How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 11 - The Man Who Won

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The colosseum roared with anticipation, thousands of voices merging into a low, trembling growl, but the battle cries of both the gladiators rang the loudest of them all.

I sat beside Ria on our thrones carved with lions and laurel, intently gazing down on the chaos that ensued between the two fighters. The match began with a thunderous clang of metal against metal, and it only got louder as they slashed their swords, put their shield up, dodged and cartwheeled out of the way.

The larger man swung his sword in great arcs, each strike meant to end the fight in one blow, but the small man danced around him, his blade flashing like silver fire, carving tiny wounds onto his opponent at every pass.

It was only when the large man began to tire, his swings growing slower and his shield dropping lower, that I noticed my wife beginning to fidget beside me.

"Flower, what is the matter?" I asked, the back of my hand stroking over her cheek.

"My stomach is churning." She muttered, hand placed over her womb. "I do not think that the breakfast we had today is agreeing with me." Her head fell back to rest against the throne, eyes blinking open and closed as my concern only grew.

"Let us return to the palace, I will call a doctor while you rest." I had already begun to stand up before she quickly grabbed my hand, shaking her head in rebuttal.

"We came all the way here; it would be rude to leave before the first match is even over. Besides, darling, you are having fun. I cannot ruin that." It was my turn to sigh as I leaned in to kiss her cheek, instilling a laugh from her.

"You should know that there is nothing more important to me in this world than you." She nodded, telling me that she understood.

"Perhaps it is just the heat of the sun that is making me feel unwell. I am sure that it will pass by soon enough, so there is no need to worry." She assured. 

Her brother's words echoed in my head, reminding me of the time that he said that she had a weak constitution. I truly hoped that this was nothing big to be concerned about, and with a little rest, she will be okay again.

"Now, let us return to watching the match at hand." She held my hand, turning her gaze back unto the match, and I followed to do the same.

As the fight continued between the two gladiators, I noticed that it would end any second now. The larger man was holding onto life with sheer willpower, and the smaller man was playing with that. 

But, as I had instructed Linus to do so, there would be no death taking place today.

At least, that is how it was supposed to be.

It happened as quick as a flash of lightning. He rolled beneath the larger man's arm, lunging upward, and then his blade found the gap beneath the man's ribcage. 

His death was certain, but he was still alive, clutching onto his broken lifeline, but it seems that the sight was not gruesome enough. The smaller man yanked his sword free, and with one clean slice, lacking any hesitation, he had cleanly cut the man's head right off his shoulders.

I watched it roll along the dirt in the arena as the crowd cheered. But unlike the happy environment and my calm facade, my insides were boiling with rage. With a ticking jaw, I felt the veins popping out of my head as my hands gripped tightly onto my throne.

Had I not made myself clear when I told Linus that there was not to be a single death today? Or did he simply wish to make a joke out of my orders? Whichever it was, that gladiators head was not going to be the only one rolling today.