That Prince Is A Girl The Vicious King's Captive Slave Mate by Kiss Leilani

“Huh?”

High Lord Herodis was still smiling. How could he not? He had not heard that name in so long, he was not even certain he’d heard it correctly now.

“Process it,” the Grand King said mildly, folding his arms across his chest. “I will wait.”

“Process what? I do not understa-”

And then it struck him. He called me Gustazlion. Dragaxlov.

Herodis went pale. “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re speaking of Your Grace.”

“Oh, you do.” King Daemonikai’s voice was quiet, but implacable. “The Oracle told me of a youngling who buried his heritage beneath another name. Who wore a new life simply to survive.”

Herod’s back went ramrod straight. “I do not go by that name. In fact, I have not been addressed by it in over two millennia. It does not exist to me.”

“Perhaps it’s time it starts meaning something to you again.” The Grand King walked to the nearest couch, lowering himself onto it. Crossing his legs, he added, “The Northern Throne needs its ruler.”

“With all due respect, my Grace, I must decline,” Herod said flatly.

anger in him as he said

years past, when he had stopped caring

did, in the end, heal certain

so deep you never once tried to

it cross my mind,” Herod answered truthfully. “Were it not for the Oracle, it would have remained a faded past: One that feels as if it never belonged

its own merit and all that effort was not wasted. After my mother died, after the long years

and finally the High Steward of Harvest. I rose, rank by rank, until I single–handedly became High Lord of Agriculture. I did this without the Dragaxlov name and power, and I have no intention of

it. That is the reason for my visit. If, in the end, you refuse, I will understand. We will follow the sacred traditions

a respectful bow. “Thank you for your

reached the door when he paused, glancing back over his shoulder.

“Why did your mother leave the Citadel? Why would a good female like Naila abandon her bondmate–who fought on

1/2

Chapter 356

to the rumors, my mother did not steal the family wealth. Those were lies, begun and spread by our own clan,” Herod stated in a cool voice. “She was pregnant with me when she fled in the middle of the night because her life was in danger. She was poisoned repeatedly, and had she not been skilled with herbs and plants,

king

(+68)

mistakenly ate one of those poisons that had no scent,” Herod’s voice was quieter. “Only realizing it only after the first swallow, she was quick in finding an antidote. But after that narrow escape, she made the choice and ran to protect me.” He inhaled deeply. “With father away at war, he could not shield us—so

went dormant, but through grief–and the way she fled, making certain never to be found–it eventually