Ashmaris' POV
Ignara stood in front of me, glaring. "You are an idiot," she hissed. She had been nagging since this afternoon, after Junia came to my study.
All I did was tell her I needed her help, and now…
Maybe I shouldn't have mind-linked her when Junia asked me to woo her.
"Just tell me how to woo her, you're close to her," I murmured.
She sighed and sat next to me. "Did you apologize to her?"
"No," I said firmly. I don't see why apologizing is necessary. She will see that all I have done was for her sake.
"Lesson number one," Ignara clasped her hands together. "Women like it when men apologize—she doesn't know your actions are for a good purpose. She still sees you as a villain."
"Okay."
"You will give her flowers when she agrees to have dinner with you. You need to show your intention towards her, not the way you went at it at first," Ignara lectured. "You can't tell a lady to just mate with you. It is absurd."
But she is my mate?
"So you mean that I should court her?"
"Exactly, brother. Now you understand," Ignara smiled. "And make sure to compliment her. Give her gifts."
"I will have the finest dresses gifted to her," I said.
"No, no. She doesn't like our fashion," Ignara shook her head.
I frowned. "Why?"
"She wasn't born or raised here. Of course she won't like it," Ignara scoffed.
"Then I will gift her the Ember Ring," I said. That should win her over. The Ember Ring—a family heirloom, passed down from Queen to Queen.
Ignara shook her head. "You are not giving her that. At least not yet."
Women are quite complicated.
"Just start with flowers, then gradually start gifting her something more worthy," Ignara said.
I nodded, thinking of which flowers to give Junia. She is not an easy woman to please—infact, the most stubborn woman I have ever met.
"So she touched your horns?" Ignara said with a teasing smile, nudging her shoulder against mine. I was so happy when Junia asked to see my dragon-human form, and when she caressed me, that I shared it with my twin.
And now I'm never hearing the end of it.
Then a knock came.
Zyrix, my personal guard, came in. "Your Majesty," he bowed. I could sense something was wrong.
"Zyrix, is something wrong?"
"Yes. Lord Ishkarune and Lord Serthkaar are here to see you," Zyrix answered. His face was straight, clear of emotion.
He might have tried to stop them, but those greedy men would insist on seeing me. I smirked to myself, knowing why they had come. "Let them in," I ordered.
Zyrix bowed before making his way out.
'Do you think they have found something to sabotage you from making Junia your Queen?' I heard Ignara's voice in my head.
'Yes', I replied.
I knew they would come up with a plan, but I didn't expect them to come this soon.
Moments later, Lord Ishkarune and Lord Serthkaar made their way into my study.
Lord Serthkaar shifted uncomfortably on his feet because of Ignara's presence.
Not because she was a woman he didn't want there, but because he feared her.
I saw Ignara smirk when she sensed his fear. Lord Ishkarune didn't budge; he had always done well to hide what he was feeling.
We exchanged greetings, and they sat across from my twin and me.
"Your Majesty, we are here to discuss the issue we have on ground," Lord Ishkarune began. His voice was stern and firm.
Ignara turned to look at me. Our eyes met briefly.
"There is no issue," my voice came out colder than I wanted.
"The people are starting to hear whispers of your decision, and it is causing an uproar, little by little," Lord Ishkarune spoke, matching my tone but keeping it subtle. "And Your Majesty, you know your people won't agree with your decision."
I smirked. "I see no angry mob in front of my palace. Until there is one, I will assume my people are fine with my decision."
Anger flashed across their faces, but they quickly controlled their expressions.
He finally broke, Ignara's voice mocked my head.
Lord Ishkarune never breaks no matter what but he did. Today.
We hated him, and he felt the same way about us. We were the half-royal blood who ruled over him.
Our mother stole his sister's chance to become Queen, and now the same was about to happen to his daughter.
"We have—" Lord Serthkaar tried to speak, but Ignara cut him off.
"You heard him." Her voice was commanding, unyielding.
Lord Serthkaar stood and rushed out, embarrassed. Lord Ishkarune didn't leave immediately; he lingered.
He then stood. "Your Majesty, I hope you think about your decision again." He walked towards the door and left.
"He wants his daughter married to you. The House of Ishkameli has always had their eyes on the throne," Ignara seethed, standing abruptly and pacing the room.
She was furious. "You can't just let him walk away after he disrespected you."
I would have thrown him into the dungeon if this were a normal day, but I knew the game he was playing.
"He knows we would do that. He stayed so we would fall into his trap," I told Ignara, and she calmed.
If I had him locked up, his minions would spread the word, igniting the chaos that was already coming—only sooner.
"He is cunning," she said, sitting down. "How do you plan to deal with the people if they come shouting?" she asked.
"I will agree with them. There will be a contest."
"Junia can't possibly win whatever sick games they plan—you know that," Ignara said, looking at me like I had gone mad.
"No. They don't get to decide the rules of the contest. You will," I told her. She tilted her head slightly—she always did that when she didn't understand me.
"You know where their daughters are weak. You can favor Junia."
"So we are cheating?" she chuckled.
I nodded. "They are going to do the same." I stood. "We just have to make sure they don't catch us."