Orion's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at the chief. "You were jealous of my father's popularity?" he repeated, his voice low and menacing.
The chief nodded again, tears streaming down his face. "Y-yes," he stuttered. "I couldn't bear the thought of Lord nigel being revered by our people. I wanted to be the one in power, not him."
Oreon's grip on the chief's mouth tightened. "You're a coward," he spat. "Using jealousy as an excuse to kill an innocent man."
With a swift motion, Orion stabbed the chief again, this time in the shoulder. The chief's eyes widened in agony as Oreon leaned in closer.
"You're going to tell me everything," Orion hissed. "Every detail, every plot, every person involved. And then... you're going to beg for mercy."
The chief's eyes darted wildly, searching for an escape. But Orion's grip was unyielding, his determination to uncover the truth unwavering.
Orion ended up killing the disfiguring the chief's face,and sneaked out,before anyone could find out,he was long gone.
Orion walked wearily through the streets, his exhaustion palpable. Dealing with the chief had taken a toll on him.
As he turned a corner, he spotted a familiar face. The lady was locking up locking up a store, her eyes looked sad.Orion's eyes narrowed as he tried to remember where he saw her.
"Hey," he said, approaching her. "You look familiar."
The lady looked up, startled, and Orion was struck by her beauty. But she shook her head, her expression apologetic. "Sorry, I don't know you."
Orion's brow furrowed. He could have sworn he'd met her before. He racked his brain, trying to remember where he'd seen her.
And then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him. She was the girl he'd rescued from that man who'd tried to assault her. Orion's eyes widened as the memory came flooding back.
"I remember you," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "You're the girl I saved that night."
The lady's eyes widened, and she took a step back, a mixture of surprise and shock on her face.the person that had save her that night was wearing an eye mask.Orion realized he might have startled her and took a step back, holding up his hands in a calming gesture.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Orion, by the way."
The lady's expression softened, and she smiled weakly. "I'm Sophia," she said. "Nice to meet you, Orion."
Orion's eyes filled with concern as Sofia shared her struggles with him,she just her job after a little mistake she made,He listened intently, his expression empathetic.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Orion said, his voice gentle. "But I have to ask, what's wrong with working at Ashwood Palace? You mentioned it before, but you didn't explain."
Sofia hesitated, her eyes darting around the room as if she feared being overheard.
"I've heard rumors," she whispered. "Rumors about the lord of ashwood being ruthless!"
"I don't want to lose my life"
Orion's expression turned thoughtful. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Sofia's face.
"I see," he said. "But what if I told you that I have a connection to Ashwood Palace? What if I could guarantee your safety?"
Sofia's eyes widened, her face filled with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Orion smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Let's just say that I have some influence at the palace," he said. "And I think I can help you get a job there, if you're interested."
Sofia's face was a picture of indecision. Orion could see the wheels turning in her mind as she weighed the pros and cons.
Finally, she nodded, a determined look on her face.
"Okay," she said. "I'll do it.
******************************
Aurora sat with her grandmother, Theresa, and asked, "Grandma, what age do you think a girl is fit to get married?"
Theresa looked at her and replied, "A girl, especially a lord's or king's child, is meant to get married at least at eighteen."
Aurora's curiosity was piqued. "Why?" she asked.
Theresa explained, "Because she's not the head of the family, and she'll be taken care of by her husband.
Aurora nodded thoughtfully.
Theresa continued, "But if it's a boy, a king's,chief's son or a lord's son, he's meant to get married at least at the age of twenty-five, since he'll be the head of the family.
Theresa looked at Aurora with a keen eye and asked, "Aurora, why are you asking me this? Do you plan on getting married? Have you seen a boy you like and you want to introduce him to us, but you don't know how?"
Aurora quickly shook her head, a defensive tone creeping into her voice. "No, no, no, that's not the case. I just... I'm just curious because I feel I'm growing, and I don't want to get married. I don't want to... I don't know, it's just that I can't bear a man apart from my father controlling me here and there!"
Theresa's expression softened, and she reached out to gently pat Aurora's hand. "I understand, dear. You want to maintain your independence and freedom. That's completely understandable."
***************************
Orion and Sophia strolled out of the café, enjoying the warm evening air. They walked side by side, their footsteps synchronized as they made their way through the quiet streets.
"Where would you like to go?" Orion asked, looking down at Sophia with a smile.
Sophia thought for a moment before responding. "I've always loved the gardens. They're beautiful at night."
Orion nodded, and they changed direction, heading toward the gardens around As they walked, they chatted about everything from their favorite books to their childhood memories.
The gardens were indeed breathtaking at night. The moon cast a silver glow over the flowers and trees, and the sound of gentle fountains filled the air. Orion and Sophia strolled along the winding paths, taking in the beauty of their surroundings.
As they walked, Orion found himself feeling more and more at ease in Sophia's presence. He couldn't remember the last time he'd connected with someone like this.
Sophia, too, felt a sense of comfort with Orion. She loved the way he listened to her, the way he made her laugh.
As the night wore on, they found themselves at a tranquil lake in the heart of the gardens. The water reflected the moon's gentle light, creating a sense of perfect peace.
Three years later, after sophia had began working in the palace, Sophia began working at Ashwood Palace, where Orion's interest in her grew, He approached his parents, nigel and aria and confessed his feelings,and also confessed that he had been the one behind most of the killings and disfiguring of the chiefs,kings and minister..his parents were mad for a while and decided to let it all go.
"Father, Mother, I've met someone," Oreon said, his eyes shining with excitement. "Her name is Sophia, and she's a maid here in the palace."
Nigel looked at aria, a knowing glint in his eye. "It seems history is repeating itself," he said with a chuckle. "When I was a youth, I fell in love with your mother, who was also a maid at the palace."
The royal family summoned Sophia's family, and the two families arranged for Orion and Sophia to be married. However, Aurora, had other plans. She was determined to become a successful businesswoman, independent of her family's wealth.
The end....