Henry sat in the darkness of his cell, growing increasingly restless. The uncertainty of his fate gnawed at his mind. The screech of the rusty cell door jolted him from his thoughts. He looked up—and saw the last person he expected.
"Brother," he muttered, his tone laced with cynicism.
Philip made a small motion with his head toward the guard behind him. "Leave."
"My lord, I can't—"
"I said out!" Philip barked.
The guard hesitated for only a second before fleeing.
"Well, well... Brother. What's gotten you so upset?" Henry said, mocking.
"You know what upsets me?" Philip's fists clenched. "That you're still breathing."
"Sorry to disappoint His Majesty. I guess the king doesn't always get his way," Henry taunted with a cold laugh.
"You're a fool. You had to know this path would lead only to death. And still, you chose betrayal."
"Betrayal?" Henry scoffed. "From the man who parades his mistress in front of his queen? You humiliated her, Philip. I didn't betray you—I simply removed Samira from the mess you created. I love her. And mark my words, I won't stop until she's mine."
"She's not yours to have. She's my wife," Philip growled. "You put her life in danger, and now she's fighting to survive. If she dies—if anything happens to her—I swear on our father's memory, I will end you with my own hands."
Henry's eyes glinted with malice. "Funny... your wife—" he emphasized mockingly, "threw herself at me just hours ago."
That was the final spark.
"You bastard!" Philip roared, lunging forward. His punch sent Henry sprawling.
Henry retaliated quickly, striking Philip hard across the jaw. The metallic taste of blood filled Philip's mouth as the two brothers descended into a savage brawl.
"You think you can have it all?" Henry spat. "You have the crown, but I have your queen."
Something snapped in Philip. His vision blurred with fury. He tackled Henry, pinning him to the ground, and with the image of Samira in Henry's arms flooding his mind, he unleashed a flurry of brutal punches.
Blood splattered. Still, Philip didn't stop.
The cell door burst open. Three guards rushed in, pulling Philip away from his unconscious brother.
"My lord! Please, you'll kill him!" one of them cried out.
Philip froze. Breathing heavily, fists trembling and stained with blood, he took in the wreckage he'd created—then turned and stormed out.
He walked the halls with long, furious strides, face and hands smeared with blood. People stepped aside, too shocked to speak.
Inside his study, he flung his arms across his desk, sending everything crashing to the floor.
"Philip! What is going on?" Queen Helena cried as she entered.
He stood, back turned, fists still clenched.
"What does it look like, Mother?" he replied bitterly.
"You almost killed your own brother!"
"I should have," he snapped, turning to face her.
"I don't know who you are anymore. That was your brother," she said, eyes brimming with tears.
"And what was I supposed to do? Welcome him back with open arms after everything he did?"
"And Samira? She left you."
"She's gravely injured, fighting for her life. He not only betrayed me—he failed to protect her. And if she dies, I swear he'll pay for it."
"I used to blame her for the mess you made of your marriage," Helena said, voice shaking. "But I was wrong. It was you. You let pride and lust destroy what little you had. You paraded Alice in front of your wife—what did you think would happen?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "This isn't just about betrayal or politics. It's about your heart. Your selfishness. Your failure to see her pain. And now look where it's brought us."
Philip didn't respond. Her words cut deep, slicing through every defense he'd built. But she wasn't finished.
"You're the king, yes. But before that, you are my son. And I will not turn a blind eye to your faults—not when they hurt the people you swore to protect."
Later...
Sunlight streamed through the infirmary window, casting golden light across the wooden floor. Philip sat quietly at Samira's bedside, his gaze fixed on her still face. She looked peaceful. Too peaceful.
He reached for her hand, gently curling his fingers around hers. Her skin was warm, soft—still alive. His heart ached.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know it's not enough. Regret won't heal you, and I can't turn back time. I was a coward, hiding my emotions—even from myself."
A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Something changed in me that day we met in the forest. But I denied it. I kept chasing Alice because I thought letting go of her meant hurting her. I didn't see how I was hurting you."
He took a trembling breath, then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her hand. "I don't care if you forgive me. I don't even care if you love my brother. I just want you to come back to me."
Just beyond the door, Alice stood frozen. Her eyes filled with tears, and when she heard the words "I love you", one tear finally escaped.
She turned and ran, her chest tightening, unable to breathe. Her cry echoed through the corridor.
"Aaaaahhhh!" she screamed once far enough away, her body trembling as she clutched the wall for support.
Then she saw a maid pass by.
"You!" Alice called.
The maid turned. "Yes, milady?"
"Come."
The maid followed her into a quiet alcove.
"Have you heard of Sybil?" Alice asked in a whisper. "I need to know where I can find her."
The maid's eyes widened. "Sybil? The witch? Milady... that's forbidden. It's dangerous."
"I know. I don't care. I'll pay you enough that you'll never need to scrub another floor in your life. Do we have a deal?"
The maid hesitated. Then nodded.
"I will arrange a meeting with the witch."
A slow smile spread across Alice's lips.
END OF THIS CHAPTER, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IF YOU LIKED IT
By the way, don't think the story is ending I would say it just started.
Be safe everyone <3
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The Queen
RomanceCOMPLETE She was never meant to be queen. She was never meant to fall in love with the king. And she was never meant to survive the price of both. In a kingdom where loyalty is dangerous and love is a liability, Queen Samira finds herself tangled in...
