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
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
***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
"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
It was a busy day at the palace of King Cladius in Angbotain. Guests were arriving for Isabelle's marriage. Different delicacies were being made so the royal kitchen was a mess. Everyone was busy."Pack everything," Isabelle ordered the court ladies.She was packing up. Her clothes were in a separate box. She didn't want to leave her jewelries behind too. Nobody would wear them if she left them.All her belongings were packed.She was currently receiving skincare session. It was in preparation of her wedding night. She should be washed thoroughly before going to her husband's house.She asked to pack her books herself. The most precious possession Isabelle ever considered worthy were her books. She never joked with them. Her maids were even allowed to clean them. She does that herself and everyone knew that.Aravis told her that Adrian would arrive by evening but he's nowhere to be found. She was waiting eagerly by her window. The
They were settled in their residence. Adrian excused Isabelle while she changed into a white lace dress. She let down her hair that reached down to her waist. Adrian came in and he was already changed. They sat on the bed in silence. The crickets were chatting and the moonlight shone in even though the lanterns in the room were lit. It was an awkward situation.Isabelle was nervous. How could she tell her husband that she was not ready for the planned intimacy? She fiddled with her fingers as her chest rose and fell."This was an arranged marriage," Adrian broke the silence. "It does not mean you will not get the respect you deserve. I am sorry to say this but I'm not happy with this marriage. It is a burden to me."Isabelle glanced at him briefly but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring into nothingness."I'm not much of a talker. Do not expect happy faces from me. I have a temper. A bad one. Little things irritate me. I am not going to touch you. It
"Can you get off me?" Adrian whispered, ruining the moment. He was trying to avoid touching Isabelle."Oh," she stood up quickly, almost slipping in the process. "I'm sorry.""Those fools," he hissed. "Get your things, we're leaving." The court ladies carried the boxes and trunks into the first carriage. The remaining gifts filled the second one and there was no space for a human being to settle. "Can you ride a horse?" Adrian asked. He was coming with a horse and the guards were guiding another one to her."No," she confessed. "Then," he got on his horse, "you will have to wait for a while. These will be dropped first and then, they'll be back to pick you up." She nodded in understanding. A guard ran to Adrian."Your Majesty, Captain Spencer is back. A messenger said he's on his way her
"We lost fifty soldiers," Spencer sighed as he ate."That's okay," Adrian shrugged. Spencer glared at him without looking surprised."By the way, aren't you going to get married?" "Why? Now that you're married, you feel superior? Don't kid yourself, I'm always a better choice than you are." Adrian chuckled lightly and pointed at Spencer."You do not like women, do you?" "What do you mean?" Spencer asked with a dramatic eye roll."I've never seen you with a woman. Isn't that weird?""I have never seen you with a woman either," he snorted."That is because I go to war often.""I accompany you every time," Spencer hissed. "I like women, the right one just hasn't come along." "When will she come?" Adrian teased further. "When you are about to die?""Hey!" Spencer banged his fist on the table. "Are you drunk already? You got married while I was clearing up t