Ch 2: DYING AT MY HUSBAND'S HANDS

••ROXANA••

He spoke in his serious voice and for some reason his addressing me as princess irritated me and gave me the feeling of his mockery. I was his wife but he still addresses me as princess. No affection in his voice for me. I knew he hated me but at least he could trust me for once and let me warm his frosted heart.

Clenching my fists, I repeated, "How do you expect me to be in this hell?"

He didn't answer like always and a regretful smile escaped from my lips. I almost forgot who my husband actually loved. How could I expect love from a man who has someone else embedded in his heart?

Lord Paladin Aaron Wilder, the rumoured tyrant and my husband whose face I haven't seen in these years. The man who's war achievements were known to every citizen of the Elovera and Holy Land. He, who hated his wife and had an affair with my step sister Helene. The very same man was now standing before me in his Paladin armour, face covered with his silver helmet. His fingers wrapped tightly around the sword's shaft.

I squeezed my chest in grief. I realised why my husband was here. He who neglected me, refused to see me was here with his sword to kill me of course.

"D-Darling…"

I stuttered, only god knows how long I have waited to call him this dearly. I hitched and looked up at him, staring into his murderous red eyes.

"Darling, you are a warlord but even the men of war take off their armour once in a while. But why you never?" I argued with a heavy heart. "Why am I not allowed to see my husband's face?" I bawled angrily, I had enough of playing innocent and delicate.

Aaron look down at me with unbearable silence which annoyed me even more. My fear towards him faded away and I walked close to him.

"Please say something. I don't want to die without knowing your reason for treating me like this."

I waited for his answer and all I received was a cold glance. Clenching my fists, I repeated, "Are you forgetting who I'm?"

"You are the princess of the Elovera empire and your blood is of elves. Forgive my ignorance," he said curtly as he removed his helmet and that very same minute, I grabbed the front of his cloak's collar and locked my lips on his.

I closed my eyes instinctively because I couldn't look at his face. I don't know why I had no courage to see his face. Suddenly he wrapped his arm around my waist and his lips moved urgently on mine. Almost instantly he moves his hand down and grabs my hips and pulls me against his chest that overwhelmed me.

His grip on me tightened and I grasped, allowing him to deepen the kiss. His masculine scent immersed in smoky oud wood scent awakened my cravings for him.

My body shimmered in heat and I smiled against his lips, moving my hands down to his waist. Aaron abandoned my hip when he felt the vicious thick blood on his skin.

Separating his lips from mine, he looked down and saw his sword forced inside my stomach.

"W-Why?"

He mumbled embracing me in his arms, I don't know why he looked traumatised when he ignored me his whole life.

I smirked and replied, "I can't be more honest than this." I spilled a mouthful of blood before I said my last words, "Now I have no regrets, I saw your face, touched you, kissed. T-Thank you for breaking my heart, Aaron."

I blurted out lots of blood and my body went numb. My breathing slowed down and my heartbeat stopped. I felt my body sinking deep into the void of nothingness.

However after a long time of staying in that state she realised she wasn't feeling any pain and her heart was pounding again.

"Ah. Why am I like this?"

I rubbed my eyes and woke up, finding myself in the grand bedroom. I sighed and closed my eyes in an attempt to wake up from this beautiful dream. But no matter how many times I opened my eyes, I found myself in the same grand bedroom.

'Didn't I just killed my myself then why am I in my royal bedroom?' I looked around in confusion.

My hands ran down to my stomach and my jaws dropped in surprise. There was no blood. I panicked and aggressively roamed my hands on my body. Through the corner of my eyes I noticed a mirror and ran before it.

Touching myself curiously, I couldn't help but be shocked and speechless by how it was not a dream but reality.

"Princess, are you awake?"

I instantly turned back when I heard the maid's voice and saw them standing at the door entrance with their faces down. My sparkled in amazement, I have really travelled back in time. But how many years back in time have I travelled?

I looked at the maids and asked, "How old am I?"

"Princess, you are going to be 18 after two months," one of the maids replied politely.

Grabbing my head, I sat down on the bed and thought. According to my past memories, when I was married off to Paladin Aaron Wilder when I turned 18. I couldn't possibly stop the marriage but I have a plan which will change my fate.

"Princess, your breakfast is—"

"I have to meet my father. You all can leave."

"B-But—"

"But what?" I glared at them for not obeying my orders. "Do you have anything else to say to me?"

The maids looked at each other before apologising and leaving my bedroom. I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror. Nothing has changed. The maids still feared me because I was rumoured to be a mad princess.

Sadly that's what I was famous for. I used to create chaos in the royal palace if I didn't get what I wanted. I used to beat the maids if they didn't follow my orders. I used to sleep all day in my room instead of socialising.

And the reason for all this was my father. He never acknowledged me as his daughter and had me live alone in a backyard palace where no-one paid me a visit. I was given everything but not fatherly affection. He literally forgot about my existence and only remembered when he needed me for political marriage.

"Now I don't even want anything from him!" I chuckled as I walked out of my room.

***

Royal Palace

I hurriedly dashed towards the emperor's office. I would be lying if I say I wasn't nervous because this will be my first time visiting him. In my past, I never had a meeting with him since all my needs were taken care of by the palace's butler.

I finally arrived at the office of the emperor and the guards stopped me abruptly.

"Princess, his majesty is busy with official work now. Return to your palace."

The knights firmly replied and looked at me coldly as if they were disgusted by my presence. Titling my head, I jested, "Are you looking down on me?"

"Princess, please stop causing a scene and go back to your palace. His majesty is busy at this moment," they kept chanting the same words and I felt infuriated. "You must make an appointment a day before to meet his majesty."

Forcing a smile on my lips, I scoffed, "Oh dear, now I have to make an appointment to meet my father."

The guards laughed at me. "Princess, it's a rule for everyone, even the crown prince has to make an appointment for his majesty's audience."

"Too bad because I'm going to break that unnecessary rule right now."