The Forgotten Kingdom

[MC] Chapter 10: Venom

Mature content ahead:

Denco stayed back, watching Valor angrily leave the room. When the door closed behind him, he turned to see Romar's drunken state, "Ah, ignore him, Den."

The commander winced; hearing himself be called Den was not his favorite. It reminded him of his mother, whom he had missed so much. She was treated horribly around this Kingdom, being known as the King's whore.

She was a good woman. She raised Denco and even Valor with her total care and attention. But a woman's quality did not matter if her purity was questionable.

Valor was favored compared to him. He wasn't the bastard son of the King and his whore. Maybe that is why the Commander hoped for Brielle to have a choice. Perhaps she would have the opportunity to be treated well in this wretched place.

When Denco first met her, he was taken aback by her bravery. She bolted from him as soon as she got the chance. Maybe he just liked this game of cat and mouse. Perhaps he only reached for her because she ran. Maybe he wanted her to choose him so Valor could sit with the sting Denco had felt for years.

He had to try. He was determined to try to win her.

_____

Brielle had not seen the Prince since they shared a passionate kiss yesterday. She grew hot just thinking about it.

The rest of the day, she was busy with various staff members who came to ask her opinions on wedding things. Brielle did not care much about the flowers or which drinks would be served first. She felt overwhelmed by the suddenness of it all.

She felt confused that she wasn't more anxious over it all. Tomorrow she would marry a man she did not really know, in a kingdom of people that did not know her. So roses or daisys was not at the forefront of her spendiger of emotional energy.

Marci broke her thoughts when she entered the Princess' chamber. She held to her cheast a large velvet box. Brielle helped her set it on the sitting table, "What is this, Miss Marci?"

"Go ahead and take a look. They had it dropped off this mornin'." She smiled, allowing Brielle to get her hands to untie the bowed ribbion.

"Who had it dropped- oh wow. This is lovely." A cream wedding dress adorned the Princess' hands. It was soft, and even threaded with gold so it sparkled in the sun.

"I thought you would like it. Let me know if you need anything else, your Highness." With a smile she left the room, letting Brielle take in the reality of the situation. She was holding her wedding dress. Tomorrow night she would be a wife.

Brielle layed out the dress so she could look at from anywhere in the room. She stepped away and circiled the dress many times, trying to imagine herself in it from all angles.

With a few more interuptions from servants preparing for tommorrow's festivities, Brielle decided to finally go to bed. She was sad to not see her betrothed before bed, but she supposed that would not be an issue as she would not have to deal with that beyond tonight.

She fell asleep to rain crashing on her window, and a fireplace to keep her warm. For the insanity of the circumstances, she felt very at peace.

____

A crashing sound woke her up. It was probably the early hours of the morning, because she noticed the fire was out. The rain was still pouring, and a bright light quickly lit up the sky.

She hated storms growing up. Her brother would taunt her by exstinguishing the lights in her room, making her dread the loud noise of thunder.

Brielle yelped as a second crash poured around the castles. She shook and hid herself under the linen blankets. She heard quick footsteps and the door to her room open.

She already felt less fearful knowing Valor was here, "Hey, are you okay?" He came to her side, hugging her into his cheast.

His voice was extra deep, probably because it was the middle of the night. She let him hold her as her tears grew less and less apparent. She relaxed into him, hoping he wouldn't leave soon. He soothed her until she was almost asleep.

He pulled down the sheet, smiling down at her now relaxed body. Her eyes began to flutter open, hoping he may steal another kiss before sleep over took her.

Her eyes widened at the man before her. His blonde curls glisened in the moon's reflection, it was not her Prince. She shot up next to Denco, now very awake.

"What is wrong, your Highness?" He looked geniuenly confused, Brielle was flabberghasted.

"I thought y-you were Valor." She almost whispered, the rain outside making it difficult to hear or see his reaction.

She was standing now when Valor reached her, towering over her. She gulped, fear taking over her. He reached his hand to trace her jaw.

The same hand that almost killed her coachmen, the same hand that drugged her, now delicately touched her flushed skin.

"Are you not glad to see me?" He smiled coily, as she tried to take steps back. Her body felt the cool wall behind her, heating up with her touch.

"I-I thought my betrothed would be here..." She dared not to look at him, she could feel his eyes staring through her.

The next moment she was thrown onto the bed, and Denco stood over her. The window was an angry backdrop behind his looming frame, rendering Brielle unable to see his face.

"Your betrothed..." He scoffed, bending down over her. He let his hand trace her arm to her waist, causing her to shutter, "You mean your kidnapper? I cannot belive he so easily has you in his trap..."

Brielle tried to sit up, but his body prevented her, "He has not entrapped me, I chose him!"

He laughed, moving away from her. He turned to look out the window, "What, did he come here giving you the choice?" He turned to face her again, "Did He come pleading his love for you, but that you could leave if you wanted to?"

She sat up on her elbows now, "No... He said I could choose between you or him." She saw a slight smile come across his face, "Oh, did he now?" He raised an eye brow, looking amused.

"Yes, and I chose him!" She looked at his darkening eyes before he pounced on her. He locked her wrists in his hand, pinning them above her head.

She screamed and He kissed her open mouth, "I am going to make you wish you never chose him. That you never even met him all those years ago!"

She screamed again as thunder ripped through the air. She could see real anger in his eyes, pouring over her. Brielle's dress was coming up as she began kicking, trying to get him off.

As a hard kick came close between his legs, he gripped her tighter. He brought his face near her ear, "He will spend one night with you before you are left in abandoned and alone. You will beg for me on your hands and knees to take you back. And I will be happily waiting."

He squeezed her wrists so tightly she thought they would snap, and he stood. Brushing himself off as he left.

Brielle felt like throwing up. All she wanted was for Valor to affirm that he would not leave her after one night... He would not do that... right?  It is not like she knew him well enough to know for sure, but... she didn't know anymore. Why was Denco trying to convince her so much if it was not true...

She went to sleep when the thunder finally died down... hoping that she would not see his words come to pass.