Empire of Lies and Death

1, Moticia

"Do not speak lies to me, lord." Princess Moticia Sterling glared down her nose at the young lord. He was seven years her senior but a utter fool.

"I would never speak falsehoods to you, my princess." He spoke earnestly but Moticia, unlike him, was no fool.

"Remove yourself, you're not worth my time." Moticia waved her hand and carried on down the stone path. The castle gardens were brilliant. Flowers and fruit trees in full bloom. Honey bees and butterwings frolicked from one bud to another.

"Moticia, your arrogance is uncanny, is that why no one bothers to court you?"

The princess stilled. She turned around, her eyes burning she pinned the lord with the heat of her amber gaze. "Princess Moticia to you, Greymond."

"Grayson." 

She narrowed her eyes at the lord. Glancing at her personal bodyguard, Wilder Payne. 

Wilder cleared his throat and evenly suggested. "Lord Grayson, I must request you leave."

The lord ignored her bodyguard and took a step towards Moticia. She smiled cruelly at his own arrogance. Thinking his title would protect him. Would save him from his princess's wrath. It was adorable.

"You call me arrogant, Galik?" She looked down at him. 

"Grayson." He gritted out. "Yes, I do, your arrogance is out of the courtyards! You walk around like you own the place thinking everyone will fall to their knees as you grace their lives with your beauty."

She smirked and lowered her voice. "Yet that's exactly what happens. Some are special though. Some fall to their knees with shackles and an executioner to their left. My dear lord, you're special."

Wilder laid a firm hand on the lord's shoulder and tried to guide him away. But the lord shrugged him off, he looked at Princess Moticia with rage in his eyes.

"You should've thought before insulting your princess, my lord." Moticia looks down at him with disdain. "Now suffer the consequences."

The lord's jaw dropped. "You wouldn't." Fear finally shown in his dull eyes.

Moticia didn't bother herself to reply. She simply turned and carried on through the gardens. Wilder returned a few minutes later.

"You feeling okay, my lady?" Wilder asked as he resumed his spot three steps behind her. 

Wilder Payne was taller than she, which was rare as Princess Moticia was exceptionally tall for a woman. He was broad in the shoulders, narrow in the hips. His body was toned with his intense training as a knight. Burnished bronze hair and blue eyes that had always looked purple to her.

She touched a rose, watching a honey bee harvest the nectar. "Fine."

Bored, she left the gardens. She'd had enough of the flora and and wanted to be alone. Or as alone as one could in this damn castle.

As she passed through the halls everyone bowed to her. Her long legs moved swiftly but her gown made it seem like she floated, the layers of tulle accented her hourglass figure. 

If you asked the common populace "beautiful" is how many would describe the princess of Gáeko, daughter to the Empress. With brilliant red hair always woven into intricate braids, skin like ash and eyes that looked like glowing embers. 

Some would say she was threatening. Any who insulted her ended up dead. Ruthless because she'd killed a man for trying to bend her to his will. Other's say that the man had breathed wrong. Others said he was a thief. 

Then there were the rare people who describe her as 'dead'. Dull eyes, cold smile, void of emotion.

Those people she respected. Because they were right. She hardly felt anything anymore. Emotions had abandoned her, but she didn't mind. It helped keep a passive glare and made her enemies scared of her.

She reached her room and Wilder stood inside her doors. He'd been doing that for the last couple months. She could always feel his gaze on her. 

Taking a deep breath she tried to relax. Wilder's presence in times like these always soothed her. He'd never once failed her. He'd been her bodyguard since she was sixteen. He was two years older and when in private he let his "guard" down. He said she was the only one besides his mom he showed his true self too.

She was honored. When she was with him in her chambers, where they were alone she swore she could almost feel  something inside of her squirming and fighting to become a spark. 

Wilder's arms wrapped around her waist and he pressed his face into her neck. He kissed her gently. His breath hot against her neck. "You're tense, love."

She closed her eyes and leaned back into his strong build. "Relaxation never came easy to me, Will."

He kissed the side of her neck again before pulling away. His hands slid up her sides and shoulder blades before he began to gently massage her shoulder muscles.

Moticia smiled and felt her skin warm and she closed her eyes, loving the sensation of his hands working her tight muscles and she felt herself relaxing.

She reached up and laid one of her hands on his, stilling him. She turned around and kiss the back of that hand. "Thank you, Wild-"

She stopped short upon seeing a rich green envelope with golden leaves and swirls on the borders resting on her desk. She could see her name written is golden calligraphy in the middle. 

Wilder looked at her confused then followed her gaze. He moved to give her the envelope. "It's from your mother."

"Of course it is." She rolls her eyes and lifts the paper from his hand. Using her nail to break the wax she removed a yellowed parchment. 

It was a formal request from her mother ordering her to come before her in the throne room at noon. 

She growled and gave the letter and it's wrapper to Wilder.

She's planned on going on a horse ride but guess she was to meet with her mother.

Moticia decided she wasn't going anywhere for the rest of the night and she changed into her evening wear, flopping on her chaise lounge to read a book.