KARA'S POV
"Lord Isaac has arrived Your Highness," Lucy informed me.
"Really?" I asked in surprise since I thought he wasn't supposed to return until the next couple of days. "I looked outside the bridge to get a closer look.
The door to the carriage opened and out stepped a young man in a fine suit. He had long brown hair that was in a low ponytail and olive skin. From this distance, I couldn't see much else of his features like his eye color, and overall facial structure.
But there was an air of elegance and arrogance about him from the way he moved.
Two of the servants gathered around him and began to attend to him. The other two went to the carriage to get his stuff.
As Isaac turned and looked like he was about to head toward the castle entrance he suddenly looked up to where I was.
Then as if recognizing me, he bowed in my direction. My eyes widened in surprise. He continued to look at me which prompted me to turn away and look back at Lucy.
"Let's continue shall we?" I suggested that we continue to make our way to the playroom. It was going to be interesting when I finally met him.
"Yes, Your Highness," Lucy continued to move as she guided me to the room. It was located in between Kara's wing and the three Dukes' wing.
Upon entering the room I was struck by everything inside. There were multiple shelves filled with all kinds of 'toys'. table as well as different kinds of contraptions lined across the floor. My eyes widened in both horror and disgust. I recognized the area where Aldric had choked me as I walked further into the room.
This room looked like a literal torture room. I inspected all the toys on the shelves and my mouth nearly opened wide in shock. She really inserted all these objects inside them? I trembled at the thought. Lucy had told me that Kara brought one of them here nearly every day. I sympathized with Kara to the extent that she was powerless to Viktor's demands but to another extent, a lot of what she did to her husbands was her own will.
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GRIFFITH'S POV
I waited near the palace entrance for Isaac to arrive. He wasn't due to return for another 2 days due to the nature of the task he was set out to do. It made me worry as to what caused his sudden return.
When he walked into the castle I straightened up ready to receive him.
I watched how he arrogantly walked and flirted with the servants who were by his side helping him carry his luggage. I shook my head in disapproval. He was the youngest of our duke trio. He was known for being a playboy and womanizer but that had to change after marrying Kara. But that didn't mean he actually stopped messing about.
An arrogant smile appeared on his face when he saw me.
"Alright ladies you can go ahead and leave my stuff in my room," he instructed the servants.
They giggled. "Yes, my Lord."
"Griffith," He called out my name as he came to stand in front of me.
"You're back early," I commented. "I'm hoping you behaved whilst you were away," I said to him as I looked at the servants who were walking away still giggling.
"You know me," he gave a vague answer.
"And that's why I'm worried. His Majesty is waiting for you."
"And here I thought you would be thrilled at my return and give me a better greeting than that, since you missed me so much," he commented as we turned and made our way to Viktor's wing.
"I was glad to have some peace and quiet for once," I remarked with a sneer.
"Mhmm,"
"But on a serious note, what happened? Why are you back early?" I asked fearing the worst of his mission.
After a moment Isaac's expression finally got serious, " It's bad, Griffith, many people are about to lose their livelihoods no one is happy. They are threatening to retaliate."
My lips pressed into a thin line."We can't let that happen," I remarked.
"I know, I tell you the rest later,"
"By the way who will be spending the night with our 'dear wife tonight'?" he asked curiously sarcastically. "It better not be me just because I've returned."
"Nobody," I answered.
"Come on just tell me so I can mentally prepare," he said stopping for a moment.
I continued quietly walking letting him know I wasn't kidding.
Isaac ran up to catch up with me. "Wait, you're serious? What happened?" He began to ask more gravely.
"Where's Aldric?" He then asked as if starting to piece that something was wrong.
My eyes narrowed for a moment. "We'll talk more about him after we see the King," I explained.
I knocked at the door to his office and we went inside. "Good afternoon Your Majesty," we greeted the King seated by the seating area of the office.
"Lord Isaac, I see you have returned," Viktor stated. "
"Yes, Your Majesty I have brought."
"I trust you have relayed the plans I have set out to the ports?"
"Yes, however, the people are not pleased with the changes, they fear for their livelihoods and
I looked at Isaac and wondered why he was even mentioning this when it's not like Viktor didn't know.
Isaac's dukedom practically controlled all the seaports in the kingdom watching over all the imports and exports. However, though his dukedom ran the ports other smaller companies also traded at the ports. Many local fishermen used the sea, and other locals use the beaches for recreational activities.
However, Viktor wanted that to stop. He wanted total control over all the ports and all the activities that took place there. He was increasing the taxes on private fishing so they had to pay a high fee to get access to the port. He was also putting restrictions on locals from using and accessing the beaches. The citizens in the area heavily depended on the sea. Many of them were fishermen and would go out to sell the produce to other parts of the kingdom.
Viktor looked at Isaac with a bored expression after his plea. "My word is final if there is any resistance the royal army will snuff it out."He told us with a tone of finality.
"Yes, Your Majesty," We both said as Isaac and I momentarily looked at each other. We knew Viktor had no problem massacring thousands of people if he had to.
Upon leaving Viktor's office Isaac let out a frustrated sigh. "Don't you just ever feel like scratching him in that remaining eye of his so he goes fully blind?" He said as we made our way back to our wing.
"Be careful what you say in public," I scolded him though I understood his frustration.
Viktor had not only taken over our family businesses but was also using that power to put people in difficult situations.
What's worse is he put us up to be the ones to carry out those difficult tasks so that the citizens being affected will let out their frustrations on us.
"He did something to the princess didn't he?" he then changed the subject.
I gave him a look that confirmed it. "He choked her."
Isaac put his hands to his forehead, "oh my god."
"How bad is he?" he asked in such a way that let me know he feared Aldric had lost a limb.
"He's intact," I reassured him.
"When did it happen?"
"3 days ago, he's being let out today,"
"You'll have to help me get him."
"Alright then