Chapter 3
"I was born to rule!! You can't take this from me. I will never call you Princess."
He yelled, as the eyes of every noble turned their eyes on him from his display. Many winced, covering their ears from the volume of his voice. Katherine had been hit with a double combo from his push and the closest proximity to him outside of the current guests.
'You just called me that.' She thought in amusement, before speaking again. But only for her lady-in-waiting to retrieve Katherine from the volatile man. As much as the brunet did entertain Leonard, she knew that was over.
Especially with his title on the line.
"You will be escorted away, Miss Katherine." Elizabeth uttered, the older woman had waited for the prince's outburst. It was agreed that his loss of composure would be the call for her to make an opening.
"I need to comfort him." Katherine pleaded softly, her bruised hand attended to by the maiden beside her.
"No. You had an agreement with me. You have cheated me, my family and your parents on your actions."
Margaret remained firm in her words. Her blue eyes glinting in pure excitement while watching Leonard slip even further.
"And so? I didn't want this."
How truly disgusting it was to imagine this man as a leader. He clearly thought he could do away with what he wanted and call her the villainess.
Would you call a man a villain if his fiancé started to develop interest in another man and he tries to stop it? Would that be called evil when someone tries to steal your significant other and you do it cleanly?
No.
The description meant nothing when she was 'the offended', not them. The victim in this situation, therefore she had an appeal and a right to this.
"You also didn't want to handle paperwork."
An action that severely annoyed her, because he expected her to do it for him. And she didn't, his responsibility and hers were different. Classified information a royal had to handle, nobody else. Which was most of the responsibilities of the royal family.
'Which makes sense that his siblings make themselves scarce when he walks over to them.'
Leonard's response came quickly, his voice loud. No restraint nor mindfulness for people around him, when he tried to sound as imposing as he previously did before being backed into a corner.
"Because it's unnecessary as a ruler, when I can order someone else to do so."
The entire hall paused in unison, turning their heads towards him. From nobles to the servers that were commoners diverted their eyes from their plates or glasses completely to stare at him.
'Was he that stupid?' Everyone collectively thought, excluding Katherine. The young maiden wondered what wrong it would be for someone to help him reduce the strain of ruling, while he listened to the people and try to make their lives better. Just like his parents.
Elizabeth could only hold back in a sigh, while the conversation happened in front of the public eye. Dramatic but it needed to confirm the future of the kingdom if Leonard ascended the throne, by revealing his personality for all to see.
And it was entitled to the core.
".. His former majesty with his decision making is as swift as a dull blade. What happens when a foreign country coordinates an attack? One they succeed and the bargain to their conquest is your head? Do you think they care for you when they are several other royals with more power than you without being crowned the next heir after their current rulers?"
The greatest risk of being a royal is a conqueror demanding their head to kill them and take over their kingdom completely with no chance of escape and coming back with an army.
Margaret knew that it was something that made her wary of being the Crown prince's betrothed. He wasn't a loyal man, and therefore not worthy to have a life be taken in his stead to preserve his. Yet the smile on her face was still genuine.
Especially when Katherine paled at that. Clearly she hadn't thought through about being at most risk for such.
'He could die from an attack. But wouldn't the guards be strong enough to handle that and keep everyone and Leonard safe?' She thought, shrinking on her spot. Separated from the blonde man, whose green eyes held contempt. All alone on the stairs because someone had led her away from him in advance.
Elizabeth was silent, a clean handkerchief used and wrapped around her injured hand. A silent 'thanks' was all Katherine could say.
"Nobody is better than me!! I am sure, especially when everyone else is only below me because I am special. It is why I am the Crown prince!!"
"Wouldn't you still have a child that you would give up the throne for like everyone before you?"
"A child?!"
He scowled at the idea of bearing any heir after he inherits the throne. He waited for years for his father to step down but he didn't. And when he finally gets to be on the throne, he is expected to relinquish his title and responsibility to his own blood.
"Of course, since you wanted to be with Miss Peyton. I would expect it to mean she was the only woman you wanted to be the mother of your child."
That made him see red, while Katherine held to the hope of such a perfect happening. Maybe that's all he needed to think this through and remember her.
"I will never have a child!! Especially with Katherine. That would be less voluntary charity. An insignificant attempt."
Katherine froze on the spot. Her face fell, the bruises on her hand felt more comforting than his words.
'Insignificant? Was that how he really saw me?' She thought to herself. Was everything he said, a lie? Tearful and silent sobbing. Elizabeth continued to look forward, only giving her silence and tending to her wounds.
She had no words to say.
Nobody did.
Leading Leonard scowling and yelling but eventually nobody cares.
"I would have Katherine as my wife. While you, Margaret, were supposed to do all the work. So, when I ascend the throne. I claim your work as mine because they are!! You are under me as the future of this kingdom. Nobody but me."
Looking towards Katherine's direction, only for her to be escorted away by Elizabeth.
".. You would prefer to go to my home instead?" Margaret asked, letting her decide. Choosing to take Lady Peyton with her, it was best for them to leave.
In such a situation, neither of them was at fault nor completely innocent either.