Kamila

Promise Me

Chapter Forty-

"B-but...that's impossible," she laughed. "Lotus would never do anything like this."

"I know that it doesn't seem like her, Adilah, but it's true," Father said while reaching across the table and taking Adilah's hand in his.

Tears started to form in her eyes, and I knew that this was a mistake. We shouldn't have said it so soon in front of Adilah, but at the same time she would hear of Lotus's betrayal sooner or later. I was more afraid of how it would affect Adilah and her baby more than anything.

"Then I suppose I know what the right thing to do is," King Zulu sighed. "I will get your kingdom back, Pharaoh Ptonic, but there is a cost."

"We have plenty of coffers filled at the brim with gold at your disposal once you help me take back what is mine," Father smiled weakly.

"I don't want your gold, Pharaoh," King Zulu smiled.

"Then what do you want?" Father cocked his head, steepling his hands.

"Her," he said simply, and his eyes flickered over to mine.

My mind started to race, and my heart began to pump harder. I couldn't believe the words that had just come out of King Zulu's mouth. He wanted...me? Again? I thought we were over this but apparently not. I tried telling him plenty of times before that Father wouldn't allow us to marry, but now I clearly saw that he would never back down. What was his obsession with me? Didn't he have enough wives? There was a part of me that was a little angered. I was no one's to be simply given away. I never was and never would be.

"You want my sister Kamila?" Adilah asked, her expression baffled as a tear ran down her cheek. "B-but...I-I thought..."

That she was the only one he loved? If love was actually a thing for people like him.

"Kamila is not to be married for quite some time," Father laughed uneasily, trying to lighten up the conversation.

"I mean what I have said, Pharaoh Ptonic," King Zulu cocked his eyebrow. "Let me marry Kamila and I will give you my armies to get back your throne."

If I didn't have better control of my emotions my mouth would have dropped to the floor. I didn't like the way King Zulu spoke to my father, no matter how polite it sounded. He knew he had the upper hand in this situation. He knew that my father was weak and powerless against him. He knew, and he wanted me as part of the bargain.

Did I not have any feelings? Was I not to be considered when proposed to? Was I supposed to automatically accept everything for what it was? Being a princess was not a blessing. It was a curse. Everything I was depended on what others wanted me to be. I didn't have a voice.

Father looked at me with clear frustration in his eyes. He knew I wouldn't want to marry him. He knew I wanted to save myself for the throne. "I will have to think on it, Your Highness."

"You have all the time you need–if you want your throne back that is," King Zulu smiled. His smile was warm on the outside, but venomous in intent.

––––––––––

After dinner, I walked to my bedchambers with my heart heavy and my mind clouded. I didn't want to marry King Zulu, I wanted to be as free as I could for a while longer–just long enough so I could inherit the throne. Then I would answer to no one but myself.

"Kamila!"

I turned to see Adilah walking towards me angrily.

"Adilah," I began to smile, but that smile soon disappeared once she slapped me across the face.