My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 83

Sariel's words rang in my ears, agonizing the pain in my heart. The crowd cheered for the future king and queen as I stepped back against the wall, praying to miraculously escape this place. What was I even doing there? I became a humiliated mistress, tossed away by the Duke, who was now becoming the King. Sariel spared me no glance at me as he and Elora stood on the edge of the podium, surrounded by the hand-clapping sound.

My sight became blurry. I didn't know I was crying until I felt the wetness filling the neckline of my dress. Pathetic. I felt I did it to myself. I lowered all of my defenses and let myself get stabbed right when I was the most vulnerable.

"Are you all right?" I heard someone's warm whisper.

I knew that kind voice, but the tears made my eyes too cloudy to see. I tore my eyelids, trying to regain sharpness in my sight. Only then did I realize my whole body was leaning against Patrick's arms. He must have prevented me from collapsing onto the floor. He swiftly grabbed me in his arms and moved me away from the throne hall through the nearest side door. He put me down once we were alone in the corridor.

"Can you stand by yourself?" he asked caringly, watching my feet touch the floor.

"Yes," I answered numbly.

"Don't worry…" he started hesitantly, "King Sariel will take care of you… I know this is unfair, but I am sure that-"

"I believed him." I didn't let Patrick finish, "I foolishly believed in some kind of fairy-tale ending. Idiot…"

"He didn't have a choice… for now. I'm confident that once the army is his-"

"An army…" I chuckled bitterly.

"It's not just any army," Patrick stated strongly, "It is THE royal army. An army of vampires and mix-breeds that is able to wipe out half of the world if they had to. They were loyal to King Mael for decades… or centuries. It was known that they would follow whoever King Mael appointed in his will."

"Then… what does it make me? I cannot be the queen. How can I stand by his side?" I asked, nervously wiping my tears.

"I…" Patrick paused, searching for an answer.

I forced myself to smile at him. I wasn't hoping to hear an answer from him anyway. This reality check was crueler than I imagined.

"Patrick… Can I call you Patrick?"

He nodded.

"Patrick, take me away from here," I said, my pleading gaze locked on him.

He opened his mouth, uncertain of the response he should give me.

"Please…" I felt I was seconds away from crying again.

He sighed and grabbed my hand. We started walking along the corridor towards some doors. I guess Patrick must have studied the Palace's map after he had gotten his assignment. He was leading me confidently, increasing his pace as we walked further away from the throne hall. I wanted to get the hell out of there as if there was no oxygen for me to breathe.

"Where do you think you are going?!" Leo grunted, jumping right in front of us and blocking our way.

"He made a choice, Leo. Why should I stay here?" I hissed.

"The queen is merely one of the positions the king can grant," he said, ineptly trying to explain his master.

"Then who am I going to be? A part of his harem? A concubine?" I asked while tears started flowing down my cheeks again.

"I was told to keep you in the Palace no matter what it takes." Leo didn't reply to my question but proved to be relentless in blocking our way.

Patrick let go of my hand and gave me an apologetic look. I smiled bitterly but could have expected such an outcome. I couldn't blame Patrick; at least he tried to help me. I was still too weak to fight against anyone alone, and at that moment, I felt like I had given up on everything.