“My lady it’s no good, if you let those men do that” Gildron chided Ryla.

“Who gave you the right to lecture me all the time?” Ryla bit back.

She had just undergone a meeting with her major stakeholders and had to endure the criticisms they threw her way. It was her obligation, as their “patron” and chosen candidate to make sure they felt like they were heard and that their strategies to undermine the other candidates were consistent with each other.

Despite that fact, Ryla spent most of the meetings being criticized and complained about. It felt like she could do no good in front of those people. The majority of her backers were rich merchants who had chosen her, since their rivals had gone over to Zacariah. Although, it seemed to feel like they were having their doubts, many of them were handing her ultimatums.

“Take this more seriously… Or else”

Ryla felt it was extremely unfair, it was utterly ridiculous to make a girl like her have to make such decisions, it was even more unnerving that the decisions she was making was for the sake of killing her siblings.

[Who decided this!] Ryla wanted to scream, unfortunately for her there was no one to listen.

“I didn’t want to do this…” She whispered quietly in her resting room. The only other people in the room with her was Gildron who seemed to follow her around everywhere for the sake of observing her and a stray queensguard

Ryla at her core was still too gentle, she didn’t have the conviction to give the necessary orders. She could only halfheartedly try to put up airs.

Gildron seemed to look at her with a bored expression. As if he didn’t want to hear what she had to say.

“What?” Ryla said angered his nonresponse.

“If you think I’m weak just leave me!” She shouted at his face.

Gildron’s face remained unchanging finally he spoke.

“Is that the depth of your will?”

“Eh?” Ryla said.

“You think you can sit here and act like a victim?” Gildron said.

“I’m being forced to fight my own siblings when I don’t even want too. Go find someone else to make your ‘story’ I’m a failure, who can’t make a choice in their own life.” Ryla bit back a Gildron annoyed with his attitude.

“And? That is charity you give yourself. You think you have the right to not make a decision? You are responsible for people; they are reliant on you. Some of them are horrible yes, but there are plenty of them who believe in you because they think you can make a change” Gildron responded.

“Then leave me then” Ryla said bitterly “I’m sure my brothers would be happy to take you. You have the skills to be hired by anyone else, and you said it yourself you just need someone to renew your Visa.”

“I’m will not accept your lazy thinking.” Gildron suddenly grabbed Ryla’s face. The queen’s guard in the room immediately moved to defend her.

“Stop!” Ryla said. Despite the rough treatment she didn’t want Gildron to be punished for her own petulance. The queensgaurd moved back and instead stared at Gildron, ready to move at a moment’s notice if her went farther.

“You will listen to me closely, I am here to experience stories, and right now the story I am seeing is one of a pitiful and boring girl. Perhaps, I could go find one of your brothers yes, but that still doesn’t change the fact you are ruining it.”

“I don’t care about your story, I don’t care about this crown, I want to leave!” Ryla said

“Do you now? I could send you a boat in exile to the southern kingdoms in an instant right now. You could even do it yourself you have the means and capital to do so.” Gildron said.

Ryla stayed quiet and instead glared at Gildron.

“Ah, but it’s not so simple right? You ‘know’ people rely on you. In your heart, even if you wish to run you can’t.” Gildron said.

He let Ryla go, throwing her to the ground. Her body fell to the ground with a thump.

Ryla laid there for a moment, she didn’t mind the rough treatment so much as Gildron’s words cut to her soul. Her face felt hot and wet and she felt humiliated, even more so than being criticized by her supporters.

[I want to run…] She thought. Many times, Ryla had made plans to run away. Even getting close enough to chartering a boat, but when push came to shove, she was unable too.

For some reason, she felt unable to leave, all she could do was endure the abuse hurled at her week after week.

“I’ll declare this now; I am not leaving your faction” Gildron said looking down on her.

Ryla felt confusion, if Gildron stayed with her, it was almost a guarantee that he would die fighting for her he was a strong fighter yes, but he couldn’t compete alone.

Gildron smiled, it was the same pompous smile that he always gave.

“You are taking the cowards method, deep down you want to push everybody away so you can die a pitiful death no?” Gildron said.

Ryla bowed her head slightly, Gildron was right. Even if she couldn’t say it, she knew it her heart he was right.

“I’m weak, you’ll just kill yourself trying to save me” She said softly in barely a whisper.

Kitsura

So this is a chapter that is quite literally split in half. It was originally one long scene and it still is, but it's just too long to post as one chapter under my word count average.