Even by smashing his forehead against the ground, letting the loud echo die amidst the hard stone of his palace, he couldn't change Anna's fate. He wanted, above everything, to be able to take care of her like he had promised to the rest of his family despite his marriage being a political alliance. He had long made of her his secret lover and the precious relationship he cared about was crumbling down his feet.
The worst scenarios possible were already unfolding in his mind. Public execution, humiliation at the heart of capital, a national shame that would cover her name in every history books, like his would be for making a forbidden wedding.
He saw the mercenaries advancing toward the monster he couldn't accept as his wife yet. The beautiful mutations that emphasised every angles of her bones, every junctions of her fingers, and her radiant smile. He could barely recognise her but couldn't help displaying a naive smile. No one was able to trust their eyes.
