"Why ?…Who are you ?"
She gripped her sword unsheathing it and raising it to his chin . "Identify yourself."
"Me ? No one in particular…yet." he kept grinning ear to ear.
What strange man .
She picked up her coat and headed towards The Hall of Union . She could still feel his sick eyes on her , crimson , intense. Her appearance was again sure to cause new scandal …she chuckled at the thought of Duke Valerie buzzing to people how her top six buttons are undone and how her pants almost came off , or maybe she will almost say she came in undergarments.
How funny . Maybe she should take some literature classes from her. She can raise a decent writer with her imagination.
She stood before the Hall placing her hand on the cold metal knob , debating whether to go back to garden or inside , she was second guessing herself , when her boots got drenched with the red wine splattered through the door ….
Red wine ?
No….Blood .
Blood ?
Wait…as someone who trained with the knights and aided in battle strategist , she couldn't be wrong about it. But blood ?
Her mind a mess, went to and back from every possibility . Her fingers twitched on the metal knob as she struggled to keep her mind from getting fuzzy.Her breaths cut short.
Its alright .
Its just wine.
Nothing much .
Maybe just an intruder.
It can't be bad .
Right ?
She flung open the door and to her horror , her eyes saw something her heart refused to believe.
It was blood . A pool of carcass floating in the red sticky fluid . Everyone…even the…the…
The Emperor ?!!!
He was beheaded in front of the throne . The throne ?
Prince Asher sprawled on it , his foot crashing Lord Argentine's fingers with his weight . All dead…everyone dead. Its a massacre.
Prince Asher - the sickly prince who couldn't even speak a word without coughing blood was smiling - his eyes golden - out of the two princes he resembled late Empress Ashley Sinclair the most ….
A horrifying smile plastered across his lips as he stared at Prince Asher who still looked at her like a lost puppy just like the little prince Asher , except his hands and robe were red . He was the personification of chaos , wrapped in that handsome skin and golden strands of hair that fell down till his waist .
"Lucaaa ! I was searching for you all over you know ?"
"You-Your Highness…" - her voice trembled before his monstrosity .
"My Crown…why are you shaking like a leaf ? Come forth."
"Wh-what have you done Asher …? Tell me I'm dreaming …tell me its a lie ?" - her pupils withered , unable to look him in the eyes.
"You. You swore to the crown did you not ? "
"Yes …I did…"
"Yes . So now I have it . Won't you crown me Luca ?"
"What ?You ! You killed your kin you demon !"- her rage flew out of her mind , no longer sane . Her eyes red with remorse…
"How righteous ! That doesn't suit you well - the harlot of Argentine . "
"You people merely let me on the sick excuse while living your best lives…this is just a little repayment."
If only she didn't leave the room. If only she stayed with her old men. If only ….she failed the late queen. She raised a demon. A demon.
"What ? I don't understand Luca…"
"What did you do ?…." - she broke down in a mess as she walked towards Asher who stepped on her father's fingers . She took her father and her old man's face in her hand screaming like her world fell apart.
"How could you….how could you - how !" - she sobbed through her voice , her breath hitched in her chest.
"Lies ! Don't give me that fake sympathy ! I don't need it understand ?" - he let out a low growl as his voice echoed through the hall followed by murmurs .
"What…..don't you like the crown? That's why you stuck so close to father and brother. So , I thought I'd gift it to you with their heads . Isn't that right ladies and gentlemen ?"
The crowed cheered amongst the monstrosity . The Council of Kings Heart had betrayed the king along with the elders of Argentine family . They planned this all…
"All the while your Majesty thought of you as sick and burdened the second prince , is this how you repay them ?"
"Yes. Now…what's done is done . Do you wish to be my advisor instead?" - he leaned towards her.
She spat on his face .
"I'd rather die."
Ah…
His fingers and lips twitched in dismay as his lips curled in a gut wrenching foul smile. The crowd behind her cheered for the new king to behead the "monster" .
"Oh….so off you go Lucas Argentine. I'll preserve your head real good on the state capital ."
He smiled sweetly at her - like the first time they met . Late Queen Ashley was bedridden with serious illness that winter , and it seemed to get worse with time. Little Ashler had just turned three . He hid behind Lucas ,who without a fail came to greet her teacher.
That sweet child…how can he…where did that child go ?
Where did she go wrong ?
She drew a hitched breath amidst that dazed state , as a sharp pain numbed her bosom and a deep sigh relieved her of all her misery , except her memories of this life …
and regret.
When suddenly she woke with a flash as a fatal blow to Asher's head swooped him off the throne earning audible gasp from the crowd . The crowd caught offguard scurried away in frenzy. The assassins dress pants were stained with the collective blood…her vision was fading .Its him. The man she met at the garden .
A thin sword pierced her heart as she coughed up blood and blood gurgled off of the fresh wound. It didn't hurt as much as the regret and pain in her heart witnessing the betrayal and death of her sweet princes. Her shoulders slumped from the weight of defeat. She failed everyone .
She couldn't protect the empire.
If only she could wind back the time…
If only she could start it all over again.
If she gets a chance back in next life she will make sure to keep her promise to her teacher. She will find that motherfucker and make sure he pays with his life for assassinating Asher and debauchery against the royal family. She will spend more time with her old men . She will ....
Father.
Forgive me. I couldn't be your Lucas.