5. Chapter 5

OPHELIA

The goddess must enjoy playing cruel jokes on me. First, by sending me to Hellingser to fetch Juliette and now, her father, King William, demanding my services just after I finished washing down the horses by the stable. Our goodbye was bittersweet but Artemis had been right. It would be impossible to cut ties with the beautiful woman who had stolen my heart at first sight.

It's even harder now, walking just behind her. Her regal form is nothing like the woman in my bed last night. She's clothed in that cream gown from earlier, her shoulders pulled back, her hands settled in front of her and clasped at the waist, a small crown resting on her head. Despite all that, I can still sense the lingering fear and the desire to return to those special moments in Hellingser.

I steel my voice, catching myself before I call her sunshine just as we step into a small lounge offset from the gala. Royal blue and purple velvet adorn every space of this room and while it shows off the regal nature of the kingdom, I find that the colors clash terribly. Juliette makes her way to one of the lounge seats facing a small table, an identical lounge on the other side.

An older woman sits there, leaning back with one leg crossed over the other, her guard standing behind the seat. Juliette shifts uncomfortably, shooting me a terrified glance before fixing her expression. My body yearns to rescue her but without compromising her position and risking my own life, there's nothing I can do. She blows out a deep breath and then plasters on a fake smile as I stand by the entrance, watching as the woman across from her breaks into a monologue about how she'll be the perfect addition to Smunia.

I can't watch this.

I can't watch the woman I'm falling for courted by royalty. Worse, I have nothing to offer. Anything I can think of pales in comparison. Juliette's demeanor morphs from disinterested to uncomfortable to panic as time drones on. The woman leaves within the hour, another one entering to show off her riches and what she can bring to Smunia.

This one is definitely a Queen, although I missed her name and rightly so, I don't care. A nearly soundless whimper escapes from Juliette as she tries to stay focused, her entire body vibrating beneath the stress of being forced to entertain these suitors. I know a panic attack when I see one, having caught a few while training and helping other soldiers assimilate to the life we lead.

Catching the attention of the queen's guard, I throw him a gesture that we need a moment. Wordlessly, he taps his queen's shoulder and they exit. I wait until the door closes behind me before walking up to Juliette, intending to crouch down in front of her when she launches herself into my arms. The armor I usually wear is absent inside the castle so I feel every inch of her pressed against me as her legs wrap around my waist.

"Sunshine-"

"I can't do this. I won't. Spending a lifetime with them? As an equal ruler of a country I barely want? I can't!" Her whispered words are harsh against my ears as I realize that Juliette doesn't even want her royal status. That it isn't just about the marriage but more about the life she's been forced to lead.

I hold her close, knowing that we have mere moments until the next suitor arrives and I know from experience that this last one is more ruthless than the others. She demands respect where she deserves none but her iron hand and amassed riches are exactly what someone like King William desires. "Sunshine, I need you to let go." Even as the words leave my mouth, I dip my head to the curve of her neck, my lips lingering against her soft skin.

She hugs me tighter, fingers playing with the hairs at the base of my neck. "I just want you. I know it's too soon but I would rather spend forever with you than with them. You see me, Romeo."

"Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of love." I run my fingers through her hair, drinking in her honey scent until a knock at the door signals that our time is up. Peeling Juliette off is a chore I wish I didn't have and I set her back onto the lounge, those wide hazel eyes breaking my heart. With a quick kiss to the top of her head, I march back to the doors and throw them open to let in the last suitor.

One glance at this woman and I know two things. She wants Smunia and she'll ruin every last bit of sunshine that Juliette possesses.

She nods to me, her crown sitting high on her head. "You can leave, soldier. Your services won't be needed." I open my mouth to protest, tasked with guarding Juliette. She holds up a hand. "There will be no need for protection here. Juliette and I are just going to have a little conversation that doesn't require lesser ears to be present. If you desire, you can always step outside and wait for us to be finished."

As much as I want to press the issue, I have little power in this fight. However, I will wield it to protect Juliette."Will all due respect, Queen Helvania, I answer to Princess Juliette and her father, King William. I have been tasked with her protection and as such, without being dismissed, I can not leave." My words skirt the truth but I'm not lying. As Juliette's guard, leaving her alone would go against my command.

Without even blinking, Queen Helvania snaps her fingers, the doors opening to reveal one of King William's guards. Juliette looks around me, biting her lip at the new presence in the room before her gaze falls on me. "You are dismissed."

I want to fight back against those words but there is a power struggle that I don't quite understand and refuse to get in the middle of. Demanding to stay would further exacerbate the situation and I know that Queen Helvania will not do anything untoward while in another country.

I bow and step outside without glancing back at Juliette. I can't bear to see the torrent of emotions she'll throw back at me, silently asking me to save her.

Two seconds out into the hall and Blaise is standing in front of me, understanding in his eyes as if he just knew I would need someone to talk me down from whatever terrible idea was about to form in my head. "Pheli, that's Queen Helvania. Juliette is as good as gone with that woman hovering around."

I frown, twisting around to stare at the closed door. Rumors about that queen have spurred on wild stories but the only one I know to be true is that she first dated Queen Daniela who is now married to Her Majesty, Seraphina. Queen Helvania has yet to find a mate but scours through the crowds every gala. People have been warned about her iron fist and therefore stay away.

I had no idea it was Queen Helvania who was the last suitor. I just knew that King William would of course have picked someone equally ruthless and powerful to marry his daughter. This queen fits that bill.

"She can't marry Queen Helvania, Blaise. I-"

Blaise throws me a small smile before bringing his forehead to mine. "Pheli, we will figure this out. We will not let Juliette suffer but I want you to understand that Juliette may not end up as yours."