"Salvatore."
The mere mention of that name sends a shiver down my spine, a reminder of that dreadful man and the way he treated me on the night of my wedding. I can barely stand to recall the memories associated with him.
"Why would he kill them? What does he gain by killing the beloved King and Queen of Athline?" The questions linger in the air, heavy with the weight of disbelief and anguish.
"From Maypuck?" Nik whispers, a glimmer of recognition evident in our advisor's affirming hum.
I turn to Nik, his expression etched with distress and uncertainty. His eyes reflect the turmoil of contemplating our next steps, wrestling with the burden of how to navigate this unforeseen tragedy.
"Why—How?" Nick's voice trembles with a mix of disbelief and horror.
"We found their bodies in a nearby field, buried in a shallow grave. Both with knife wounds across their necks. And as for why, we believe it has something to do with, umm, well, with Mr. Witlock–"
"Nikolai," He interjects firmly, a silent insistence on being addressed by his name, no matter how informal it might seem.
"Oh, N-Nikolai. Yes," the advisor responds, weariness evident in his tone.
"Yes, but why?" My voice rises, frustration palpable.
I listen intently to the man's next words, my heart sinking at the revelation. "Apparently, Salvatore had proposed an alliance to Mr.—Nikolai at the wedding reception, and he rejected him. In turn, he felt the need to bestow an act of revenge."
What?
"So he murdered my parents just because I wouldn't let him have the support of Athline?" Nikolai's words, though almost tinged with disbelief, carry an undercurrent of shock and horror.
"We believe so–"
"Of course I said no! After the way he treated my wife, and the reputation that precedes him, I would be a fool to accept!" Nikolai's voice crescendos, frustration and anger merging into a torrent of emotion.
This is ridiculous.
"This means war," Nikolai murmurs, the gravity of his words sinking in.
My eyes widen in alarm. War? As a new queen, the prospect of war feels daunting, especially in these uncertain times. I'm not sure if we can afford to escalate tensions further.
"Oh, no, that's not the best idea, Your Highness–" The advisor's attempt to reason is abruptly cut off.
"HE MURDERED THEM!" Nikolai's anguished scream pierces the air, followed by a heart-wrenching cry. He struggles to hold back his emotions, turning away from the committee.
Seeing him on the verge of breaking down, I take charge and instruct the rest of the room to leave the meeting. Despite their confusion, they hesitate to obey.
Nikolai is teetering dangerously close to the edge of emotional collapse, and I'm overwhelmed by the urgency to comfort him, even if just for a moment, "Get out!" I snap with a sharp edge to my voice, the words slicing through the tension in the room like a knife. The advisor and his committee exchange uneasy glances, but I couldn't care less about their discomfort.
A heavy silence lingers as they exit, leaving behind a room filled with the weight of unspoken emotions. I glance at Nik, his tear-streaked face betraying the vulnerability he wouldn't want them to witness.
"I can't–"
"Shhh, it's okay, everything is going to be okay," I interject, my voice a gentle reassurance amidst the tidal wave of his emotions. His words dissolve into heart-wrenching sobs, and I hold him close, wishing my embrace could shield him from the pain.
With his head nestled on my shoulder, his eyes shunned from the world, I sense his desire to hide even from me. I don't quite understand why, but I won't press him now. The weight of this situation has been unbearable for everyone, especially for him and Camille. Their struggles have been a burden too heavy to bear without crumbling.
"We have each other, and the entire kingdom supporting us. No matter what happens, I love you, and they loved you so much," I trail off, interrupted by that involuntary noise that precedes tears, a fragile hiccup caught in my throat. It's a reminder of the overwhelming emotions threatening to spill over, emotions that words struggle to contain.
As his sobs intensify, his entire body shaking with the weight of his grief, I find myself unable to hold back my own tears. We're engulfed in a torrent of shared sorrow. Sensing his body growing heavier with each shudder, I guide him gently to the floor, cradling him in my arms, hoping to offer whatever solace I can in this moment of profound anguish.
We both sit on the unforgivingly cold wooden floor, my arms wrapped protectively around him, creating a shelter from the rest of the world.
With his eyes raw and red, he finally lifts his head, locking his gaze with mine. There's a silent plea in his stare, a desire for connection amidst the pain. Wanting to truly see his face, I reach behind his head, tenderly undoing his fabric mask. He offers no resistance as I carefully peel away the covering, revealing every facet of him – those endearing freckles, the intricate map of scars, each mark a testament to his journey.
"It's my fault, if only I had said yes–"
"No, no, you will not blame yourself for this. He is a cruel man, and you were protecting your kingdom. It is not your fault, that I can promise you," I intervene gently, halting his self-reproach.
Once more, he meets my gaze, lips pressing into a thin line, head shaking in a heartbreaking display of internal turmoil. I cannot bear to see him in such agony.
"We will go to war," I tell him after a moment of reflection, my tone resolute.
Though I had initially resisted the notion, witnessing the devastating impact on my husband changes everything. The thought of allowing Salvatore to escape the consequences feels inconceivable now.
He looks at me, a weak smile forming despite the anguish clouding his eyes.
He nods.
Here we fucking go...
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whaaaaatt no way
thanks for reading :)
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Tied to the Throne
Romance"This marriage is nothing but an alliance to me. Don't expect anything else, because you won't get it. I will never love you." "It felt as if my parents had tied me to the throne. Tied me to him." - A princess and a prince, forced into a marriage th...
