When a certain princess clocked twenty one, she is arranged to marry a prince of Deira. Her soon-to-be husband is the third prince of Deira. The king of Deira, Augustus, chose his first son as the crown prince. The crown prince is an easy-going man who doesn't like disputes. You could say he's too soft. The second prince is ambitious, he wants his father to abdicate the throne to him. The third prince is feared as he is cold, heartless and not interested in the throne. The princess is the fourth child of Augustus. After her are two twin boys who are a bit younger. In a faraway castle, the arranged couple try to live in harmony. All seemed smooth until a treason was planned. Treason fueled by anger and ambitions. Will it be successful? Will the prince accept his wife as his confidant? Will the devil rest?
View More"You should smile a bit. You should not have wrinkles at your youthful age," Claudius, king of Angbotain said to Isabelle, his daughter and the crown princess.
She had a pale, almost translucent skin, rosy cheeks, crimson lips, white teeth and sparkling eyes. She was slim with elegant collarbones. She was not interested in the food she had on her table anymore. The news she had just heard was disturbing.
"She will smile later," Aravis, the queen approached the table and took her seat as the king smiled. Isabelle was an exact replica of her mother. There was no distinguishing between them. They could easily pass for sisters as the queen was not that old.
"Mother," Isabelle spoke up as she placed her fork on the table. "I just celebrated my twenty first birthday last week. Why are you doing this to me?"
"That makes it so important for you to get married now. You're already too old to be in our house," Aravis answered as she brought her cup to her red lips.
"Father," Isabelle pleaded with her father. "He is a total stranger.""Isabelle," Claudius called his daughter affectionately. "You have been preparing for this all your life, why are you behaving this way?"
She sighed as she accepted defeat.
"I would have definitely accepted this alliance if you had just informed me earlier. How can you give marriage as a birthday gift?""It was really hard to get King Augustus to form this alliance. It is a golden opportunity for Angbotain," Aravis said as she rubbed her daughter's hand.
"Still, how can I go as far as Deira?" She exclaimed as tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. "I do not want to be far from you."
"You are a princess Isabelle," Claudius stood up. "It is your duty."
"A wedding in two days?" She stood up and pulled her father's robes. "It is too sudden."
"You'll get over it," he said and left the table as his guards followed him.
Isabelle knew it was over. Once her father makes up his mind, there was no talking him out of it.
"Isabelle," Aravis called and looked into her eyes. "I had you when I was seventeen. I managed to make you become fully matured before getting you married because I didn't want you to go through what I went through. An alliance with Deira was the best option I could present to you. Even when we're gone, King Augustus promised you'll be taken care of."
"He is too old!" She shouted.
Aravis was taken aback by the sudden outburst. The court ladies were surprised too but they dare not speak out."He's older than my father!"
"Isabelle, you are not getting married to King Augustus," Aravis explained.
Isabelle's nerves calmed down and her body settled.
"I'm not?" She asked and Aravis nodded."But, you said I was getting married to a Deira royalty."
"You're getting married to Prince Adrian, the third prince of Deira."Isabelle smiled widely.
"You should have said so earlier," she breathed in relief. "It is better that way.""He doesn't live in the palace so you'll be away from everyone. He has his personal residence away from the kingdom. You shall be treated with the respect you deserve."
"Why does he live away from the palace?" Isabelle asked with curiosity. "Was his mother a consort?"
It was believed that consorts who weren't of royal blood shouldn't live together with queens in the palace.
"His mother was a commoner," Aravis explained as the court ladies cleared the table of dirty plates. "He lived in palace while growing up. He left when he was eighteen years. He has been at his residence for ten years. He often goes to war and return victorious."
"So you're getting me married to a general?" Isabelle smirked mischievously at her mother.
"It is your gain," she gathered her blue attire and left the table as her court ladies followed behind.Isabelle was left with her own thoughts,a court maid and a guard. Marriage in two days to a complete stranger. People have gone through it and survived and so will she. But she was really curious about the groom.
Meanwhile in Deira...
He walked upright in his armour. A handsome man covered in blood of the enemy, his attire dropped with blood. He smelled of murder. The aura he exuded was beyond comprehension.
"Prince Adrian is here," the eunuch at the entrance of the grand hall announced and commanded the guards to open the door.
The whole assembly was present. The ministers, the males of royal family and King Augustus were all in the hall. Augustus sat on his throne, Fredrick, the crown prince was seated in a lower seat beside him. Malcolm, the second prince was standing next to Frederick. Leopold and Louis, the twins born from Fredrick's mother, Indira were standing beside Malcolm. Nefertiti, the crown princess and sister of Malcolm was not present as women were not allowed in the grand hall, not even the queens.Adrian walked in with a tiger like posture and a perfect waltz. His sword was still dripping with blood and it made a mess of the floor. He stopped in front of his father's throne and went on one knee.
"The war against Sorok was in our favour. We have defeated them," he shared the news.
Augustus let out a small smile as the entire assembly cheered.
"The minister of war has began to build a station at Sorok and had buried their king.""Be on your feet," Augustus gave out the order and Adrian stood up.
"As expected!" Alastair, the minister for internal affairs shouted with joy. "Prince Adrian never disappoints.""You're right Alastair," Augustus stood up and walked down to Adrian. "That is why he is my son."
The twins were giving Adrian goofy looks which he caught. He tried to force a smile but it wasn't who he was. Fredrick was giving Adrian a thumbs up from where he sat and he bowed. Malcolm looked at Adrian with contempt.
Adrian felt suffocated. This was why he could never live in the main palace.
"Before you went off to war, I knew it would end in victory," Augustus commended Adrian. "Which is why I have prepared a reward."
There was murmuring amongst the assembly.
"Silence!" Augustus called out and it became silent like a graveyard."You are already of marriageable age," he patted Adrian's shoulders,"so, I have arranged your marriage with Princess Isabelle of Angbotain. You will get married in two days."
Adrian's world collapsed. He looked like a deer caught in its highlights. Alastair's face shouted disappointment. Something in Adrian told him to speak up but he had no will. What has been decided has been decided. A prince had no control over his life.
"Are you not happy?" Augustus asked the assembly with a stern face.
"Congratulations, Prince Adrian!" They chorused."I would like to go and rest," Adrian asked for permission from Augustus.
"Of course, you deserve it. You will set out to Angbotain tommorow so stay here for the night and leave in the afternoon tommorow.""As you wish," he said.
"You may leave."He bowed slightly and trudged out.
"Why does he look so disappointed?" Leopold whispered to Louis.
"Why do you think?" Louis replied. He seemed like the wise one."It is not because of Juno, is it?""I highly doubt that," he replied.The assembly was concluded just after Adrian left. He bathed himself which was not a surprise to anyone. Unmarried princes usually got their bath from young court ladies bit Adrian never did.
He would scowl at them and made them promise to never see his nakedness.He was sitting in front of his former residence enjoying the cool breeze. He glanced briefly at his mother's grave. It was neat. They were doing a good job of keeping it clean."Are you okay?" Fredrick asked as he walked in. His red clothes made him stand out.
"Not really," Adrian answered. Fredrick was the only one he could talk to at this point."It shall pass.""What?" Adrian asked with a confused gaze.
"I thought you were angry about the alliance," he also replied, confused."The alliance? No, it was bound to happen anyway," Adrian waved him off."So what's bothering you?" Feed pressed further.
"The battlefield."Fredrick sighed to show that he understood what Adrian was saying.
"Adrian, do you still have nightmares?""No," he answered calmly. "They do not appear in my dreams anymore. I see them now."
"What do you mean?" Fredrick asked with concern.
"I see them now," he looked around. "There they are," he pointed at nothing.Fredrick sighed. Adrian was hallucinating but he couldn't say anything about it.
"I know they are not real," Adrian chuckled dryly. "That is why I'm still alive.""Brother!" Leopold ran in and tripped on his royal gown.
"I told you not to run," Louis followed behind, carrying himself with poise. "It is not worthy of a prince.""Whatever," Leopold scoffed as he continued to run towards Adrian.
"A prince should not run like that," Adrian smiled as Leopold embraced him.
His hugs were warm, everyone knew it but Adrian rarely hugged people. The twins were hard to say no to."Welcome back," Louis bowed slightly with a smile."Prince Louis, you are becoming more charming with each passing day," Adrian teased.
"I have always been charming," Louis said with pride and they all laughed."Charming?" Leopold scoffed. "The charming one is me. The girl from the market said so too.""The market?" Fredrick asked as if his hearing had failed him.
Leopold and Louis shared mischievous glances.
"Did you sneak out again?" He hollered."I am going to kill you!" Louis yelled as he went in pursuit of Leopold who had already started running.
"Wast he not just talking about a prince's character now?" Fredrick's eyes bulged with disbelief.
"They are now seventeen," Adrian patted Fredrick. "They are mature enough to be cunning and rebellious.""They shall never learn until father catches them," Fredrick said as followed in their direction.
Adrian smiled widely as they left, showing his dentition."I have never seen you smile like that," a female voice said.He looked around and saw Nefertiti approaching him with a smile and her court ladies behind her.
His face returned to its original scowl. The smile left his eyes.
"I recognize that look too well," She smiled as she sat beside him. "No matter how much you hate me, we are siblings."
"Excuse me," Adrian stood up but Nefertiti spoke up.
"I heard about your marriage, congratulations.""Thank you," he replied coldly.
"It is my fault you're getting married," she stood up.Adrian looked back at her with a confused and cold gaze.
"I am old enough to get married, you know? You have to be married for me to get married.""I wish you all the best," he said.
"I'll probably get married to a prince of Ploretina."
Adrian stopped on his tracks.
"Ploretina?" He said weakly. He turned around to see his sister's tear stained face."He is selling you off, Nefertiti," he moved to her.
"I know," she sniffled. "I have no choice, do I?"
He engulfed her in a hug and she was crying.
Fredrick watched them from a distance and shook his head in sorrow. Princes and princesses do not have a say in their own life.Not in the world they live in.
Ploretina was about a week's journey from Deira by horseback. Their father was probably giving them Nefertiti to achieve something else. He was going to recieve something else in return.
Malcolm was passing by with his entourage and saw the closeness between Adrian and Nefertiti.
"Will you step away from my sister?!" He hurled.
Adrian was shocked as he released Nefertiti.
"Nefertiti!" Malcolm said as reached them. "How can you hug this commoner in front of the servants?""He is no commoner," she defended him. "He is your brother."
"I have no brother."
"Do not get the wrong idea," Adrian glared at him. "I do not consider you my sibling either."
He walked off into his residence without another word. Nefertiti looked at her brother with hatred and stormed out with her court ladies.
***WARNING*** THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A NSFW SCENE***Three days after the physicians announced the distressing news of Augustus' condition, the royal family had sunk into sadness. They had remained alternately by the side of their fainting father. Isabelle had remained at Adrian's residence after checking on the king, and Nefertiti had not yet arrived.The ministers paid their last respects and prepared for Frederick's coronation.Adrian sat at his mother's grave, Isabelle at his side. He gently stroked her hair as she lay in his arms. He had a feeling that something big was about to happen in Deira. Something that would shake them all."What are you thinking about?" Isabelle asked as she rose. "What's troubling you?""Nothing," he lied."I thought we said we had no secrets," she pouted."Father is dying of an unknown illness and Frederick is showing the same symptoms," he sighed. "I cannot shake the suspicion that there's a connection."Isabelle sat up and hugged her husband affection
Five months went by in a flash. Adrian was the affectionate husband to Isabelle but a planner with Spencer. Isabelle was a professional at horse riding thanks to Louis and her swordsmanship improved too. King Augustus was down with an illness no one could identify. Lydia and Leopold's relationship was going steady and Louis was keeping his feelings in check. All seemed peaceful at Adrian's castle until a carriage rolled in. Adrian stood with Spencer at the entrance as the carriage came to a stop. Juno stepped out, a hand under her belly and a maid came out with her. She had an awfully big stomach for a five month pregnancy. Her face looked bloated and her once refined nose was flat and swollen. Lady Juno was gone, this was a woman pregnancy made ugly just as she is. "Prince Adrian," she bowed with a smile."Why are you here?" Spencer moved forward immediately. "What if your husband gets to know?""Why do I have to report my every move to my husband?" She snapped. Adrian wal
Indira smiled mischievously as her spy whispered into her ears. She fixed her hair pins and wore her ceremonial rings. She stood up gallantly and walked around the room with her spy on his knees."A court maid?" She scoffed. "That's better for me but the other one is far too righteous. Get me whatever dirt you can on him." He bowed and left the room. Spencer placed his sword on her neck for the second time that day. She grunted which showed her refusal to accept defeat. She rolled back up and started sparring with him again. He held up his left hand and they stopped. They sat down in the grass as she gulped down a jug of water."What's the matter?" He asked gently. "You want revenge." The jug froze in her hands and she stiffened. The memory of Duncan's lifeless body flashed through her eyes and she threw her head back in sorrow. A tear slipped out from her right eye."I want revenge too but if you keep training with that mindset, you're not a warrior anymore." She faced
"I heard a corpse was found in your castle!" Augustus roared. Adrian stood in front of him looking down. He held his sword tightly."You left this place because you hated it. I let you go because I believed you could protect the people around you. You can't even do that?" He was burning with rage. Who had dared to mess with him? Why was nothing going right for him? He walked out of his father's residence while Indira was walking in. "Don't you need an exorcist? Bad things keep happening to you," she snickered."You're making it obvious that you planned this." "Do you have any evidence? You shouldn't accuse an innocent person, Prince Adrian." She smiled and walked in as he screamed to venture his anger and frustrations. He slammed his fist against the wall. When he was about to repeat it, he felt a pair of hands wrap around him. He breathed heavily and turned around to see Juno staring at him. "Leave me," he growled silently. She tightened her hands around him and
Louis's horse stopped right in front of Lydia."Hey," he said to her as he got off. She bowed her head in respect for his status."Leopold sent me to you." Her head shot up immediately with joy on her face."Are you that happy?" He scoffed and reached into his breast pocket. He fished out a letter and gave it to her. She received it and excused herself. Adrian fell the third time that day."What's wrong?" Spencer ran to his side and dropped his sword. "Why do you keep losing focus?" He breathed out heavily."I have a bad feeling.""Because of that letter? Since when did you start acting based on your feeling?" "Who could it be?" He mumbled to himself."Should we skip training today?" "That'll be better," he excused himself. Isabelle was all dressed up and an apron was draped over her. Duncan and his staff stood and watched her."What should I make?" She asked him as she opened the book he had given to her earlier. "Lemon cake?" He raised an eyebrow.
It had been two weeks after Frederick's loss. Victoria was chained down in her residence due to her mental instability. Frederick seemed a little better. When Victoria's sanity came around, Isabelle would go there to talk to her. Adrian was stuck at a point of nowhere with his investigation. After he choked Spencer the other day, he saw the result. The next morning, Spencer had a dark line around his neck. That confirmed Adrian's suspicion. Checking of dead bodies was forbidden in the Royal Family even though it was rare for Royalty to die an ordinary death. They were either after someone's life or someone was after theirs. Someone had murdered the children and made it look natural. The question was, who was it and why? The only person he could think of was Queen Indira. She had a lot of reasons to do that but there was nothing to pin her down."We'll leave now," Adrian informed the eunuch. "Tell that to my brother," he held Isabelle's hand and they walked to his residence t
"You will soon be okay," the physician said to Adrian as Isabelle peeped from the door. Spencer was in, leaning against the wall."What about Prince Frederick?" He asked with a hoarse voice. His illness had gotten bad. After he chased Isabelle out, his temperature rose. He felt hot inside and cold outside."I can't seem to identify the nature of cause of his illness. I wanted to check for previous cases," he explained."Alright," he nodded. The physician bowed together with his nurse and they left the room. Adrian laid down and covered himself up."Should I leave? I want to check on the Crown Prince," Spencer informed him. "Good, please check on him. I would go with you but I don't think I can move well." "Get some rest," he patted his back and made to leave. Adrian's eyes met with Isabelle's and he frowned."Lock the door on your way out Spencer," he said and closed his eyes. She scoffed and left. Spencer shook his head at the couple and did as Adrian ordered.
War doesn't wipe everything out. It ruins the kingdom by seventy percent. The villagers are supposed to join a new kingdom as refugees. That was it for the people of Angbotain. Angbotain was still there, but without a leader. The air was cold when Adrian walked into Queen Indira's residence. He was looking a bit neat and the alcohol stench was less. His purple robe was adorned with gold lines and his sword was beside him."Prince Adrian is here," the court lady announced."Let him in," Indira's voice came from within. The doors were opened and he entered. Indira was in her full regalia. Her upright hairdo held her crown perfectly and her gown was drooping round. He bowed slightly in greeting. "Take a seat," she offered. He sat down and placed his sword by the table. They stared at each other from opposite ends of the table."Why is your wife not pregnant yet?" "Why are you curious about that?" He fired back."It is my responsibility to be curious!" She banged her pal
"That won't be possible," Augustus said to the assembly with Adrian on his knees. "You smell like wine! Tell me why she wouldn't want to leave you."The ministers murmured among themselves about Adrian's rough looking state. The entire assembly smelled like alcohol. His facial hair was showing fully and his eye bags were large."Son,what happened to you?" Augustus asked.Malcolm stood up and walked to him."Little brother, did your wife say she wants a new husband? I can fill that void, I don't have a wife yet.""Malcolm," Frederick called with a warning tone. "Take your seat.""Make a child fast," Augustus said to Adrian. "If she is pregnant, she won't want to leave you. If this is about Angbotain, she shall get over it."Adrian bowed and left the assembly. Spencer was waiting by the door. They walked together in the palace and met Juno on the way. "Prince Adrian,"she bowed. "You look horrible, are you unwell?"You could sense the sarcasm in her voice. Adrian ignored her and continu
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