Hunted by the Past

[Fifteen Months Ago] in the Markz Manor.

Lady Nina and her brother Lord Nero have been in an argument over Nina's love life. Nero did not like it that his only sister was nothing but a bed warmer to the notorious devil, Prince Liam Eldrago but Nina seemed to really like Liam and would not listen to her brother.

"I am your Earl Nina and you will listen to me and obey me." Nero raged.

"And I am your Earlene, I am of the same royal blood as you so you will not tell me what to do especially when it's something about my personal life." Lady Nina retorted.

"Have some shame Nina. You're a noble lady but yet you choose to be that devil's whore?"

"Prince Liam is no devil, Nero. You're just jealous because Liam is better than you in all ways you can possibly imagine, and he is the heartthrob of many women, nobles, and commoners alike, but he chose me. He loves me."

"He's married. If he loves you why didn't he marry you?"

"His parents married him that woman who he will never even look at, and what if he does anyway, he's a prince and at such has the right to marry as many wives as he wishes."

"Over my dead body will my only baby sister become a second wife to any man, not even a king."

"Then try and stop me. Brother." Lady Nina said peering fiercely into her brother's eyes.

Lord Nero sighed in defeat and his mean and angry face suddenly turned to a caring and concerned expression. It could be seen in his eyes that he genuinely was concerned about his sister's safety and not jealous as Nina said. He gently picked up her hands lovingly.

"Nina, that man is not good for you. You deserve someone who will treat you with respect and love you. Liam is just a devil who does not even care about people's feelings. You have to listen to me, I need you to put an end to whatever relationship you have with him. You can't be a second wife, you're way better than that. Please listen to me." He pleaded.

"I'm sorry brother." She said and jerked her hands out of Nero's. "I'm in love with Liam and love... Love doesn't care about all these things you care about. Love doesn't care about my status and position. I love him and I'm going to be his wife." Nina said and before Nero could respond, she was already gone.

It was that night that Lady Nina went to Prince Liam's home and never returned. Her brother waited for her for days but never saw her alive, instead, her corpse was found one morning at the entrance of the Markz Manor. Earl Nero sent letters to Prince Liam and King Albert but Queen Charlotte had her ear kept to the ground and intercepted all of them before they got to the receivers. He even visited Akalon but Queen Charlotte also stopped him from gaining access to the palace and denied that lady Nina ever set foot in Akalon.

Lord Nero buried his sister and wrote a letter to the Queen this time, seeking her presence at the candlelight ceremony of Lady Nina but Queen Charlotte never responded to that letter. Lord Nero got so angry and swore to avenge his sister's death.

Nero knew penetrating Akalon in the presence of Prince Liam was very impossible, especially on his own, so he decided to seek assistance from his father's old friend, King Silas Rufus of Avira Kingdom, the husband of my sister, Maya. King Silas was a mortal enemy of King Albert. He had thought he'd be the one to marry Queen Charlotte but Queen Charlotte ended up marrying the Kind King, Albert after she fell in love with him.

That night at the Devata festival, after his kingdom was announced, he sent his wives to set the Eldrago palace ablaze and sniff life out of every living being there. Apart from his first wife, he married his other wives to do his dirty jobs for him. He was a very mean man and so Earl Nero knew he was the only one that could help him.

"Greetings your Majesty." Lord Nero bowed in the presence of the mean king.

"Greetings Nero." King Silas smiled.

"A King as powerful as yourself does not smile in vain." Lord Nero said.

"Lord Nero, Earl of Madawi. It's not often that we see you visit. What brings you to my kingdom?" The King asked.

As Nero wanted to speak up, he hushed him.

"Oh, forgive my manners. How is your very pretty sister Nina, you know if not for the relationship I had with your father long ago, I would have married her already. " he said.

"I know your majesty. You really do like her a lot. And that is why you have to help me." Nero said.

"Help you? Was Nina abducted?"

"That would've been better your majesty."

"Speak Nero, do not keep me in suspense."

"Lady Nina is dead. She was killed brutally. Her body was butchered and left by the entrance of my manor like she was nothing."

King Silas looked taken aback by this information. "Do you know who did it?" He asked but before Nero responded, My sister Maya made her way to the king.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty..." but before she could finish, the King shut her up.

"How many times do I have to warn you to never interrupt my meetings? Have you no respect for your king?" King Silas yelled at Maya.

"I'm so sorry your majesty, forgive me please."

"Get out." He said and Maya scurried away.

"Who is she?" The Earl asked.

"Maya Ryan. My fourth wife, I had to marry a new one two weeks after I married her, she's such a clumsy girl." King Silas explained.

"Ryan. Is she in any way the daughter of King Dominic Ryan?"

"Yes. His second daughter. Heard he married off his last daughter to that demon boy, what's his name? Son of King Albert Eldrago."

"Prince Liam Eldrago of Akalon?."

"The very one. That greedy man had to give his daughter to my enemy after becoming my ally."

"Liam killed Nina."

"Really? Well, I guess it's an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life matter."

"What are you talking about?"

"Kill him." The king said without any humanity in him. "I already made the job easier for you when I poisoned the King. He's dying and soon Akalon will fall without a King."

"But Liam. He's too powerful."

"Love can bring even the strongest of men down. Get to his wife first. I have no other business with Akalon."

"But you must help me." Earl said.

"What do you want?" Silas asked.

"Maya Ryan at my command. It is only through her shall we ever get to Princess Nardin and then to Prince Liam."

King Silas agreed to Nero's evil plan and so they kidnapped Gwen and told Maya it was only when she delivered Liam to them will Gwen Ryan be saved. If she doesn't do it, Gwen, including Nardin will be burnt on the stake in her presence. Maya had to agree to deliver Prince Liam to them so she would save me.

[Present time]

"My lord, shall I leave now? You finally have your prisoner." Maya said.

"Keep them locked up." Lord Nero said to his guard.

"Them? Lord Nero the only prisoner here is Prince Liam. Nardin is not your prisoner." Maya said.

"Then give the lady a room fit for a princess. You can leave tomorrow after you've seen him executed. But tonight, prepare for his scourge. I want him to feel the pain Nina felt before she died." The earl ordered.

"I tried to stop your sister but she didn't listen. I never wanted to kill her." Liam said as he was taken away furiously.

The maids showed Maya and me to different rooms and later that evening, Liam was brought to the field and given two hundred strokes of the cane using a metal whip. The whip tore his skin in this process and everyone watched in horror thinking he would not survive it but he did. We can't expect less from a devil after all but he was really hurt and was not even treated. He was dragged away and locked up in the dungeons.

"What if he dies tomorrow before his execution?" I asked Maya.

"He won't. He's a devil. This is the least of things he'll ever have to endure." She responded.

For some reason when Liam was being whipped, I felt it. It was like I was connected to him and I could feel every pain he felt.

Later at night, I couldn't stop thinking about him so I decided to sneak into his dungeons. I managed to distract the guards by setting some piece of cloth ablaze making them think there was a fire.

I sneaked food to him but when I got to his prison, he was lying motionlessly.

"Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt?" I asked and quickly realized that truly he was hurt. "I brought you some food and medicine that would take the pain away." I said but my words were met with a response from a coarse voice.

"I knew you could not be trusted. Traitor." The voice said.

My eyes searched the area to meet Lord Nero Markz...