The Stolen Crown

CHAPTER 1 ~ PRINCE DAMEN

"HIYAH!" Blades clashing I pulled back. "Your skills show no mercy and your stance has no flaws." My commander gave an approving nod and sheathed back his blade. With my garnet hair flowing in the wind, I waited until my commander left and I made my way back towards the empire.

I passed through the gates of Massalia with stocks of people pushing past. They were all preparing for the wedding... My wedding in fact, except they didn't know it. Prince Damen kept my name a secret because who's ever heard of a soldier marrying a prince? But... We were doing it anyway. The castle was just up ahead and I finally managed to squeeze past and reach the front doors.

The guards saluted me as I walked through because I'm a higher rank than them. As I walked down through the hallway Princess Cybele had to show her face, "Hey!" I stopped and turned to her "Do you need something?" I snorted, she raised a brow " Shouldn't you be bowing to your new queen? Even if it is just a few days away from my wedding, better start to act my part now" I curled my lip in disgust " You know Prince Damen loves me and not you, that's my wedding not yours" "Oh please, I admit you've got the looks to be a queen. But all you do for Damen is pleasure him. Satisfy him. Me? Oh I've got the looks and the blood, now get out of my sight peasant" Eyes hard as steel she continued down the hallway "Hey!" I blurted. "Let me ask you a question. Who would want to marry someone that looks like a deceased rat? Huh? Tell me! Also I'm still getting married on Friday" I sneered, "Oh, we'll see" And with that she turned a corner and was out of sight.

As I stood dazed and annoyed, I remembered why I was here. I followed the never ending carpet to a door of wood. I tapped on the entrance to the room and let myself in. "Damen?" I spoke, my voice echoed slightly in the icy room. "In here..." His voice hard, escaping from the bathroom, I tip toed over, making no sound as I peeped my head through the door frame. He was readjusting his bandage on his abdomen. He glanced at me with his emerald eyes, locking onto my golden eyes, soft and lovingly, then looked down eyes cold again. "You should prepare your wedding dress... Have the servants measured you yet?" There was a few seconds of silence "Is what Princess Cybele said true?" I played with my fingers hoping that she was just scaring me. He strapped the bandage around one last time and faced my direction. "Well, Cybele has said a lot of things. Be more specific." By the end of that sentence he was only a few inches away from me, my cheeks flushed and I looked to the ground. "She told me that..." He lifted my chin and pressed his lips to mine, they were soft but they were eager. Although I wanted it to last longer I was running out of oxygen and pressed against his chest to breathe. He pulled back and returned to his wardrobe showing no emotion. I didn't know if I liked that or not but the lingering tingle on my lips said otherwise. "I'll be going now... But you do know that my ranking ceremony is our wedding day right?" He walked back towards me and tucked my crimson hair behind my ear. "Well... Whichever you think is more important you go to..." He leaned in close "You decide..." And with a smirk I was left alone.