The fierce wind tore through the stagnant night and Leona stirred on her bed. Her old rusty bed creaked with the movement. She was restless and agitated. She was finally marrying the man of every woman dream. She should be happy.
She blushed thinking of all the things her nanny told her to expect. Prince Sean was a man of several interests; initially in their relation she had been heartbroken to see him with many other lovers.
She wasn't ignorant of the whispers and disdainful glares that followed her but she had made her peace. Her life would be indulgent, she wouldn't ever go hungry, her children will inherit the throne if the Second Prince finally succeeded the throne just as Duke Croft expected.
"I will be okay." She whispered in the dark.
It will be okay. Her throat stuck and eyes filled tears through the painful smile. With that her façade of happiness slipped. She was miserable. Her hand came up to graze her bruised cheek and a sob left her torn lip.
Prince Sean had visited her this evening when she raised a fuss to cancel the wedding or she would run away. The widowed Countess of Bila and his Mistress of two years, Alexandra, was pregnant. The word has spread in the Capital, they had walked hand in hand to shop for the baby.
He had two Bastard children already of unknown origin. she had come in terms with it. They were motherless and so was she. Prince Sean treated them with disdain and she pitied them, she thought, she could raise them. He had promised Duke Croft only my children will be registered in the Imperial register.
Those children were innocent but this, this was too much.
Her body ached. While returning he had asked her nanny to cover it up like every time. I just have to hold in my temper, the thought left forced another sob forward.
The broken and cramped room was brimming dresses and jewelery lined up. Every time he did this he would drink a ton in this very room and apologize with these things then tell me how it was my fault and how he would never do it again.
Marriages that forged connections and laid the foundation of Kingdoms were void of emotional balance. Her ached thinking of her fiancé long list of lovers and transgressions but it was Okay.
He was chrematistic and manipulative, even now she believed his lies. She had to believe his lies. He had told her he loved her and the Countess was a chess piece to gain the throne but she often that she was a piece on the board too.
Love was an illusion anyway. Her step-mother had told her not to be naïve when she had raised the argument but her painful smile didn't leave her. Things were going to finally change; tomorrow she was going to be free of the Croft's Mansion and its cruel inhabitant.
She shut her eyes with the thought but tore them open a second later when the commotion broke out. Shrieks and cries broke out the serene atmosphere. She lunged out of the bed to look out of the window.
What was happening down there was a something similar to doomsday. Rebels and Imperial Army had raised a havoc, she sped away from the window to the door only to find the halfway on fire.
Shouts and cries had joined the mayhem but one sentence caught her ear 'The Emperor is murdered!'. Her breath hitched this would mean the next Emperor will ascend and the factions of other Princes will be eliminated. Without much thought she raced back to her room.
Emptied the drawer of her mother's jewelry to dump it on the bedsheet and made a run for the door. She had to get to safety where her family was. They needed to be safe.
In the blinding fire, she coughed and ran to anyhow reach the main Mansion where her family lived. She would hiss and shriek when fire scalded her but somehow she made it out. Her father and his family were being dragged by the Imperial Guards and as their eyes landed on me.
She felt relieved to see them but something entirely different gleamed in the Duke's Croft eyes.
"It's her! Her mother was the owner of Raven Seal, This disgraced child is the Heir. She's the one who ordered the assassination of the King and the Crown Prince. Arrest her!"
Raven Seal was the seal of liquidator of elite warriors in the Palace, they followed the Imperial family for the most part, lived like common civilian but if they are summoned they would respond to the Raven Seal.
The whole Imperial Army turned to rush to her while her face contoured in the pain of betrayal, "No! That's a lie! I have never even seen—" Her words cut off as something stuck her on her shoulder.
She fell limp on the cold hard ground.
.
'SPLASH'
When she came to, her whole body shivered and ached. She felt like she was forever left immobile but a slashing sound and stinging pain on her back jolted her up. Her eyes shot open only to see darkness a her face covered with bag.
She was tugged up and forced to stand on her wobbly legs to walk in the direction the pull took her. She stumbled and staggered but her captor had no mercy left to spare.
She was shoved on a chair where she was strapped in.
A clearing of throat turned her head in the direction. The bag and rag was snatched away and she saw a court set up which meant that the commotion had died down. They went on with pleasantries and reports
"Leona Riley Croft, do you plead guilty for the command to Raven Seal of murdering The Emperor and attempting a murder of the Crown prince." Attempted murder… he was still alive!
Realization sunk in, her family had deceived her and the court was doing a trial for namesake. Croft was a powerhouse in the Empire; they couldn't bring it down without facing backlash for decades. She was a scapegoat.
She shook as tears streamed down her face, "No! I don't know anything about it! Please, I have never seen the seal."
The court attendees looked indifferent Leona searched every face to beg for help when her eyes set on Prince Sean on the throne with a disdainful glare and beside him Alexandra with a gleeful mock and it finally clicked.
This is his checkmate, where he will finally dispose of the last unnecessary piece.
The Guard chugged documents in my direction. Seals and signatures were done with mana objects so the confidential and official documents were never faked.
The dealings of 7 years with my signature and seals were evident and She recognized them. She had signed them. The documents Duke Croft would shove to me in a hurry when he would be leaving for an 'urgent' and needed it for running my mother's properties.
She was done for.
The papers fell from my hand and my empty eyes met with Duke Croft who averted his and then the Prince and a sarcastic smirk took over her face as tears blurred her vision.
She was such a fool. All she did for them throughout these years…
Her head bent and her silence was perceived as admission of her crime. No matter what she said they weren't going to listen to her anyway or even if they did hear her, these documents would make sure she was executed.
It passed like a blur, every hit after felt numb and she was thrown in a cold dungeon to await her sentence. She huddled in a corner, wishing for a miracle when her prison door rattled.
She looked up to see Prince Sean standing there with a glass of wine, grape wine that she liked. He took a sip and looked at her with regretful eyes. The same look she had seen a hundred times, when he hit her black and blue.
"Why?!" Her shout, didn't ruffle his feathers.
He pursed his lips taking a sip then bent down to offer her, "Have a sip, I had it called from Breux just for you."
She kept on glaring at him. He sighed and shook his head before flicking his hand. The guards behind him stepped forward and grabbed her, tilting her head to forcefully open her mouth despite her shouts and struggles.
Prince Sean stood up, came forward and poured wine directly in her throat causing her to chock and chug it out but he went on till it was empty.
When it emptied he crouched down and a guard released her jaw.
"I did love you. Too much for my own good." He chuckled humorlessly, "I'm going to be the Emperor, Leona. Wish me luck. The only issue is the Raven Seal liquidators so I had to do this."
She glared at him and spat on his face, "May God damn you!"
His face flared with anger and he stood up to leave. But then he turned around and ordered, "Finish her off."
Her eyes widened but before a shriek could leave her sharp sting slashed her neck and she woke up with a jolt.