Chapter 6 Six.

GLOSSARY (ENTAILS WORDS AND TERMINOLOGIES USED IN THIS UNIVERSE.): I'll be using real life comparison to pass my point across clearly.

DENARII: It's equivalent to gold. A denarii coin is worth ten dollars. A bag of denarii means there's a thousand coins of denarii in it, meaning a bag is worth ten thousand dollars. Lady Gwendolyn and Lord Emmett were willing to pay 25 bags of denarii for Olivia, which is equivalent to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in real life.

CHAPTER SIX.

“What the hell is happening, Sven? Why is my toy scurrying away?” Lord Emmett yells, approaching just as King Sven rises to his feet. Emmett’s crimson-red eyes burn with fury, and I quickly slip behind King Sven, clutching his cloak to keep myself hidden from the man’s gaze.

Lady Gwendolyn joins her husband's side, a crease on her forehead as she glares daggers at King Sven. “And what is the meaning of all this? Might I remind you that we came all the way here to pay a fair price for that,” she punctuates her last word, flicking a dirty glance at me to emphasize her point.

“I don't remember making a deal with any of you prior to this meeting,” King Sven replies calmly. “But I have decided I no longer wish to sell.”

“And if I may ask, why is that? You sure do not need a Fae slave,” Lady Gwendolyn snaps.

“Maybe I have found a purpose for her to remain by my side,” King Sven answers. “I own her, so only I have the right to do whatever I want to with her.”

Lady Gwendolyn steps forward, her lips curling into a cold smile. “Sven owning a slave? How quaint. And here I thought the mighty Alpha King didn't partake in such barbaric practice, or wasn't that what you said after the conquest of Eris wall?”

“I was a child. Besides, what happened to those three thousand Fae you took as prisoner of war during the fall?”

“Rotting underground,” Lady Gwendolyn replies. “Fae blood is one of the sweetest out there. Give that Fae to us, Sven. We'll double the price if we have to. Sell or we won't leave.”

I swallow hard at the mention of ‘Fae blood,’ not wanting to imagine what my people went through in their hands. There are ten Kingdoms in this universe, and six of those kingdoms were allies with King Sven during the war. After the war, hundreds of thousands of my people were shared as slaves and meat amongst the allies of the Kingdom of Māui; Nyxara, Cessi, Mortem, Gnomes, Orcs and Selenium.

“Speak Sven,” Lady Gwendolyn demands.

“Becareful how you raise your voice to me, Gwendolyn. You are a guest in my kingdom, remember?” King Sven tilts his head slightly, his posture unwavering, his voice a smooth, lethal calm.

“You can play the king all you want, but we both know who truly holds the power. I came here with a promise. A transaction. Emmett and I won’t leave without that.”

“I won’t repeat myself, Gwendolyn,” King Sven says, his voice hardening. “This Fae is no longer for sale. Whatever price you think she’s worth, I suggest you forget it. Or shall I make my point clearer?”

A flicker of anger crosses Emmett’s face. “You think you can just deny us like this? After calling us all the way from our Kingdom?”

“Do I need to carve this in stone for you to remember? I didn’t call you. You arrived here, uninvited. And I’ve ignored your insolence long enough. Leave unless you want to start a war, or is there a particular reason why you both are hell-bent on having her?”

Lady Gwendolyn’s smile fades, her eyes narrowing as she exchanges a glance with her husband. For the first time, a note of uneasiness lingers in her gaze. I can tell there's more to why they want to buy me. King Sven notices that also and he chuckles darkly.

“I was right. I don’t care to know your reasons. Leave my kingdom while I’m still feeling generous.”

“Are you truly willing to make enemies out of us over a slave, Sven Magnusson?” Lord Emmett asks.

“Perhaps you have been suffering from memory loss of late, Emmett Elrod,” King Sven says coldly. “Nyxara and Māui have been enemies since time immemorial. Just because we joined forces during the war doesn't mean we're allies. Be careful, I heard the Kingdom of Cessi, Gnomes and Orcs are forming an alliance. Who knows? Your walls might fall down soon.”

Silence fills the council chambers, one so thick it feels almost suffocating and I can hear someone's heartbeat resonating.

Oh, it's mine.

Lord Emmett clenches his pale fist, his jaw tight. Then, he glances at his wife who looks back at him, as though they're trying to communicate through their eyes. After a while, Lord Emmett straightens, clearing his throat.

“We will return,” he says at last, voice taut with restrained rage. “But don't think we'll ever forget this disrespect. Gwendolyn and I would be looking forward to your downfall, we'll make sure of that. And the next time we step foot in this kingdom, it'll be when your walls have fallen.”