The Villainous Lord's Obsession

8.

What. The. Ever. Loving. F.uck?

From the deathly silence which hung over the entire room, it was evident that Karden had struck a chord. Both his father and the King were speechless, but none of them were as stunned as I was. 

I couldn't understand what I was hearing. I couldn't even believe that Karden had said that. Was he out of his mind? How, in the name of everything that was holy, would I ever agree to this madness? I specifically didn't remember him ever proposing, and even if he did I would have shut him down immediately. 

I couldn't believe the nerve of him. And by the way he said it so calmly, it was evident that he assumed that I would simply go along with this. 

Well, he was in for a rude awakening if he expected me to be that compliant.

"Karden, do you realize what you're saying?" the king asked in a confused tone. "Have you forgotten that you were supposed to marry Princess Scarlett from the kingdom of Bansha, right?"

"I have made up my mind regarding this matter," Karden simply said. "Miriam and I are very much in love, and she is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm sure she feels the same way."

I absolutely did not feel anything like that whatsoever. I couldn't believe the nerve of him, the way he stood there so proudly and smugly, assuming that I would simply go ahead with his plan. It didn't make any sense; none of this made any sense. 

His father said nothing at all, and he continued to watch both of us with a distinctive look in his eyes. I could sense the rising agitation in Karden as he waited for him to say something; anything. But he remained silent, and with his arms folded across his chest, he looked like he wasn't particularly fond of the topic of conversation. 

But why, in God's name, would he announce such a thing when he was already promised to another? The author never mentioned anything about that, which was fine, because he wasn't the male lead in her book. He was the ruthless villain. One without conscience of the killings he did.

"So, let me guess this straight," Radomir said when he finally spoke up, "you disappear for how many days? You don't send any message about your whereabouts, and somehow you just happen to come back and declare that you want to marry this... this... woman?" He added, looking at me as though I was a piece of s.hit.

Excuse me? Who the hell did he think he was? He might be a powerful man, but I would not stand back and let some pathetic old man talk about me like I was nothing. I knew my own self-worth, and he was in for a rude awakening. 

I stepped forward to tell him off, but Karden put his hand out and stopped me. I could tell that he was also supremely pissed off, but he was trying to keep his temper in check. 

"I have made my decision, father," he gritted . "The least you could do is support me in this."

"Support you?" he growled. "Have you forgotten your place in this kingdom? You have a responsibility; a duty. You cannot go back on your word."

"Except I never gave my word to this union, did I?" he fired back at him. "You took it upon yourself to make this decision. And I have found someone whom I am willing to be happy with; someone I can trust to have my best interests at heart, father. Do you not want me to be happy? Do you not want your own son to be happy? Haven't I done enough for the kingdom already? Do I have to sacrifice my happiness as well for that?"

Radomir narrowed his eyes to a deathly glare. I could feel the controlled anger coming from him, and if it could, it would have burned a hole right through Karden's head. He was looking at him with so much malice; so much hatred that I couldn't understand if this was truly his son or not. How could anyone be so dismissive and standoffish to their own son? As far as I knew, Karden was his only child. So why would he treat him in this manner?

Ah, this should be interesting. I am finding out things I never knew from the book, and as much as I am annoyed at the trick Karden just pulled, it excites me as well.

"You want to be happy?" he said cruelly. "Is that your greatest wish? Your greatest desire? To be happy?"

His voice began to rise, and Karden involuntarily took a step back. He still feared his father, even though he was one of the most ruthless people to have ever walked the earth. The fear was so real I could almost touch it. 

Yet, he stood his ground. And if only I had never known that his father was the only person capable of breaking him, I wouldn't have noticed now. Because he was fighting it. And some how, although I was pissed at him, I kind of liked the idea of seeing him stand the ground.

As weird as it may seem or sound, I want him to take away that power from his father.

An individual should be the only one capable of breaking oneself.

"There is no place for happiness in this kingdom," he continued. I certainly do not like this man. "There is only duty, and honor. There is only respect. You have a responsibility to this kingdom; to your king. And if you cannot fulfill that responsibility, then you are no son of mine."

"Enough!" the king said. "There's no need to go to such extremes, Radomir. Karden has made a decision, and although it isn't a favorable one, we must respect him. That's not to say that he can marry this girl, of course. But we will deliberate on the matter. But where did you even find her?"

"In the forest," he said. "She has lost her memory, and doesn't remember where she's from or who she is. But I feel a connection with her, and I have made up my mind. That, and the fact that she saved my life. Father doesn't seem to care, but I was injured." He added.

Oh, I just remembered that he had decided to put a shirt on at the last minute. I had thought he was going to remain shirtless. But seems like the man had some curtsey left in him.

His father snorted, while the king looked on disapprovingly. 

"A woman saved you, Karden?" The king asked.

From the flex of Karden's jaw, I could see he was uncomfortable with the fact as well. But what could he do when a woman really did save his life? Seeing their uncomfortable look and his as well made me happy.

I also liked the fact that he chose to tell them the story I made up, instead of lying.

"It appears that the powerful Karden isn't as powerful as he had once been if Tristram could stab him, and then a woman," Radomir spat the name as though it was a venom, "saves him. Quite interesting."

"That is enough, Radomir!" The king hissed, then turned his attention back to us. "Right, just three days. Give us three days and we will draw to a conclusion."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Karden said as he bowed stiffly. He didn't spare his father another glance as he grabbed my hand and turned me around, leading me out of the room. 

"You... you twisted little..."

"Save it," he snarled. "Whatever it is you want to say, I don't want to hear it. Not now. Not here."

I was so full of rage that I needed to do something. But he didn't let me pause even for a second as we went out into the courtyard once again, where another horse had been arranged. Karden summoned his men, and they gathered before him quickly and eagerly. 

"I want surveillance in and around the city," he ordered facing Castallan. "I suspect that everything is not as it seems. Make sure all the entrances are watched, and everyone who comes in or goes out is monitored. I want watchers on every streets, and if anything goes wrong, I am to be alerted immediately."

"Yes, Captain!"

"And you," he turned to Theo, who has been eyeing me all these while like an interesting piece of art. Or perhaps, maybe I am. "Start preparing the soldiers. I have an attack to plan."

"To Pentland?"

"It is time I show Tristram how it is done. Meet me when you are done with the training. I'll address the soldiers tomorrow."

"Where will you be?" Theo asked.  

"The manor," he replied simply before leading me away. The men bowed swiftly before they ran off to do his bidding. 

Karden lifted me onto the saddle before he hopped on himself, securing the reigns tightly and his arms around me. 

"Whatever you want to say," he whispered into my ear, "save it for later."

"Oh, there is a lot I have to say to you, you evil bastard," I spat. "How dare you make such a stupid decision without my approval?"

He said nothing. We simply galloped away, cutting through the heart of the city and towards the outskirts, where a large manor loomed. It there that Karden led us, and as soon as we reached the front door, he slid off and grabbed me along with him. 

Inside, the walls were stark and empty, and the floors were dark wood. There was no painting of any kind, or any statue at all. All dark and gloomy. Typical of Karden!

The servants bowed as we walked past, but Karden ignored each and every one of them. It wasn't until we reached what appeared to be a large study that he finally let me go. 

"Listen," he started to speak, but I cut him off. 

"No, you listen to me," I growled. "Who the f.uck do you think you are? You think I am one of your slaves, don't you? You think that somehow, because I agreed to come here with you, that you can do whatever you want and I will simply go along with it? Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"I never called you stupid," he replied simply, folding his arms across his chest in contempt. 

"Then whatever ridiculous plan you have in your head that I will marry you," I spat, jabbing my finger to his chest "you had better get it out of your head. You must be dreaming if you think even for a split second that I will ever agree to marry a cold, ruthless and wicked man like yourself."

He actually had the audacity to smirk. Was everything I was saying to him funny? Did he not consider what I was actually telling him?

"I like how you called me ruthless," he chuckled. "Because you're right. I am a ruthless man, Miriam. I am cold, and unforgiving, and I do not hesitate when it comes to making my own decisions. But I am also a man of my word, and I promised you that I owed you for saving my life. Nothing has changed about that."

"Nothing has changed?" I bellowed. "You just told your father and the king that I will marry you! When did we ever have the conversation? When have I ever shown even the slightest amount of interest in you? In case you are blind, let me spell it out for you."

I covered the remaining distance between us, then glared at him directly in his eyes. 

"I. Don't. Want. Any. Relationship. Or. Anything. To. Do. With. You."

He said nothing, and simply continued to watch me with veiled arrogance. I was so frustrated that I felt like punching him in the face, or kicking him so hard in his special area that he wouldn't be able to walk for a week. 

But then, he did the unexpected. He dropped his head towards mine, and lightly grazed my cheeks with the tip of his fingers. His hot breath fanned my face, and I could smell the scent of woods and sweat. Which funny enough, was doing crazy things to my stomach.

"You see," he began, his green eyes piercing through my soul. “If you weren’t so dirty right now, I’d have shown you just how capable I am to make you be in a relationship with me.”

“Excuse me?” I roared, pushing him back. But I wasn’t that powerful, and my little push did little to nothing.

“Wouldn’t you like to experience something more than just the lousy smooch you said? It’ll be fun.”

“You really are a p.ervert!” I snarled, the rage boiling in me was one I couldn’t control anymore. However, I had thought that me calling him a p.ervert again would anger him like it did yesterday. I deliberately called him that just for that reaction, but the brute didn’t give any.

Instead, he smiled. A slow small smile that made him look even better. It had me envision so many things I could do…

“When it comes to you, it is fine if you call me a p.ervert. I’ll gladly accept the name.” His eyes searched mine before he continued. “But I won’t kiss you when you look this dirty. I know you are dying for something much more from me, and I know a simple kiss from me would calm your nerves.”

“Or perhaps, you are doing all this to get a kiss from me,” I replied with my own smile. “Which is impossible. Because I’d rather kiss a dog than kiss you.”

“Are you trying to tell me you prefer a dog to me?” He growled. Finally! A reaction I’ve been waiting for.

“Isn’t it apparent already?” I asked with a shrug. “Kissing a dog would be more interesting.”

He yanked my hair so hard that I winced. He pulled my face flush against his, and now, I could smell even the faint scent that waft from his hair. His green eyes were stormy, while his jaw were tight.

“I promise I’ll make you regret saying that.” He growled. “You are going to swallow those words down your throat by the time I am done with you.”

“Oh, now I’m scared.” I snorted. “And what would you do? Tie me to a tree and kiss me forcefully?”

He didn’t reply. He simply closed his eyes, as I watched his lashes fall and the working of his jaw. When he opened them a few minutes later, the stormy look in them had vanished, and in its place, was a mischievous glint. I didn’t like it one bit.

“No. I am going to make you beg for it. That is a promise, Miriam.”

And as weird as it may sound, as crazy as it sounded, I found that I actually believed him. Just a bit.

It also suddenly dawned on me, that regardless of what our situation may be, we always try to get on each other’s nerve. Interesting, and annoying too.

"Anyways,” he straightened up after pushing a lock of hair behind my ear. “I like the piercing on your nose. It gives you an attitude to it.”

“Is that your way of confessing that you like me?”

“Would it make any sense to you, and anyone in this kingdom if I claim to be interested in you? Do not flatter yourself, Miriam.”

“You…you…you…” I couldn’t find the right words to use. Heck, it was as though all the words in my brain had escaped me that very moment.

“Not to worry though. We’ll continue with the arrangements of you becoming my wife. Trust me, It's for your own good," he smiled. He was smiling too much. And somehow, I couldn’t help but think he was doing that to hide how hurt he was from the encounter with his father. "I'm doing this to help you."

"And how exactly is a forced marriage helping me?" I asked, trying to contain my anger for now and focus on the task at hand

"It's simple," he waved his hand. "You help me in my endeavors, and I will give you the one thing you really need in this kingdom."

"Which is?"

"Protection."

Then he turned and began walking away. As he pulled the door open, he stopped for a moment and turned to face me with a small smile. “I’ll send someone to take you to your room. Take a bathe and stop smelling like someone pulled from a guttered drain.” Then he left.

“You imbecile!” I yelled, throwing candle holder that was close to me at the already closed door.

That insufferable, cruel, stupid man!