DECREASE IMPERIAL KINGDOM
Ahhh! Oh shit!
William creases his brows when the maid presses the steamy clothes on his injury.
"This is for your own good, my prince…. The handmaid was trying to console him.
"Oh, shut up! William shrilled, his veins popping out.
"This is all Ragaleon's fault. He sent me to the battlefield to be butchered by those wolves! William was in pain, his whole body burning.
"He will have a scar on his face." The grand maester said, turning to gaze at Johanna, who was standing erect, hands folded in front of her. Her dark gaze looming on her son. She was wearing a green gown, her neck adorned with a golden necklace, and two pearl earrings dangling at both sides of her ears.
Her violet hair parted into two, cascading at both sides of her fair face.
Her throat was dry, scarce for words. Her knuckles were red from too much rubbing of her hands together and around each other. Her eyes lingered on William a little before finally shifting to the priest.
"Thank you, grand maester…" Her voice was low and hoarse.
"You have done your best; I would like to be left alone with William." She said calmly, her voice barely audible.
The grand maester glanced at William before retreating, making his way to the door of the chamber.
Immediately after he left, William sat up, his face red, his eyes weak, and a bandage was wrapped around his head. On the left side of his face was a scar, running deep, but not enough to destroy his charming features.
"Mother, you should talk to Ragaleon…."
"You almost died! Johanna screamed, her fist clenched. All the exasperation that had been surging through her being was suddenly erupting.
"Yes, I know that….
"You could have been blind! Left with only one eye! She hissed, gazing at the scar on the left side of his face. The scar cut through his brows and then continued under his eyes down to his cheeks.
William felt anger boiling in his blood. Why was she screaming at him?
Did he ask for this?
"You should be supportive. I am not a child; do not scream at me as though you are talking to a little boy." William's eyes flashed with anger; he didn't spare his mother a glare.
Johanna's eyes shone so bright, as if they were going to pop out of the socket. She clenched her fist, paced to and fro twice, then suddenly lurched towards the bed William was seated on.
Like a predator, she captured William's face in her hand, squeezing his jaws, locking gaze with him.
"I can't believe I gave birth to this! She said spitefully, as if William were an object.
"I should have just thrown you away, left you to die! To rot! Her voice was firm but sinister, her words slicing through the air like blades.
William gazed at his mother and saw a side he had never seen in her before: disgust, repulsiveness, and hatred.
"But you didn't…." William managed to squeeze the words out; his lips were pressed together, and Johanna had her grip on his jaws so tight.
"You didn't kill me or leave me to die….
"And I regret it! Johanna whispered in his ears before pushing his face away. William rubbed his jaws; the scar on the left side of his face was now open, blood gushing out due to Johanna's intensive grip.
"What haven't I done? To impress you, to curry your favor. My own mother's favor! William's voice was breaking.
He swallowed hard, then blinked back the tears in his eyes.
"You demand so much, it is almost impossible to keep up. Today…it is the throne… Tomorrow it is Ragaleon's favor… Next it is power, knowledge, gold, and a wife! The list goes on and on! William sucked in breath, then licked his bottom lips, his breath etched.
Johanna shook her head side to side, then scoffed.
"Today, I looked at Leah and wished she was a boy. I would have been the happiest mother alive." She said her gaze was distant.
"She has always been your favorite child…
"Sounds like she is my only child." Johanna added. William shut his eyes, then slowly lay on his back in his bed, his hand reaching out to touch the scar on his face.
"Leave…" he finally said, his eyes still shut, as he suppressed the rage he was feeling. Johanna's gaze lingered on him….
"Stop fucking the maids; I am tired of asking the grand maester to brew medicines to abort their unwanted pregnancy, she said before turning around.
"I don't care; just leave!
A flower vase came flying in the air and crashed into the wall behind Johanna, breaking into pieces.
Jazell's blue crystal eyes narrowed as she crossed her hand behind her back, then turned around to walk away after watching the scene between mother and son.
She had seen Johanna leaving the feast; she got bored and wanted to watch some drama, so she had made her way behind Johanna….she didn't regret it at all.
Almost immediately Johanna stepped out of William's chamber, then walked in the opposite direction.
....
The feast in the royal castle ended on a good note late at midnight; the royal family was exhausted, pregnant Tamina was led to her chamber, and everyone retired to their chambers.
Vinson was retiring to his room drunk after the royal feast. He was staggering along the long hallway, his dark hair clinging to his sweaty face.
His blue sea eyes dilated as his right hand traced the walls, and his left hand held an empty golden cup dripping with wine on the floor as he walked.
From an opposite hallway, Leah walked out, turning to take the opposite direction. When her eyes flashed at a long shadow cast on the walls due to the lit-up fire torch.
She made her way towards that direction, and from where she stood, she could see Vinson staggering, completely drunk. Her dark eyes soften, her violet-colored hair dropping on her face as she turned around to leave.
"Ahhh"
She heard a low groan; Vinson had just stumbled on the floor. Clearly he had a lot to drink at the feast.
But Leah did not stop; she kept walking away.
"Oh shit! Vinson groaned when his hand kicked a tall candle stand, and it tumbled on the floor, the light of the candle extinguishing in the process.
Leah finally stopped walking away; her footsteps echoed in the dark, dimly lit corridors as she turned around, making her way to where Vinson was seated on the floor, looking helpless.
"Let me help you." She said, her voice soft. Very unlikely of her; she was always feisty.
She crouched to his level, then wrapped his hand around her shoulder, her hand also hanging on his shoulder, as she languidly helped him to his feet.
Vinson's eyes were blurry, but he went along in any direction Leah took him until they got to a chamber lit up with candles. The white curtains in the chamber swayed from the breeze coming in, and the flames of the candles danced along to the direction of the wind.
Leah helped him to his bed, which was also covered with white transparent curtains draped down, dancing in the wind.
She made him sit on the bed and turned to leave when a hand gripped her wrist and spun her around, dragging her like a magnetic force. Leah fell on the bed, her face hitting Vinson's hard chest.
The wind blew, and some candles went out, making the room darker.
Vinson encircled Leah's waist with his hands, and then, bringing his hot breath to her face, he pressed a small kiss on her lip.
Leah gasped; this shouldn't be happening. He…he was betrothed just a few moments ago to Helena.
But then again, her thoughts were clouded with his scent, with his embrace. She had always wanted him, yearning to get his attention; now here she was in his hands.
"Don't do this…." She protested softly, trying to move away, but Vinson suddenly flipped her from on top of him to underneath him, his gaze lingering on her face.
He slid a strand of her hair behind her ear, then pressed his lips against hers passionately. Leah gave in to his touch as she felt his hand tug at the rope of her gown.
The white transparent curtains around the bed swayed, and wind blew past. The sky became darker as themoon gott enveloped by the moving clouds. Minutes passed, then hours.
Vinson made passionate love to Leah; he took her virginity and devoured her, and Leah could do nothing but moan under his touch. All her fantasies and desires being fulfilled in one night.
By the time they were done, Vinson laid beside Leah, breathless.
"I love you… …Helena." He said before dozing off.
Leah's eyes stung with tears; she tilted her head towards his direction. He was sleeping peacefully like a baby, but he has just broken her heart into a million pieces.
Taking her clothes, she slowly dressed up, between her thighs aching with every movement she made. Then, like a broken record, she began to remember the promise she had made to Helena while she was unconscious on her bed.
"You want to fuck him!
"Don't worry, I will take your place."
Leah blinked her eyes streaming with tears as more flashes of painful words streamed through her head.
"I would be glad to make you my wife…Lady Helena."
"He is mine, Leah…I love him!
"We are sisters…that doesn't change anything."
Suddenly her right hand flew to her left thumb, pinching it, tugging at the flesh of her thumb, her nails sinking in. She made her way out of his chamber.
When she got to her chamber, as if pushed by a force, Johanna, who had been standing by the window in Leah's room, looking worried, turned around, and her gaze fell on her daughter.
Leah….
Before she could make a meaningful sentence, Leah ran into her mother's hand, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I did it, Mother; I slept with him."
"Stop pinching your thumb, Leah! Stop it!
Johanna grabbed her daughter's hand, then made her sit on the bed in the chamber. She grabbed a bottle of ointment from the dressing table, then began to apply it on her thumb, her eyes looming all over her body.
"Does Helena know about this? Johanna's eyes flashed with ominous dread.
"No… no one saw us." Leah whispered, her lashes wet. Johanna enveloped Leah's finger with cotton gloves….
"Good. Let's keep it that way."