Playing With Fire

His Beautiful Lie

 BTW, does anyone know how to check a rank of a book? Please, I need to know.

On the side is a beautiful cover by AJT. Isnt he talented?

Edited.

J.O.A. ~' 11/5/2014

CHAPTER 26

"No, mother. I'm betrothed to Rosalyth." Heyden insisted to his sickly mother, who had been strictly confined to her chamber with a severe case of vertebral tumor. {A/N:: She is paralyzed from her pelvis and all the way down. She can not walk anymore. :'(} 

"Rosalyth? But, Carrien promised his eldest daughter." Alice, his mother sighed exasperatedly. Unlike his father, who was born in the native lands of Resquine, his mother married in from Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. Thus, Heyden had inherited her set of electrical blue eyes and his father's raven black hair. 

"I know, mother. But Rosalyth-"

"No. I won't have it any other way. You either marry Hecate or you will marry none of those sisters. My son, you're handsome, smart, and influential. Just like your father. Many women will beg to get betrothed to you. Not to mention the large amount of wealth that comes along." Alice caressed the stubbled cheeks of her only child. She could not believe how old he had grown from that little toddler that would hide behind her dress skirt at a moment of shyness.

"Mother, you don't understand. I- I love Rosalyth. I must be with her." Heyden confessed.

"Love? Love is nothing but an illusion, my child. Do not get corrupted by that heartless emotion." Alice said with a scoff as she remembered the naive, endless attempts she took in order to pry her husband's eyes off that cursed queen of Arelian, Aurelia. But, even in his death bed, he had whispered her name, not his wife's. Alice did not care for his money or looks. She just wanted his heart, even if it was just a small part.

"But, mother-"

"I will have no more of this nonsense, Heyden. I might be paralyzed and in my deathbed but I'm still you mother and the queen of Resquine." She imposed in a quiet but stern voice.

"I LOVE her, mother." He insisted in his own seething tone.

"Heyden. My only son. You're my last hope in living. Please, do this as a final favor for your mother." She cried as she cradled him to her. "Please. I won't ask anything else of you."

"Y-yes mother. I can not promise you that I will ever stop loving her. But, if it is what you desire." Heyden knew it wasn't a good thing to lie to his only surviving family member, but he knew he truly loved Rosalyth, even if he had known her only the past week. He need an intelligent, strong and beautiful queen. Not a queen who will put up with him for his money and status. He needed a queen that could voice her own opinion and not a queen that would act as a puppet that will sway to his every command.

*Back in the palace of Arelian*

"Sister Hecate. I was looking for-" Rosalyth paused as she noticed her elder sister's slightly protruding stomach.

"You-you're expecting?" Rosalyth was stunned. Her holier than thou sister was seeing a man behind her father's back. What hurt her most was that her sister, the individual who she had placed so much trust in, had managed to keep a secret from her.

"Rosalyth, I-I" Hecate stuttered.

"Who's the father?" She demanded.

"W-what?"

"Who. Is. The. Father?" Rosalyth pronounced every word in clear English as she seethed in anger.

"It's Nikolaii." She said with a swift intake of breath.