Reborn From the Cosmos

Miniarc-Villains-19

Miniarc-Villains-19

Samuel liked to think that he could be intimidating when he chose. It was an important skill, as he implied threats were his best weapon. It was also the only use he had for his father’s physique, though even he thought it sad that the best thing he could do with the blood of generals was to tower over delicate beauties.

Unfortunately, Yulianna wasn’t intimidated. She took her time standing and met his gaze with an uncomfortable directness. There was barely any room between his large frame and her seat, something he’d done on purpose, but her curtesy was perfect anyway.

“Good evening, Prince Samuel.”

“You recognize me?”

“I confess, I wouldn’t have recognized you on my own. My friends pointed you out to me, shielding me from any embarrassment. Would you care to join us?”

“What, exactly, would I be joining?”

“Nothing sinister.” That was almost a disappointment. At least talks of treason would have been exciting. “We come together at the end of our long days to ease each other’s burdens. Remind ourselves of the good things that seem so far away in a crisis.”

Samuel scoffed, mostly performatively. “So, they choose to find joy with the source of the crisis?”

From his peripheral, the prince noted that the surrounding acolytes looked uncomfortable but Yulianna was unfazed. “I don’t claim to be blameless but I can say three things without sham, for I know them to be the truth. The first is that I never intended to cause anyone harm. The entire reason I accompanied my sister when she was put in charge of the March was to see it come to a peaceful conclusion. If failing is my fault in this tragedy, than I accept it. The second thing I swear to be true is that I have never attacked a resident of the city. The third is that I only wish to help these people.”

Remarkable. Growing up in court, Samuel had been exposed to the best wordsmiths in the kingdom. Yulianna wasn’t the greatest, but she certainly compared. She made it seem as if she was talking to him, staring into his eyes as she spoke, but her voice was pitched to carry to the whole group. He didn’t know if he had given her a platform to finally justify herself or just reinforce her position, but she’d used it with gusto.

It was a performance, he was sure, he had an instinct for such things, but it was masterful. Her tone was the perfect mix of sad, hopeful, and naïve to make her appear fragile, provoking the natural inclination to treat her delicately. Woven into her emotional speech were logical justifications and deflections. Better, her words carried conviction, filled with the force of her personality. It was rare for someone to be able to do so on command, which meant people tended to assume the person believed the words wholeheartedly.

The stages of the capital would lament never being graced by such a talent. Samuel smiled as he stared into her earnest eyes, wondering if he was crashing her party or if he was just the next act in her play. He understood the acolytes admiration now. The woman was fascinating. Exciting.

The prince wanted to poke at her performance, see if he could make her trip.

“I suppose your knights didn’t attack anyone either.”

Her smile dimmed like curtains being drawn, her gaze dropping to the ground as she looked away. “They took up arms to protect me, but it was for naught. We were all taken hostage by the guilds. It was horrifying experience, being hunted like animals, but I don’t care for my suffering. I only regret that I was taken away at such a crucial time. To think I might have been the motivation behind so much destruction…” She shook her head.

Samuel checked her eyes for tears and was pleased not to find any. Waterworks would have been far too dramatic, tilting the balance of the image she was trying to create. In one breath, she’d painted herself as both a hapless maiden and a foiled hero. He wanted to applaud. He wanted to see more.

“Would you like to walk with me?” he asked before he realized what he was saying.

Around him, their respective guards tensed. He heard Ewan take a step forward, a quiet threat. The women weren’t intimidated. The seated one slowly stood while the other glared over Samuel’s shoulder without fear.

If Yuliannna was bothered by the tension, she didn’t show a trace of anxiety in her smile, one that was soft and accommodating. “I would be honored.”

-

In firelight, Yulianna sparkled, like a perfectly cut jewel.

In the softer light of the moon, her tremendous presence was subdued. She was more like a wildflower, a simple thing that was easily obscured by tall weeds and grasses, but breathtaking from the right angle. He imagined there would be a dozen unsavory rumors spread about the two of them by morning, as his invitation hadn’t been subtle and they were still in sight walking the perimeter of the field, but his conversation with the snake in the guise of a pretty woman was the most fun he’d had in weeks. It was good not to think about danger for a while, though their respective guards made themselves known with their heavy footfalls, a subtle reminder of the world outside of their stolen moments.

Despite the walk being his idea, the prince found himself at a loss for words. He didn’t know what he hoped to gain out of his invitation. He found amusement poking at her and he wanted to know the truth behind Quest, but what he hoped to discover in scant minutes—

“So, who is she?”

“Pardon?” The prince snapped out of his thoughts to find Yulianna watching him. The lack of witnesses meant there was no need for a smile but her expression was relaxed, open.

“The woman you like. Fancy. Are currently seeing?”

Samuel chuckled. “What makes you think there’s a woman?”

“For a handsome prince? There’s always a woman.” She grinned. “It’s the look. Men look at me two ways. The first is, well. The second is critical. Experience has shown that it usually means they’re comparing me to something. Usually, to another woman.”

“Presumptuous. Arrogant, even.”

“Am I wrong?”

“You are.”

“But you were comparing me to something. I’d bet my fortune on it.”

Comparing her to jewels and flowers hardly counted. His upbringing lent his thoughts to poetic descriptions. “Then hand it over.”

“Lies are unbecoming, highness.”

“You dare accuse a prince?”

“I’m already a villain. What’s the harm?”

Samuel laughed. When was the last time he’d enjoyed a conversation so much? Probably not since the verbal sparring of his youth, before his brother was named crown prince. Dowager was the better leader of men, but Samuel could work a crowd. He’d loved the word games, twisting tales. At least for sport. He didn’t appreciate the consequences of politics nearly as much.

“I’ve never known a villain to be so beloved by their victims.”

That grimace. Samuel was surprised that his gut told him it was real. Did she feel true guilt? What did she have to feel guilty about?

“Beloved is a strong word. I give them something they crave so they keep coming back.”

“And what’s that? Do you have fresh bread hidden under your shirt?”

She playfully put an arm over her chest. “How scandalous. No, I’ve got nothing of commercial value. It’s the little things. A smile. A kind word. Greeting them by name and thanking them for their hard work. Visiting them when they get hurt. Comforting them when they get overwhelmed. We’re all capable of it but it's in short supply, nonetheless. A shame.”

“Decency doesn’t fill bellies or bring back loved ones.”

“Nor does grudges.”

Yulianna stopped, the prince walking several steps ahead before he realized she was no longer following. “Is something wrong?”

“I thought I’d help you. You must have asked me on this walk for a reason. I thought we should get to it. It’s getting late.”

“What if I were to tell you I don’t know why I asked you here?”

“Then I’d remind you that I’m married.”

The prince snorted. He hadn’t noticed the ring on her hand until she held it up, but he wasn’t surprised about its presence. All the men in the north would have to be blind for her not to be married. “It certainly wasn’t for that.”

“Hm. My second thought was to ask you about the woman on your mind. Perhaps I could offer you some advice.”

“I don’t need advice.”

“Oh? When’s the wedding?”

“Marriage isn’t the mark success.”

“It is if you want to spend the rest of your life with her.”

Samuel arms twitched as he fought the urge to cross them, knowing how defensive it would make him look. If someone was keeping score of their conversation, he’d be losing, firmly on the defensive. “The rest of my life is a long time.”

Yulianna clapped. “There’s your problem! If this isn’t a woman you plan to spend the rest of your life with, then you shouldn’t be brooding over her.”

“…easier said than done.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” Yuliana resumed their walk and Samuel naturally fell in-step beside her. “So, your girl. Your woman. I know she’s hard to forget. Anything else?”

“She isn’t interested in the obligations of marriage.”

“Ah. So, she’s at that stage.”

“Stage? What stage?” the prince asked, inwardly cursing that he couldn’t keep the eagerness out of his tone.

“No need to look so excited. It’s no great secret. We’ve all go through it. Haven’t you ever wanted your life to amount to something?”

The question was like a blade to the heart.

“There. You understand. Women aren’t immune to ambition. They want to accomplish great works and be remembered for a thousand years. They want to see fantastical places and have grand adventures. They want an epic romance just like in the stories their mothers told them when they were girls. They want it as badly as you want or wanted whatever caused you to make that expression. Marriage? Children? At that stage, those are only chains.”

“Did you have that stage?”

“Everyone does.”

“Then…how did you move past it?”

“I haven’t.” She smiled. “I’m one of the lucky ones whose ambition lines up perfectly with marriage and family. Too well sometimes. But you don’t have to look to me for the answer. You’ve already done it.”

Samuel shook his head. His way wasn’t a solution. He’d simply slammed into one too many obstacles and decided he didn’t have what it took to make it to the end. He’d given up. “…you mean she has to give up. Settle for me.”

“You make it sound so distasteful. When we’re children, we want to ride dragons. Knowledge and experience teach us that’s impossible. We sacrifice a hundred dreams over our lives. A dream is worth nothing, since we never had it in the first place. What has value is that which we can grab. She’ll get tired of jumping for things out of her reach and when she does, you will be there to hold her up. If that’s not enough to make a girl fall for you, you had no chance from the beginning. Or maybe she fancies the other sex. I didn’t suspect it of my sister until she brought her would-be fiancé home for our annual war.”

“That joke is in poor taste.”

“Ah. Did I touch on a bad experience?”

“Something like that.” The sound of running footsteps drew the prince’s attention. A soldier was coming toward him. Time was up. “I don’t suppose I could interest you in a poor dinner?”

“I’d bet your opinion of poor doesn’t match my own, but I’ll decline anyway. My escort will be arriving soon.”

“You can’t ride through the city before morning. Rebels are attacking carriages leaving the camps.” He left unsaid that she was a prime target for them. It was possible that the measures to lock down the camp were meant for her the entire time.

“Are you worried for me?” She smiled like a girl given a sweet treat. Samuel couldn’t help thinking it beautiful and the man who got to come home to it very lucky. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine. Whatever else she is, Lou is considerate. Of Alana that is, and part of that consideration is making sure her sister makes it home safe. My escort is more than capable of protecting me. In fact…”

Her lips pursed as she thought. Eventually, she nodded to herself. “Your highness, forgive me for my about face but I would like to take you up on your invitation, if it’s still available?”

“You’re welcome to do so.”

“Good. I was also hoping there was room for one more?”