Til Death Do Us Part - Red Queen Fan Fiction

Epilogue - Part 3

Christian POV

Prince Nicholas is lucky to be alive. In fact, he is lucky he still has his limbs. Maxton, Axel and I were deciding on the best way to kill him, that is until mom and dad stepped in and told us that we would not do such a thing. If anyone would kill him, it would be Coriane. We smirked at that, but in all seriousness, they were right. We couldn't strike them down, and Coriane asked to be able to handle it.

We all moved into the grand banquet hall, where the crowd of spectators have moved. Some were Nortans, and some were from Valhalla, travelling along with the rest of the royal guard and the royals. It was expected. We had room for everyone ofcourse. Dad has extended the castle, around 10 years ago deciding it was not enough for the growing family. Now we have hundreds of rooms, and an endless stream of land to keep extending the castle if needed. Just one of the perks of being the worlds greatest King.

Valhalla is powerful too, but not as powerful as Norta.

All of us, my siblings and cousins, watch as Prince Nicholas walks with Coriane out of the banquet hall. They are having a private conversation, after the whole situation in the grand hall and the meeting between them. Serena, the mistress, is no where to be seen. Good. Aria was going to knock her out.

Mom and dad are with the King and Queen, and I almost want to follow Coriane, but decide against it. My sister is powerful, if anyone needs backup...its the Prince.

Coriane POV

My throat is burning, my heart beating fast. I am so angry, that I cant help but clutch my fist, open it and clutch again. Over and over. I try to focus on that, because my power threatens to take over. I'm embarrassed and hurt. And offended. Mistress. Never in my life did I expect to hear the words from my "future husband". I guess I always expected to be in love when I got married, but this...this was just cruel and unnecessary. He must not have a heart. Prince Nicholas. More like Prince "no brain".

I walk fast, pacing through the castle. I decide it be best to go to the library. It is close enough to not need to walk far, but far enough to be away from prying ears and eyes. Its also quiet and sound proof. Just incase I yell. I may yell, I don't know. He follows. I glance back a couple times, and watch him watch me. He keeps up and still has that bored look on his face. In fact, there is a little change, an intrigued smirk. Every time I look back, he smirks, and I turn back around and keep stalking forward. When we are close he finally speaks again, his voice smooth.

"You know if you wanted to get me alone, all you had to do was ask. I mean I know what effect I have on women" the last words piss me off. Women. How many has he had an "effect" on. I'm the future Queen. Im no ordinary woman.

"Shut up" I say between gritted teeth. I know he is trying to get a rise out of me, and I contain myself. For now. He sees my direction and chuckles darkly.

"Feisty" he says, and I can tell he is smirking. When I get to the library, I throw the doors open and don't bother holding the swinging doors. They swing back fast but he is quick enough to get inside before they smack him in the face. I frown. What a shame. He senses my disappointment and sees it when I finally stop and turn to face him. "You want to hurt me, don't you?" he says, stopping near one of the tables. He leans against it, his hands across his chest. The library is empty, as it always is on eventful days. I stare, my eyes narrowed, my own arms going across my chest. I feel embarrassed with him, that I instinctively move my hands back down. He notices, smirking again. "And you are intimidated by me...all that talk about taking my kingdom and ending my life...disappointing it was all an act" That does it. I move forward 2 steps, still far enough but the movements are quick enough for his smile to retreat.

"I make good on my threats" I say, my voice still low and angry. I take a deep breath as he watches me. His dark eyes analyse me, they hit something deep inside me, and I cant explain it. I look away, walking towards a table on the other end of where he is. He doesn't move for a while, still facing the entrance while I walk away. I need to compose myself. I finally speak again. "In what world, do you think it is appropriate or a good idea to bring a mistress with you? Where in my proposal did I say that it was ok?" I'm facing the back of him, and I can see his shoulders tense, the muscles rigid under the jacket he wears. I can see him sit straighter until he finally turns only his head.

"I didn't realise I would need to ask for permission. Back home, a mistress is a normal thing. Look at my dad, he changes wives every couple of years" His voice is light, but I can tell there is an edge to it. I scoff.

"Wow. Well maybe a little common sense would have told you that my father has had the same woman since he was 19 so we don't quite agree with the whole mistress thing" he laughs. "What?" I say frustrated.

"Nothing. Your father may be an exception, but i've heard stories about your brother, so I assumed that it would not be a big deal". He turns back around and moves away from the table, walking towards me. I laugh out loud, shocked by how stupid his responses are.

"You are so stupid. What was I thinking asking you to align with me" I say, and I cant help but blurt it out. He walks faster, until he is right in front of me and I am against the table moving as far back as I can get. He inches closer, placing two hands on either side of me on the table, and leaning in. He stares at me, my lips and for a moment I think he might kiss me out of anger, but he stares back at me again. Just like he did in the grand hall, he whispers and this time his voice clings to my soul. The words ripping me open.

"You were thinking that you don't want to keep being the princess who everyone is looking at wondering why she cannot find someone suitable to marry her. You were thinking that you heard I was a powerful prince with a throne nearly in my possession, and you always craved a powerful ally, but could never find one above a noble. And you were thinking that you are sick of waiting for the same love your parents have, so you are going back to the old fashioned way of aligning with a Kingdom, just so everyone would get off your back. You were thinking selfishly Princess, because as much as you try, you are no better than I am with my mistress, and you are as selfish in everything that has to do with power. Once you admit it to yourself, maybe we can get over this little act you have going on about being a sweet and innocent princess. You can fool your family, but you cant fool me. Evil senses evil". He moves back and I realise only now that I was not breathing.

Evil. Is that what I am for wanting to get this marriage thing over with. Evil. I never thought of myself that way. But what he says is true. I cant find love because I never see them as equal. I am always better. I just want to get it over with, because I cant be bothered finding something like my parents. Something no one will have. Not even me. Evil because he is right. I picked him because he has power, and I do crave it. At times being powerful is the only thing on my mind.

"You know nothing about me" I say between gritted teeth, pushing him aside. I walk towards the exit, needing to get air.

"Walking away tells me different. Tells me I'm right" he says, the lightness back in his voice.

I am a good person, deep down. I don't only think about power. No. He is wrong. Wrong. I repeat to myself.

But deep down somewhere, I do crave power.

I just pray it isn't as much as my uncle Maven did.

We know how that ended.