18th century"Atlas. There." Catherine ran there happily as she pointed something. She approached the biggest old cheery tree, a gentle smile graced her lips. The pleasant wind was like the music of old memories to her, the memories of their past, their promises. ....Flasback..."Atlas, what are you doing?" Catherine asked Atlas as he took a broken piece of brick and started writing something on the tree.Atlas smiled as he touched the names that he wrote. "Atlas & Catherine. When we'll grow old, we'll come here together and reflects on our memories by seeing this. This one will prove our eternal love. As I wrote my name beside yours just like that I'll stay beside you always."Catherine giggled, "Pinky promise?" She extended her hand, offering him her pinky finger.Atlas nodded and locked his pinky finger with hers. "Pinky promise."....She touched the tree, tracing old drawings that she and Atlas did on that very tree long ago. "Atlas & Catherine." Though this place seemed so for
Present...Caroline's POV...Several hours had passed before they finally arrived at Prythian. The throngs of people were ubiquitous. The tidings had disseminated throughout the vicinity. The atmosphere was oppressively stifling, and I was beginning to fear that my faculties would soon abandon me. Beside me in the horse-drawn carriage sat Ryder. The corpse cart bore the weight of my mother as it trailed behind us.The reality of her absence was yet to fully sink in. The question of credibility arises. Our encounter was brief, yet significant. To be precise, I had only just laid eyes upon her. We had not yet had the pleasure of an introduction, nor exchanged words or embraced in a friendly manner. The years passed by without me shedding a single tear or voicing any complaints. The urge to scream and shout at her was overwhelming. My heart was brimming with emotions. I was compelled to remove them all. Yet again, she had betrayed me. Once more, she departed. Once more, she left me behind
Caroline's POVSeveral weeks elapsed. I was greeted with open arms by all, hailed as the Queen, a worthy successor to my mother. I was aware of my incapability to ascend to the throne. I was acutely aware of my own inadequacy, realizing that I lacked the fortitude to carry the burden of the regal emblem bestowed upon me.Yet, when Julie imparted to me the weight of my obligation to occupy the position and safeguard the realm, I found myself unable to retreat. In the Xanthan," she said, "I survived. Indeed, I did. However, it was Atlas who had rescued me from peril on countless occasions. Had he not been on my side from the outset, I would have surely met my demise.Upon entering the meeting room alongside Julie, I found myself suppressing a sigh. Merely a handful of weeks had passed, yet I had already frequented this place a hundred times over. All matters were subject to discussion within these walls, and I was obliged to lend an ear to every triviality. And so it was, without fail, t
Caroline's POV...“Here is your drink, Milady.” With a glass of wine in hand, Ryder approached me. Following a fruitful meeting, I acquiesced to partake in a libation with him, as he persistently opined that I had been toiling excessively and was in dire need of rejuvenation. Furthermore, he uttered that he possessed a matter of utmost importance to disclose to me.“Thanks.” I accepted the glass from him, bringing it to my lips and savoring a small sip of the rich, velvety wine. I strode gracefully across the expansive bay window. Perched upon the second storey of the palace, I couldn't help but feel as though I were soaring high above the earth. Such was the grandeur of the edifice, with its towering floors that seemed to stretch endlessly towards the heavens. Indeed, the sensation was akin to that of standing upon the fourth floor of a lesser building. The vista of the backyard appeared quite remarkable from this vantage point. "The arboretum behind us is something Mom truly treasure
Caroline's POV...Jacob's countenance bore an air of perplexity and apprehension, as if he were grappling with a conundrum that troubled him deeply. My mind was so overwhelmed with surprise that I couldn't process any thoughts until his voice broke the silence. How did he gain entry into this kingdom?"As the husband of our queen," the servant replied.The utterance elicited a reflexive response as I withdrew my hand and averted my gaze towards the ring adorning my finger. Husband. Truly, he was my spouse. He was my husband. He waged a battle against his own kin on my behalf. He terminated his engagement and placed the ring on my finger as a safeguard for my well-being. He was my protector. My survival was solely attributed to his presence. All that was done for me, was done by him. What could have motivated him to undertake such actions? What reason could he possibly have for shielding me? What could have been his motive for taking my hand in marriage, knowing full well that his inte
Atlas's POV...“Within a week.”Her words struck every nerve in my brain with a force that surpassed anything else in the universe. I was the most clueless one even though on my way here, I already reckoned that some strategies had been prepared to triumph over me in every possible way.However, I didn't expect to face such a situation like this. Before me stood Caroline, the woman I had once loved and married. She posed a harrowing question, inquiring whether I was the culprit behind the heinous murder of her mother, the Queen. The absurdity of the situation was compounded by the fact that my own mother held the same belief. The plot in question had been meticulously crafted long before the incident came to pass, undoubtedly unfolding in a time and place far removed from the present. As a prominent adversary of Lola, it was unanimously concluded that I was the culprit.However, buried within the recesses of my psyche, I harboured the belief that Caroline would remain unconvinced. Well
Caroline's POV...As I drew the curtain aside, Julie, who had earlier alerted me to Atlas's presence, cleared her throat. “I don't know what he is doing here. I shall refrain from pestering you concerning that matter. However, had Ryder divulged to you the fact that...”“Atlas is allegedly the murderer. The perpetrator behind my mother's demise.” Gritting my teeth, I experienced a tumultuous mixture of agony and fury. In pain, because the way he was staring at me a while ago hurt me like dozens of wasps stinging at once. With a heavy heart, I reluctantly drew the curtain, feeling a surge of anger at the immense barrier that separated us. I found myself unable to detach it from my grasp and discard it. I loved him. I did. Truly, I did. However, the depth of my love for my mother transcended all physical boundaries, as I cherished her without ever laying eyes on her or feeling her embrace. It manifested as an insatiable hunger, an all-consuming craving that consumed every fiber of their
Atlas's POVUpon my return to Xanthan last night, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of peculiarity. My mother felt like someone so unfamiliar. And that woman's spouse remained as reticent as ever. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of encountering Alex, a a friend with whom I could engage in trivial banter, despite his vexatious disposition. With utmost obedience, Mr. Harris executed my commands flawlessly and deftly conveyed instructions to his peers.“Dude, I'm glad that I'm here. So many beautiful ladies.” Alex emerged from the washroom of the servant quarters and settled beside me, his gaze fixed upon the women who encircled us.A gentle exhalation parted my lips. “You just can't not think about women for once.”Alex cautiously motioned for the women to depart, with whom he had developed a rather intimate relationship. With his hands clasped tightly together, he began to speak at length. “You are very different from last night. What has gotten into you? You really left yo