The novel was a historical fiction that followed the story of a terrible tyrant king who was obsessed with control named King Viktor. Due to his greed and thirst for power, he wanted total control and submission over all the subjects in the kingdom. Anyone whom he deemed as a threat to that power or who stood up to him would soon meet their demise. Simply put, obey and all would be fine.
He was merciless, cold, and cunning. His punishments were unreasonably cruel. All around him feared him. At the beginning of the novel, there are three men who pose a threat to Viktor, they are the three strongest nobles of the kingdom. Viktor was worried that their power and status in the kingdom would be a threat to him. And so to assert his power and control over them he forced them all to marry his stepsister, Princess Kara.
The three men planned a coup, to overthrow Viktor, but it failed horribly. All three died and were made an example of to the rest of the kingdom to show what would happen if you disobeyed. Princess Kara died during the coup.
I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting this strange looking novel was. I found myself wanting to read more and more.
At first, it seemed like all hope was lost as Viktor's reign of terror went on for so long with no one else challenging him fearful of suffering the same fate as the three dukes, that is, until the female lead and male lead of the story come along 20 years later. The male lead is Viktor's own child, Prince Cepheus. He grew up under his father's training learning his tyrannical ways and normalizing them as what should be done. However, one day he gets saved by a young woman whom he eventually falls in love with.
Then he realizes a plot his father has to destroy this woman's village after an offense was committed and begins to question his father's ruling methods. He eventually decides to stand up against his father. And since he knows his father well, he knows the best way to defeat him. The romance between Cepheus and the female lead was so cute and the eventual demise of King Viktor was so satisfying.
It was around 3 a.m. when I finally finished the book. I was so happy with the ending. I finally fell asleep afterwards knowing that even though I'd had a horrible day at least I was falling asleep on a good note.
When I woke up the next morning checking the time on my phone, I saw it was 8:57 am. I only had 3 minutes till I was supposed to arrive at work, and I was still in my bed. Not to mention, it took me an hour to get to my workplace from home using public transport.
There was absolutely no way I was going to get there in time yet still I rushed out of my bed and went to get ready. Even though it was hopeless I tried to come up with the excuses I could give my supervisor.
Perhaps I should call in sick I thought to myself as I got ready. But then realized I couldn't use that excuse…again that is. Just last week I had called in sick when I terrible period cramps and needed to stay home so if I call in sick again that would be weird.
In about 20 minutes I had taken a quick shower and dressed myself. I hadn't eaten yet though there wasn't any time to. I got my handbag and rushed out of my apartment. I had already accepted my fate, my supervisor was going to chew me out. I just hoped I wouldn't get fired.
I ran as fast as I could trying to get to the metro as quickly as possible, it was just a few blocks from my house. Walking along the street I stopped at a traffic stop which was red. I impatiently waited for it to turn green as other people came and stood around me waiting for the light as well. These traffic lights always took so long to turn green for pedestrians.
The moment they flashed green I literally sprinted across. Running ahead of everyone else in my heels I could see the other side so clearly. I don't know what exactly made me look to the side but I did so and saw a truck heading straight toward me. Thought the light was red for traffic it wasn't slowing down. It was far too close now and moving too fast. It had seemingly come out of nowhere as I hadn't seen it when I first started crossing. I wasn't going to be able to avoid it I realized. Horror filled me as my inescapable fate charged toward me.
The force I felt from the impact was like no other, powerful and fast. I fell backward onto the road and everything went black. Silence consumed me. I was blinded, I couldn't see anything, nor could I hear. Just blackness and silence. Was I dead?
It took a moment but then the sensation of pain soon coursed through my body. I screamed out in pain though I couldn't hear it. But something was strange. I thought after being hit by a truck I would feel pain all over my body but I only felt pain in my side. Like I had been given a good kick in the gut.
Then my hearing slowly restored and I realized someone was talking, no, someone was shouting.
The darkness began to fade away from my eyes and could roughly make a few things out. As I adjusted to my surroundings, I noticed I wasn't outside anymore as there was a ceiling/ roof up above me and lamps all around lighting the room. I also realized I was lying on a cold stone floor. Looking around I found several strange-looking objects lying on the floor around me.
Suddenly my eyes widened in shock as I realized what the objects were. Was that a dil…do? And was that a whip? My vision was still a little hazy. I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me as I blinked several times. Where was I?
I lifted myself from the floor and looked around to see who was yelling and I found it was a man not too far from me. He was chained to some kind of wooden contraption that restricted his movement. What's more, the man was completely naked. He was tall, massive, and muscular with tanned skin and large scars that riddled his body. He had dark hair that came over his anger-filled hazel eyes.
My eyes widened in horror and confusion. I then looked down at myself and saw I was dressed in a rather skimpy nightdress and my body looked different. I don't remember being this tanned I thought as I looked at my arms. What the hell was going on here? I had been on the street just a minute ago so how did I get here? Why was this man in this state?
"I've had enough of you and your sadistic ways!" He yelled at me. The look he gave me was ferocious and terrifying.