Wars of the Heart
Amelia Luna-dynn is a young damsel of unassuming character. However, there is a deadly secret she harbors: that she is the daughter of a forbidden race, a tribe despised by the royals of the Kingdom. She is the sole survivor, discreetly living an unseen life as a commoner. But there are scars on her back that betray her origin, requiring her to cleanse herself in order to stay alive and unrecognised. With such reins attached to her race, it is impossible to find someone who would love her despite the dangers of her origin. But one night, when at the verge of being eaten by beasts, she is saved by a mysterious man from the grasp of death. Curiosity drives the damsel to chase love. Despite being downtrodden, she stumbles upon the opportunity meeting with high society by joining a Book Club run by the beautiful daughter of the Duke, Charlene Walterus. Amelia makes friendships with nobles and soon comes close to a romance with a man she suspects to be her secret rescuer, but is hopeless that his heart is far gone in the arms of the duke’s daughter. Will she win a wedding with the man of her dreams? But most importantly, will her fantasies of a perfect marriage come true? Or will she suffer a strained marital relationship, with unrequited feelings, far from the heart of the one she loves? Excerpt: That night, he was exhilarated to have married the woman of his desires. But Charlene had told him a bothersome fact about the origin of his newly wedded wife that he could not shake off his mind, for he knew she would have told him, had it been true. The tall man stepped into Amelia’s chamber and found her seated at the rim of the bed, blushing. The very sight of her innocent disposition had always brought him the insane urge to sweep her up in his arms and protect her. But before they would make love, there was an important question blaring at the edge of his mind. “Y-you’re here”, her soft voice was almost breathless. She rose to her feet, but rested against the wall, shy and nervous. “Amelia”, he tasted her name, drawing close to her. Tenderly placing a finger under her chin and lifting her face to meet his, he gazed into her eyes and asked, “Is it true that you are of the Celeste Clan?” There was silence in response and fear in her eyes. She did not deny it. A strong feeling of hurt enveloped his chest, when he realised that she was no different. Charlene’s words about her were not simply contemptuous lies of jealousy planted to his attention, but the raw truth. ~ Amelia gasped when he rammed his fist against the wall in the absolute pangs of frustration. It was like it burnt his senses to think that she would deliberately hold something as significant as her origin from him, regardless of all things of his secrets that he had shared with her, while they were yet secret lovers. She knew the fault was hers, but she had been too scared to relay, for she had loved him far too much to lose him. “Why did you hide this from me?” he breathed, voice cold and low and deadly, colored by his unpronounced rage. His face was dangerously close to hers, such that she could hear his very breath, seething. Tears began to pierce her eyes, threatening to fall. She had never meant to deceive him. But in that moment, she was afraid. Heart throbbing loud enough to be heard, her lips were quivering and she shivered. When his gaze swept down at her frightened disposition, there was a flicker of tenderness in his eyes. But it lasted not even as long as a moment’s worth. He was cold. He did not confront her for the secrets she was keeping, but silently withdrew himself. There were many things she wished to say in apology, but she could not find her voice. And by the time she could speak, he had left her chambers. Tears flurried down her face. She could not believe that her fears had ruined the very first day of her marriage. It was the day she had wished to divulge her secret to him, but it seemed like it had already been out.
21. Compelled into the Arms of a Nightmare
Compelled into the arms of a Nightmare
~
The Bed Chamber of the King,
The Central Wing of the Imperial Castle,
The Capital City of Tronder,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Early hours of the morning,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Prince Rayzenn Crestings smiled in passive mirth and gazed over his father's face before nodding slow, "The Kingdom remains in your hands regardless of all desires. You know the right time and place and will carry things on as needed", he said.
"Well, that is if I am here to withhold the parting until your settlement", the father replied, most hesitantly.
And the prince understood exactly why his father wished for him to hasten with his intentions. His own hesitations could cost him everything he was bestowed with.
"I understand", said he.
"Eliza tells me there is a fair maiden in your province with the upbringing and divine natures of a wondrous companion. The daughter of the Duke running the Hall of Publications. I know you are quite close to the man of the Walterus house. Are you not interested in the likes of her?" the King asked.
"I believe I haven't been acquainted enough to make judgements of her nature. But I shall invest and have you know of my opinions", Rayzenn replied, with a smile on his face.
"Alright", the elderly man nodded, like their conversation was folded.
The black haired prince took his father's hand and placed a tender kiss, marking his good bye. "I will be off to Duke Walterus' Estate for business."
Then, the young man exited the King's personal chambers, purpose crisp in his stride. At his leaving, the various grooms and maidens that tended to the Crown aristocrat's health made their way inside and resume their duties.
Rayzenn hastened his step and made way down the spiralling stairways and elegant halls to-wards the grand doors, his mind buzzling with a melee of thoughts.
He had not disclosed to his father that he was still plagued by nightmares of his mother even after ten long years of endless suffering. He had not voiced the heart of his hesitations towards marriage.
It was constricting and ever growing, despite how much Rayzenn willed to leave the thoughts aside like they did not exist. He knew that the more he fed them, the more they would grow.
But in case he wished to speak them out, it would be with his men: the ones he was going to meet at the courtyard and take with him during his day and its various calls.
As he exited the Imperial Castle, butler Weston was there, outside, bringing the carriage to order. "A moment while I can visit the chiefs and then I will be here for the journey", Prince Rayzenn told the man, before withdrawing to the garth.
And there they were, training each man in his own field:
Nate was the Head of the Cavalry, mastering the grounds upon horseback and drilling his men with sword art;
Reid was the Chief of Artillery, testing his troops with aim and poise in the skills of archery;
Aaron, the Commander General in charge of the Infantry, was sounding calls to the armed trainees marching about;
And finally, Zebedee, the Chief of the Naval force was standing by, making conversation with some men.
There were the gents that were closest Prince Rayzenn, for they would soon assume arch post in the fields of warfare when he is crowned King, and they would be at his immediate service once the Kingdom would be parted to his inheritance.
But for the time being, the men were close companions, having been trained together in the art of combat and weaponry since the days of their youth and reaching the superior ranks by blood, sweat and tears.
At the approach of the young dark haired royal, all four generals quit their duties and assembled before him.
"Before training today, I will have business elsewhere", Rayzenn began.
"Isn't the Duke meeting you this morning?" Reid quirked a brow.
"Yes, but I am going to his Estate instead", the prince sighed, perching on the railing nearby. "I seems to be arranged so. I expect you will be my escorts?"
"Yes, Sire, but what is the business? Is it a special event?" Aaron asked, seeming curious.
"No, it is that my parents wish for my acquaintance with the daughter of the duke", the long haired man replied, seeming most uninterested.
"Tough", Nate chuckled, nudging Rayzenn's arm. "Per-haps she isn't as terrible a woman as you may imagine?"
"May-be she is cultured and believes in love and loyalty as you expect after all?" Zebedee added, in hopeful suggestions to the downcast Prince.
The green eyed man simply rubbed the nape of his neck and shrugged, "I'm not sure. The whole prospect of marrying any maiden is not for me. Perhaps I should simply pursue someone of another kingdom who is not mad for wealth? But my entrance to her life would only promise further expansion she could thirst for, instead of the heart."
"What about that little damsel you've been watching for months now?" Nate winked.
There was an amused smile that tickled the side of his lips and a mild warmth scaling his neck and the Prince nodded. "Perhaps she is a prospect, but I am not entirely sure how far I would pursue her. I have much to ascertain regarding her character" was his reply.
"A woman of a foreign land instead would give you lesser means of 'ascertaining character'", Zebedee added.
Rayzenn nodded, before his mind remembered a fragment of his earlier conversation with King Jesse Crestings. He knew that his Chief of Artillery was the one usually sent to the palace of Reagin to bring news regarding his brother's expected wedding. Turning to Reid, his chief archer, he asked, "What were the details of the exchange of correspondences we have with the Kingdom of Reagin?"
"I heard they had sent a letter last night, but since I was with you, I had no chance of going to retrieve it", the head officer of artillery replied.
"I heard from the King that apparently, they were seeking a fast date for the wedding with my brother", Prince Rayzenn relayed. "Is everything in order for the proceeding? Was the marriage not decided to be held a couple years further? Why has there been this recent urgency in request?"
~
Something's brewing >.<
Also don't worry about the overload of new characters and names. They'll be appearing a lot and I'll re-enforce thier descriptions when they're more prominent.