword then looks around the room in annoyance like this is a waste of time.
His expression changes though as he takes in Riley's appearance as well as the dead man on the floor. The annoyance changes briefly to horror then to nothing. He stares at the scene blankly and lowers his hand. Only when this happens does Phoenix put his sword away. "... Damn it..." he mutters. "He must have been drunk... not in his right mind..."
His stare moves onto me. "That's no excuse... and you know it," I say. "She defended herself after being assaulted. She did nothing wrong." Tristian frowns and looks away with a sigh. "... Whatever. Clean up this mess. It would be best to dismiss this maid but... I won't push it now." He clenches his fists before walking out of the room.
I let out the breath I was holding and turn to face Riley. "Oh sweetie... come here..." Riley whimpers then hurries over to me. She latches on and starts to sob. The other maids peek in so I start to give orders. "Make Riley a warm bubble bath and help her clean up. Then bring her to my room. She'll stay with me... sir Phoenix." I turn to face him.
"Yes, my queen?" He's back to calling me that it seems. "You'll stay with us in my room tonight so she'll feel safe," I say. "Of course, my queen." The maids carefully coax Riley away and murmur to her encouragingly. They must have been afraid of stepping in but still... they could have at least tried to stop the guy!
I let out a frustrated sigh. "Take me back to my room," I say after taking Phoenix's arm. As we walk back, I can't help but think this romance has changed into some sort of horror. Hard mode is no joke... it's cruel even. Then a thought makes me miserable. If I had made different choices... could I have saved Riley from this fate? I hope this isn't my fault... she's just a character in this dating sim but I still feel responsible for her. This is my new reality... why do I feel like it's only going to go downhill from here?
