Desperate Hearts

ABEL EVERHART'S POV

It surprising that my slave cell has a comfortable bed and and a single lamb hanging from a nail on the wall. I was given food to eat after five servants cleaned me up just like Princess Rowena had requested. Somehow I doubt that all slaves of this kingdom are provided equally as much. 

The soft beddings feel heavenly after years of sleeping on the cold floors of my father's slave castle. Two soldiers stand on guard in front of my locked cell, like I am some treasure or mighty royal that needs safeguarding. They removed the restraints that bound my hands, but left the chains around my neck, whose key belong to Princess Rowena.

"No one in all kingdoms had anticipated that the crown of Elowen would choose King Roderick's slave son as it's heir. Fate is a mysterious thing indeed," I hear one of the two soldiers say and my eyes fly open. 

"Princess Rowena figured it out before everyone and bought him as her slave. I bet not even fate can outwit her," his fellow soldier replies. 

My heart races with shock. Princess Rowena bought me because she thinks I am the heir to Elowen's crown? 

She told her father, King Reginald, that the crown had rejected all of Frostshire's Princes. The heart of crown would not have awakened without having chosen an heir. 

Since I was the only son of King Roderick that wasn't in the ceremony, it must have been obvious to the Princess that I might be the crown's chosen heir. 

My father and his beloved sons would have executed me immediately if Princess Rowena had not fooled Sir Bowman into selling me to her hurry enough for us to make our escape.

My heart delights in the fact that none of my stepbrothers was granted the powers of Elowen's crown. None deserved to rule all kingdoms and be worshipped like a god. My father must be seething with disappointment.

"What do you think Princess Rowena plans to do with him?" I hear one of the soldiers ask.

"King Roderick will not hand us the crown just because we have got the heir. But I am sure Princess Rowena has a clever plan to get whatever she wants," the other answers. 

I am now curious about the Princess Rowena's intentions. She obviously didn't buy me to protect me from my family's range. Hopefully her plan isn't to trade me back at a higher price.

"Good evening your highness," I hear the soldiers say in unison and see them bow to someone out of sight.

Must be Princess Rowena. Hopefully she has come to tell the truth so I can be prepared for whatever she has got planned.

"Open the door," an unfamiliar female voice orders the soldiers. 

"Your sister ordered that her slave be allowed to rest, your highness," one of the soldiers responds. 

Guess it's not Princess Rowena, but one of her unpopular sisters.

"I have the King's consent to see the future emperor. And I bear no ill will towards him," the female voice replies. "Now open the door or I will have you punished for disobeying my orders!" she snaps. 

The soldiers turn and hurriedly open the door of my cell wide open. One of King Reginald's daughters that stood next to the throne earlier saunters in with a seductive smile on her face. 

She is no longer dressed in a deluxe dress and priceless jewelry. She now wears long silk robes which she strips off slowly while smiling at me. She is left with enticing lingerie purely made of lace. 

"Good evening, your Majesty," she says in a playful tone while striding forward to stand right by my bed. 

I pull myself up and kneel, because I am still a slave regardless of what I was destined to become. The lady smiles and reaches out a hand to hold the chain around my neck. 

"I was enamoured by your beauty the moment I saw my sister dragging you into our father's imperial room. I would have given a dozen times the little amount she surrendered to have you as her slave," she says in a low tone, stepping closer so I can smell her perfumes.

Does she really think that giving my father more would have made me happier? She really is an idiot compared to her sister. 

"Did Princess Rowena tell you that you are the heir to Elowen's crown and not your ugly stepbrothers?" she asks. 

I hesitate to answer and she proudly smiles. "Of course she would not let you know. Her goal is to keep you as her slave and nothing more," she confidently accuses. 

Her hand lets go of my chains and cups my face. She then leans down and pecks my neck.

"I will lay by your side every night if you promise to destroy my sister and make me your queen once she wisely acquires the crown of Elowen and we steal it from her," she offers.

She is not just an idiot, but a wicked, envious vixen as well.

"You're incapable of wisely acquiring the crown yourself, your highness?" I ask, knowing that the question would hurt her self esteem.

She steps back and glares at me. "How dare you mock me when you're still a slave? I could have your head cut off before dawn!" she snarls. 

"Forgive my mistake your highness. But you do need Princess Rowena's permission to to have me executed," I cautiously remind. 

She cannot order my beheading unless the one who possesses the key to my chains agrees. And I doubt Princess Rowena would do so when I tell her that her sister that secretly seeks her destruction. 

"If my sister cared about you so much she would not have you locked in here, would she?" the Lady scoffs. "You think that my sister will help you get the crown so that you can make her your queen? Rowena only fights for her own glory, and her frozen heart loves no man!"

That may be true. There isn't a story that tells of Princess Rowena's desire to please a man, unless it's a trick. Neither have I heard of one were she offered her naked body in exchange for a win against her sisters. She is still the better person.

"It is my duty to remain loyal to my owner, your highness," I tell the idiotic princess and her anger intensifies.

"You will remember my sweet offer once she trades you for whatever it is that she wants," she warns before picking up her robes and storming out of the room.