Keziah
Being shaken while being yelled at—I do not recommend. I give it a 0 out of 10 on the "I would do this again" ranking.
"What are you talking about? Cyrus is my best friend. Unlike you, he hasn't pushed me on my personal or art-related rules. Unlike you, he is actually helpful and supportive in building my career and growing my skills. Unlike you, if by some cosmic alignment he is interested in me, he has kept that to himself. He, unlike you, heard me when I said I'm not at a place in my life where romance can be a distraction."
I try to kick him in the balls, but he traps me in a way that makes it impossible for me to reach him.
"Is this proposal in response to you thinking that Cyrus will ask for your support in pursuing me in exchange for stepping out of your way to become king?" I stop fighting to look up at him as the thought pops into my head. "You don't actually have feelings for me. You're just worried Cyrus might actually have a chance with me since I've firmly rejected you." I'm sure the look of disappointment on my face is apparent to him, just as his fierce expression of anger is clear to me.
"I have plenty of feelings for you. I just told you I find you worthy and that the other qualifications you need, you can gain over the course of our engagement. Let me show you how much I feel for you."
His burning eyes stare me down as he covers my mouth with his own. I kick and fight, but it all seems useless. As tears start to well up in my eyes, he is suddenly pulled away, then pushed into a nearby plum tree.
"What are you doing, Halcyon? Are you trying to cause a scandal when Zizi has finally built a good reputation as an aristocratic lady and artist?"
Cyrus stands in front of me, huffing and puffing. Trying to calm down out of panic mode, I note that a stack of books and his bag are thrown in disarray on the stone path. Cy probably came to quietly hang out and then discuss a few business matters with me. Even though he got me a business manager, he still makes time to talk with me about such matters.
As I take deep breaths in cycles, I pack up my things. Any mood to create is gone. I will have to try again tomorrow or the next day. I also think I will ask Quinn to assign me a guard to keep everyone but a select few away. This has scared me to my core.
"Mind your own business, Cyrus. You are messing up our date. It's because of you that Kezi is confused about her feelings for me."
Halcyon staggers to his feet while leaning against the tree. Wow, how strong is Cyrus for him to push Halcyon so hard? My mind is a bit in shock, so after folding the blanket—the last of my items—I just stand there waiting. For what, I don't know, but I don't want to be in this spot anymore. Damn it, I'm going to have to find another place to paint now. This spot is tainted for me.
Cyrus relaxes a bit once I'm waiting behind him, but he doesn't take his eyes off his brother.
"I don't know what delusion is playing out in your head, but this was not a date. You were harassing Keziah and need to stay away from her. You, on the other hand, might want to consider taking a dip in the lake to cool off. I will find you later to talk with you. For now, we will keep this matter between us."
Cyrus walks backward, keeping himself between me and Halcyon. I pick up his bag and books. We walk out of sight with Halcyon watching our every move. I don't look back. I don't think I can look at him anytime soon. I never would have guessed he would react to my rejection so fiercely.
I follow Cyrus into the palace and up to a parlor that faces the main palace in all its blue-stone glory. Between one blink and the next, refreshments have arrived, and Cyrus is placing a mug of what smells like hot apple cider into my hands. Breathing in deeply and taking a sip, I can feel the warmth chasing away the coldness that was trying to settle into my veins.
I sip more cider while I sink into the warm body at my side. Neither of us speaks, so I just let myself process everything in my own time. Cookies and pastries appear on a small plate that is switched out for my cup. I eat and process until the sun sets.
A knock at the door rouses me from my trance. Sitting up from lying against his chest, I look at the man who rescued me. A bright lamp is on, and he is reading from a book that appears to be on politics. Movement brings my attention to Victor, my business manager, and Callie, who are reviewing what are most likely commission contracts. The clink of a teacup pulls my eyes to my whole family sitting nearby, waiting.
Tears spill from my eyes. Seeing everyone who has become my inner circle over this past year here supporting me at this moment makes me break out in a loud sob. While startled at first, Cyrus, Callie, and Victor go to the door to handle whoever is outside the room. My mother and father encapsulate me in their arms. My brothers hold my hands.
I sob and sob for a while, letting out everything I had been trying to hold in—the fear and betrayal I feel now that someone I had considered a friend would behave in such a way because I told him no.
Once I've calmed down, wordlessly, we all leave the palace. Victor accepts my parents' offer to dine and spend the night in our home. It's only as Callie is closing the door while I get into bed for the night that I realize I haven't seen Cyrus since the palace.