[HELENA’s Point-of-View]“You shouldn’t be here!”“I know. But can you blame me? You are so beautiful up there on the platform sitting on your soon-to-be throne!”I glared at Emyr from the corner of my eyes while slipping my silk robes up my shoulders. I couldn’t sleep so I looked at the far horizon from the wide window of my room. My thoughts are filled with so many possibilities when I finally become the Empress of this land. All the people in the council favor me more than Aster. I used to love him but I just realized he is not the man I used to love anymore, seeing him so helpless in front of me just because of the power he knows I have within the walls of this palace. He knows I have him on his neck. Aster is basically just a symbol of the crown now and means nothing to the council. He is at my disposal anytime I grow tired of him.But Emyr… his desire for me never faded. He always had his eyes on me, adoring me from the tip of my heart down to the nails of my foot. He is the bes
I know I must be making the biggest mistake of my life.But I will not do what Lady Marian has been begging me to do.I will not back out. I will stop running away and face my future here in Headow Stronghold.It is scary. It may lead me to my death. But I believe Aster would never let that happen. Not now that I have his child inside my belly, I would never bow down to Helena anymore. I now have the same right to demand the time and attention of the Alpha Emperor even if it means I have to fight Helena for it.Nina and Cecil made sure they made me look my best and made me wear a red dress with a plunging neckline that exposed the middle of my bosom. A dress fit for a rebellious look, they both say. And it really gave me the confidence and courage I needed.King Laurent and Lady Marian were walking behind me, supporting me in everything I planned against Helena. They are my most loyal allies and the best people I know I can trust. I know I am being unfair that I turned down King Laure
[LAURENT’S Point-of-View]“You did a great job making the plan work.”“I am only doing this for Eodelle’s safety and not for your sake, Helena. I know how badly you want to get rid of her in this place and I won’t let you hurt her again like what Emyr did, forcing the Emperor to punish her like that.”I tried to make my breath even. To not get overwhelmed with the anger that wants to burst inside me. No matter how much I wanted to break Helena’s pretty little neck with my bare hands just to end all of Eodelle’s suffering, I can’t. I have to play safe. Provoking Helena and Emyr is the last thing I wanted to do right now when almost all of the council was in favor of them. They are more feared than the power of the Emperor himself.After Eodelle made a scene in the Great Hall, announcing to everyone about her bearing Aster’s child, it felt as if my whole body weight was like a thousand tons behind her. My whole soul was in pain and I wish I could just disappear in the face of the earth
[EODELLE’s Point-of-View]I whimpered when my back hit the cold wall of my room. But I never mind the pain. What is more important for me is Aster. Despite the rage I see on his handsome face, my heart is full of bliss knowing I can still be with him after I announce the news that shook Helena's world."Do you have any idea how dangerous your decisions are, Eodelle?! You know Helena will never stop until your head is on top of a spike!" He snarled at me after he pinned me against the wall, his hands on my wrists and his warm breath brushing the side of my face, making me more thrilled by his presence.Instead of fear, I showed excitement in front of him and his anger slowly ebbed away, making his body more relaxed while his breath getting more even and calm. He knows how I missed him. For so many weeks, I struggled to watch him from afar—on the top of the platform where he sat on the throne, around the palace where either Helena or the old council members hover around him. My eyes we
Aster stayed the whole night, savoring every minute we were together. We didn’t talk much about the horrible things that happened and I never let him apologize again when he punished me which left me almost bedridden for over a week. What happened was necessary and I understand all the burden he was carrying on his shoulders. He had to make everyone believe that he is not a biased ruler and that means even Beta Emyr and Helena could never disagree about it if ever they get caught in the same situation… or worse.I am just waiting for their time to come.When I woke up, Aster was gone already and I saw that the sun outside was already high. Nina approached me with a sweet smile on her lips and sat on the edge of my bed, looking happy about the good news I announced in the Great Hall.“I am glad you are finally up, your Grace. Alpha Aster told me not to wake you up for you needed more rest,” she uttered softly with her eyes staring at my face, looking so proud, “Congratulations on the
“No, Eodelle stop—”I am too horrified to listen to anything that King Laurent was saying. I pushed the people that were also looking at the dead body hanging on the old tree in the middle of the palace garden. My favorite tree is where I spent most of my time reading books just to ignore the rest of the world. And now someone used it, staining it with a horrible memory that will forever stay in my head.With a pale face, I looked up to make sure I wasn’t just hallucinating when I recognized the dead body from the balcony of one of the towers of the palace. I prayed that I was wrong. I prayed that it wasn’t her… I pray so hard my whole body trembles, my mind feels so foggy as I push hard, squeezing my way through the curious people looking up the old wisteria tree.But my prayers were not enough to spare me from the nightmare that was set up in front of me. Penny’s hair, which used to be so long and shiny, was ghastly cut and her body was full of black bruises and lacerations all ov
[LAURENT’s Point-of-View]I have never seen Lady Eodelle get scared like that since I met her and I know for sure that incident gave her emotional trauma.Based on what she told me about the background of the dead girl hanging on her favorite old wisteria tree, Lady Eodelle respects and values the poor girl. It is really dreadful to know that the people who did this to her were just around this palace, watching at her like hungry vultures ready to snatch her with their razor-sharp claws any time they get the chance to end her.That’s why no matter how much I wanted to leave Headow Stronghold and check on Talaphatia about what was going on out there, knowing that my little sister was left in charge, I can’t just leave her here undefended. I don’t trust her with Aster at all. Obviously, he was up to something he wasn’t telling me and I have a bad feeling about it.“You are too handsome to spend this night alone.”I turned my head to see that Lady Marian was walking slowly in my directio
I don’t know what kind of demon entered my body but I didn’t let go of Lady Marian’s waist. I pressed her against me and pushed her inside my room, my eyes half closed and my body feeling so feverish while staring at her beautiful small face.“King Laurent you are just drunk—”“Stay,” I ordered her and stepped closer to her. I can’t believe how small Lady Marian is. She was just at my chest level. To look closely into my face, she had to do a tiptoe and surprisingly, she did, which was funny and amusing at the same time. A shorty redhead.Lady Marian looked at me with curiosity in her eyes. I was expecting she would laugh or make fun of me. But her face remained serious, her eyes looking down at my lips which made me a little nervous. Is she thinking of kissing me too? What I did before I pushed her inside my room was a bold move though. I thought she would get mad and scream at me but she didn’t. “Are you not afraid I might do something?” I asked her in a husky voice, closing the
“Aster no…”But I couldn’t stop him anymore.As fast as he could, I saw how he killed the palace soldiers one by one inside the Emperor’s Hall and saved Nina. But to his shock, he stopped in front of Lady Marian’s body which was lying on the marble floor, cold and unmoving. He stared at her for a bit with a solemn face like she was some kind of a sister for him and lifted her, and carried her towards me and Nina where she covered her lifeless body with a curtain he took from one of the walls with the insignia of the North Kingdom as one of the allied Kingdoms of the Empire.As soon as he came back to me and our baby, He held me tight once again and looked at the small child in my arms with his gentle eyes despite the agony he must be feeling all over his body. And then he glanced back at Lady Marian's body which made me sob as my heart broke into pieces for losing a great friend.“She is a good person, Eodelle… She helped me through a lot about you and Laurent. She never deserved thi
"MARIAN!!!"My whole body froze as I watched her kneel in front of the red guard who stabbed her. Her face turned dark before she fell to the ground, her body not moving anymore. My nose was filled with the scent of her blood as it wafted all over the place, giving me shudders all over my body. The hall turned silent as we all watched Lady Marian dead on the floor. I feel like my heart and soul were shattered into millions of pieces and it horrified me more when I could no longer hear my child's cry. He also turned silent as fear crawled all over me. "See what you have done, Eodelle... I told you not to fight me anymore. I may be a liar sometimes but you know what I can do when someone upsets me," Emyr sneered while I stood frozen, still in denial that Marian was already gone just like that.Tears fell from my eyes, "What do you want me to do then, Emyr? What do you want from me?!" I tried to contain the anger inside me as my throat ached while I sobbed. My whole body was trembling
It is a call of desperation.I glared at Emyr. He knew from the start that he and Helena won't win this war. That is why he is trying to make some bargain to spare his and Helena's life. But there is no way I could let these two escape after what they did to my son...to Aster. I don't exactly know if he will do his side of the bargain though. But I am getting more desperate to see Aster once again and have my baby in my arms. I know I shouldn't trust Emyr with his poisonous words. I shouldn't let myself be deceived by his lies. But my child's life is more important to me."Show them to me first, Emyr! And then I'll decide!" I yelled at him with confidence in my voice. It is me he is pleading to and not the other way around. I should be the one who must ask for demands. "Sure! Just follow me!" He answered with a grin on his face which made me more suspicious. I know I should be more careful but knowing that I am finally going to have my son back takes all the fear in my head and jus
I immediately went to the officers who were leading a horse for her to use and then thanked them shortly after I put on some new set of clothes and before I hopped on the animal and galloped towards the Imperial City in a route not too familiar for me. I had to take it as per Lady Marian's advice so that no Red soldier wouldn't recognize me on that path where few people take it because it was a little farther than the main road.With gritted teeth, I made the horse run to its full speed. But I have other plans. I know Lady Marian is already waiting for me at the downtown alley where four Talaphatian soldiers are with her. I know she will surely get mad once she finds out I didn't go just as we planned. I have to go alone and never wanted to put my best friend's life in danger just like what I promised King Laurent. She will be safe with her guards.Through the woods, all I think about is Aster and our son. I will go to Headow Stronghold alone and face whatever will be waiting for me t
This is the day.I feel like my heart is in my throat. My heartbeat pains my ears as the throbbing goes harder, faster, making my hands tremble in fear as we all march towards the wide plain at the border of Northern Kingdom and the Imperial city.King Laurent didn’t allow Lady Marian to march with us. She is waiting for me at one of the darkest downtown alleys for the mission to save Aster, and my child. I can’t wait until this battle march is over. I can’t wait to see Aster again and our son. I pray Helena didn’t do anything to him. I pray he is safe inside the Headow Stronghold and being watched by my ancestors, keeping him safe.The sky is clear and the sun is gentle on my skin as I rode with the three Kings on my side. The North, West and Talaphatian King swore their loyalty to me and the future that I promised to them. The future that we all are seeking is free from greed, violence and self-interest that the Imperial council portrays just to make themselves more powerful and t
The council meeting with the Northern Kingdom and the Western Kingdom was not good. There was tension between the two Kings and I can feel that even Laurent felt a little frustrated about it. King Anthony never liked the arrogance of the King of the West who was Katrina’s father. His grumpy face reminded me of my father and I can’t deny that each time he looks at me with his mouth curved downward and his eyes judging, piercing eyes penetrating through the stoic facade I have been practicing because I never wanted them to think I am scared of them.We are all in a place—a carved cave the northern men use as the council chamber. In the middle is the wide wooden table with the map of the continent carved into it with wooden pieces representing each Kingdom and the Headow Stronghold. King Lauren and Lady Marian never left my side even when we entered the chamber. King Anthony never wanted his little sister to join the war meeting with me but she insisted because she is also part of what
I have to make him believe I have the ability to rule the Kingdom just like a true Wycliffe does. I can feel the blood of my ancestors running through me as my inner wolf convinces me that I am not the same Eodelle who used to fear a lot of things. King Laurent and Lady Marian looked at me with their brows angled upward, worried that I might fail to convince the Northern King to join the alliance. King Laurent cannot guarantee that he can beat the Headow Stronghold after the Southern Kingdom already pledged its alliance with Helena and the Western side was still indecisive about it.“Eodelle, you don’t have to. We all know…” Laurent whispered to me as he stood on my left and Lady Marian on my right. They still have no idea that I have finally had my wolf. But to be honest, I am scared I won’t be able to control myself once I unleash and shift into my werewolf form. It will be my very first time and I am aware I will have to endure a hell of pain once the process of physical change ha
[ASTER’s Point-of-View]Now I understand how terrifying it must be for Eodelle when I threw her into this very dungeon. Dark, cold, stinking… I am a monster for making her suffer the first night we met. What a tragic first meeting we had. I totally hate myself just thinking of it.I promised Eodelle I will bring our child back. But I failed. I underestimated Helena and I was overconfident that I could still have her trust. I never thought that while I was gone, she had lost our child. I should feel bad about it but what she did to Eodelle is beyond forgiveness.I heard someone sniffing not too far from my cell in the middle of my mooring. The voice was familiar to me as I listened to it carefully.“Nina?”The sniffing stopped.“Your Grace? Is that you? Why are you here?” she asked in shock. I don’t know what cell she was in but her voice was clear. She is careful enough not to make it echo inside the dungeon.“Long Story. But can you tell me what happened?”Nina was very detailed when
For two days I have been trying to stand up on my own feet, wishing the effect of the poison that was given to me by that healer would finally be gone. Despite my anger and my demand not to see her again, the healer still comes into my tent to give me an antidote from the poison for my fast recovery. She had been asking for forgiveness for what she did to me and what happened to me and my baby but I refused to talk to her, letting her guilt eat her inch by inch. Without my baby in my hands, I can’t find any sympathy to give her. My heart is just filled with revenge and a huge desire to have my child and Aster back. To save Nina and make Helena pay for everything she did to me and to the people important to me.I have been suffering from a high fever and with the level of dizziness I feel, I could barely get up from my bed. My body feels like I am inside an oven, slowly being cooked into ashes. I am sweating so badly that the maidservants in the camp had to replace my bedsheet thrice