Chapter 15
The carriage rattled on the bricked path as Zachary fell lost into thought. It was going to be soon before she had to come to him and only then could he keep an eye on her. she was an important winning piece in this game the was playing. All she had to do was awaken.
Zachary, though being the son of the Emperor, was not the son of the current Empress. She was but his stepmother, a woman who had risen in power by luck, simply because though he father was loving and wise, was easily tempted by seduction and looks. That simple luck had gotten to her head and though she seemed kind and gentle on the outside she was quiet the snake when she carried out her miscellaneous schemes which did more damage than expected.
She had been the one to persuade the king in sending his, fourteen-year-old son to the battlefields, hoping and wishing day after day that only his corpse would return. Zachary would have overlooked her intentions if she had simply intended and not acted, but the woman was quite sloppy when carrying out her plans, that forgiving her was not even in sight anymore, the only way he would properly get to defeat her was to sit on the throne himself. But it turned out that in the years he was away she had gained great power and now she was going head-to-head with him.
But he wouldn't have it. He had found the ultimate pawn that would ease his way to success, and that was winter herself. Though it was unbeknownst to her, what he was up to, to Zachary she did not need to know her purpose, all she had to do was marry him like they had agreed on and from there on things would begin to fall into place. but he had miscalculated. The marquis's eldest legitimate daughter was going to be a problem. From what he had observed the woman was quite scheming, and saying Winter was not aware was quite an idiotic thing to think.
The woman was up to something, that much Zachary could tell, and though he didn't show it, he was already aware of her presence and he refused for everyone and anyone into ruining what he had worked so hard to achieve. He was going to be throned and no one was going to stop it, even if it meant walking a path of blood to achieve it.
***
3 Days Later
I groaned as the dress Susan had stuffed me in, felt uncomfortable, and no matter how much I protested, she had only continued to insist that, sending me off in the best attire was the way.
Once Zachary and I had parted ways I had received a letter pushing forward the day I was meant to move into the palace. My heart thumped in nervousness knowing that I was going to slowly get to y goal. I had only just taken the first step but having to take that first step was really something I never thought I would be able to take, but I had finally managed to take it. I was determined. The pain and suffering I had felt in the dream, which felt too real to be a dream, was something I was going to make sure never repeats itself.
The marquis and his wife had been wary of me ever since his highness had come to the estate, none trying to torment me, but I knew something else was up. The marquis seemed to be trying to take opportunities which had been put down for him, by none other than the daughter he had chosen to neglect and torment.
The father he was supposed to be was only coming to light now that I could offer something.
What a beautiful thing the Monroe familial ties portray. His highness had sent a carriage my way, but family enough it was quite disappointing the man himself had yet to make an appearance. This was a contractual marriage as most would call it, but even so, if we were going to spend the rest of our lives together with each other, the least, he could do was become my friend.
"I see you've caught a big fish, Winter," her voice sent shivers down my spine. I turned to see Anita standing before me quite arrogantly.
"Caught? I think you are mistaken. He fell in love with me, not the other way around," I bit back trying to tick her off, "Just like your beloved Duke of Dominic," I spat as she sneered at me.
"Winter dear, do you think a man of his stature is really in love with you? No, no, no, open your eyes, he is gaining something from you,"
"What do I have to offer? Other than my lowly origins and pitiful birth?" There was nothing Zachary could solidly call again in this marriage that was going to bind us.
"It's because you do not know, his majesty the crown prince," she said.
I scoffed at her words, "And you do?"
"More than you," she smiled, "But ill let you see it for yourself, the man he truly is and notoriously known for,"
I couldn't let her get under my skin, and so what if I wasn't as well acquainted with Zachary? He was a good person, that I knew, and he was going to help me. That was all I needed. That was why we agreed to marry in the first place.
"Don't give your heart easily Winter, if you do, you'll become pitiful, just like you did with Anthony," she said as she laughed walking away from me.
If there was something I wanted to do, it was to first rip her hair out and then slowly hurt her as she did to me, before allowing her to see her demise. Waking up from this dream, you would think one would change, but by seeing this, I was almost certain, if Anita had the power right this moment, she wouldn't hesitate to have me executed as she had done to me.
Walking towards the main door with only Susan seeing me off, there was nothing that could sedate my hunger for a little vengeance in return of what I had been through. Nothing.
"Are you ready, your highness?" one of the knights questioned as the other opened the door.
"Yes, I'm ready, shall we?"