Page 4 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

“I am just enjoying the view around us,” I smoothly say, not wanting to make him angry.

“I’ve always loved being outside with nature, feeling the breeze against my skin, hearing the birds chirp to each other, and seeing the pretty colors.

It is one of my favorite parts of my day when I can get away from chores and just be outside,”I over-explain, not wanting him to catch on that I was lying to him.

“Foolish,” he replies. “Such a foolish thing to say.”

My mouth hangs open as I stare at him, not knowing what to say. I wasn’t expecting him to say it was foolish to want to be outside and enjoy everything around me. Why would he think that?

“I’m s-sorry?” I whisper, quickly looking away so he doesn’t see the emotions on my face.

He doesn’t wait a second before spewing out more insults.

“It’s foolish for you to be out in nature.

You should be taking lessons on how to be a proper woman, someone who can live the life of a princess and future queen.

You should learn how to hold yourself like you are important and not a commoner.

” He scoffs. “Such a waste of potential.”

Biting my tongue, I take several deep breaths in, trying to calm myself from the anger rising inside of me. If he were any other person, I would have told him exactly how I feel about his words, but I can’t.

He’s the prince.

Prince of this realm, Bellhollow.

No one would bat an eye at whatever he decided to do. He would just need to have a word with his father and then anything could happen.

“Sadly, there isn’t a finishing school around here. I am needed at home, helping my mother, who is pregnant. We have several things to do before the baby arrives,” I gently explain after several seconds, looking at him briefly.

“Fortunately for you, I have a tutor to help you with such things. You will meet the tutor once a week. They will give you elocution and etiquette lessons about everything you need to know.” He turns to me. “You just need to tell me now what day is best to meet up with the tutor.”

I wave my hands in front of me dismissively. “Oh, I don’t need anything like that. My family is happy with how we are living. I would stick out like a sore thumb if I started acting really proper. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it’s not how we live in this town…” I trail off.

Prince Archie grabs my hand, halting our movements. I look him in the eyes, trying to read them, but he’s not showing anything.

“If you are to be my bride, then I need you to become queen material. Right now, you have a lot of work to do,” he states. “So, you will be meeting with the tutor and learn how to be the future queen.”

I clench my teeth, biting back a response as I stare at him.

“Br-bride?” I whisper.

“We’ll talk about this on another day. Right now, I need you to tell me what day works for you to come to the palace and meet with a tutor.

” He lets go of my hand and starts to walk.

“It will be for a couple of hours in the afternoon, but you’ll need to walk to the palace so block out a whole afternoon. ”

A whole afternoon.

Disgust, anxiety, and worry roll through my body as I replay his words in my brain.

If you are meant to be my bride.

I don’t want to be his bride. I don’t want to have anything to do with him, yet he is making wild declarations. Looking around the town, I realize no one is close to us as we get further away from the town square.

“I need to talk to my mother and see when I’m available,” I finally say. “With the baby coming, there is a lot to get done,” I reiterate once again. It’s like I’m talking to a brick wall. “I still live with my parents and need to make sure it is okay with them before giving you any dates.”

Maybe if I put it off long enough, he’ll forget about it, and me. That would be a blessing, but deep down, I know he’s not going to let it go so easily. Right now, he seems homed in on me and it makes me feel uneasy… very uneasy.

“Get rid of your walk for that day. It’s once a week, and we’ll use that time to get you lessons with the tutor.” He looks at me, his lips a thin line.

He’s completely disregarded what I said about me still living with my parents. Does he not understand that it’s different in this town for women than for him living in the palace?

“I’ll need to talk to my parents about it and get a good time for you. I still live with them and help out around the house so I need to make sure the time works for them,” I explain.

Most unmarried women still live with their parents, or they move into housing for single women. Women who aren’t married can’t live on their own, it’s an actual law. I don’t know why, but I’m not complaining either. I’m glad I am still at home to help my parents out with this unexpected pregnancy.

“Please, sit,” he says.

I hadn’t realized we had made it to the clearing in the forest. There is a basket with a blanket on the ground. Was I so in my head that I didn’t even realize how far we had gotten? I need to be more vigilant when I’m around the prince.

On the ground, I get comfortable as he sits directly in front of me, pulling things out of the basket. Thankfully, I see a simple sandwich with some sort of meat on it, something I’m used to.

I’ve heard rumors from people who have visited the palace that they eat fancy food. They hadn’t even been able to describe what they had seen since it was so different.

Part of me is curious to know what it was, but I don’t want to figure it out by going there myself. I don’t want to set foot in the palace for anything, and I don’t want to eat their food. I’m happy with what we have here, even if sometimes it is a bit bland and boring.

I love my life in Bellhollow.

“Here you are.” He hands me a sandwich.

“Thank you,” I whisper and take a bite of the sandwich.

We sit in an uncomfortable silence for several minutes, eating our lunch.

I look around the forest, admiring the way the leaves have started to change already, falling off the trees and turning pretty colors; red, orange, yellow, brown.

Winter is coming soon, and I’m excited. I love it when the snow starts to fall, covering the cobblestone roads and making everything look so peaceful and undisturbed.

I know there are guards surrounding us, but they’re giving us privacy as we eat and maybe talk. I can’t see any of them, but I know they are there. They have to be since the prince is with me.

“I expect an answer in a month’s time,” the prince finally says.

“May I ask why a month?” I rest my hands and sandwich on my cloth-covered thigh.

It is such an odd timeframe. I expected him to give me a day to consult with my parents, or my mother, since my father is away, and start the lessons as soon as I could.

“I will be going to a different part of the kingdom to figure out some confidential issues. I will be gone for at least a month.” He takes a bite of his sandwich.

I fake gasp, putting on a look of concern. “Is everything okay?”

I don’t really care that much, but we never hear anything official about their business. If we do, it’s several months or years later when it finally travels back to us. Most of the time, it’s nothing to be concerned about, just some Fae’s getting into trouble.

I shouldn’t be asking since I don’t want him to think I want him to do anything to me, but I’m curious. Will he tell me?

“I can’t talk about it, but once you are married to me, then I will tell you some things,” he replies.

I flinch, tensing as I wait for him to say something else. I am never going to get used to hearing him say we are getting married. Do I not get a say in it? Will he forget about me in a month’s time while he is gone?

If he does ask me, I am going to say no. If he doesn’t ask… well, then I’m going to have to start thinking of how I’m going to get out of it.

Rustling comes from my right, making both of our heads dart in that direction. There are animals out in the forest, but none ever get close when people are walking through.

“Stay here while I check it out.” Prince Archie places his sandwich on the blanket, standing.

“What about your guards?” I ask, pushing myself forward.

“They don’t do everything for me. I will take care of this matter myself,” he replies. “When it comes to you, I want to protect you.”

I hold in a gag when he turns around. Even if I was in danger, I would never accept or want protection from Prince Archie. What debt would I owe him then?

I watch as he walks closer to where the sound came from, walking behind a tree. I hold my breath as silence fills the forest. Should I follow him to see if he needs any help?

I shake my head. No. I can’t. He told me to stay here, and if I disobey, he could punish me.

A loud shriek comes from where Prince Archie disappeared. Bolting up, I run over, slipping past the tree only to find him on the ground, holding his arm. I look around, trying to see if there is any danger before bending down beside him.

“What’s wro—” I stop when I see how his arm is bent at an unusual angle. “Guards!” I yell. “Guards!”

Feet rush toward us, surrounding us as the guards circle us.

“H-he came here to see what the noise was and shouted,” I shakily explain. “I don’t know what happened, but his arm isn’t right! ”

Without a word, two guards pick the prince up and start walking away, the others following closely behind as they stay alert for danger, leaving me where the prince was just lying on the ground.

What happened? How did he hurt his arm that badly?

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, my whole body tensing. Someone is watching me. Looking into the darker part of the forest, I gasp as I see eyes on me.

The cobalt blue eyes I’ve been searching for.