I glared at John Chase with his intimidating black gaze.
He bowed with a cynical bow, a lascivious smile at the corner of his lips." My Commander, I cannot walk with you now, I must attend the ball. " I said, trying to be diplomatic.He studied me and shook his head."They'll survive without you, and besides, it's only a few minutes' walk, princess."He wasn't giving me a choice, although his words were polite and his gestures gentle, I could see in his eyes that he was a man no one said no to, and from what I was seeing, not even a princess.I gave him a wry smile and headed down the hall, towards the palace grounds, my guards followed me and Commander Chase positioned himself beside me, walking.I kept my posture haughty and eyes fixed on the path ahead, in my peripheral vision I saw him staring at me, sizing me up just like a predator would, and I think that's exactly what John Chase was, a predator.We turned left and entered a small hall that led to the large doors that opened onto the palace gardens. The night air was pleasant, the sky was clear, I was surprised by the amount of stars in the sky, but one in particular was shining brightly that night, the star Lina, which I had seen since I was a child. The last time I was in these gardens it was also at night, late at night, with Christofer by my side, and we watched those same stars, with the evocation of those memories I had to use all my strength not to release the tears that so cruelly made me prevented from spilling.It was all wrong that night." Doesn't this garden bring back good memories, princess?"The commander's deep voice interrupted my thoughts, we were following a small stone path with several apple trees around, the sound of night and insects between us.His question surprised me, because somehow he understood my state of mind, and it made me quite uncomfortable, I didn't want this man noticing my emotions, reading them in my expression." You look radiant, my lord, it doesn't even look like a few hours ago you were in an arena. " I replied.He analyzed me again." Do you know their names, princess? " he asked after a pause, I turned my face towards him, his gaze was fixed on me and his face contained seriousness.But I hadn't completely understood his question." Them who?"" Of the men who died fighting for his hand."I stopped walking.He'd asked a question whose answer would make me sound insensitive, exactly what my earlier comment had suggested of him, Chase was playing with me, and he'd deftly turned the tables on me.I looked into his sly dark eyes as he waited for my answer." It can't be easy taking a man's life. " I tried to get around the situation.Now we were almost at the end of the stone path between the apple trees, a few meters ahead was a fountain and some stone and marble benches.We were standing facing each other, he looked at me in that analytical way again and resumed his steps, I did the same and when we reached the fountain, I wet my hands in the water, he looked at the sky, standing in front of the fountain." Actually, it's easy. " he said after a long pause, so long I thought he wouldn't answer anymore.His answer evoked the memory of his sword decapitating Cristhofer in the arena, my heart sped up, my breathing intensified and a feeling of indignation and anger was rising in my heart, like a poison spreading throughout my body. I felt my cheeks burn with that feeling so bitter in me, his response was cold and cruel, he killed the one I loved today and no guilt or remorse weighed on his conscience.It had been easy for him. Perhaps even pleasurable.And was this the man I would eventually marry? Unless another competitor killed him.This possibility awakened in me something I never imagined I would feel for someone, the hope that the person would die, in my heart I sought revenge against him, some justice for what he took from me. He took away my chance to have a happy life and I hated him for it.I sat on the edge of the fountain and with my silence, he did the same." It wasn't the answer I was expecting." was not a question, but a statement." I suppose for some people, killing is easy." I hoped he sensed all the contempt in my words." Which one, princess? " he asked suddenly.I blinked, pretending not to understand his question, but deep down I understood. He sighed and spoke again, this time more firmly." Which of the bastards had your heart?"I was transfixed by your direct question. In just a few minutes of conversation, had I been so transparent to him that he'd deduced it?" I don't think I understand your question, Commander. " I hoped thathim not to insist, to accept my evasion." You understand perfectly, princess, you just don't want to answer, not that you really need to. I saw your look today in the arena, the look of a woman in love, and when I killed him, I saw that I killed some of you too."I could no longer steady my breathing now, my chest rose and fell with my heart pounding too fast, again the poison of anger spreading through me, coursing through my entire body and making me want to kill him." You killed someone today. " I accused him.His expression was impassive." I killed a man who was trying to kill me." He simplified." You didn't need to be in that arena."" Neither did Christofer, he was a free man who chose to be there today, wasn't he?!"I stared at him shocked, the mention of his name on his lips paralyzed me, he wasn't worthy to say his name." Put yourself together, princess, you have a ball to attend, your feelings are very clear. And yes, I know his name, from everyone I've killed, not just in that arena."He stood up and held out his hand to me, I got up, but I didn't hold his hand, my whole body was shaking. Before we started our way back, he muttered:" In the future, you'll be pleased to know that I don't tolerate my wife withholding things."" Perhaps in the future I won't be your wife, perhaps you won't even have one. " I replied.He arched an eyebrow and smiled." That way I might even think the princess is rooting for my death in the last fight. In that case I will have to disappoint you, for years my enemies have wanted the same as the princess, but I refuse to grant that wish, not even for a princess as beautiful as you."With those words he led me back to the path.The man was devilish.John Chase led me back to the hall that had previously barred me from entering, in my heart anger boiled, my blood burned. Just before the doors to the Great Hall opened he pulled me by the waist possessively in front of everyone, his touch on me, even through the thick fabric of the dress, sending an electric current through my body. I felt my legs quiver under the dress and my heart raced again, as we walked through the room with eyes from everyone on us, I tried to free myself from him, but he pressed me closer to his body. Then suddenly, with a smile, he released me, leaving me disconcerted by his attitude.With a curtsy he walked away, not before grinning at some inside joke.But what a hateful man!When he was gone I took a deep breath, still feeling his touch on my waist. This distraction didn't allow me to see in time another man approaching me, when I noticed it was already too late.The man was Dimitri Sidorov, the other wretch who was vying for my hand.I smiled politely at
Dimitri held me by the arm amid the flickering light of the torch in his hand. We quickly went down the stone steps until we reached what looked like a warehouse, then he let go of me and went straight to another door that with another key he opened, came back and he pulled me again. And we started walking again, this time down a long, cavernous corridor and even darker, I could hear the bugs and rats passing close by us. And if it weren't for the fact that I was being kidnapped, even supposedly for the rest of all I would be eloping to marry, I could care about the rats running in the dark. I tried to talk to him, I really tried, to force my mouth open and protest against it, but my body wouldn't obey me, I was just an observer in my own body, and that was terrifying. The panic of the whole situation starting to settle in my heart, my heart beating fast, my legs shaking... I wanted my body to react and fight with it, I assumed that it would be better to die here fighting for my h
Dimitri walked across the room and lay down on the bed, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He stood there silently, eyes closed for several minutes as I watched him. - Then? Don't you want to ask any more questions, princess? - he asked, after the long silence. I walked over to the window, trying to keep some distance between us. - Why are you kidnapping me? - I'm not kidnapping you, you're running away with me because you're in love. I glared at him in frustration. - Okay, Princess, you don't have to make that sad face. I am kidnapping you to become my wife. - And why didn't you fight for my hand? There was only one man missing and you with that gift that makes people obey you, he wouldn't stand a chance. It's not too late to earn my hand honestly. - I said, the diplomat in me coming to the surface. He sat on the bed and faced me. - If John Chase were an ordinary guy, princess, I sure as hell wouldn't need to be kidnapping you. I took a few steps closer, sensing that t
I woke up with sunlight burning my face. When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was on the commander's horse, his strong arms were around me guiding the animal down a road. " Good thing you woke up, princess." he said behind me. " Where are we going? " " To the palace, of course. Don't worry, nobody knows you ran away. Your stepmother, Hera, the queen found your letter and banned the floor of your room, saying that you caught a very contagious virus, and that only her maid would take care of you. Of course, with Dimitri gone, I assumed he had kidnapped you, and this was confirmed when I saw the Queen's personal guard being secretly ordered to search outside the palace. " So, Hera had covered it all up... I didn't like her, but her smart attitude had saved me from coming back under great embarrassment. Then something bothered me. " What did he do to me? He jabbed his thumb into the back of my neck and since then I haven't been able to resist him." " Dimitri was born with what
When I returned to the palace I spent the next few hours listening to the Queen’s speech about how my lewd behavior could cost me and the image and reputation of the royal family, which thanks to the kindness of Commander Chase I had returned without causing further harm. I could try to tell her that I had actually been kidnapped, but she was unlikely to believe it, had no way of explaining what Dimitri Sidorov had done to me, it would look like witchcraft, which would only make it worse, She’d think I’d been stricken with evil and call priests to an exorcism, which I don’t need.So I was content to hear your endless complaints." I really hope that you kept your honor intact, because if you didn’t..." she stared at me looking worried and furious at the same time." My honor is intact." I assured, uncomfortable with the course of the conversation.She analyzed me for a few seconds trying to see if I was lying, finally said:" I hope you’re telling the truth, meet me in the healer’s ch
I looked at myself in the mirror in my wedding dress, it was long with a huge train, all white, studded with precious stones, the neckline was heart-shaped, and a tiara full of diamonds was on my head, my black hair fell like waves around me, some braids had been made in it. The whole day the palace was full of servants running from one side to the other, all busy with the preparations for the wedding of the princess and Commander Chase, the ceremony would be held in the south tower hall, that was where the church was, a priest would perform the ceremony, after the two signed the marriage contract everyone would go to the great hall where a big wedding party would be held. I really wasn't prepared for this, but what choice did I have? The door opened and the queen personally came to fetch me to the south tower, I stood up from my chair and looked at her. " Have you come to make sure that I won't run away on the way to the church Your Highness? " I pinned. " Does such a possibilit
I widened my eyes and my heart began to pound in my chest, immediately feeling the heat rise up my neck and burn in my cheeks, even though I didn't want to do it it was inevitable to look away from my own hands. Commander Chase had been straight with me in a way that no man ever had, and that was completely disconcerting. I shifted in my chair uncomfortable with his audacity, how dare he say that? I armed myself with courage and self-confidence and looked up to meet his eyes. " How dare you insinuate such vulgar things?" He pressed his hands further onto my thighs and now our faces were so close that his forehead brushed against mine. " I'm your husband now, I'm going to dare much more than that, princess." saying this he brusquely turned away and drank more wine, ran his hands through his black hair in a provocative way, then looked at me again. " You blush so easily?it's been so long since I've seen a woman do that." His gaze was a fascination that I couldn't explain, so lik
John held me even tighter against him, his look was amused, he was laughing because I was drunk." Get me out of here." I mumbled, holding on to him. He walked with me through the hall, and at every table we passed, all the guests stood up, and the men began to celebrate, many of them shouting that it was time for the consummation of the marriage, and laughing with satisfaction. Even though I was beside myself, I found it embarrassing. At the end of the hall John turned and waved to the king and queen, all eyes were on us and there were many voices around us. He held me by the waist supporting most of my weight and led me into the hall. When we left the hall and found ourselves in the empty corridor, with only the background of voices and music coming from the hall, he looked at me and still holding me asked: " Would you like to walk for a while in the night air? Or do you prefer to lie down?" " I prefer to lie down. " considering that I couldn't even walk. I wanted to protest, to