***Recom song - "Somewhere only we know" by Keane
"Father!"
Lucien bursts into the meeting room in rage, unable to make use of his royal etiquette.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO KRYSTA!" he yelled. His royal majesty; King Derther Hearthron, remained seated on his throne despite his 2nd son's rudeness. A short, well-taken care of a dark-haired, cobalt-blue-eyed man with moderate wrinkles for someone who's 76 years of age.
"What are you talking about this midday?" he sighed and placed his head in his palm and leaned on the chair's arm. "You...you there..." Age pointed to an attendant standing near Lucien. Gavin; the attendant who wasn't paying attention looked around in confusion before pointing at himself.
"Yes, you. Check Lucien if he's not on drugs, because he's sane enough to know that he can't misbehave with me when he doesn't have the power to"
Lucien's glare on the attendant and the King's unwavering command made Gavin tremble to his roots. He only took 4 steps before he collapsed while foaming at the mouth. King Derther waved his hand to signal the others to take Gavin out.
...
A seriously uncomfortable air befell the room. Everyone waited for the king to take his stance.
He sighed, "...I didn't fulfil her promise..." This statement alone was enough to give Lucien an idea of what happened. They made a deal which was the secret she kept from everyone. After a disastrous engagement to the 'loose cannon fodder' Viscount Belweird Dennis, who brutally hit her several times, even at parties. She had to endure enough evidence to break up the engagement but the experience was scary enough to make her avoid marriage. She was willing to do anything, so that scene he caught her last time (~will be portrayed later)...was his orders.
Lucien was in love with her, MADLY, but he was now willing to wait for her, for as long as it took, but hindering her wasn't part of it.
He screamed out to reprimand his father, with clenched fists dripping blood, "FATHER! HAVE YOU NO SHAME!! SHE'S JUST 19 AND YOU LET HER GO THROUGH ALL THAT!!! WHY...YOU CAN'T EVEN KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO A CHILD!!" He scoffed, "No wonder your beloved wife leapt out the window 6 years ago..."
In a fit of rage, King Derther flung his goblet straight at Lucien's head. It slammed right into it before dropping and rolling to the side.
"She belongs in my clutch!" He exclaimed, with his face wrinkled, much to look his age. "The heavens brought her to me and as her mentor, it's what she deserves!!! That her confidence and ego and especially that precious blood in her... belongs to ME!" he began to grin manically.
Lucien had never seen his father so senile before. It made him shudder and lose strength in his legs. Even though he's old, he is by far stronger than all the princes' combined strength. Lucien could do nothing but March out of there in anger.
Like a madman, the king burst into laughter "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...NOT EVEN YOU CAN STOP ME! YOU'RE BUT A CHILD WITH NO POWER OR MONEY...AND YOU WANT HER, MY. TREASURE. WELL, TOO BAD!" He proclaimed as Lucien rushed out of the room. A swell of emotions rushed through him and out of his hand. He punched a nearby white pillar with his bloody fists, leaving a mark, as bold as a stamp.
It all came back to him. "She knew he wanted her so she made a deal in secret...to not worry anyone. But why make such a deal...that senile man" he pondered. He then realized that his friend is going through this...probably alone. He decided to find her to comfort her...
"I'll save her from this nightmare"
~and win some brownie points 😏🤭
...In the main palace's drilling hall,
Krysta was in the corner of the hall, sweating like a drenched cat. Her sky-blue hair in a ponytail was clinging to her face and neck, her off-white shirt, held firm by a girdle she wore atop it was clinging to all her sides, her fitted brown pants were not exempted. She was swinging her 2 swords with all her might, not giving the dummy a breather.
If anger was energy, then she had it in several reserves. She couldn't believe that the king used her for his dirty work and STILL had the guts to ask for her body. What a pervert.
~Fr 🤬
It's not uncommon for ladies to be unmarried at 19, turning 20, but for him to talk like that is like telling her that she either enters an arranged marriage or... becoming his concubine, for her family's sake. She began to swing harder and harder until one of her swords dropped and scuttled away. A foot placed itself atop the fallen sword and kicked it upward towards her.
She quickly snatched it from the air and held it in a stance. She slowly glanced forward to see her stress relief in human form; Lucien. In this hectic world of demi-monarchy, they really needed each other.
With a disappointed sigh, she spoke first, "Why'd it have to be you?! Can't my future hubby come and whisk me away on a majestic griffin?!" she said in utter causality. "Can I do that?"he said, stretching out hands. This just made her shrink in disgust, cringe and disbelief all in one. Her distorted expression made Luc burst into laughter. He felt that he, himself, was senile to think this funny.
"Calm down," he said as he walked forward. She jumped back in a heartbeat, still distrusting. He walked over to the weapon storeroom and picked a sword from behind its doors.
"Care for a match?" They both consented with a grin.
A few minutes later, Krysta was on the ground, belly up and panting hard. Her gaze wasn't even in the sky she was facing. She rolled over to see Lucien, who was still swivelling the sword round his wrist. How did she manage to beat him at the tournament? "It was probably thanks to my supplements" she murmured,
She then sat up and called out, "Hey! Aren't you tired ""...oh yeah" he said like a sudden realization and plopped to the ground. He waited for a few seconds before sitting up and crossing his legs together and slapped his thigh. It was a calculated response, "just so like him", she said in her mind as she dusted herself up. She then took a few steps before snuggling into his thighs like a cat. Everything she did reminded him of a rare breed cat. She's been sitting on his since childhood so, she won't make anything of their close contact. He tried his best not to focus on her body curves, their contact...and his meat he just finished dealing with.
~self-control is vital 😉👍
Sitting on his crossed thighs, Krysta started contemplating on the result of her sacrificing friends & parties, parental love, and a normal life as a result of living in the palace as a kid... nothing. She had nothing, and that greedy king wanted to make sure she remained helpless. He wanted the downfall of the Cauldrin family, which has the noblest blood, through her. She knew that she had no means of saving herself but she wanted to try. That's why she was in the tournament. Yet...
Lucien noticed Krysta's stiffness and solemn expression, in contrast to her ever jovial attitude, and leaned forward, gazing at her scrunched face. He even found her expression cute and began poking her supposed dimples, "Awn", he said but she frowned even more but "How cute. Trying to be angry?!" he continued. "Are you kidding me?! This isn't funny! I know you're aware of my situation. J-just...leave me be!" she jolted to her feet and turned around, with her head hung low. He rose up to comfort her. He reached forward to be met by a snack from her. He pulled back and began thinking.
"There's only one person who has ties to matrial. Edward"
Matrial is the influence one gets from their maternal family. It's very rare but truly powerful. In the Tri Petre nations, paternal support or patria, is only given when the father or family head acknowledges a person. Since women are not given power easily, those who do hold greater power than prior ties.
Edward's mother; the 1st empress of 3 empresses, was from the family of Marquis Zevvelen; a powerful family whose power runs deep in the education industry. Thus, Edward is the only person with full authority. The only flaw is that Edward is at the King's every beckon.
"What if... y-you...Married Edward?"
A tough call for Lucien to bring up. "HAVE YOU GONE SENILE?! Why did you even say that?!" She cried out and turned around, welling up in tears. "I want out of the palace and here you are, suggesting I marry that loose dick, sickly, maniac of a prince!" she scoffed at him, making him stutter "I-I-I'm just trying to l-look out for..." "THE HELL YOU TALKING!!!" she refuted as she went on and on about how he can't look out for himself. Lucien began finding it hard to breathe. He knew she wouldn't like that idea but he didn't expect her to lash out so hard. He thought it couldn't get worse "...AND YOU WERE WONDERING WHY I REJECTED YOU 2 YEARS AGO!!! AND YOU DARED TO BRING UP SOMEONE ELSE TO ME! TO MARRY!! JUST..." she stopped and began walking away. Lucien stretched forth for his friend but slowly pulled back. He knew it was his fault to start with.
"Don't...blame me..."
She left. He stood there, thinking how to help her and still get her. He felt this burning sensation in his heart, stifling his breathing. He didn't want to go through the hassle of taking it slow. He just wanted her, right here, right now, with him, under him, in the field, in the rain, anywhere possible. For her safety, he MUST have her.
Lucien looked at the sky and wondered if the coming rain would drain his remaining conscience, for he was going to do something he knew conscience won't help.
Krysta was storming away in tears, quickly looked at the sky and wondered if the coming rain would cry on her behalf. The rain they predicted began to fall. Lewin was passing a window and placed his hand on the cold glass. Something had changed...and he didn't like it.
"I'll need to protect my people"
"I will never fall victim to any man! Or anyone!! Ever again!!!"
"I will make her stay under my reach... where it's safe", grasping his fist
Everyone across town felt that the rain was different. Many watched the rain from shelters, window sills, and the umbrellas on the street, gazing at the darkened sky. They all steeled their resolve that day to make their wishes come true forever...whatever it takes.