13 TWO CAN PLAY THIS GAME

ROSABELLA'S POV

I brushed down on the velvet cloth that hugged my figure. The white shawl that wrapped around my arms, hid the cold creeps that ran down my shoulders.

I was on edge since the time we left the castle to come to travel to the Mortale Castle. It was a good four hours until we reached there, and this time period didn't help my wandering mind.

As I slowly climbed out of the black limo, I breathed in slowly. There was something different in the air.

It lacked something,

The air lacked magic.

The deep V- neckline in my dress was the only thing that boosted my confidence a little bit.

The short puffy sleeves gave me the feeling of dancing in a ballroom. I tried to change the subject in my head, before I regretted choosing this dress.

"Your Majesty, this meeting is going to be a negotiation of the duties the King and you will be sharing. Instead of creating a scene, it would just be a better idea, that we take what we are given and leave."

I stopped in my tracks and turned around.

It was Sir Cameron, this time.

"Tell me, Cameron. Who has a higher authority here?"

He looked down, and swallowed, "You, Your Majesty."

I nodded and smiled at him, "So, if you know that, then act like the one with the lesser authority, or you will have no authority."

I began to walk ahead, leaving the rest of the council, staring at me.

It was sad that I still had to fight for my right to be here, when I had already been chosen. But it was the sad truth, and I could either accept it, or run from it.

This time I wanted to accept it rather than running, like I always did.

I was so occupied with thinking about what just happened, that I didn't even realize we had entered the castle.

It had light blue walls, with the Lormeian flags hanging next to the Mortale ones. It made things a little better when I realized they had taken some effort to make me feel welcomed here.

Their long, but counted windows contrasted from our small, multiple windows. The castle had been clearly designed by someone from Russia.

I knew that with confidence, because I was half-Russian.

"Your Highness, Rosabella Agapov, the Queen of the Lormeian people, has just walked into the Mortale Castle."

The maids and the guards inside the castle, halted as the commander addressed me. They bowed at me, with a bow that look practiced and uniform.

A group of twelve men, all dressed in dark blue suits, came walking down the stairs. I assumed they were the Mortale council.

Where was he, though?, My heart tugged at that question. I was going to see him for the first time in years, and my heart just wouldn't calm down. My hands shook and my stomach felt like there was someone rolling inside me.

"Your Majesty! It is a pleasure to meet you!"

The council bowed as I nodded at them, forgetting I too had to curtsy.

I stood upright when I heard footsteps from the majestic staircase on the right corner of the hall. Dark blue suit, that complimented his broad shoulders. His brown hair carefully combed into a neat side part. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, but he somehow managed to make that look elegant too.

"His Highness, Hale Underwood, The Mortale King, is descending down the stairs."

I was scared to look at his face.

I wasn't sure I could look at it, without a reaction I didn't want the world to see.

As he finally reached to the last step, my eyes rose to his face. High cheekbones, and green eyes. His neutral face, had a stark contrast to the face I once knew.

He continued walking until he was standing in front of his council, a few steps away from me.

He took a few steps closer to me, and smirked.

I couldn't bother to look at his lips, because I was too busy staring into his eyes, looking for at least a tint of familiarity.

"Your Majesty.", He bowed.

"Your Highness.", I curtsied.

As I was dropping my hands down my dress, he managed to grab one of them and kissed the top of my palm, while not breaking off eye contact.

"It's a pleasure to have your presence grace us."

Shivers ran down my spine, but I tried to put on a smile that I hoped would show that I wasn't affected by it at all.

I don't know what he was playing, but he didn't know who he was playing with too.

I was no longer the Rosabella he once loved.

But I was sure, that I had become the Rosabella he now hated.

I could see it in his eyes.

I just wanted to know why.

He coughed as I was brought back to the world, I wasn't sure I liked.

"Same here, Your Majesty.", I smiled.

Two can play this game.

One of the members of his council spoke up after what felt like minutes of just both of us having a stare-down contest.

"If it is alright with the King, and the Queen, then we can move this meeting to boardroom."

"Yes, I am fine with that."

Hale nodded too, as we walked toward the meeting room. He doesn't know who I am, but I know a part of who he was.

Maybe, I can use that to my advantage.

As we entered the so called 'boardroom', I thought about how warm his lips were, but how cold his kiss was.

Is he really the Hale I once knew?

I took my seat, which was right in front of him. It was a long rectangular table and the council members sat on the side, while we sat on the opposite corners.

One of the members of the Mortale council got up and spoke, "We are gathered here to discuss the distribution of the common power and duties that are shared by the Lormeian Queen, and the Mortale King. If the royalties are alright, then we may begin."

"You may begin.", I nodded while trying to keep a straight face when I realized that this was the exact stuff I used to laugh about as kid.

Such formalities between two humans that were biologically built the same way.

"Begin, please."

That voice.

God, if this didn't just destroy whatever healthy mental status I had left, then I don't know what can.

This was something I had been dreading since the day I decided to erase his memories.

Sir Scott, got up from his seat and began speaking the powers we were supposed to share.

"The revenue of the land of Lortale, the one between both kingdoms is divided between both, so the power needs to be divided too..."

I tried to listen to all that was being spoken, but I just couldn't help but sneak a look at him.

After all, I was looking at him for the first time in these many years.

I glanced at him for a second, but I couldn't turn my gaze away.

How could I?

How could I, when his eyes were staring straight into me.

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