Gold and Blood: A Mad Queen Short

Regal dresses, dazzling jewels, and goblets of wine graced the new life of Cassidy.

Jacques took a sip from his brilliant cup and smiled at Cassidy, his orange eyes boring into her own. “Do you like the wine, my love? I can always fetch for a fresher bottle,” he offered, watching as she took a drink herself. Cassidy soon looked at him, her eyes cool, lips curved up in a small smirk of her own.

“I’m content with this.”

“Delightful.” He snapped his fingers and a servant came forward, “Bring my Queen the food she deserves. Tonight, she’d like fish and steaming vegetables. Any other request, my love?” Cassidy shook her head. 

“Make it quick.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” the servant mumbled, bowing in respect before ducking back to the kitchens. Golden plates of fruit and bread separated the two, he sitting across her and watching as she delicately picked a grape from the bowl.

“Jacques,” she began slowly. Jacques blinked.

“Yes?”

“Have the rebels been found?”

Jacques gave a heavy sigh and shook his head. “I’m afraid not, my love. The rebels are sneaky – too sneaky. They were said to have left after the coronation. Xian and Len are looking for them with their respective men.” Cassidy’s grip on the goblet tightened, but Jacques failed to notice.

“No matter,” she muttered, taking another drink. “We’ll catch them soon.”

“Maybelline would appreciate your help with the tactics tomorrow.”

“I’ll help her.”

Silence met them. The servant earlier came back, bowing in greeting and serving Cassidy her meal. As she began to eat, the servant waited on Jacques, eventually being told to leave, as Jacques wasn’t hungry at all.

“Aren’t you hungry, Jacques?”

“Not quite.” He took a nibble from a piece of bread covered in butter and fruit jam, “I’ve had my fair share this afternoon. Bread will do for me.” Cassidy forked fish into her mouth, “Forget them,” Jacques said softly. “They are nothing but traitors to be executed when I have them found.”

At that, the woman chuckled coldly.

“Even the men?”

“Even the men,” he agreed.

“I’ll allow it on a single condition.” This surprised him, but he allowed it. “When the girls are caught, I’ll have them executed myself.”

“M-My love–”

“That is all I ask.”

Jacques was stumped.

He had plans, of course. He wanted the men executed for treason, despite the tightness in his stomach that told him not to do that. Aside from that, his gut told him to keep the three girls alive for his Cassidy. As much as possible, his job was to make her happy.

But Cassidy…

She had changed.

All she inquired about the girls was if they were caught or not.

And now, she was asking to be the executor.

Jacques looked at her much closer now, taking notice of the calculating look in her eyes, the way she gripped her utensils like a weapon, how the wine was on its way to staining her teeth for the night. Her hair was up, swept under the crown decorated with opals and diamonds. Her scepter lay beside her, ready to be lifted, to call orders and have it happen.

He thought of when he first saw her. She looked cold, but not in this way. When she smirked, it was full of mild amusement, not lit cruelty. Even her eyes had changed. They were, at first, a lovely shade of brown that shone when they caught in the light, but even now it looked hardened, solidified. Like all the light had gone out and was replaced by something darker.

Cassidy…

“Well, my love?”

Her voice was soft, waiting for him to say anything else.

Jacques swallowed the lump in his throat, suddenly losing all appetite to even continue eating. He set down the bread on the plate and looked her in the eye.

“I permit it, and shall tell this to the guard in the morning.”

She closed her eyes and laughed again.

“Thank you.”

And they continued. Jacques found himself wondering if this really was the right thing to do, given the consequences.

When dinner ended, Cassidy excused herself and went, her blonde hair shining. She gripped the scepter in her hands just as she had gripped the goblet, and he heard her footsteps move from one room to another, until they had gone away fully.

He closed his eyes, taking a bite from the bread to ensure that he had at least something in him. With a heavy heart, he sighed and prayed for forgiveness for his actions.

In her chambers, Cassidy brushed her golden hair and looked at herself in the grand mirror, unable to stop the smile from coming to her lips.

Glittering riches filled the room, ranging from coins to treasures to linen and silks.

All she could smell was the iron of blood that would soon coat her sword.