"Th-That was my mistake-", Aven pulled away from me. Aven stared at me with blank eyes, I closed my eyes in fear he might hit me but instead I felt a tugging sensation on my lip. My head tilted slightly, by impulse I had kissed Aven back. I then felt his touch disappear, I opened my eyes to see Aven staring at me with his hands in his pockets "I will ask my Father to cancel the execution at once, do not leave this room".
I sat there in shock, free from handcuffs, one kiss may earn me my freedom back, what could my whole body do? I somehow wondered if I may have accidentally put him in a trance, what if this was one of the powerful magicks my mother had possessed. I sat there looking around his room from my spot in the corner next to Aven's bed. I noticed how he had no photos of his Mother and Father, his room looked quite plain even I would decorate with newspaper scraps and collages. Aven only had one photo of a cat sitting on a woman's lap, I couldn't tell if it was his mother since the corner of the photo with the woman's face was cut off... or maybe burned?
His room was spacious, I couldn't memorize every square inch if I tried. A knock suddenly landed on the door I was caught off guard by all my thoughts. Aven showed up with his Father behind him. Aven looked at me "The execution can be stopped but only with a wedding between... you and me. I gave Aven a look of anger, "This isn't a setup, I swear it", he whispered into my ear.
He backed away from me as his Father made eye contact with me "You may fake your love with Aven, so I want you to prove that you aren't a liar like your bastard Father, who, I mention is dying in the ICU. I want you, Letharia, to profess your love for Aven to your Father, then you may proceed with the wedding, no execution."
I stood up "Get me out of this dirty dress and I'll go tell my Father, the words he always wanted to hear", I spoke in a solemn sarcastic tone.
"Aven will undress you then, I have an execution to go to, so make it fast", Nero smiled at me.
Nero stood in the corner of the room watching Aven undress me. Aven put his hands on my shoulders "I'll be gentle", he whispered. "It doesn't matter", I whispered back. He pulled my dress off in one go. I looked back at him as he tried to keep his eyes on my face instead of my body. "You can look", I forced those words out of my mouth as I made eye contact with him. Nero smiled then left the room. Aven sat on his bed "There's a dress in my closet, take one, I'll wait outside for you".
As he left for the door I shoved my arrogance aside "Aven".
"Yes, Letharia", he glanced at me.
"Thank you".
He gave me a silent nod as he left the room.
I made sure to dress quickly. "I'm ready", I came out in a shiny dress covered with jewels, I held Aven's hand. Aven's father followed us to the Medical wing, I was ready to cry as soon as we got there. Nero talked to the nurse and escorted me to my Father where I saw tubes up his mouth, and in his nose. "Father", I whispered. His eyes opened "Daddy". The defeat in his eyes killed my soul. He tried to speak but I could see the pain in his eyes. "Listen...", my voice cracked. "Daddy I love you, but I love Aven too, I intend to marry him".
I saw the disappointment in my Father's eyes, he then focused on someone behind me. Nero pushed me aside and looked into my Father's eyes "You've lost Adonis, You've lost your wife to me, you've lost your dignity to me and now your daughter, now all you can do is die".My Father struggled while he looked me in the eyes as the nurse sedated him. I started to cry not noticing I was Already in Aven's arms.
Nero looked at Aven smiling "You can have your wedding, but I will still hold one execution, Aven escort her to the gallows, we'll have your wedding after".
"This is not what we agreed upon, Father", Aven spoke.
"Oh, Hush Boy! Be grateful for what I just gave you."
Aven and I were escorted by guards down to the gallows, Aven held my hand for the camera, I looked away from him the entire time. Aven looked at me "I'm going to kiss you, that's one thing I'm not letting you decide on". He gave me a passionate kiss in front of the camera.
The crowd cheered. As soon as his lips parted I made a sound, faint, but his eyes widened.
"You moaned", he whispered.
"How interesting...."
His parents walked in front of us without saying a word. We arrived at a spot diagonal from the gallows and Aven grabbed my hands to sit on a wooden throne next to him to watch my brother's execution and that poor man.
I saw Sir Hethway's children and his poor wife, waiting anxiously, we all took a seat. Awaiting, Aven's commands. Finally, after 35 minutes the guards made their way. Aven stood up "Silence!" He struck fear into the crowd as they closed their mouths and watched quietly.
Jessi...I finally see him. I wanted to scream, cry, and run away and grab him but I couldn't. I felt that Aven had lied to me, I hated him twice as more. I saw Sir Hethway, wearing rags, looking as beaten as Jessi was. Hethway fell in front of the guards and cried out" Please! I'm begging ya' Armstrong, let me go! My wife's right there! Prince Aven?! Prince Aven?! Forgive me, that girl next to you is crazy! My lord...please".
The guard who looked away, Armstrong, pushed Hethway onto the wooden stage and stuck his head right through the hole, resting on wood.
Jessi stared at Aven with such hatred.
The head guard stood then yelled "Men! On the count of three, behead them. One...., Two...., Thr-
"Stop!"
Everyone gasped. I thought I heard Zane but I turn over to see Former King Nero.
It was too late, I heard a head roll. I couldn't look, but I did. I heard a Woman scream after. Hethway's head was cut clean off his body but a second later and that knife would have killed Jessi.
"Father, what is the meaning for this, you were supposed to cancel both executions."
Nero ignored his son "Jessi Vulpine, hear my words, and hear them clearly, my son will no longer rule on this day, if you agree to become my Royal servant. If so, I will free you from your fate and make you a part of a better one."
Jessi stared down.
"Well...."
King Nero's voice echoed.
Jessi spoke, "I accept".
As the execution was over Nero sent Jessi over to him in handcuffs, he walked past us but proceeded to give Aven a side glare.Aven looked at me “This is the last time I let you get what you want- “Aven-“
“Shouldn’t we do this on our honeymoon?”, I asked taking off my dress. Aven scoffed, giving me a smirk, “Press your stomach against the bed, and I’ll do all the work.” I sat on his bed facing him. “What am I to you? A pretty trophy or a convenient sex toy”. Aven looked at me. “I have plenty of toys that I play with, but I want you right now.” “Why?” I raised a brow. He sighed. “No more questions lay on your stomach.” I took off my undergarments and showed Aven my bare breasts. “Isn’t that better than laying on my stomach?” “Much better,” he approached m
Jessi's POV"That was a disaster," I spoke.I walked slightly behind Nero as he glanced at me. "Send a new messenger to order Letharia mandatory psychology testing."Nero had completely ignored every damn thing I've said. "Understood; where are we heading to?""Council Member Velis's chambers," he answered. We had both suddenly become quiet, moments had passed by, and I finally decided to ask him "Nero."King Nero stopped in his tracks to look into my eyes. "You have my full attention." I cleared my throat "Illy, the woman who saved me from prison, I want her back." Nero scoffed, "Evander, never have I thought you wanted love instead of power."
To Say This Palace Was luxurious would be an understatement. It's as if the gods themselves built these walls, Walls higher than even the tallest of towers; you would think they were building a new tower of babel. As you go deeper inside, you are greeted with a beautiful red carpet and portraits of kings past those of lower birth who wouldn't even dream of passing through those giant doors entering the palace. The screams could be heard throughout the place, as the screams came from no one other than prince Aven.Nero held a whip sharper than the blade of a knife. The crack of the whip was louder than the screams of his mother. “You brought this upon your son, Nessa,” Nero yelled.Jessi stood in the corner of the thrones scribing with a blank expression on his face, while Letharia is handcuffed to a guard forced to watch as a warning when she couldn't look at him as she did not want to form sympathy.Aven bit his lip as he foug
Aven laid hopelessly in the ER as Letharia had fallen asleep as she kneeled on the floor, her head on Aven’s chest. Letharia felt a stroking sensation on her head. She looked up at him while he spoke, “Are you okay? I thought I heard you cry, and now I see it”, he put his index finger on her face wiping her tears.“My Father passed early morning.” Aven sat up. “I offer my condolences.”She took her gaze away from Aven as she remained quiet. “I owe you my life for bearing the rest of my lashes,” he spoke with gratitude. “…but I don’t get it; why would you do that for me?” She stood up. “It.. it was my duty as your wife”, Letharia had spoken a lie as she reme
“We’ll let the council handle the evidence, and they can’t save Velis.” Valerine stared at Nero. Yes, my king, we cannot disobey you or the gods”. Nero stopped at his room. “I cleared Nessa’s things from our room; you’re welcome to settle yourself in, do as you please.” Valerine stepped into Nero’s spacious room with beautiful golden wallpaper with a marble floor. She walked inside of his room in awe. “It looks like a palace within a palace!”, she exclaimed not realizing how excited she got. Nero grinned at her as she took her hood off. “Oh, I’m sorry, my king, I shouldn’t have taken off my Councilmen’s robe.” He closed the door behind him as he took off his shirt. “It’s fine with me; I’m going to take a short nap, do as you please.” As Nero he
Third Person POV_______________“It should be a delightful occasion, shouldn’t it?” Nero looked into the mirror while tying up the back of Valerine’s dress. “It shall be my king,” she watched him in the mirror as he tied the light purple satin bow. He then laid his head on her shoulder. “As beautiful as they come,” he smiled. She covered her mouth, trying not to smile; she uncovered her mouth, giving Nero a loving gaze. Nero gave her a five-second kiss before rubbing her shoulder briefly, then stared at the ceiling as he l
“A crippling disaster,” said the Krystonian Post“A horrible disaster amid the execution,” said our very own news outlet.“And I don’t even know how this one got out! Princess Letharia tries to execute King under orders of the prince Aven”, said the Xorian Central Newspaper.Nero threw the newspapers on the floor “ I am running out of ways to punish you.”Aven sat on his knees handcuffed, “Why so silent?” Nero laid back onto his throne.“No matter, I talked to the council yesterday, and the best way to handle you is not to handle you at all.”Aven looked up at Nero. “You aren’t going to punish me, Father?”“No, but I will,