Crown Prince Ian Stromridge has just returned from battle, hailed as a hero, greeted with people's adoration and blessings but he brings home a beautiful woman, though he's already married leaving everybody completed nonplussed. His wife, Princess Angelica Stromridge wed him for convenience before he left for war. Their marriage lacked affection and was rife with misunderstandings from the start. From name-calling to accidental letters leading to further misconception. During his absence, Angelica played the dutiful wife, sacrificing to maintain the household, being the lovely princess and wonderful daughter in law, only to face his return with another woman whom the entire kingdom agreed was more beautiful than she was! Will she divorce or fight for his love, a love that clearly never existed in the first place? Will she clear the misunderstandings and surmount the obstacles or will it be a post-marriage love story or an ex-wife tale full of regret? Excerpt |||| "My princess..." called a maid, knocking on the door her hand trembling. "Come in." replied Angelica as the door opened hearing footsteps approaching. "What are you doing here? I gave stern orders for no one to disturb me for the entirety of the day." her austere voice rang out. "I... I know my princess... please forgive me... I... I did not mean to disturb you but... this is something very important." "Let's have it then." replied Angelica closing the book she had been reading as she laid eyes on the maid. The maid gulped, the fear evident in her eyes, she did not know how Angelica would react to the severely bad news she had brought with her, however, one thing was sure, Angelica would not react lightly at all. "My... m...y prince...ss the..." said the maid, causing Angelica to sigh in annoyance, rolling her eyes, she had better things to do than sit here listening to the maid's mumbling. "Yes, say it." said Angelica giving the maid a hand. "My princess, the crowned prince has returned." said the maid. "Oh... well that's nice... I guess I will see him later, or better yet tomorrow. There is no rush, I am sure he is swarmed by crowds at the moment." replied Angelica lazily, she really had no intention of moving from this spot. "But my princess... ther— " "Oh, you're right, it would be unacceptable if I did not come out to greet him, rumours would certainly ensue and the kingdom would be in serious hysteria as they always are." replied Angelica annoyed. "Yes, you are right, I should go and welcome him back home." said Angelica as she stood up and yawned. "My princess... that is not all, there is something else..." said the maid. "And what is that?" asked Angelica as the maid's eyes darted around the room, she did not know what to do, or how best to put this. "My princess... the... the crowned prince has truly returned but..." said the maid with a prolonged pause. "But what?" asked Angelica, her senses tingling, she had a inking that there was something wrong from the maid's strange behaviour. "But his highness..." paused the maid. "Out with it now!" said Angelica sternly. "His highness has returned with a strange woman and the rumours claim that she is his new wife!" spat out the maid as Angelica suddenly felt lightheaded and she fell back down on the chair. "My princess!" cried the maid as she rushed to her. "This is some sort of farce." said Angelica as the maid proceeded quickly to fan her with a cloth. "No my princess... it is true." replied the maid. "This is impossible. Ian must be mad, I am going to see this display of stupidity for myself!" said Angelica hotly, quickly rising up and storming out of the room as the poor maid followed behind her. ||||
"Come in." Came the gruff voice of a man the door opened ushering another man in.
"This letter is of grave important, the king himself has given an express warning that it be delivered urgently; it must not be delayed at all. I am sure you know what to do with it." he continued the other he other merely nodded collecting the letter taking off immediately.
The man walked through the halls, holding the letter in his hands tightly, he knew that this was of great importance and he must not dally.
He walked out the front doors and instantly boarded his wagon whipping his horses with severe strength as they neighed and took off rushing as if they were rushing against the setting sun.
The wagon raced against the daylight, the man timing dusk, this letter had to be delivered before nightfall and he was to ensure that it would.
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Light snow descended on a quaint, bustling little cottage town. The streets were filled with several merchants trading their vast collection ranging from fine fabrics to exotic jewelry.
It was almost time to close up market, the starting snow reminding them of the changing seasons. It was now winter, no longer could they stay out displaying their various goods to potential buyers.
Some merchants would say that the winter came with losses, as soon as the snow began and the sun set, people felt no need to come out to market again, but who were they to argue with the set seasons?
Approaching the town, the wagon sped through the streets, causing discomfort and being cursed at by annoyed onlookers who were on their way, however, the man did not decrease his speed, instead he increased his speed, racing against time.
Dusk was on its way in a little while longer, he would have completed his duty.
As the wagon sped on, the sights of little cottages around the streets disappeared and instead was replaced by dense leafless trees struggling to survive the harsh winter.
Considering the speed of the wagon, it would have left behind a trace of dust had it been summer, nevertheless it left behind huge traces of wheels and hooves in the snow.
The vast dense forest disappeared revealing a grand manor that yearned to be restored to its former glory.
The gates of the manor were wide open, only then did the wagon slow down as he approached the front entrance. The man harshly pulled on the reins of his horses causing them to stop abruptly.
With one swift movement, he descended from his wagon, the letter in hand, he walked up the steps to the deteriorating manor, promptly he knocked on the door as it was opened. A maid had answered the door.
"What can I do for you?" the maid asked hastily, it was cold, she was freezing.
"A letter from his majesty the king to your lord." replied the man plainly handing the letter to the confused maid.
"Thank you good sir." replied the maid politely but the man had already turned around boarded his wagon once more and rode away as quickly as he had came.
The maid confusedly closed the doors behind her, holding the letter tightly in her hand. It was a known fact that a direct letter from the king meant either good news or bad news. In this case she was certain it was the latter.
The maid quickly scurried through the manor, up the steps and turned right into a corner. She stopped at a particular door and knocked, patiently waiting for a response.
"Enter." heard the maid as she opened the door and stepped into the office with her head bowed down.
"Forgive me for disturbing you my lord but there is a letter for you from the—"
"Enough, bring it here and leave." A middle aged man shouted with an annoyed scowl on his face, interrupting the poor maid.
"Ahhh... yes my lord." the maid replied hurriedly giving him the letter and rushing out of the room closing the door behind her softly.
"Who is it from?" asked a tender-eyed woman that was sitting across him, the fireplace crackled beside them bestowing a warm, bright glow.
"It is a letter from the King." the man declared with suspicion and carefulness, he was quick to notice the red emblem from the royal family.
"A letter from the king?" asked the woman worriedly, the man did not answer her, instead he hastily opened the letter and read through it his eyes filled with intense rage as he read every single word.
"What... what...does... it say Dariel?" the woman asked, her voice wavering almost as if she was scared to voice out her question.
"The king has summoned me to his court!" exclaimed Dariel in towering rage his tall figure rising from his seat.
"Co...ourt...?!" she asked in shock.
"Yes court! Are you deaf Ohara? The king is summoning me!" shouted Dariel once more, scaring his wife transferring his aggression on her.
"Yes, I heard you Dariel, I heard you." replied Ohara, she hated it when her husband behaved like this, however, she knew that his reaction in this case was justifiable.
"I knew it! I knew this day would come and I have always dreaded it! That my insolently, wicked half-brother has finally decided to fight me for my title!" said Dariel sharply, his voice loud.
"Dariel, I beg of you, please calm down, lower your voice, you might alert some of the servants and we do not want to answer several questions, I beg you my husband, try to calm down." begged Ohara, she could see his rage increasing by the minute and she feared that soon someone they would not like to hear about this would.
"Shut up Ohara and do not dare tell me to calm down! That is the last thing that should be coming out of your mouth right now!" he attacked, his voice even louder.
"Forgive me my dear, I know I am wrong." she said lowering her head.
"That you are! Who are you to tell me to calm down Ohara!"
"This is unacceptable, unacceptable I say!" Dariel exclaimed disregarding the prospect that someone with itchy ears could be listening on the outside.
Truly someone with itchy ears was listening right outside the door.
"They want to take my title away from me?! A title that so rightly belongs to me by birth!" he raged on. Ohara felt as if the ground should open and swallow her up, it was better to be swallowed up than to be in the presence of such a furious man. At the moment she truly feared for her life greatly.