Ch 1: BETRAYAL

••ROXANA••

"Princess, High Priest is here and asking for you."

My face brightens up instantly when my maid reports. I have been waiting for this day—since my marriage day to now no-one has ever visited me. Lifting my slit gown's skirt slightly, I ran barefoot all the way through the cold marble floor and the quiet corridors of the castle.

"Father-in-law, I greet—"

I paused when I saw the royal knights in the castle hallway. They were all fully armoured, carrying swords and were standing in a serious stance with their faces covered in golden helmets. My body tensed up and I couldn't understand the meaning of their presence in Holy land.

I looked at my father-in-law, the High Priest with confusion. Were the royal knights here to deliver emperor's orders or were they here to take me back to the capital city?

And before I could ask anything further, two of the knights snapped from their stance and cuffed my wrists behind with the iron shackles.

"What is the meaning of this?" I glanced over the knights who dared to touch me. "How dare you put cuffs on me? Are you forgetting who I'm?"

I turned my face to the High Priest and bawled angrily, "Father-in-law, why aren't you saying anything?"

The oldman sighed and politely replied, "Princess, you have brought shame on us. Your outrageous behaviour has tarnished the reputation of our Holy land Selena."

"W-What do you mean? Why would I…?" I gazed apprehensively at him and was baffled by his claims.

"Do not pretend to be unaware of the truth, Princess. You have to pay the price for what you have done."

His disheartening words erupted a feeling of fear in my heart and sudden thought of improvement made me instinctively kneel on my knees and throw my upper body at the feet of the High Priest.

" Father-in-law… please believe me. I would never do anything to bring shame upon Holy land. I beg you, do not allow them to take me…"

I begged for help without knowing why I was even begging. The feeling of getting abandoned and becoming helpless has always stayed in my heart like a needle. I held the feet of the High Priest, my tears falling on his polished shoes while I pleaded for his help but maybe my fear won the bait.

He stepped backwards and looked at the knights with an unpleasant gaze. "Take her away from my sight."

My heart sank deep into the nothingness void as the two knights walked forth and dragged me all the way out.

"No…No, please listen to me. Father-in-law, please…"

I raised my hands in an attempt to hold onto his robe but failed miserably. I got stunned into silence by the coldness in the High Priest's eyes. He turns his back on me and walks out of there. Every passing step of his made me feel closer to my misfortune. Ten years of family relationship ended in a few minutes.

Wry smile crawled on my lips, after all what can I expect from a political marriage between two powerful opponents? I was just playing a role of a rope that amended the rivalry, bringing them together.

Being dragged out of the cathedral castle in chains, I received the pitiful stares of the maids. I twitched my lips in annoyance and ordered, "Stop giving me pitiful looks."

I couldn't let them hurt my pride, letting them witness my breakdown and helplessness. I was a strong woman and I'll be one forever. Nobody should pity me. Whatever fate has for me, I'll accept it proudly. As a princess of the royal family, my blood carries pride and honour.

***

Next morning, I was brought into the royal court. My eyes darted around, the familiar faces I was witnessing after ten years. My step siblings, stepmother and on top of the throne sat my father, emperor Alexander Clifton.

He didn't even flinch upon my arrival in such a humiliating way. His golden hair and pair of jewelled blue eyes still dominates the elven features, the family trait of royal blood. And only I was the one who truly inherited his genes.

I could see my stepsister, Helene, smirking at me with evil intention. Ignoring her, I looked straight into my father's eyes and asked sarcastically, "What is my crime?"

The court went silent for a minute. They were baffled by my attitude. Without even greeting the emperor, I indifferently questioned him. The ministers and the judges shuddered, imagining the consequences of such disrespect towards the emperor.

My father clenched his hands and his lips tightened as he tried to suppress his anger. That act of his made me chuckle.

The courtroom was brought into a suffocating death atmosphere. Everyone gulped in nervously as they listened to my unbothered laugh.

"Princess Roxana Clifton."

My father's thunderous voice echoed through the room, making everyone's heart race except mine. I stood there like a statue with no ounce of fear of him.

My father's eyebrows furrowed, he turned his face to the other side and declared, " You are accused of having murdered your brother, the crown prince's fiancee. All suspects are on you and evidence is clear."

" I see," I chuckled and tilted my head to one side, I asked, "And you believe them, father?"

Ironically he ignored my question and ordered, "For committing such a sinister crime against the royal family, you are sentenced to death."

The ground slipped beneath my feet as I watched him leaving from the royal court. The man who never showed affection for me, his eyes only had coldness for me. Since childhood I only wished to impress him and have him praise me with a smile like he did to my other siblings. But I only ever received hatred glances from him.

I was dragged once again out of the royal court and locked in one of the dungeon's dark rooms. I kneeled down on the cold floor, my heart suffocating in pain and grief. I knew all hated me and wanted me gone but this was just straight up cruel and humiliating.

The cold, and lonely dark walls of the room were enough to feel sorry for my pathetic life.

Suddenly heavy metallic footsteps reverberated in the damp silence of the dungeon. My body stiffened as my throat dries up in terror.

SQUEAK

The iron gate of my room opened with a squeaking sound. I lifted my face and a heart threatening sight came into my eyes.

The faint reflection of moonlight falling through the small window of the room made the man's tall silhouette visible in the darkness and I clearly recognised the man.

The man stood before me, carrying his unsheathed sword resembling a vicious slayer. While his silver armour shone brightly under the moonlight, reflecting the purity of his armour.

His eyes glistened crimson hue, sending shivers down my spines. He was horrifying to me whom I could never face. Breaking the eye contact, I gazed blankly in the darkness.

The man was my husband, the heartless man of my life who never completed his duty to my husband. Never ever visited me in these past ten years of our marriage life. Left me alone in the cathedral castle to suffer in boredom.

He broke me and watched me bleed. He caged me in his castle, saw me suffer from eating and sleeping disorders but never did he extend his hand to help me.

After all that, what could possibly be left underneath me? My soul no longer felt attracted to him, I burnt in rage but what could I possibly do? I honestly wanted to…be loved by someone.

"Princess, how are you?"