《Heart, the Villain》 Truth Be Told Emyra lay in bed dying for sleep. Her eyelids clenched, but they only mocked her exhaustion. Now battling with her senses, her ears suffered. Someone¡¯s shoes hammered along the marble path of the corridor. Soon the person reached her door bursting through. BANG! The thief of sleep stalled at the entrance that towered over her. Maybe if she kept still, they would go away. Disappointingly, rest became an illusion that soon faded when the culprit decided to make themselves apparent. Their expanded palm swiped her flesh, a signal to finally open her eyes. Just as quickly, her back darted forward tossing her black locks in her face. She brushed them aside to finally identify the culprit. As things weren¡¯t already shaken up, they took a darker turn. Just at the foot of her bed, viperous Queen Lilith hissed under her breath, drilling her with a narrowed gaze. Her shoulders hunched inwardly while her claws choked the bed frame. Where is this anger coming from and why is she here? thought Emyra. Her voice nearly spoke out, but seemed to fearfully tangle in the net of her throat. However, in tune with her beast-like ora, Lilith¡¯s gleaming orbs stayed pinned on Emyra¡¯s skull. They beamed a repulsion that seemed to repel Emyra¡¯s head to a slump. No one would dare try to face her in this unraveled state. With her lanky form aligning with the doorway, she appeared taller than usual. Anyone would be put on edge at this point. Lilith loved this moment though. Those who meddled with her emotions deserved such intimidation. The timid vibrations that surged from Emyra¡¯s body brought out a satirical chuckle from Lilith¡¯s mouth. Not only that, but the sunken creases of her mouth that foreshadowed spilled tears. The nerve of this pathetic girl, thought Lilith tempted to thrash her again. There was nothing innocent about the girl trembling before her. Thoughts of punishment suited the moment, so exposing her became the primary choice. The idea of murder even satiated her taste exposing her inner darkness. For now, the problem at hand needed to be addressed. ¡°You thought I wouldn¡¯t find out?¡± Lilith asked. In Emyra¡¯s sweet world of tranquility, not a burden this menacing ever came to be. Her mind scoured for a solution, not even certain of the issue. Do I really want to find out? Ideas came and went, but one prevalent truth remained. It cast a memory beyond the hindsight of her peripherals. A red, satin blanket passionately tumbled as her and the king¡¯s body entwined beneath it. She can''t know, she thought as the beautiful recapture faded. Perhaps, this very truth was the driving force behind Lilith''s presence. Any wife who discovered her husband¡¯s infidelity would be Lilith¡¯s walking replica. That didn¡¯t mean she would confess, so her thoughts scrambled making her feel rushed to think. They only brought her to oblivion which wasn¡¯t the smartest response. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emyra responded with her welted cheek cradled in her palm. ¡°I watched you go into Charles¡¯s room last night.¡± Those words were an incurable tumor that would enlarge as the truth unfolded. The mass seemingly grew within Emyra¡¯s encephalon at a heightened pace with the symptoms quickening. Her eyes tightened as a pulsating headache pinched each temple. For a moment, her limbs slumped with no ounce of sensation. If she tried to run, her legs would give out. Anyway, there was no escaping the castle without guards hunting her down by the queen¡¯s command. Since this was actually an anxiety attack underway, her shaky voice carried on to clear her name. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I wanted to address Charles about my father¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Her father, Harold, took on the commitment as King Charles¡¯s leading guard. Outside the castle, past the stretched viridescent plain, and between the gaping, dirt road that ran between the woods, her father strolled with his army. From keeping bandits at bay to upholding order throughout the communities, justice remained. Their worn legs dragged for hours into the night. However, pride motivated them to push through their inner turmoil. They¡¯d stroll into nearby villages just in time for pleasure from the streetwalkers who stalked their pockets. A bar or inn would be their resting place instead of home to avoid their pestering wives. The most obvious concern both Emyra and in this case, her mother, shared was his absence. She deceptively preyed on that truth but received an unforeseen response. ¡°Lies! I saw you both in his bed.¡± Lilith fumed like a blazing torch causing her new enemy to sweat sporadically. When her shoes thundered along the bedside, Emyra heaped her head between her legs. Lilith¡¯s hand swung back to inflict another blow, but she froze. A sharp contraction pierced her pelvis making her knees buckle. She let out a sigh, puckering her lips to inhale and exhale through the pain. Once it passed, her legs slowly straightened while her swollen belly protruded drastically. That petrifying ten seconds gave her the inclination to withdraw. Anyway, she carried the burden of this high-risk pregnancy. She was banned access to the second level and demanded to stay on the lower level. Her room sat tucked in between the kitchen and the dining room where Charles expected her to stay. With her absence from obvious areas of the castle, Emyra took a presence no longer having to sneak around with him. Lilith felt further betrayed when she came to that realization. Her absence allowed them to carry out their affair. One final thing left her mouth before she scurried off. ¡°You¡¯re no special than the others. Just a whore I will expose. " The melancholy atmosphere relinquished once she left. Emyra¡¯s mouth pierced to release the tension from her lungs. When her neck tilted back against the bed frame, her eyes lingered on the canopy that draped along the corners of the bed. Oddly, she felt slightly relieved now that there wasn¡¯t a vulture preying on her. One thought stayed where she asked herself what could she do to make the situation better. The only answer that echoed in her mind, nothing. The vengeful word, consequences, soon surfaced putting her back in a tunnel of doubt. Haunting thoughts stirred her mind for there were many to come. Matters worsened when she assumed that maybe Lilith and Charles were together seeing how things transpired. He lied to me, she thought. After moments of sitting in stillness, Emyra tiptoed to her door peering out. She scurried to Charles¡¯s room that outstretched the west wing. Once there, the double doors flew against the walls creating a boom. His naked body stayed stretched as he slept, appearing undisturbed. She couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sight of him. Then again, being the source of his restful sleep brought back mild guilt. On a normal basis, they¡¯d have sex, fall asleep, and she¡¯d sneak back into her room by morning. How sad it would be to wake him for this. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Charles,¡± she said leaning over him as her lips brushed his ear. Two squinted, brown eyes opened followed by a charming grin. He grabbed her neck pulling her towards his puckered lips but halted with eyebrows raised. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± he said while brushing a finger along her cheek. ¡°Lilith hit me¡­ She¡¯s aware,¡± she said with eyes pinned to the floor. When he gestured for her to sit, his lap seemed to suffice. Both arms wrapped her waist as his chiseled chin rested on her shoulder. ¡°She was going to find out eventually. I didn¡¯t think this soon.¡± ¡°So what now?¡± The worry in her tone made it known that he needed to fix things. ¡°I will talk to her. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I am very worried. She will ruin everything. I have bigger dreams than this castle.¡± ¡°What dreams are greater than being with a king?¡± he said while turning her body to face him. His gentle smile nearly brought ease to the situation. ¡°I feel she will ruin my parent¡¯s wishes for me to marry.¡± ¡°What do you want, my love?¡± He brushed his fingers through her hair appearing interested in an answer. ¡°All you ever talk about is your parent¡¯s wishes for you.¡± ¡°I, uh, want to be with you.¡± ¡°You are with me.¡± ¡°Without being a secret. Without hiding what we are.¡± ¡°Well, be my mistress,¡± said Charles so willingly. ¡°Let¡¯s finally put a title on our relationship. Let everyone know how we feel for each other.¡± Bewildered by his offer, she jumped to the floor swimming in thought while her legs peddled about. In doing so, discretion seemed to be the only plausible choice. His wonderous idea wilted away losing its essence with what seemed evident. The royal marriage had the support of the masses. And though Charles was no faithful man, their love story remained believable. So where would she fit in as the mistress? She would never be accepted and she hated the title, mistress. To her, the name held no real weight. Knowing his love for her wouldn¡¯t matter because that was all she would ever be to them, the other woman. Saddened by those elements, she chose to decline. Ending things completely started to seem like a more relevant solution. However, Charles intercepted her inner bickering rising to his feet to reel her back. ¡°I don¡¯t care what anyone thinks.¡± ¡°Well, I do. Now that Lilith knows, this relationship must end.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give up on us because of her or for anyone.¡± He merged her way now glaring down intensely into her captured eyes. His mesmerizing touch melted her heart, but she remained on course. ¡°We must and I will not be someone¡¯s mistress.¡± ¡°But you-¡± ¡°Just stop! We have to do the right thing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about what¡¯s right.¡± The strength of his arms wrapped her waist bringing her chin to his chest. ¡°Or whatever they consider wrong. I love you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go on like this anymore and anyway, you lied.¡± ¡°Lied about what?¡± ¡°You told me she¡¯s only a child-bearer and you don¡¯t have feelings for her.¡± ¡°Must we go over this again,¡± said Charles annoyed. ¡°Yes! She was extremely upset which proves her feelings for you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s jealous.¡± ¡°As she should be.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to speak about her anymore. All that matters is me and you.¡± ¡°But Charles-¡± His peachy lips collided with hers reducing her words to a muffle. Moans vibrated within her throat as her neck stretched up towards him. This current moment came to be like all the times she tried to end things before. Her neglected ideas faded into the forgotten realms of her mind. In these moments, that didn¡¯t seem to matter. She stopped shoving him and gave in. For fifteen intense minutes they enveloped in the same activities that brought the morning chaos. They layed in eachothers arms after, holding onto what could wilt away. Whether suitor or queen, reality was now a painful thought they both did not want to face. Just as Emyra sat up to dress, the doors swung flew open. Emyra swiped the blanket, cloaking her bare body. Charles sat up and grabbed a pillow to cover his male parts. To his relief, Constantine, one of his loyal guards, walked in. However, he sent a narrow gaze his way while his head waved in disapproval. ¡°What are you doing just barging in here?¡± asked Charles. ¡°You better have a good explanation.¡± ¡°I apologize,¡± said Constantine, ¡°But the queen. She¡¯s bleeding¡­¡­ Badly.¡± With eyebrows stretched, the tone in his voice became frantic. ¡°Is she losing the baby?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not sure, but the doctor sent me to you. I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be.....busy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. Please go to her. Tell her I am coming.¡± Constantine ran towards the door and stopped when Charles spoke. ¡°Speak of what you witnessed to no one.¡± Just as he left, Charles ran to his dresser tearing through his clothes. He reached for slacks and a button up, nothing fancy. He dressed swiftly. There was no time to explain the situation to Emyra, so he said what instantly came to mind. ¡°I¡¯m going to her now. You should be getting dressed,¡± he said as he sealed the last few buttons on his shirt. He left her before she could respond. Chapter 2 coming His Heir Towards the center of that crumbling day, a doctor monitored Lilith''s blood flow, deciding a miscarriage was underway at first. That idea was quickly shunned when soft kicks pressed the surface of Lilith''s swollen belly. His hand rested on it feeling the gentle pressure the tiny seedling produced. A gust of air left his lungs. He gazed into Lilith''s eyes full of wonder. "You feel that?" he said. "The young king is alive." "Thank god!" said Lilith astounded. "So now you must rest and remember what we talked about." "Yes, I know." Before leaving the gloomy atmosphere, he shot a glimpse towards Charles who hid in a shadowed corner. A quick nod is all Charles received from him as he strode by. He left outside to let them sort out their affairs. For a moment, Charles stood like a stale corpse eyeing his wife. The tension was not yet lifted in spite of the news. When he smiled to ease the gloominess of the atmosphere, Lilith turned her back to him. That cold gesture slit through him like a dagger, pulling out his guilt. What seemed to be the big picture, didn''t matter. The heir to his throne still lived on, so why couldn''t he find solace? Because it''s your fault this happened. Those words whispered in his mind and just as fast, Emyra''s face, driving his sorrow further. Their relationship was a thorn in Lilith''s side. For the moment, he hoped Emyra understood the importance of Lilith''s health and their child''s. As seconds passed, his eyes wandered on Lilith''s curled up body. She rested silently on her side with her stomach swaddled in one arm and her face buried in the other. To comfort her, he placed a hand on her shoulder which tensed up just by his touch. He then yanked his arm away, feeling useless. If there was any likelihood of the pregnancy surviving, he would have to be more present until she gave birth, even if that meant ending things with Emyra. Hope would only be restored by him being more supportive. For now, he prayed his company would earn him her trust. As he collapsed by her bedside on the floor, his head rested against the edge. If the wrong thing left his mouth, the atmosphere would be unsettled further. He stayed mute. Silence, most importantly, avoided the discussion about the affair. Shortly after eyeing the ceiling for minutes, he heard a knock at the door. "Come in," he said. A servant walked in with a tray carrying two cups of lavender tea. She placed it on a wobbly, wooden table that shifted from side to side as she prepared to serve them. The clacking noise tarnished the peace in the room. Just at the last stir, she sashayed towards Charles first with a steaming cup in hand. "How is she?" she said. Her wondrous blue eyes sparkled from the light of the fireplace. "She''s resting," he said. "I brewed drinks. You both need a calming antidote." "Ah yes. I''ll have some, please." The frail blonde placed Charles''s cup in his hands. His mouth instantly sipped its tranquilizing contents sending him into the realms of relaxation. The corners of his shoulders wilted low, just enough for the tension in his neck to pass. "This is some powerful stuff and might I add, delicious." A charming grin widened across his face. "Handpicked from the garden. I''m glad you enjoy it." As Lilith''s eyes narrowed with rage, her body soon shifted to her back. She studied the two closely while their conversation continued. Such an innocent interaction still ignited jealousy. In fact, it was quite informal for a person of her status to talk to a king. While scolding them down further, she examined the girl''s features. Her physique matched Charles''s preference, skinny to a point of anorexia. Even her face appeared delicate once she got a full glimpse. Once the girl sensed the stalking eyes of her queen, she froze in place not. The drink was presented to Lilith who dismissed her kind gesture. Finding no reason to stay, she left. "You have no limit to what you''d put your thing in." She had a sly tongue that Charles despised. "You''re jealous of us talking? Stop with the nonsense," he said sounding annoyed. The provoking exchange would lead to the subject he wasn''t yet adjusted to speak of. "How about Emyra?" The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. "What about her?" he said dismissively. "Don''t fool with me." "Look, I''m sorry about how you found out." Those words were finally said with all sincerity. "End things with her." She ignored his apology when she decided this was the only way to verify his words sincere. Charles kept their romance tucked in the back of his mind. Instead, he gave her a dishonest reply. "I already have." "Prove it by sending her and her family back to where they came from." "I''ll do no such thing. The castle is their home." Such words sounded like excuses which made her blood boil. "Get rid of the filthy bitch or I will end her." The seriousness in her tone alarmed him. Luckily, her attempts to kill anyone all turned out to be failures. A pleasant presence she upheld in the public eye, but her mind was as dark as a demon''s soul. Her many targets did not suffer as badly as Charles''s royal advisor. He, in particular, got in the way of her suggestions. There are greater problems at hand. Your husband would disapprove. Your just a woman, what do you know? Lilith grilled him every time he made such degrading comments. It didn''t help that Charles stayed tight-lipped, but then again, he didn''t regard her ideas either, not because he didn''t care. Her proposals never had anything to do with the country, but things like improving the interior of the castle. She scoffed at the red paint that road the walls of the hallways. White would be more elegant, like me. The wooden flooring also made her cringe in disgust. Lucky for her, Charles agreed to have it ripped up. But then again, it was due to her constant nagging. "White marble would elevate the look. Wood is outdated". She also wanted to elevate the fashion pieces for everyone in the castle, but that''s another story. None of her concerns were ever economical. Because she''s selfish, Charles often thought. Nonetheless, she was shunned from meetings since their thoughts didn''t align. That wasn''t obvious to her, so she held the advisor responsible for her and Charles''s disconnect. And then a plan of many was pulled from her sleeve. She convinced herself he needed to be rid of. Poison! His food and drink were laced with arsenic and as planned, his presence diminished since he became bedridden. Lucky for him, one of his spies tipped him off. He fled the castle in fear for his life costing Charles important council. Not every form of her wrath called for murder. A totally separate situation involved a child and his father. The boy, who had intrusive tendencies, came to the castle with his father to meet with Charles. Their plan was to unite their armies and become allies. During their meeting, the boy wandered off. He found his way into Lilith''s room. Her gold-plated jewelry box with colorful gems engraved on its surface caught his attention instantly. It sat on her dresser under a window that cast a light across its engravings. The shimmer captivated him. He slowly approached it while his hands reached out. When he flipped the lid back, his tiny fingers brushed through her necklaces and earrings. He didn''t know Lilith grilled him from her balcony. She poked her head through the entrance full of rage as she watched him palm her favorite necklace. "Get your filthy hands off my jewels!" She stormed in his direction swiping it away. "I''m sorry ma''am. Please don''t lock me away... or..or...tell my pupah!" "Who''s your father?" "General Lance Turner." "The scoundrel that refused my father support?" she said under her breath. "Can you repeat that?" "Nothing! Anywho, come with me." "Am I in trouble?" "NoOooo!" A sinister smile formed. "I wanna show you more jewels." "I, uh, okay." The boy cautiously followed behind to an eerie door in her room. She opened it and pointed inside the pitch black closet. The boy was terrified to refuse, so he went in. She shoved the door behind him, locking him inside. Scorching screams echoed through the halls burning the ears of anyone nearby. However, his cries fulfilled her. She smiled when he yelled for his father. When the screams reached the meeting room, Lance grew worried. He knew his son''s voice. Charles followed behind him as they frantically ran toward his screams. Let''s just say, when he found his son, he took his business elsewhere. Charles despised her cruelty and carelessness. He sat there thinking about those incidents and many others. Then a question arose, Did she cause the bleeding? As quickly as he thought of that, he cleared the theory out of his mind avoiding the idea. He decided to put her in her place now that she thought she could do what she wanted again. "You do not run this country, I do. You don''t get to tell me what to do." "I want her gone," she said ignoring him. "She will leave, but after she''s married. You won''t interfere with that either." "She needs to be punished." "I''ve slept with countless women something you have never cared about. Why does it matter now?" "Because I know that she is not just another conquest," she finally admitted. "Do you love her?" The question caught Charles off guard. "I...love you." Nothing more left his mouth since he didn''t want to answer dishonestly. His endearment for Emyra was something he couldn''t deny. Those words that never left his mouth, thawed the ice wall she built around her heart. In that moment, it fluttered. Was now the right time to say it back? She couldn''t find the strength to. For now, she held on to his words full of hope. Perhaps, they could be together.But still, she continued to put on a front like love meant nothing to her. Maybe that''s the problem, she thought. What she didn''t know was that her carelessness pushed Charles away. In fact, he was too far gone now. The more she pondered on how she could change things, the more prevalent the idea to say how she felt bloomed. Before Lilith found the courage to say those words back, a yawn came from Charles''s mouth as he stretched out his arms. The timing somehow seemed off. He finally stood from the floor and crawled into bed with her. His broad arms pulled her in even through her resistance. Anyway, being held by him resurfaced a comforting memory. They shared happier times long ago. Together they remained silent, both submerged in remorse. Charles had his reasons, but she had her own. Earlier that day, she took a concoction to induce her labor. This was done to reel in Charles''s attention since it stayed elsewhere. She thought to herself, I will ruin my sorcerer for this. Gabe Grey clouds soared above the castle signaling a coming storm that already swept through the towns. For now, tiny droplets of rain thudded against the wooden shudders. Their faint brush soothed Emyra¡¯s ears like a lute¡¯s tune, as her bare body levitated in a tub of water. It suddenly began to chill. She listened as the wind howled by, making its way into the cracks. It cooled the warmth in the entire room, causing it to be quite unbearable to rush to her towel. For now, she stayed afloat. Besides, there would be no other moment like this. A moment for her to be alone in a quiet space. Most of the castle slept during these early hours. As her temples leveled with the surface, her eyes remained clamped. She began to descend with her nose going under first until she fully submerged. Yesterday¡¯s memories unraveled instantly as if the water triggered them. What will come of all of this? Just like her mental suffering, she stayed sunken until she choked to drive the pain deeper. Instantly, her head shot up as she heaved for air, but she accidentally inhaled water too. Her throat swelled with each cough that convulsed from her mouth. Eventually, her motions subsided but the sadness never left. In fact, there were many emotions, including jealousy since Charles stayed with Lilith last night. It was obvious she would never be front and center, not with a child in the picture. Their relationship appeared to be at a standstill. One thing stood for certain, Charles needed to get his affairs in order if he wanted things to remain between them. For now, the tied string he held around her neck seemed to lose its pull. Just as she decided to put her worrisome thoughts to rest, in walked Audrey. ¡°Why are you in here mother?¡± she said shielding her body. ¡°We found you a suitor.¡± Audrey turned her face, but still remained wide-eyed with the corners of her mouth stretching at each side. ¡°Already?¡± ¡°He¡¯s waiting downstairs to meet you.¡± ¡°Can this wait? I¡¯m not feeling good.¡± Ironically, her stomach began to sour while her heart fluttered, not a good response to the man who awaited her. ¡°This cannot. We will not miss out on this opportunity. Now dress, my dear.¡± ¡°Ok, but can you leave so I can?¡± In her room, she spotted a studded, red dress laying on her bed. The sewn masterpiece glittered along the snug, sheer sleeves. Along its v line, clusters of stones pinched towards the center of the waist. Its length spilled over to the floor making her wonder if it would be too long. Without a doubt, the dazzling gown would fuse to her slim physique, defining every curve. She ran to it yanking it from its place. Oh, if only Charles could see me in this, she thought to herself. She pressed it against her chest, twirling her foot along the floor as the dress sifted around. The imagery of their bodies intertwined in dance cast across the marble. However, the doom never left as it began to crawl up her spine, plucking away her bright grin. When she realized who the dress was for, she tossed the piece back on the bed deciding she wouldn¡¯t wear it. Something else added to her dismay when she noticed an envelope sitting above her pillow. She curiously placed it in her palms reading the front, Royal Birthday Celebration. Inside, there was an invitation to a birthday gathering for Queen Liona, Charles¡¯s mother. Emyra knew her birthday was coming. She just didn¡¯t know it was today. Too many surprises, she sadly thought. She decided she was not going since Lilith would be there and she did not want to accompany the suitor to the ball. Clearly, Audrey wanted the to go together. On the other end, the man who awaited her hand in marriage, sat with his legs crossed along the wooden table in the meeting room. His hands were tucked under his neck where his head rested. His dreamy, brown eyes veered over to his men, two loyal soldiers, who appeared bored since one twiddled his thumbs. The other sneered in a corner while his eyes rolled every few minutes. These two. He smirked while taking into account that they didn¡¯t want to be there. ¡°Well, let¡¯s not all be so excited for me.¡± He held onto his humorous grin altering the stale atmosphere. ¡°Excited isn¡¯t a word I¡¯d use,¡± said Sal with his antsy footing, moving about like he didn¡¯t know what to do with himself. Eventually, he ripped a chair from the table causing it to screech along. He nearly cuffed his ears but slumped instead. ¡°Shocked? Why yes.¡± ¡°How about you, Cleo?¡± ¡°I¡¯m elated.¡± When he smiled, his caramel face quickly jerked towards the door. Instead of the bride to be bursting through, someone wheeled something by. ¡°Are you really ready for this?¡± asked Sal now fully engaged. ¡°You keep asking me that. YES! I¡¯m getting old and it¡¯s time to settle down.¡± ¡°You¡¯re twenty three!¡± said Cleo with brows reaching the corners of his temples. All three of them were the same age, but their statuses gave the illusion that they were older. In a way, it aged them. As the minutes nearly turned into an hour, the suitor pondered on his successful life, presuming Emyra would be impressed. In short, he was a wealthy man who owned land, lead an army, and sold weapons and equipment to different kingdoms. He lived a fast life that involved traveling, fighting, drinking, and scoring different women. Though he had immature ways about him, he always maintained a successful business. There seemed to be one thing missing from his unbalanced life, a wife. Maybe having a lady at his side would slow him down a bit. As for the two men who accompanied him, Cleo was not only his soldier, but his trusted friend who often advised him. Sal was one of his best fighters making them become close naturally because of that. Though he was 23 years old, the alcoholism and lifestyle he led added a few more years to his face. Two faint lines rode across his forehead only becoming more prevalent with every exaggerative expression. His sunburnt exterior slightly peeled at the corners of his nose and in the crevices of his fingers. The sun often baked him as his boat glided along the whipping ocean, while he stood at the quarterdeck yelling, THIS WAY or THAT WAY. On the contrary, every element that painted his face, from his intense eyes that narrowed when he¡¯d meet gazes with someone attractive, to his thin nose that always snickered upward as he strode confidently by a group of women, and finally, his lusicous lips and the smooth voice that carried out of them, always cast a bedazzling spell. There was no doubt about his handsomeness, but women swooned more at his edgy persona which fashion played a part in. He always had fur mounted on his neck during these cold times with black leather shielding his broad arms and legs. The short trim on his skull elevated his facial features. With the finishing touch of his thin, brown mustache, he could be mistaken for an eye-catching brute. She¡¯s gonna fall as soon as I lay eyes on her, he thought hoping she was as pretty as her mother claimed her to be. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. A little over an hour later, the doors burst open, leading up to the anticipating moment, but Audrey rushed in. ¡°I am sorry. She will be down any minute.¡± ¡°I¡¯m excited to meet her,¡± he said. ¡°When she sees you, she will definitely accept your proposal,¡± she said making Gabe feel flattered. ¡°Well, let¡¯s not jump too far ahead. We must get to know each other. I have to see if we are even compatible.¡± His fingers were now crossed. ¡°You both are. I can tell you that.¡± Just as the waiting seemed endless, Emyra joined them, fully poised, with her shoulders rested back. Am I doing the walk right? she thought, suddenly remembering to raise her chin. A huge inhale expanded through her lungs while nearing her mother. She exhaled after passing by. The surface of her cheeks turned rosy when she realized all eyes were on her. She heard Audrey clear her throat, certain it had to do with the dress. It certainly wasn¡¯t the one Audrey chose. The simple, black dress would later be a discussion she didn¡¯t seem phased by. For now, it was time for an introduction. That turned into a delay since the suitor lost his words. His eyes glittered with approval while following Emyra¡¯s movements that dazed the atmosphere. She could freeze the time if she wanted to, but for now, her very presence kept him in a trance and tight-lipped. This was an untypical reaction to his dealings with women. He watched as she sat in a spare chair directly across from him. His beaming orbs never broke their gaze even while she scooted in her chair. She¡¯s even more beautiful up close, he thought. Emyra did not look one time at her strict mother, but at Gabe whose charm was going to waste. Not a word left his lips until he remembered what this moment called for. ¡°Uh hello. My name is Gabriel, I mean Gabe.¡± Emyra greeted him back with a nod. ¡°Your mother said you would be beautiful.¡± Audrey let out a sigh of relief since he didn¡¯t seem phased by her ¡°basic¡± attire. ¡°Thank you,¡± Emyra said. ¡°So tell me about yourself.¡± Gabe went on to paint a full picture of his trades and wealth. Yet, he left out the detail of the woman and drinking. Then he presented his offer which he initially discussed with Audrey and Harold. He would court her in exchange for their business by becoming Harold¡¯s weapon supplier. With marrying a wealthy man came the load which would be paid to both her parents. He told her about the many homes which he owned and how she could choose which one she wanted to live in. Emyra was impressed and understood why her mother and father took a liking to him. She convinced herself that this was a good opportunity. Besides, this would be her escape from Lilith. Even though this was not the fate she desired, she knew marrying Gabe was the right thing to do. ¡°You have a lot to offer,¡± she said. ¡°And all I ask is for a chance to prove myself,¡± said Gabe. ¡°Ok.¡± That word was full of uncertainty. Audrey leaped by Emyra¡¯s side nearly tripping over her footing. She cradled her from behind, expelling a warmed sigh. While her mother shared joy, Emyra¡¯s arms tensed up. She slightly waved her shoulders hoping Audrey would let go, but her grip grew tighter. A quick huff made her stomach slam against the table as she fearfully pondered on this new journey. The journey her parents selfishly mapped out for her, which seemed to be happening so fast. She glared at Gabe, who turned his attention to his men, and wondered, Are you someone I can grow to love? There seemed to be an emptiness in the answer to that question since she didn¡¯t know him. ¡°Oh, I am so happy,¡± Audrey said releasing her arms since Emyra wouldn¡¯t hug her back. ¡°You both will be marvelous together. I know it.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± said Gabe flashing a flawless smile to Emyra. ¡°Will you accompany me to the royal ball tonight?¡± Emyra still had no plans of attending and she wondered how she would break the news. ¡°Actually, I am not feeling too-¡± Audrey slammed her palm against the table. This took everyone by surprise. Her eyes beamed at Emyra¡¯s mouth a warning not to finish her statement. ¡°She will be there. I¡¯m actually going to have to cut this meeting short. Emyra, stay put. I have to talk to you.¡± Gabe and his men sent a nod before going out into the corridor. When she knew they were gone, Audrey stomped her sharp heels along the wooden surface. She slammed her tush inside of Gabe¡¯s seat, folding her hands against her chin. Her threatening stare only meant Emyra was in trouble. ¡°What is this?¡± She gawked at Emyra¡¯s gown in scrutiny. ¡°A dress,¡± said Emyra. ¡°Not the one I chose.¡± ¡°Sometimes I want to choose.¡± ¡°You only wore it to deter him. Upset me!¡± ¡°I had to add my own twist to this day you forced on me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let this slide this once. But if you try to pull anything else off-¡± ¡°You¡¯ll whip me. Send the war dog to bite my tail?¡± ¡°Referencing your father as a dog? And you¡¯re eighteen. Too old to be punished that way and lucky that anyone has taken an interest.¡± ¡°If it were up to you, you would have sent me away at fifteen.¡± ¡°This is your duty. Are you so surprised by our tradition?¡± ¡°Of course not. Marrying children off to old men is our family¡¯s expertise.¡± The room came to a hush leaving them both time to ponder on their heated exchange. Emyra felt the beat of her heart ascend to a rhythm she couldn¡¯t bare. She placed a hand on her chest realizing she couldn¡¯t manage what would come next. She sent a pleading gaze Audrey¡¯s way. Her efforts did not work since Audrey leaped across the table. Her opened palm swiped Emyra¡¯s cheek knocking her from her seat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Emyra. Her hands pressed her tears away. Just as she was about to gather herself, Audrey walked around the table, meeting her on the floor. She looked up for a brief moment only noticing Audrey¡¯s pitied features. When her knees knelt to level with her, Emyra turned away in embarrassment. ¡°I honored my mother by marrying your father. Didn¡¯t question it because it was my duty. I¡¯m going to remind you that no matter how ill your feelings are, you must bottle them up. We don¡¯t decide our fate. There is an outside hand always making sure we stay in line even with this marriage.¡± Who was Audrey referring to and was she implying that someone controlled her family. If so, what did it matter to them about Emyra¡¯s betrothal? ¡°Nonetheless, you will do as you¡¯re told from now on. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, mother.¡± ¡°Now please, put the dress on. I¡¯ll have Lilith¡¯s minions do your hair and makeup.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Go to your room and get ready!¡± Emyra said nothing more ensuring her obedience. What has gotten into me? It was uncommon for her to speak in a form of rebellion towards Audrey. She remembered the first time she spoke against her which resulted in a horrid spanking. Just the thought of it welted her toosh. Her parents were only cruel to her when she found her voice. It seemed that today Audrey felt the need to knock senses back into Emyra. When her mother finally left her, she began to worry that Lilith would tell her everything. Doomed Affair Lilith sat on a sofa with her legs stretch across the cushions. Nestled on the floor were her two minions, afraid to break their attentiveness during her rambling. She considered them her close friends, though they both secretly despised her. All Lilith ever seemed to talk about was herself and her personal possessions. It was a common topic that both Eleanor and Bridgett grew tired of. If they ever tried to change the subject, Lilith would cut them off and start speaking again about the same thing. This time, she bragged excitedly about her unborn child, the future king. She surprisingly engaged with both of them today allowing them to speak. ¡°I just pray it¡¯s a boy,¡± she said while her hand circled her stomach. ¡°What would I do if it¡¯s a girl?¡± Lilith waited for them to answer, clearing her throat as a signal. Eleanor and Brigett¡¯s eyes bulged out when they faced each other. For the first time, the question wasn¡¯t rhetorical. ¡°Love her as if you were hoping for a girl,¡± Eleanor said hoping the response pleased her queen. ¡°You¡¯re right even though Charles won¡¯t be pleased.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Charles will love her as much as he loves you,¡± said Bridgett who was obviously going for flattery. ¡°You both are right.¡± Lilith smiled down at her belly. Now that the conversation seemed fulfilled, she changed the subject. ¡°Are you both attending the ball tonight?¡± They both said yes. ¡°Good, because I need you guys to keep an eye on someone for me.¡± ¡°Who?¡± said Bridgett. ¡°Emyra!¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard the good news about her?¡± Bridgett was always gossiping and sharing information that never had anything to do with her. ¡°What news?¡± ¡°She is being courted by Lord Gabriel.¡± ¡°And how did you hear about this?¡± ¡°The whole castle knows. She is beautiful, so I see why he went for her.¡± Lilith cleared her throat again with crossed arms. ¡°My lady, she¡¯s not as beautiful as you.¡± ¡°Oh shut up will you?¡± said Lilith. ¡°Now, I need you both to keep an eye on her and tell me if and when she leaves. As always, I will be seated on my throne the entire time, so my view will be limited. You both will report back to me.¡± They both didn¡¯t dare ask why the queen wanted them watching Emyra. It did make them wonder what was really going on. One way or another, they would seek the answer. When Charles walked in and greeted Eleanor and Bridgett, Audrey came in behind him asking to borrow them. They left with her right away. Charles then lifted Lilith¡¯s legs on his lap and sat beside her. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should come tonight,¡± he said. ¡°You need rest.¡± ¡°I am coming.¡± ¡°You are not. I am ordering you to stay.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°But this event will lighten my spirit after all you put me through.¡± ¡°Emyra will be there.¡± A sinister grin slowly emerged. Her head began to swing from side to side. ¡°I see what you¡¯re trying to do.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I just don¡¯t want the drama tonight. It¡¯s my mother¡¯s birthday.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯ll tell everyone what you¡¯ve been doing behind my back.¡± She had this sarcastic aura about her. ¡°No harm will come to your precious harlot. At least for tonight.¡± ¡°Stop! You¡¯re not doing anything to her. I won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t allow it? I have every right to do whatever. You were caught sleeping around.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget what you¡¯ve done. Your conquests. Again, where is all this concern for who I sleep with coming from anyway?¡± Rage boiled through Charles¡¯s veins as he remembered what caused the strain in their relationship. He hated that she could bring this horrible emotion out of him. When he shoved her legs away, he leaped up to leave. The nerve. ¡°You are my husband and I demand you be faithful to me.¡± Those words seemed to glue him in place. ¡°Why do you want this now?¡± He decided to keep his back on her. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted this and I thought after our talk last night that we were trying again.¡± ¡°You know where we stand. We¡¯ve tried. It just doesn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°I need more from you. You¡¯re breaking my heart.¡± ¡°I give you everything.¡± He turned around, now fully absorbed by her misery. ¡°The clothes on your back. The bed where you rest. Hell, the castle is yours. Our child-¡± ¡°Is nothing but a result of this meaningless marriage.¡± ¡°Our marriage isn¡¯t meaningless. We weren¡¯t put together for love, but to strengthen our countries.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this anymore.¡± She now seemed deep in thought. Her eyes lingered on the armrest while tears glided down her cheeks. When Charles waltzed by her side, he kissed her forehead hoping to mend her broken spirit. What is she so riled up for nowadays? Things needed to go back to normal for this side of her seemed overwhelming. The careless Lilith is what he knew. He decided to leave her, thinking time apart would help, but she shouted something at him. ¡°Her parents finally matched her with someone. Hopefully, their marriage won¡¯t be as miserable as ours.¡± Briefly unbothered by her words, he stormed out of her room. His legs carried him down the corridor where he kept a straight path. Her words seemed to become more relevant the further away he walked. He finally winded up at a dead end where sunlight punctured through a window. Beyond it, the truth seemed clear as he looked out and saw Gabe with his soldiers talking with Harold. He decided to join them. What¡¯s he really doing here? he thought while approaching them. They bowed at his presence, a gesture that seemingly annoyed him since his eyes swung around. ¡°Hey King Charles?¡± said Harold. ¡°What can we do for you?¡± ¡°Just was wondering what brings Gabe to the castle.¡± ¡°Harold and I are doing business,¡± said Gabe. ¡°So that¡¯s all you¡¯re here for?¡± Charles wiped his brow and let out a sigh. ¡°Not quite. I¡¯m now engaged to his daughter who will be accompanying me to the ball.¡± His jaw dropped. ¡°Ah.¡± There is no way I¡¯m letting her marry this fool. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Gabe noticed the change in Charles¡¯s demeanor. Without notice, Charles walked off coldly. Gabe wondered if he said something wrong. He thought maybe Charles didn¡¯t want him as a guest at his mother¡¯s party because he made a fool of himself when he drank. Gabe then vowed that he would not drink tonight in the king¡¯s honor. Charles, on the other hand, rushed to Emyra¡¯s room. Not a person was in sight when he entered. His eyes caught a view of the dress lying on her bed. He walked to it placing his palms on its surface feeling the sensation of doom. The piece had to be the most expensive item of clothing she owned signifying her betrothal. He clenched it tightly, cursing this moment he never wanted to come. Once reality sunk in, he scrambled off to his room. He instantly collapsed to his bed, eyes locked on the ceiling, wondering how he could sort out the madness.