Chapter 19
I sighed as I flopped on the bed after being attended to. This was actually it. I was changing my fate and destiny. All of it felt so surreal and unreal, almost as though I would wake up again and realize I was actually dead of this was all a dream.
If it was a dream, then I didn't want to wake up. I was finally going to live the life that I deserved., but a part of me still stuck to the past and did not want to let go. If there was anything, I had desired the most it would be to see their suffering.
An obedient and foolish daughter I was, trying to please them who could never be pleased, I couldn't help but sigh at my naïve and stupid childish self. But then again, I was but a child who was easy to manipulate and exploit then toss away when I wasn't needed.
Picking up the notebook and pen I had requested earlier I flipped to a new page. I needed to remember the events of the past slightly before and after the emperor's death.
First, I know that in a couple of months' time, his highness the emperor is going to pass, whether Zachary knows of it or not, I am unaware. During the king's sick period and before his passing, Anthony had been frequenting the imperial palace, what he was up to or why he was coming? I had no idea, all I noticed was he had begun to confide in Anita during that time,
'Was that when they had started their plot to discard me…?' I thought to myself.
No there was no way, the plot had to have started way before, Currently, Anita and Anthony were in favour of each other, so certainly because I was naïve, I didn't think much of it until I had caught them in an immoral state, but by then it was too late to do anything because their plan was already set stone.
So why was Anthony frequenting the palace? Especially that of the empress? What was he trying to accomplish by doing so?
I tapped the back of the pen against my chin. Could he have still had his ambition for the throne? But that couldn't be…, right? If he had wanted the throne, he would have needed to play his cards against the crown prince, but Zachary ascends the throne after the Emperor passes… something didn't add up.
Was there something else up their sleeve? Did they have a winning card? And why did they need me out of the picture? Did I have some kind of role? Either way, I needed to get what I could use against them.
Other than anna's scandal, the one I was trying to figure out, Anita had tried poisoning the marquis and then she had blamed it on me.
"Haa…" I sighed. Just thinking about it had me remembering the bitch she was.
Anita's weakness is her mother, but even she would abandon her mother dearest if things were not in her favour. I first needed to find that person, only then would I be able to play my cards right. The only thing I wanted to see, was their heads rolling as I proclaim myself as the victor.
But there was a long way for that, I sighed as I plopped my head on my pillow. I turned to look at the darkened night that was lit by the moon.
"It's a full moon today, huh…"
The light shone radiantly through the balcony window of the bedroom. I watched as the trees swished to the wind and I couldn't help but let my eyes slowly flutter close, bringing me into sweet darkness.
*
Zachary sat in the darkness, a glass of red wine in his hand. If anyone saw him then and there, they would have been bewitched by his beauty which lit up under the light of the full moon. His dark dishevelled hair glowed as it reflected the light as his chest exposed through the robe in such a tempting manner heaved up and down lightly with every breath he took. He swayed the glass in his hand as the wine swished and splashed. His sword unsheathed, twinkled radiantly stained ruby red under the light of the moon.
Winter azalea vera le Monroe.
His winning piece. And funnily enough, it seemed as though they had begun to catch a whiff of what he was holding close. He couldn't help but sigh as he ran his hand through his already messy hair. He needed to start being quick and alert. Any day now, she was going to awaken, then things were really going to be slightly out of his hands. He was prepared, but by keeping her in the dark she didn't have time to prepare. But would make it so that she didn't have to go through anything. Though he was heartless and cold, to her, he was going to give her warmth and kindness though he didn't know what either of them was let alone experienced.
Why? He did not know. If this was any other woman who would be entering a contractual marriage with him, he wouldn't have batted an eye, or put so much effort into creating an image that would comfort her. but there was something about Winter that just made him want to do so.
Perhaps it was her eyes which looked at him trying to figure him out even though she never asked or said a word, or maybe it was her clear goal of choosing her fate that had intrigued him. He didn't know what it was that drew him to her so, but Zachary knew where to draw the line. He did not know the word emotion let alone love. He could never sympathize with anyone, let along portray sincere kindness or concern. All he knew was war and the battlefield. To either kill or be killed.
And for a split second, he wanted to be… normal.
He'd laughed it off as the thought crossed his mind. It was simply impossible. This was just who he was, and they had made him like this.
In a mere second, the sword that was laying on the ground was in his hand as he pointed it directly at the Darkness beside him.
"How many times do I have to tell you that you cannot come here as you please?" Zachary spoke. "What would you have done if I hadn't hesitated and pierced the sword right through your throat?"
"If that were the case, you would have one so already, but knowing you that is not usually the case, so why did you hesitate?" the voice replied coldly. It resonated like a child that had not reached the age of adolescence. "If anything, the blood-stained floor before me and the sword that you hold clearly show you didn't hesitate,"
The wind blew into the room, blowing the curtain away, and in the dim light, blonde hair glowed like gold, as the cold blue eyes of a young boy looked lifelessly at Zachary who stood with his sword near his throat.
"You have quite the knack for getting on my nerves don't you, Azef?"