CHAPTER 120: GUILTY BITCH

Special request? She must think I’m a fool to believe that, but then again, this was Sloane, always looking for a way to bite you on the ass.

She should have known better by now; such was useless against me, for I saw her for what she truly was.

"But I did not come here because of the special request. I came because I truly want to beg for your forgiveness."

Oh...I must give her the applause, she actually surprised me there. What’s she playing at?

In the heaviest tone choked with emotion, she began. "Forgive me, Your Highness, for I have wronged you in the past. My actions were stupid, immature, and I hurt you, the monarch’s wife."

"You said this was an apology..."

"Yes?"

"And you’re here to beg for what you did."

She looked confused now.

Making my face as stone-cold as possible, I said. "Then get on your knees and do it properly."

A look of shock crossed her features.

"What? Can’t you properly beg forgiveness from a human whose reputation you ruined? The worst may have passed, but do you know how much society does to slander a woman on baseless accusations? They don’t care about the origins. They only care about their humiliation. Species does not matter in what I speak of; I speak for all women, who would just sit there and let society chew on them like a hawk. You’re a woman, Sloane, do you know how it feels?"

Sloane opened her mouth to speak, but I didn’t let her utter any more honey-induced words.

"You wouldn’t know. You wouldn’t understand what kind of ruin society can do to a person. You probably grew up spending your entire life with an abundance of people worshipping the ground you walk on. How could you possibly know what slandering is?"

I hated how emotional I got, but it was deep, imbued pain that unleashed the moment I set my eyes on her. I could still remember the smirk on her lips as I was slandered by the noble houses for something I didn’t do.

At that moment, I was back in Beloria, where hands were pointed and words were thrown like it was the most natural thing whenever they saw the bastard with odd-looking hair. I thought I’d erase the pain over time, but standing at the center, with all those good-for-nothing nobles, I realized I could never heal from twenty years of verbal abuse.

Suddenly, Sloane fell to her knees, my eyes wide from her gesture.

"You’re right...I wouldn’t know, and for that, I know no amount of forgiveness I beg would ever erase what I did."

Was she crying?

Sloane sobbed. "I was wrong," she repeated over and over again.

I rose to my feet, towering over her.

"Do you think your fake tears will gain you sympathy?"

She sobbed, lifting her teary eyes to me. I narrowed my eyes, observing her soft gaze and expression. I should be touched by this because she looked sincerely guilty about what she did, but I felt uncomfortable by it.

"Those tears will earn you nothing, nor will what you did to Talia."

"It was House Vale who pulled the strings to the attack. They came to me because they needed a reason to take action. They could never have acted on their own."

"What did you tell them?" I scoffed. "Get rid of the other woman?"

She swallowed, leveling her gaze, and I got my answer.

"You are very much involved."

Unable to handle this or even the thought of Sloane feeling sorry for herself, I breezed past her and walked away.

"Princess."

"What?"

"Lady Sloane had something to do with what happened to your handmaid?"

Right. Ravyn doesn’t know, no one does, only Osha and I. Her question made me come to a sudden halt, as my expression morphed into confusion.

Sloane was never apparent that she was the one who was the mastermind, even when I confronted her months ago, she didn’t say it out loud, because despite the fact that I knew it was her words against mine.

Why was she suddenly confessing and admitting to her crime? Could it be that she was actually sorry about what she did?

"She kept it from the monarch because she wanted to deal with Lady Sloane herself," Osha replied on my behalf, and I could feel Ravyn’s eyes on my back.

"You’re really something," she said. "Going against Sloane on your own."

"Talia deserves that, and I’m the only one who could give her that. Justice for Osha, too."

But now having Sloane apologize to my face, even when I thought she wouldn’t, made me feel...uncertain.

~•~

The double doors opened on my account and revealed Garrick. "Your Grace?"

"Is the monarch in?"

"Yes, you want to see him?"

I gave a nod.

"Lucan!" he called over his shoulder, and hurried footsteps followed.

"Your Grace! It’s been a while."

I smiled, about saying something, but Garrick dragged him out of the study by the collar and gave way for me to go inside.

"Please..."

"Thank you," I mumbled, stepping through the door, and it slammed shut behind me.

My eyes fell on the shelves. I had only been here once, but I was still awed by the aesthetic. The shelves were high, and books beyond count were perfectly arranged.

It’s been so long since I read, that was once my peaceful place, and now...

"Eloise."

I moved my gaze to Drevon at the center, holding a book. Just when I thought I couldn’t be blessed with a more arousing sight, I was met with this. The gods are kind. Now I wouldn’t spend my day brooding.

I walked toward him in a heartbeat. "Lean down."

"What?"

"You’re too tall to reach."

He smiled even though he couldn’t decipher my reason, he did without hesitation.

I seized his collar, rose to my tiptoes, and pressed my lips against his in a soft kiss.