The funeral of Otar and his family was quite and morbid. Only the closest of the family members stood in the pouring rain, lowering three coffins in the already dug out graves. One of the coffins was so small that it would brake anyones heart. Prince Valentine was hiding behind the trees unable to even blink. He could not openly attend the funeral of a traitor. Still, he did all he could to bury the family together, even if one of them could never have a grave stone with his name on it. Everyone present at the funeral were weeping bitterly and the rain washed all the tears away, as if it was trying to hide this sorrow and pain in the depths of the earth. Prince Valentine could not cry, he felt he had no right to. He watched as the world changed forever, never to return to its beautiful self again.
The trial for prince Datvi Ushgul had ended three days ago. The bodies could not be buried until it was over, as the evidence of his crimes. The court was a mess on that day. King Matti Ushgul was furious at the thought that his own child could be this cruel. Not only did he try to kill two of his own brothers, but also an innocent woman and a small defenseless child. Prince Datvi swore it was not his doing. He bagged to postpone the judgment and have further investigation in this matter, but the evidence was to damning. It was futile. All the princes pleaded the king to just stripp Datvi of his rank and exile to a further region. Many of the officials supported this claim. This way this affair could have been kept private and not damage the royal families name. The king loved all his children, but he needed to be fear. He turned to prince Valentine and spoke.
"What do you say my son? You are the closest to this situation. I will not burden you with his life, it will be my decision. Still will you dare to plead for him?"
Valentine did not speak. The whole court fell silent. Everyone new his would be the deciding words. Valentine would never condemn his own brother to death. No, if it was his decision he would just exile him, but the responsibility for his childhood friend and his innocent family were weighing heavy on his shoulders now. They would never allow him to plead for Datvis, their murderers life. Valentine could feel the weight of this decision, but there was only one thing he could do.
"I do not dare to plead your majesty. As I am to close to this case, I will abstain from getting involved in the decision making."
Prince Datvis heart sank. Only now did he understood the whole weight of the situation. The king also looked solemn. He new about Acacias sacrifice and her condition. He had also meet many times Otar and his beautiful wife and child before, but most importantly he needed to keep the peace and the stability of the country. His judgment was strict and final. Otar was to be executed at sunrise and his death masked as a hunting accident. His name was to never be written in any books and his linage to be denied any royal rights. No banishment or striping of the tittle. No. He sentenced his own son to death penalty.
The entire court burst with shouting, cheers and cries for reconsideration. Prince Datvi had to be dragged out form the room by force, still bagging for mercy. His wife... His young wife he had loved for the eight years of his live and only married a year ago... his five months pregnant wife, unaware of what was going on around her, stood there frozen as her husband was charged with treason and dragged out like a criminal. Tears fell from her eyes and legs gave out. Fourth prince Michnari Tito Ushgul held her up with his hands. He was furious glaring at Valentine with hate in his eyes.
Before the sunrise prince Datvi Ushgul was beheaded. On that day news of his death on the hunting trip spread throughout the city of Sasashi. The mourning lasted for three days and nights and afterwards all the citizens somehow forgot that their country ever had a prince named Datvi Ushgul.
His wife Shuba Veshana was moved out from the capital to a remote city of Karda to never step foot outside of it again. By prince Valentines arrangements her accommodations were still royal and all her needs were met. But her love was no longer living and her child would never be a part of one of the strongest royal houses in history.
Everything was finally over. People wished to forget this painful, pitiful and shameful event ever happened. Justice had been served, no matter how devastating it was. The right thing was done. Even so the fourth and the fifth princes did not think this way. They loved there brother and as all the people in grief tend to do, they also needed someone to blame for this unbearable pain. So they blamed and hated with passion there own brother Valentine. They thought If he had just put his ego aside and begged the king, If he sided with his brothers, than maby Datvi could have been saved. Shermandin Mi Si Ushgul caught in the middle, tried to bring his brothers together, but all was in vain. It did not help that Valentine refused to compromise in any way possible. He shot of his heart. After such a betrayal he could not bring himself to trust his other brothers. Especially knowing how all their mothers were eying the throne he was to seat on. The only ones he trusted now were Acacia and Shermandin.
After his love woke up, she was hysterical. Scared of what happened, hurt from the betrayal but most of all crying because she thought he would never love her again after seeing her scar. He swore his undying love and that the scar she had from protecting him made him only love her even more.
"You are only saying that because you feel guilty and you have not seen it." Cried Acacia. "You will just marry that princess from Ujarma and forget about me. You are not even allowed to be with me for another two years after your marriage with her. How can I just stand and watch as you share a bad with another one."
"How can you say that my love. I will never share anyones bad other that yours. Just wait after I am married and I will immediately bring you in as my mistress."
"How can i trust that you will love this ugly body of mine?" She was inconsolable and crying hysterically. Suddenly Acacia jumped of the bed. She took of her night gown and leaped into his arms. "Prove it to me. If we will be together anyway, then take me now. Show me that you will still love me, even with this scar."
Her teer filled eyes looked at him, begging to not push her away, and how could he. She was so beautiful. The scar she got from protecting him, only made him love her even more and her body more appealing to him. This was the woman he treasured most in the world, Who chose him over the crown prince and protected him with her own body. He wrapped his hands around her, gently picking her up in his arms and placed her on the bed. Valentine lay on top of her with his weight pressing her down, his body gradually getting hotter and hotter. Her lips were so close to his that he could feel her warm breath. He kissed her and hugged her close to his body. He spent that night with Acacia and finally made her completely his.