Chapter 32: 32

Word Count: 1795

~Avila

Roel flutters around me, brushing any lint off my cream coat.

"Ready?" He asks, hazy eyes glinting with the same worry he carries at every speech I seem to make.

This will be my fifth speech. At this point, I've mostly memorised the words, and have overcome the need to stare at my shoes the entire time.

Still, the nerves are very safely nestled into my stomach and don't appear to have any interest in vacating.

"This isn't getting any easier," I note, shaking my sweaty hands about, which are trapped under gloves.

This village is far colder than any we have been to so far. It's near the border of the Territory, and fits nearly beneath a sprawling mountain. With that has come bitter breezes and icy ground I find myself slipping over every few moments.

"It will. Be patient," Roel soothes, pressing his hand on my back, pushing me toward the stairs which lead up onto the stage. "And enjoy, Avila. These are you people, and this is your duty."

I take a few trembling steps. The first moments before stepping up onto the stage are the most frightening.

The murmuring crowd hushes as I step upward, revealing myself.

It's been over a year since they would have seen me in person like this. Each one of their gazes travels over me, amazed, shocked and confused.

I press my feet into the taped spot on the stage and sweep my gaze across the place. The village is small, sweet, and the crowd is far lesser than before. They stand before an incredible backdrop of a tall mountain, it's peaks snuffed out by clouds.

"Greeting everyone, it is so wonderful to see you all again," I start.

Like every speech before this one, my voice always starts off shaking. It doesn't inspire much strength, and Crimson would probably faint if she heard me, but it's all I can manage.

"I'm sure you all know, but for those who don't, I got sick over a year ago. The best healers from across the land came to work on me, but my illness was worse than anyone thought," I tell them.

Eyes widen and heads turn into each other and people whisper in confusion.

I forge on. "The healers gave my mother and father an estimation of how long I would live. It wasn't long, maybe a few weeks."

I try to raise my gaze beyond the people, hating how their reactions differ.

I can't tell what's worse. Pity, confusion or disbelief.

"So, knowing there were no more options for me, they announced my death prematurely and held...well, a faux funeral. In the meantime, I went right out into the country, with only a few knowing my whereabouts, so I could enjoy the last moments in my life in complete peace," I continue.

This garners some sighs of sorrow and even some aghast expressions.

"However, weeks passed and I didn't die. In fact, I was starting to feel better. I could stand from bed, I could walk around when I thought those were abilities I had lost forever." I add a smile, although I can't help the guilt echoing through me at the relieved smiles on some of their faces.

Everything I'm saying is a lie. I did get sick once, but I never recovered.

I'm supposed to rule over these people one day, and I'm lying to them. What a terrible start to the process of getting to know them.

"Now, I'm not sure what caused my miraculous healing. The Angel's likely imparted their kindness on me, or perhaps it was the country air or a herb added to my tea. Either way, I very slowly managed to recover," I explain.

Every word I utter has a strict meaning. I'm trying to shut down as many questions regarding the past year as possible.

"I want to make it clear that it was not an easy decision to withhold information about my health from the public. My parents and I made a collective decision that privacy was what I needed to ensure my health wouldn't decline again, and to be completely honest with you, it worked!"

Some people smile and others clap. However, my eyes linger on those whose expressions remain sceptical.

They don't believe me.

I clear my throat. "Now I am back, and I am better than ever. My health has never been more secure, and healers have assured me that I will never have to face such horrors again. That is why I have come back to you now, after marrying my incredible husband."

I turn, motioning to the side of the stage. Vade steps up wearing the same winning smile he produces for the crowd at each speech.

Many sigh wistfully at the sight of him, swooning at his good looks and obvious charm.

He stands beside me, his sturdy presence releasing some of the tension gathering in my shoulders. We are in a much better place now after I confronted him in his room a couple nights ago.

It's much easier to live when I'm not convinced my husband has a blistering disposition toward me.

Vade slides his hand into mine. "Hello all-"

"Why are you lying!" Someone from the back of the crowd yells out, their voice echoing through the town square.

For a moment I think they are shouting at Vade, however, when I glance over to see them pushing their way through the crowd, I can tell their words are directed at me.

"Excuse me?" I utter, although not loud enough for anyone to hear.

"Tell us how you overcame your sickness. Are you hiding a healing drug from us all?" The man calls out, his face flushed red, his eyes burning with anger.

I shake my head. I want to step forward, to really get close enough to explain, but Vade holds me back, his grip tightening on my hand. He shoots me a warning look.

"Of course not. I assure you, what occurred was completely unprecedented, and many of the best healers have no answers as to why I recovered as I did," I say to the man, trying to smother his worries.

He seems satisfied with that, sinking back into the crowd.

"It was magic, wasn't it? Dark magic," a woman exclaims. She's much closer to the front of the stage, and I noticed throughout my speech that she didn't seem convinced by my words.

"No. Dark magic is strictly forbidden in this Territory," Vade states firmly, the bite to his tone warning everyone not to continue pressing on.

No one has spoken like this at one of my speeches. Not more than a 'I'm glad you're safe' or 'Congratulations on marrying the Prince.'

"She wasn't healed, she was brought back to life!" Someone else shrieks.

"I can assure you, I was not brought back to life. I never died..." I respond calmly. I can only manage so because I've been anticipating this accusation.

"Liar!" The person yells back.

Vade pulls me back while he steps to the front, like he is anticipating the people surging onto the stage after me. "Alright, well, we thank you all for coming to greet your Princess. We must retire to our accommodation now."

"She's cursed! It's dark magic!" The woman seethes, fighting off those who grab at her, thinking she has gone insane.

My heart is in my throat, suffocating me. No matter how hard I try to breathe, I'm met with a swirling vision and a burn in my lungs so painful, I feel the need to double over.

"No...I swear..." I rush out as Vade guides me toward the edge of the stage.

Vade's arm wraps around my waist and he leans in to speak into my ear. "Don't say anything more, Avila. Let's go."

People continue to shout after us as I nearly slip down the stairs. Vade doesn't let me go for a moment, leading me around the back of the stage to the transport, it's door already open.

I slide in before Vade, settling myself into the plush seat as he slams the door behind him. It immediately lurches forward, sending us off and away from the distressed crowd.

"Avila, are you alright?" Roel asks, sitting opposite me, his expression curled into one of worry.

"I can't breathe," I force out.

I tear my coat off before starting to grab at the collar of my dress, trying to pull it away from my neck. I want to yell and scream, but most importantly, I want out of this horrible, suffocating fabric.

Roel takes my hand. "Avila, look at me. What did I tell you?"

"To breathe. But I can't." My breaths are short and sharp, hurting with everyone that comes out.

"Yes you can," he murmurs while Vade rubs his hand up and down my back. "You are here, in this transport with two people who care very deeply about you. You are going to be okay."

"I don't feel okay. Did you hear what they were saying?" I hiss, looking out the transport, watching the village disappear.

"With such limited information, speculation was bound to happen. We will deal with it." He offers me a smile, like this doesn't concern him in the slightest.

I knew this was going to happen...I just wish I was better prepared.

"How?"

"We will release more information. It will be curated to reflect and accurate depiction of the last year, without the...well, you dying aspect," he says.

More lies. More lies that can be dug into and revealed for what they are, ruining my chances of every resonating with those I am to rule over.

"What if they were right? What if I am cursed?"

"You are not cursed, Avila." Vade's voice has me shifting my attention to him. "The Angel's brought you back to me...us, because they knew we couldn't live without you."

"The Angel's? Is that what you think?" I whisper, my voice hoarse, my breathing slowly starting to calm.

"When we don't have answers, what matters is having faith. I have faith that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you," he insists, brushing the hair from my face tenderly.

As much as I want to find his words comforting, there is something dark and uncertain swirling in my stomach.

"I don't know if I believe you."

"It's time you start to, Avila," he insists. "For you will be Queen one day, and if I believe in you, your people will too."

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