Her chambers were already lit when she arrived, the tall candles casting soft shadows against embroidered walls. The maids hurried to her side, helping her out of the heavy blue gown and into a silken night robe. Yet Hailey barely noticed them. Her mind replayed the sneer on Derrick's face, the venom in his voice.
War.
She scoffed inwardly.Let him try.
Once the maids withdrew, Hailey retired to her bed, stretching lazily as though the night had not carried the weight of impending bloodshed. To her, conflict was not unfamiliar. She had been raised with steel in her hands and strategy in her mind. "I mean why should I care about his empty threats, the thought of that man dancing with me make's my skin crawl disgusting. She shook her head and drifted off to bed.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of her chamber."Your Highness," one of the maids said softly, drawing back the curtains. "His Majesty requests your presence for breakfast." Hailey groaned and buried her face into the pillows.
"Tell Papa I'll be there," she muttered. "Eventually." Still, she rose, allowing the maids to dress her in a simple yet elegant morning gown. Her hair was braided loosely, her face bare of ornaments a sharp contrast to the regal image she displayed the night before.
King Robert was already seated at the breakfast table when she arrived, fresh fruits and warm bread laid out between them. His stern expression melted the moment he saw her."There's my little menace," he said fondly.
Hailey smirked, plopping into her chair as he personally fed her strawberries, just as he had done since she was a child.
Across the table, Loki watched the scene with mild amusement.Hailey's rude attitude was, without doubt, the result of her father's over-pampering.She was his only daughter, and he loved her so much . He knew her behavior was alarming the sharp tongue, the defiance but he never had the heart to scold her. To him, she was still a baby, even now that she had grown into a woman admired and feared in equal measure.Robert had even allowed her to learn skills reserved for men swordsmanship, strategy, warfare simply because she wanted it.
Though she bore the delicate beauty of a woman, she also possess the mind of a seasoned ruler. He had trained Hailey personally until age and fatigue forced him to retire. Day by day, his strength waned something Hailey noticed far more than he realized.
Hailey glanced at Loki, eyes narrowing mischievously."So," she drawled, popping another strawberry into her mouth, "how is Mirabel doing?"
Loki froze.Robert raised a brow, suppressing a smile.Hailey," Loki warned.
"What?" she shrugged innocently. "I'm just asking about the maid you spend an awful lot of time with. Your sister might like to know how… attentive and romantic you are."
Robert cleared his throat, clearly entertained.
"I see no issue with my son marrying a commoner," he said calmly. "A good woman is a good woman, regardless of birth."
Hailey nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly and it's not like marriage can be forced down his throat, he's a man and can choose to marry whoever he wants unlike me….
Loki exhaled sharply.
"Hailey please…..Mother would never accept it," he said quietly. "She wants a princess or someone from a noble house." Hailey rolled her eyes. "Mother needs to relax."
Before Loki could respond, his expression hardened."Father," he said, pulling out a chair and sitting across from Hailey, his tone shifting. "Durham has waged war against us."
"What?" Robert stiffened.Hailey merely shrugged, still chewing her strawberries.
"Loki," she said casually, lips curling into a dangerous smile, "you are going to be king. Don't be scared of some pathetic trash. They want war, right?" She leaned forward slightly.
"Then we'll give them one."
She turned to her father, eyes gleaming. "Right, Papa?" Robert studied his daughter for a long moment this child of mine he thought with pride."Exactly, my darling," he said at last.He turned to Loki."Prepare for war."Loki nodded. "Yes, Father."Hailey leaned back in her chair, utterly unbothered.
"Uh-huh."