6 THE ONE WHERE SHE TASTES ANGER

Rosabella's POV

"Please bring in the next peasant. Keep in mind, this will be the last one for the day."

This is it, I thought.

Just one more now.

All the trials had gone well until now. My voice didn't quiver nor did I feel the need to itch my palm in the middle of it.

Well, the second one was a lie, but it didn't really matter, did it?

As long as I got through the last one, it didn't matter.

I took in a deep breath and exhaled another one of those breaths that shivered while I released it.

I hated those breaths.

"Ibnatiya.", my mother used to say in Arabic.

"Don't let these shaky breaths shake you. Remember they are mere breaths, while you are your whole existence."

It felt weird hearing her voice in my head. Especially since I rarely used that language after se died.

To be more truthful, after I killed her.

I shook my head and rose my head up to the council. Whilst I waited for the next person to walk through these doors, I couldn't help but notice that almost all the council members were staring at me.

Or more specifically at my palm.

The one that I was itching.

I immediately put them away and tried to put on a nervous smile.

It didn't seem to impress anyone but the two sons. Alcott, the younger one looked nervous too. I could understand why though.

The atmosphere in the courtroom wasn't really comfortable. It didn't let them breathe, and it certainly didn't let me breathe.

I shouldn't feel this way though. I am the Queen.

This is supposed to be my home, isn't it?

Then why is it the place I least feel at home?

"Your Majesty, this is regarding my daughter. She was on her way to school when two boys from her school tried to use their powers in a way that they shouldn't have. They tried to mess with her understanding. If it hadn't been for her friend that saw them, she would be left with almost no dignity right now. It would be my request for you to make those two rascals pay."

If it hadn't been for the words 'left with no dignity', I would have rewarded this man with a handful.

It isn't really seen around

But he had to ruin it, didn't he?

I gripped the sides of my throne tightly, and leaned back.

"I would gladly make those men pay, Mr.?"

"Ignesias, Your Majesty."

I nodded and intertwined my fingers together.

"Mr. Ignesias, I would really like you to tell me, and the Lormeian Council, why would you say, if hypothetically that day something would have happened, your daughter would lose her dignity. Why is it that you think that her dignity lies in a man's dirty hands."

Once the old man's face gets all worked up, I try not to smirk.

Until now all the trials were related to people who had lost some money or had conflicts amongst their colleagues.

This was the first trial that actually made me want to do something.

Something just.

"I don't really understand you, Your Majesty. A woman's virtue is equivalent to her dignity. Once it's gone, she is looked down upon by our communit-"

"What community, Mr. Ignesias? The one that let's a man decide whether a woman can be respected or not."

I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to speak that or not.

But I felt that I needed to.

The father stared at my face like his mind just shut down. The whole council continued to look back and forth between me and the man.

"It is beyond my understanding how a father thinks that a man can keep or take away a woman's dignity. Her dignity is not what is between her legs-"

"Your Majesty, it is time for the court to close. Let's just punish the two vile boys and let this poor man go home-" Sir Edgar, the minister with that god awful mustache interrupted me.

"No.", I calmly said.

"No?", he looked at me with an expression that belonged in some theatre drama.

For some unknown reason, I was fueled up with this feeling to fight that man. But deep down, I knew.

I knew I wasn't just fighting this man, or his disgusting mindset.

I was fighting the whole Lormeian society.

I was fighting their mindset and how they believed that a woman's virtue equals to her dignity.

"Sir Edgar, I appreciate how you care so much about the punctuality of this court and how it should end at the right time, but I think I need to set this poor man back on the right path."

I swallowed hardly and looked away from the mustache man.

"So, where was I, Mr. Ignesias? I would like to tell you that a woman's dignity is in the way she carries herself. In the way she presents herself. Her strength, her beliefs and her character. Whether she has been touched by a man, or maybe even another woman-"

"Alright then, I think that would prove to be enough for today's court, don't all of you suppose?"

I balled my fists and swallowed.

Calm down.

Breathe, Bella.

You can't let your anger get the best of you.

They want that.

All these men inside this room want that.

There is not one man who likes you here.

There isn't one that wouldn't kill to take your place.

"Yes. Ye-"

"Well then. The Queen has declared the court closed now. Mr. Ignesias please give the details of the two boys to one of the council members. We, as your trusted Lormeian council, promise to take an action against them. You can leave the court with confidence, Mr. Ignesias."

All these words.

They were stolen from me.

I was supposed to be the Queen. Then why were they treating me like some toddler who had just spoken too much.

The man left but the feeling that someone was pouring warm oil into my stomach didn't.

"Well now you have seen what happens when you let a woman take the throne."

It was spoken in a low mocking voice.

So even though the voice was low, it didn't fail to mock me.

"What was that?"

I looked up and stared at the twelve faces inside the court.

Not one dared to speak.

I inhaled a deep breath and calmly repeated, "What was that?"

Not one opened their good for nothing mouths.

Control, Bella. You can't let this anger get the worst of you.

Because there was nothing best left right now.

To hell with controlling.

"All of you in here think that I am weak. There is not one whose confidence lies in the woman who rules the Lormeian people."

I paused to look at all of them again.

"It's a shame, really.", I continued when no one interrupted.

At least they had some sense left.

"The very fact, that the holy Crater magicis chose me, and not even that is enough for all of you to put a little trust, not all because I know that would be unfair on my part, but just a little trust in me? And for what? Because I am a woman? Because we women belong inside you men's chambers or at your feet, but not with a crown on your head or on the throne? I am not even a little affectionate about how your minds work, but listen here, and listen well, because the Queen shall not repeat."

I paused once more.

I looked at each and every man inside this room.

Looked them well in the eye and dared them to interrupt me.

"I have been chosen as the queen and I don't care if any of you choose to respect me. But I will not let any of you treat me as any lesser than you treated the last king. And one last thing, Sir Edgar, if you want the Sir to remain behind your name, don't interrupt me ever again, will you?"

I stood still for a second.

Waiting if anyone dared to raise any questions.

A part of me wouldn't be surprised if they did.

When no one didn't, I stepped down my throne, and began to walk toward the exit of the throne room.

I couldn't wait to get back to my chamber and get out of this dress.

It made me want to rip my skin off.

"Well, now you know the Crater magicis does make mistakes."

This time I was sure.

It was Edgar.

I halted in my path and turned around, without skipping a moment. My hand swiftly took my sword out of the scabbard that looked nothing like the delicate diamond it was before.

Control was out of the window.

"You really like to play with fire, don't you, Edgar?"

I pointed the sword on his feet, and looked him dead in the eye. It wasn't hard to find the fear in his eyes.

For Daeg's sake, almost the whole court could see him shake in fear.

My eyes temporarily glanced at his son. I was glad to see him pleased at me.

"I-I, You Majesty, Please forgive me, will you? It was an honest mistake."

"You may remain in the court. But you have lost your title. One more mistake, and you lose your job too, Edgar."

He nodded as I looked around the court. I raised my eyebrows, and waited for anyone to repeat this man's mistake.

When no one did, I put back my sword into my scabbard. I turned to leave but stopped once again when a thought crossed my mind

"Sir Scott, do me a favor, will you? Ryker, isn't it? The name of our strongest warrior?"

"Yes. Yes, Your Majesty."

"Arrange a training fight for me with him. Make it at noon. And make it public. I want the whole Lormaine to see that their Queen is no less than a King."

TRANSLATIONS

Ibnatiya - My daughter