Prologue: The Dark Queen.

Prologue: The Dark Queen.

The throne...

Marriage, love, and duty to her kingdom.

The Dark Queen has spent her life doing it all, from the moment she was able to see life within its true colors. Queen Eleanor Rose Alberich was named as such, for it was in her nature to be dark.

Eleanor sees the world in gray, she couldn't see what was the reason why she was made to be this way.

She couldn't feel joy in what she was told to do.

Nobility fighting for power, children being groomed into a desire to marry someone greater of their rank in hopes their wealth flusters.

A Queen needs her King consort.

A third prince from a distant land his kingdom sublime, he wanted the Queen's marriage in hand to expand his influence and power.

"Would you like to have a kingdom free of its corrupt system? Where nobles thrive and commoners stay where they are. I promise to give you such a future, no poverty will come and magic will be the most powerful in your country with my blessing of the spirits."

With his sweet words and actions, he won the court and the heart of its people.

The nobles ate all of his heaven-like promises in making a better future for the kingdom. They all applauded his ideas and ideals immediately wanting him to be their future King.

He smiles thinking that all of his plans were coming into place, now all that was left was to have the Queen under his thumb but he knew it wasn't such an easy task.

The Queen was praised for her unbeatable beauty, her hair black as coal, her eyes that shimmered like gold, and her slender voluptuous body was unforgettable. Many suitors fought not only for power but to taste such beauty- was something to brag about.

The woman did not like the idea of affection.

Yet, he wanted everything to be in place so the third prince made sure to become the best prospective husband there was to be.

Whenever the Queen was out for a stroll he would watch and ask if he could join. After rejection that seems to be never-ending, she finally agreed after months of persuasion.

Curious the Dark Queen was, the man did not leave her side. Whether it be rain or shine- he was there to say his greetings.

She blindly believed it was love and soon they got married.

For the whole kingdom to witness, ring in hand they said their vows. The third prince felt so happy inside, finally, his plan was coming to a close.

"I, Cedric Morningstar, take her hand in marriage. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death." He held her by the hand and laughed, feeling everything was almost too easy.

The Dark Queen stares at the ring he placed on her hand and smiled so happily for the first time in a while and told him her vow.

"I, Eleanor Rose Alberich promise to be your wife for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death my heart will be yours."

In love she was, Eleanor wanted time to stop as they kissed and it all tasted so sweet.

Clang! Cling! Clang!

Bells ringing, they released the doves as they flew into the distance. The sun shined in her eyes as the bride threw the bouquet.

Many single noble ladies fought for it and her most trusted friend won the lottery.

Everything... was perfect.

They left for the palace, a honeymoon was in place and soon immediately the consort was crowned king.

...

A year after their marriage.

Everything turned gray once more.

The Queen looked pale, refusing to eat after hearing her husband telling her that she should lose some weight.

"Your highness, please... at least one bite- you should at least take one bite." One of her trusted servants pushes a plate of warm vegetable soup, the savory sweet scent was overtaking her but-

"..."

It hurt her.

She loved the man so she did all she could. She promised not to eat and lose weight for her husband, to look beautiful and young.

"If you're not eating your highness I will... send it back to the kitchen." The maid takes the bowl away from the Queen who blinks, holding her head trying not to feel dizzy.

The servants knew the Queen's behavior was too extreme, not eating for days and only drinking water would soon make her sick.

Slam!

The King has come looking angry inside the dining hall, looking at his wife. "My love- you've finally come to eat?"

Eleanor was happy to see her husband but it wasn't a mutual feeling. The other party seemed mad and rushed towards her.

"I suspect that my wife is cheating on me! You dare cheat on me?!" The king consort, the prince that once adored and never left her side was now holding her arm in place leaving a red mark.

"Who was it? Why were you talking to that knight? Am I not satisfying you enough in bed that you dare look at another man?!" He pulls Eleanor over with force, the servants could only bite their lips and stay still.

They fear if they dare move, their life would be in peril.

The King was not as kind as he was a year ago.

Eleanor couldn't believe what he was hearing, cheat on him?! The love of her life?! It was preposterous to even think of it!

"My love, believe me! I did not! I could never! Please believe me!" (Eleanor) pleaded for her husband to believe her, she really did no such thing as looking for another man but ever since their marriage- rumors seemed to have emerged out of nowhere.

"Do you believe I would cheat on you?!"

She asks and the king could only click his tongue leaving without a word.

Eleanor was broken to see that her husband didn't answer her question and just left.

For her whole life, she didn't believe in love, the only person he loved was Cedric- one who showed her kindness and compassion.

All of it was fake and yet the poor girl denied that she was used so horribly like a pawn meant to be eaten after another has claimed victory to become king.

Eleanor Rose Alberich lived in her little pink-tinted glass of a world. She pretended that everything was still perfect, her husband has just been busy so that's why she wasn't spending time with her-

Her husband must be having council meetings with the other nobles that's why he's not attending their dinner dates as planned.

"..."

Her world of grey turned dark... empty.

New rumors surfaced, and a rebellion was starting to form- several pieces of evidence were planted that the perpetrator and supporter were part of the royal family but they didn't know who.

...

On the night of their first anniversary together, everyone was invited to a ball held inside the palace. Almost everyone in the noble circle was present, Eleanor went with her usual route, being friendly, keeping smiles towards her acquaintances, and hiding the dark circles under her eyes.

The dark queen was tired.

"Where is your husband, your majesty? Seeing that this is your anniversary between the two of you- is everything alright?" Her friend asked, genuinely worried, holding her by the shoulder and noticing that not everything is alright with Eleanor.

The dark queen could only bite her lips, she didn't know where her husband has left. Eleanor was ashamed she couldn't answer that question so she made up a lie, "He's most likely relieving himself and we... are alright."

The sudden hesitation didn't convince her friend that everything was 'alright'.

Just when the Duchess was about to ask more, gasps emerged from the entrance way and everyone seemed to be surrounding the area looking like they'd seen a ghost.

"What... is... happening?" (Eleanor) mutters, also curious at what could be making such a commotion at her anniversary ball?

"...Cedric."

Her legs couldn't hold on much longer, it gave out she almost fell to the floor.

"Eleanor!" The Duchess manages to catch her in time before looking in the same direction her blood ran cold. "Cedric with... a stranger?!"

She squints once more, looking for a second time seeing that the girl the King was escorting looked familiar.

"That's not just a stranger... that's the Baron's daughter of a fallen house! She's a commoner, how dare he hold her by the arm knowing you're his wife-!" The Duchess grits her teeth in anger and was about to storm after the man who hurt her best friend but Eleanor pleaded to not do anything that might ruin her reputation for her sake.

"Everyone! May I have your attention please!"

King Cedric Morningstar calls out for everyone's attention.

"I am divorcing Queen Eleanor Rose Alberich, after finding out that she cheated on me- and my heart aches to say that she has fallen out of love with me and planned to dethrone me by using the rebellion she has funded outside the city!"

Such an announcement made an uproar with all the nobilities inside that room but some were not surprised.

Many were with the King, accomplices that wanted the Queen gone.

"Lies..." (Eleanor) held her head almost turning inside to what she was hearing and saying. "All of them are lies!"

The dark queen could no longer bear the pain she was feeling and cried out, the Duchess help her stand up and fight for her honor but the King was preparing to take over the kingdom for years now.

"How dare you accuse me of such baseless rumors! I could never turn my back towards my kingdom! I... I am the Queen!" (Eleanor) didn't expect the man she trusted and married would be such a skunk!

"Don't believe me? Well here's your evidence!" He takes a few documents out of his [Spatial Ring] and throws them in the air.

The nobles picked up the paper that was in their air and ground.

Documents and letters, all evidence against the Queen.

"I can't believe our own Queen would do this..."

"S-Shouldn't we investigate first?"

"But the evidence is here... the attacks funded by the rebellion killed my nephew. How dare she!"

Everyone would turn their eyes glaring towards Eleanor who loved her people even if they didn't feel the same.

"Death! I propose for her to take the punishment! The rebellion sought many lives! Would you wait for her to take more?!" A noble chanted out in the crowd earning everyone's attention.

The King grins, it was one of his friends, and that one chanting turned the tide even further in his favor.

"I agree! We shouldn't have dirty royal blood here!"

"Death to the dark queen!"

"Punishment by the heavens has been spoken!"

The Duchess was the only one who stood up to protect Eleanor, but soon she was held by the arm by her husband and even if she screamed that their friend would do no such thing- the crowd had decided for the fate of their Queen.

Eleanor stood still in fear hearing all the nobles she's befriended before turning her back on her.

She looked up feeling angry, the mistress of her husband was smiling...

King Cedric Morningstar needed just one more push.

"I propose one of my favorite punishments to give, a public execution!" He shouts for all nobles to hear. "Death... by the guillotine."

...

The execution hall was outside of the palace, inside the city where commoners gathered seeing their monarch tied up and silent.

The nobles smiled happily knowing that they now could start a new line of nobles ruling once she was gone.

"We are here to witness, a traitor-! Die under God's will! She has betrayed our kingdom! Eleanor Rose Alberich shall know divine punishment!" The announcer calls out into the crowd.

People of all ages were forced to watch, some commoners cried and others were angry. The dark queen was a monarch worthy of respect.

Eleanor stood still, tired of living. The whole week she was in the dungeon, she wasn't allowed to see the outside world- she didn't dare think she would see it again.

"Any last words... your majesty?"

Eleanor sighs looking at the crowd.

"Hahaha..."

The dark queen was laughing, and everyone in the crowd got chills.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Eleanor continued to laugh until it sounded like she had turned mad.

"You! All of you who dared smear dirt on my name-" She kneels on the wooden platform smiling. "You-! Will know true divine punishment! The King- is a liar! The nobility is a liar! Everyone who turned against me- telling me I'm a traitor- is a liar!"

Eleanor wanted to tell the crowd more things, the once kind ruler- it seemed that her spirit was gone.

"Stop that madwoman from spitting nonsense! What are you waiting for?! Get her in the guillotine!" A guard yells and soon, Eleanor's body was placed under the device- the sharp blade was let go.

Shick!

Eleanor's head slowly rolled into the basket with a smile on her face as she cursed those who had wronged her to die a painful death.