18 I HAVE INFORMATION

[PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END.]

ROSABELLA'S POV

A week and a half.

That's how long it's been since Viktor visited me. A happy reunion would be the last word I would use to describe it. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he had come all the way here to visit me. My older brother brother, Viktor and I had always been joined at the hip. Or at lest that's what they told us. Right from the beginning, we were never seen apart.

I still remember that one time when the other boys at our school, had picked me to be their daily source of entertainment and bullied me till the point I couldn't bear it anymore.

I wanted to fight back.

I still remember the thoughts I had when they humiliated me in front of others. The way I wanted to make them forget who they were. Make them forget their life. Steal it from right under their nose and let them suffer.

But I knew I couldn't do that.

Magic isn't just connected to your blood. It is also connected to your subconscious. The intention you perform your magic with decides the effect the magic has on you. It decides whether your magic is pure or dark. It decides whether it is tainted or not.

While pure magic does you no harm, dark magic is a powerful poison. It begins to absorb the oxygen out of your blood, until you have none left.

Until you're left lying on the ground, turning blue, because the oxygen goes in but it doesn't stay in your blood long enough to be actually used.

Or at least that's the first thing we were taught at school.

That was the first time my brother risked himself for me. But it wasn't the last time. He went in rogue into the group of boys, who were strong enough to break each and every bone in his body. He had bought a dark potion brewed by the witches that lived at the borders. The wizard families were looked down upon by the rest of the Lormeians, because they used the highest of dark magic.

Legend says that the population of the witches is declining so rapidly, that we might even require them to move back into the civilization where they can marry into pure families, just for their population to stay stable.

The late King was supposed to indulge into that, but he passed away before he could get into it.

I still remember the way Viktor shook and shivered a few hours he had consumed the potion. The pure you are the worse effect dark magic has on you.

This was not the first time he suffered for me.

But after our parents' death, it almost felt that even Viktor died too. The Viktor that cared for me.

For a while I thought it was my fault. I blamed myself for my parents' death and he probably did too.

Hell he didn't even wait to greet me after my coronation. He left right after the crowning.

"I come bearing something that you might want."

That was what he said after the guards were done eyeing him. I knew not to ask any questions of mine, if I didn't want their answers.

"Yes?", I had simply asked.

"I know about Hale."

My blood had ran cold at those words. I had worked carefully to keep Hale a secret from my family. It was difficult to sneak around at night, after the whole house was asleep, but seeing him once every few days was worth it.

Especially the way his face visibly brightened up when he saw me, and how his arms directly went around me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

Because, every day with him felt like a goodbye.

It almost teared me up when I had to leave to get back before the sunrise.

If I was so cautious, then how did Viktor know about Hale?

"H-How?"

He smirked and walked a little closer to me. He was standing at safe distance from me; almost like he was either scared of me or he was scared to hurt me.

That distance had never been there.

"Who do you think used to leave the front door open for you?"

I swallowed hard, but I remained quiet. I didn't know about the extent till which he was aware, and I couldn't afford to let him know more than he did.

"It's ironic, isn't it? You won't tell the world about Hale and now you can't. Oh such a headline in the news! The newly chosen Lormeian Queen and the Mortale King have announced their feelings for each other..."

So, he doesn't know it all, after all.

There is nothing left for me to tell the world.

Feelings, you say? The only feeling we feel when we look at each other is hatred.

His hatred for me, and my hatred for loving a man that had the ability to turn so bitter.

I crosses my hands across my chest, and fixed my posture. Pushing away the few strands of hair that had fallen onto my face, I breathed in.

I had to be careful. The Viktor that stood in front of me isn't the Viktor that would shield me from the world. He was the Viktor that could throw into the world, like fresh meat for hungry creatures.

He could be the reason I lost everything.

"Now that ought to have pulled some reaction from you. But you're still the same Bella. The one who spoke only when she found it necessary too. You weren't always this way, you know? I loved telling everyone how I had a talkative sister. How we got along better than any siblings I had seen."

I wanted to scoff.

Who was he to come and remind me all this. I clearly remembered having a brother who cared for me, and I also remembered losing him along with the rest of my family.

He didn't need to make me relive it.

"Does this conversation hold any meaning? Because, unlike you, I have important matters to attend to."

That should have done the deal. But he didn't budge. Hell, he didn't even move a little.

"Well, it does have a meaning. I know I haven't been the brother you needed or deserved. I know, that it wasn't right too. And I didn't feel good about it. So, I did what I thought might help you. I took up a spot in the Mortale army as a co-colonel. I have heard that people at these posts can easily get close with the King."

Is he saying what I think he is saying?

"What I am trying to say, Your Highness, is that I have access to information. Reach me out if you want it without getting your hands dirty."

He fixed his the collars of his grey trench coat and stepped a little closer. I knew that move.

When he reached out to kiss my forehead, I moved back.

It was instinct.

It had been a long time since I was touched. Touched with any sort of warmth or love.

And I was certainly not ready to receive it from a brother who had abandoned me when we both needed each other.

He looked down at his feet, and it almost felt like he was disappointed in me.

But it was only when he left, that I realized, he was disappointed in no one but himself.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

I sipped the black coffee that was brewed by Delilah while going through the stack of bills that needed my signature before they could be passed. My personal office was still being modified according to what they thought a woman might require so I had to find somewhere to sit and get done with this tedious task.

I insisted in sitting outside in the garden, but it began to rain the moment I got everything read.

Disappointedly, I settled for the council room. It was empty at this time, and I was very grateful fo it.

I liked how the warm liquid no longer tasted bitter. I still remember how my face scrunched up and I almost threw up the first time I tasted it. Black coffee used to be my companion at bitter times.

Now, it's just become a habit.

I am not sure whether it's the coffee or the bad times that's the habit.

I heard a knock at the door, and I tried to calmly yell.

"Come in."

I heard two pairs of footsteps before I could look up from the paper.

"Your Majesty, hope you are doing alright, this fine day!"

It was Cameron and his son. I think it was Edward.

I nodded at him to continue. Even though he hadn't spoken anything against me in court in the past few days, I knew it was all because of the fear for their titles. None of them respected me.

"I am sure you are aware of the annual ball that takes place in Laverne. It commemorates the unity of the two kingdoms while putting aside their differences. It is to take place in two weeks, and as the tradition goes, the kingdoms take turns in setting up the ball. This time, it is our turn. The Kings usually don't take part in the planning but, I thought you would have liked too."

I left my pen on the table and sighed. I loved fighting for myself, but that didn't mean I enjoyed it.

Edward coughed and tried to get rid of the awkward silence.

"What my father is trying to say, is that, the planning committee would love to get your suggestions for the ball. Contrary to the main agenda behind the ball, it usually ends in a competition between the kingdoms and we, Lormeians, don't come second to anyone. Especially the Mortales. So your support would surely help us win."

A ball.

I had never been to a ball before.

Do I even remember how to dance?

After a few seconds of imagining all the possible scenarios I could embarrass myself, I realized I had already embarrassed myself.

I was standing like a fool, while the two men waited for my answer.

"Tell them I would help them in the planning."

Cameron nodded while Edward smiled. He had a nice smile. Or maybe it was just the fact that it had been so long since I received a genuine smile.

"Perfect, your Majesty!", he exclaimed as they began to leave.

"Perfect.", I whispered.

"Just perfect."