Chapter 11: The Negotiation

Chapter 11:

The dark circles around my eyes had become even more prominent as I continued my abusive stay here in the stupid room. The marquis and his snake of a wife refused to let me out for the last 3 days. It felt as though I was slowly losing my sanity and there were moments id think to resort to begging just to be let out but decided against it.

I could not allow myself to be weak. Not again.

Occasionally Susan would sneak up to trying to pass me food here and thee without being caught but even for her, it was difficult to serve her favoured master. Sighing I lopped on the bed like I had done the last few days. The moment I got out of here was the moment I would start destroying their lives as planned. They deserved every bit I was going to throw at them, without any mercy or remorse!

Family can drag itself through the mud, cause clearly, they did not see me as any kin.

"Hnngg…" I groaned as my eyes watered.

Even t6hinking was making me go crazy. Where was the prince when you needed him? Don't stories usually end up like that? the damsel being saved by her prince charming, but clearly, I was not even the main character of my own life. Having to die here like a withered flower.

I groaned as I picked up the pillow imagining his face before throwing a harsh punch directly at it.

Id managed to send out a letter to the prince, whether he received it or not I do not know, but with Susan, I am sure he did. How long does it take for someone of his stature and power to read a letter? Especially an urgent one? Sighing I flopped my head on the pillow yet again.

I was tired. I felt weak and I was helpless.

As if death was not enough, I had to relive this entire nightmare of a life all over again. And trying to change it was not going anywhere in this room.

*

Zachary had read her letter the moment it had arrived but trying to intervene with marriage then was going to be completely and utterly difficult, especially with the formalities that were encircling the entire thing.

When Zachary had requested this 2-day prior, the emperor was quite taken a back when his son had requested a marriage, but more so shocked when it was the Duke of Dominic's fiancé, the second lady and illegitimate of house Monroe.

An illegitimate child as the crown princess was unheard of and preposterous, so of course, having to agree was completely not going to happen unless Zachary had found a way to persuade them.

"Take her as a concubine." his father stated.

"No," he discarded the idea immediately.

"Zachary you need to understand that even if we as your parents agree, the council and the factions need to agree and you know that it's close to impossible, " the emperor tried to reason.

"Then I request to use the wish you had granted me as a hero of the war," Zachary said. "Since that is absolute, and no one can go against it." He spoke.

The emperor had granted Zachary a wish of anything he decided, and it was absolute, and the vassals had agreed but no one had seen that coming. You think he would use that wish to marry a girl whom he had not even known for a long time. It was unlike him.

"Is there an important reason it must be her?" the emperor questioned as Zachary simply smiled. "I see… you have no intention of telling me why." The emperor sighed.

"The wish is not difficult father, I'm not asking for anything grand," He said.

"Yes, you are, you need an empress that will help you lead well in the future, and I don't think she is suitable," the emperor expressed his worries.

"All she needs to do is stay by my side, I shall do what needs to be done," he said

The emperor looked at his son in disbelief. Was it because he was away at war for a long time that he was lusting that of a woman? Or was there really something that needed to be done and that woman was required?

"I don���t understand why you would waste your wish on such a matter," the emperor sighed.

"I promised her," Zachary said monotonously.

"Because of some flimsy promise?" the emperor said as his eyebrows knotted.

"All I simply request is to use the wish granted," Zachary finalized.

"And do you think the vassals will sit still and allow this marriage to happen?"

"I would agree so?" Zachary said un-wavered by his decision.

"Zachary you and I both know the truth of that," the emperor sighed yet again looking at this son of his with his preposterous request. It felt as though any moment his old age would have increased after this.

"This conversation will simply go back and forth, father, and I have absolutely no intention of giving up this request. She will become my wife and my crown princess." Zachary finalized with a spark in his eyes.

His son was definitely hiding something and all he could do was blindly trust him and allow for the request to go through.

"Very well then," the emperor gave in.

"Glory and peace be upon the sun of the empire." Zachary smiled as he excused himself from the presence of his father.

Zachary had been preparing all night to bring his so-called beloved. Her letter had requested he come and get her personally for some reason that he could not understand, so he blindly followed her request.

*

Anthony seemed to be conflicted by the sudden letter that he had received revoking his engagement to Winter. Why would the Crown prince, who had just returned from war want to marry Winter, an illegitimate child?

Anthony felt guilty in having a sense of jealousy trickling his heart at the idea of Winter marrying someone else, though being that one that was cheating on Winter in their relationship with her sister, and not even telling her his mistake.

Anthony had felt a sense of sympathy for Anita knowing what winters mother had done to her and the Monroe family, but he had left out the teeny detail that the marquis was mostly at fault. Sighing he leaned back in his chair. How was Anita going to take the news of her plan failing? All he could plan was to comfort her, but there was something bitter in him. What was that feeling?

Anita was the perfect bride for him, he was the woman that would elevate his status. And though they were using each other for personal benefits, and him being used more than her. sighing he closed his eyes slightly, it was okay, he could come to love her.

This was the right choice. Having Winter out of his life and hair was the best way to get rid of anything related to her illegitimacy.