***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
There were chirping birds by the window. The woodpecker made continuous noise. The couple were wrapped tightly around each other. Guess the hormones acted on their own. Adrian was hugging Isabelle loosely and she in turn, was clutching a piece of his robe in her palm. Adrian's exposed chest served as a resting place for Isabelle's head. They looked calm and peaceful. Why couldn't everyday be like this? Why couldn't they accept each other's circumstances and learn to love? Are arranged marriages a curse? Why do they not want to get involved with each other? Is Adrian really as cruel as he says he is? Adrian was the first to wake up. It was a natural look. He looked around for a while before looking at the intruder in his arms. Why was he holding her? Why were they so close to each other? He could remember how far they were yesterday. What happened? How was he going to escape the situation without waking her? He was removing his arms gently when Isabelle adjusted her pose. H
"Why did you marry Prince Adrian?" Lydia asked Isabelle. They were on their way to the kitchen to meet with the chef."Because I was asked to," she replied."You don't get to choose who you want?" Lydia gasped. "Just like children can't choose their parents, princesses can't choose their grooms. I was only informed about the marriage a few days to it. I'm practically married to a stranger." Lydia looked at Isabelle with pity. She had always thought the nobles had it easy for them. Who would have thought that a princess like that wasn't happy in her marriage? She had everything. Riches, servants, jewelries and all. "But still, I wish you hadn't married Prince Adrian," Lydia voiced out."Why?""He's cruel," Lydia replied coldly. "He kills people easily without a second thought. He's like the devil that acts without reason." Isabelle was confused. Yes, Adrian was cold and unreasonable but he was nice in his own ways. He wasn't that harsh."He's a general, Lydia. He has to k