297: Adela's shapeshift (part 1)

Adela's shapeshift (part 1)

2"She's burning up..." Aldric grumbled. "I swear to God, if her temperature doesn't drop soon, your next destination will be the afterlife."

"…You struck the back of her head too hard," Samandra commented, her words syncing with the throbbing at the base of Adela's skull.

"Enough with the pointless chatter! It's snowing. Go gather some for her."

"As you wish, Your Holiness."

As the door closed behind Samandra, the noise of Adela's teeth clattering grew louder—or perhaps they were chattering more vigorously as she contemplated the idea of snow touching her forehead with her body already so frigid.

Cold... She had never experienced such bone-chilling cold in her entire life.

"Shh... I will remedy this, even if it means I have to inform my counselors about what I've done. My warlocks will obey my command," he said solemnly, before adding another layer atop the many already covering her.

"…"

She continued to feign sleep, wondering if she was doing a convincing job despite the fever that was burning within her. Perhaps Aldric knew she was pretending but chose to ignore it. He couldn't be looking forward to facing her after what he had done.

No regrets lingered within her for jumping off that cliff; for she had been transferred to a place far more crowded than the little house they had initially kept her in. She couldn't accurately gauge the passage of time since losing consciousness, and her best guess was that she was now in Aldric's palace.

The more people who saw her, the greater her chances of being found by her father and her husband. They had to be on their way.

All too soon, the door opened again.

"Your Holiness, we have a problem."

"Whatever it is, it can wait," he replied in an exasperated tone. "Where is that ice?" he demanded.

"It can't wait. We've received word from Emoria. The Archduke along with the Princess of Kolhis are on their way here. They should arrive through the portal in a matter of hours."

Feeling the heat behind her closed eyes, she fought to hold back tears that threatened to betray her cover. She waited patiently for the monster to say something, but there was only silence.

"…I should have returned to Emoria through the portal. I was going to…It's all your fault!" he shouted with a tone of an ill-raised child throwing a tantrum. "How could you leave her in that thin gown after I specifically asked you to take care of her!"

"I am the Queen... of this land..." came the haggard reply in a strained voice.

"How inflated has your ego become in my absence? You are nothing unless I say you are. Your entire fate is in my hands. I could throw you off that cliff for the sharks in her place, or better yet, I could make you her maid."

"Y..Y…"

There was an attempt to speak, but it dissolved into gasps.

"Get the hell out of my sight! Go away!"

"...Varinthia's response."

"Damn it. Gather my counselors; I need to have a word with them. Alone." He barked the last word.

"Here?"

Adela held her breath as he seemed to hesitate, hoping that as many people as possible would see her.

"Here. I can't leave her."

"…How is it that you've come to care so much for her? What kind of spell are you under? I am your wife!"

"Make no mistake, I can end you for what you did."

"You're becoming what you've loathed your entire life. Are you aware of that?"

"I am rectifying his mistakes and following Mother's prophecy."

"…Is this really why you brought her here?"

A sense of revulsion crept over Adela when he sighed close to her ear.

"She left me with no other choice. What kind of man would do what I did to the woman he loves otherwise?"

While Samandra's jealousy was understandable, that of a woman scorned yet unwilling to let her husband go, the way Aldric spoke to his wife was perplexing. It was as if he was addressing a distant family member, not a spouse.

"Your Holiness, her husband is a descendant of the last Emperor. Your warlocks can take over Emoria today if you so desire, but how will you be able to face Kolhis if they decide to side with Emoria because of him?"

"Don't you mention him again in your life, Samandra! I will cut your tongue out and feed it to the tigers, do you hear me? Now get out and send for my counselors!"

The door closed once more, and Adela's hope grew. Those counselors were noblemen too; even if their loyalty was to their King, wouldn't one of them have the morality to notify the King of another land that his daughter was being held against her will here?

"I know that you are conscious," he murmured.

She remained perfectly still.

"Your body was going through shock; I had to hit you," he said, his tone disgustingly remorseful.

She took a breath through her chattering teeth. "...And there I was, thinking that it was a part of my correction."

"Good," he purred. "At least you are listening."

She opened her eyes wide and let her disdain show.

"I am listening, I heard it clearly. The Archduke of Lanark and a royal from Kolhis, our ally, they seem to know what you've been up to."

"Yes, that's precisely why I'm gathering my counselors. They are the strongest warlocks I have around me, and together, we will cast a few spells on you,"

She recoiled when he brushed a damp strand of hair away from her forehead.

"...Those spells will be so profound that even if you threw yourself at Kaiser's feet, he wouldn't recognize you...But more importantly, let's see if you would still look so stunning when you lose your Emorian traits."

While she glared at him, he continued to gaze at her with a twisted kind of affection, and then his eyes shone brightly.

"That's it! I'll have them make you look like the woman you were named after, hm? What do you think?"

She blinked at him. Was he truly suggesting to give her his mother's face?

"Adelaide…The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. By having you here, it's like I'm having her back too… Don't worry, I'll give you back your face and your hair once they leave." 

She had an abrupt, reflexive shiver when she realized that he was being serious about it.

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