Abbott's POV
Murder. That was my intention.
Every part of me wanted to find the bastard who tied me to Abigail Spencer against my will and put a dagger through him.
I walked down the hall, out through the southern exit towards the King's court.
I made long strides. The sooner I get my father to reverse his decision about Abby, the sooner my life can get back on track.
"Lord Commander"
"Your highness"
"Milord"
Everyone I passed on my journey to see the king seemed to have something to say, a title they felt the need to remind me of holding, a need to show respect and as usual I ignored them except now they stand still long after I leave them and they stare. Just stare.
It didn't bother me…never did.
Because once again I have defiled death and I am walking amongst the living.
Sometimes, just a brief moment after I pass the first starrer, I imagine what was going on in their mind.
Were they grateful to see me alive or was it disappointment I see on their faces?
This concern of mine only lasted about three seconds before I realized something else – I sincerely couldn't care any less.
I haven't cared about anything in a long time… not till Abby Spencer.
She was a weakness I couldn't afford.
A weakness I intend to get rid of.
I just have to find a way to keep myself from trying to murder a reigning monarch under the watchful eyes of those sworn to protect him long enough to untie myself from her.
I hope my father sees reasons, or killing three knights and a king won't be something so wrong.
I do not intend to keep Abigail as a wife.
When I got to the entrance, the king's court was barely guarded, just a guard by the entrance, which was foolish.
I expected father to anticipate my unhappiness and do something to deter me from my righteous anger but he didn't.
It was foolish…real foolish because now he might just lose his head.
I approached the guard with anticipation that he would try to stop me but he didn't. He opened the door instead for me.
I entered inside and on his throne was King Aldous Raven, I stared at him, he had this little smile on his face and this ease with him, and my fortitude and the desire to wipe that smile away from his face increased.
"Hello son. Back from the dead, I see"
"Your majesty…alone, I see. I do applaud you for your…" I cleared my throat "...bravery"
I took a few steps forward and stopped walking as he stood up and he pulled on a curtain and it unveiling a portrait behind.
"Daphne" I murmured under my breath.
I felt my veins corrode as the anger I felt intensified. The fuck was he doing with the portrait of my girl!
His majesty had changed the rules of our game yet again and this time was less funny than the last.
"She is such a striking creature…the lady Daphne, isn't she?"
"King Aldous"
My voice was strong but controlled, showing him that his little tactics worked on me would be a mistake, a grave mistake.
"I remember us having similar conversation years ago" I took a step closer to him "if you hurt her…You will find yourself in need of an heir. Markle will die under mysterious circumstances. Accident do happen, you know.You have no idea how easy one comes to be with a broken neck and the first prince, he is very clumsy...he could slip and fall down a flight of stair. he could drown in a bathtub. he could snap his neck riding a horse just like your dead son, Jensen…"
"You are dangerously close to treason, Rat. Watch your tongue!"
"My apology, your majesty…but treason against the crown would suggest I am planning to murder your heir, my dear nephew if anything happens to Daphne… I would never" I feigned outrage "I was merely pointing out that accidents happen all the time" I shrugged like I have made my point.
I moved closer now and he walked around to sit on his throne. I watched him, searching for any glimmer of weakness, any reaction to confirm my theory that he was scared shitless right now but he wouldn't be a Raven if he couldn't keep emotions well hidden.
"Father, you shouldn't leave yourself unprotected like this, bad things happen all the time. I worry about you"
"I take it you met your bride" he asked me with this god-awful smirk that made me want to take his head.
"I did but do you want to hear something hilarious, I never asked for one…never consented to one yet I woke up to this awful claim of being wedded to Abigail Spencer. Fix it, your majesty" I turned around to leave before he spoke.
"Can't"
"Excuse me?" it wasn't what I wanted to hear.
"The marriage is lawful and therefore, it stands. It has been announced throughout the kingdom, son. Accept my congratulation"
I clenched my fist…tightly. It was the only thing preventing me from drawing my sword and spilling blood. The anger I feel now was intensified and it polluted the rest of me in an instant.
"I did not consent to marriage with anyone. This is unlawful and I shall not abide by it"
"You didn't need to. The law is on my side, rat, you were off to coma land and the power of these decisions fell on me. I signed in your stead and it is lawful"
He was right.
Damn it! He was fucking right!
I wasn't of sound mind and soul and he wedded me to Abby. He was on the right side of the law.
I was out of options and for the first time in years, I was at his mercy.
"I want an annulment, a king can grant me one"
"Why would I do such a thing?"
"Because you can, because it is the right thing to do…because" I blinked, it was a moot point but I made it anyway "Because I am your son and you are my father"
"Playing the 'son' card, are we?" he laughed.
"Annul the marriage" my voice was low now, almost a whisper.
"No" he said firmly.
I rubbed my face like I was taking away a blanket…Wet heavy blanket that was weighing me down.
"I don't understand. You could have made her give you the maps. That's why you had her parents kidnapped, yes? You want the maps of king Aradin. The map he used to conquer the world thousands of years ago. A map Baron Baltimore knows it's whereabouts. Something you are almost certain he shared with his daughter. She would have given you anything you asked of yet you chose to tie me to her against both our wishes, why?"
He stood up and he moved closer to me. He grabbed my jaw and for a while we stared at each other without blinking, his blue eyes against my browns.
His breathing was sharp and fast like he was having the time of his life. And he was.
I was on the verge of losing my mind and he was having the time of his life. When he spoke to me his voice was equally low and raspy.
"Don't you get it? I hate you, my son"