1. Dungeon

"I have held you in my every breath, just holding your hand. These nights, this moon, this sun, this world, this earth, this sky, this era and I... will be here or not... my love for you will be immortal. Even after I dissolve as a fragrance in the air, I will remain around you like your shadow. This is my last promise to you…"

It is said that it does not take long to cast a bad shadow on beauty. But not her beauty, compulsion had become a dark shadow for her. The brightest star out of the shining stars in the sky had broken into two pieces and had become her eyes. She was so beautiful that even the clouds used to talk about her beauty in the sky. When she looked out of the small window of her dark hut, desolation also used to be sad after seeing her sad face. The thin and flexible body could be covered in clothes, but until the owner of that tempting body would be found, she had to spend her life in this darkness.

Just as there is a morning after every night, there spread light in her life, too. While she was standing by the only window of her darkroom, someone from outside opened the room and her body trembled when she recognized the man with the heavy footsteps. She started to tremble and hugged her chest then lowered her eyes. She was afraid that her cruel stepfather might injure her with the blow of the stick even today!

But that night, he did not hit on her body with his stick, rather her father told her the good news that she would not stay in this dungeon for long. A prince will come to marry her and she will have to go a long way with that prince. She did not know whether this news was good or bad or because she was asked to kill that prince after giving birth to his child.

Jane Dover bit her trembling lips and hugged her chest with a sad sigh. Yes, she did not know how she was feeling right now she knew that it would be challenging for her to survive in such a typical marriage. She got married this morning and her husband was very charming and attractive. He was a strong and long man and was dressed in a blue and burgundy outfit with his perfect aura. How could she cheat on such a dashing person? Soon, she was about to part and her throat was drying up as time went on. Just then, she heard heavy footsteps and she turned back and looked at the man who was standing in front of her with his demonic smile as ever.

"Father…" She spoke in her trembling voice and Fenton Dyer smirked evilly.

"Despite being in this dungeon for many years, your body has not got tanned. You have to use this juicy body to entice your husband and after his child is born you have to kill him." His hoarse voice with his demonic smile was frightening.

"Dad, he's my husband. How can I cheat on…?" Her low voice was trembling and before she could complete her sentence, her courage was snatched by a hard slap on her cheek. She stumbled on the ground while lowering her head pitifully.

"I let you stay in this dungeon, gave you food for so many years, let you live, not because to let you talk back to me." He roared and kicked in her stomach.

"Your life is mine and you have to do what I say. Otherwise, you will have to die."

Jane Dover closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip to endure the pain in her stomach.

"Now, you think whether you have to die or you have to live by killing him."

Fanton Dyer finished roaring and just then they heard a footstep in that dark room as soon as Jane Dover saw that person, she wiped her tears and stood up to hide the earlier moments. Fenton Dyer turned back and looked at the handsome young man who was coming toward him with his special aura. He was the most handsome prince and was the best choice for his silly daughter. He was a drunkard, a gambler and a goth whose eyes used to get stunned by seeing beautiful girls. It is said that he used to live among girls and slept on their laps. His mornings used to start with alcohol and nights used to end with gambling in the lap of girls. It was not impossible to kill such a stupid and lazy person.

And for this reason, when Darius Simard came to visit this land, Fenton Dyer sent Jane's marriage proposal to him along with her nude picture. After seeing Jane's nude picture, his heart became uncontrollable and he agreed to the marriage.

A handsome and dashing man was standing in front of her and Fanton Dyer. His eyes were big and there was a smirk on his pink lips.

"You should not come to this dark room, Prince. This is not the place for the princes to come." Fenton Dyer said in his hoarse voice.

"That's what I want to ask you, what you are doing here?" Darius Simad looked at the most beautiful woman with eyes of lust and Fenton yer smirked after noticing his impatience.

"You are now married. I should leave you alone with her."

"Good."

Fenton Dyer left the dungeon and Darius Simard stepped ahead near to the woman he wanted to grab as soon as possible. Jane Dover lowered her eyes shyly and clenched her fists.

"Where was this murderous body hidden?" He pulled her in his tight embrace and she started trembling with fear. His warm breaths with the smell of alcohol entered her breath and she felt bad.

"My heart is so uncontrollable that I don't want to be away from you." He started taking off her dress and she got frightened. This was the most frightening and shocking experience for her. Were they going to spend these memorable moments in this dungeon?

Knock… Knock…

"Who the hell is there?"

Darius Simard left her and turned back then roared angrily.

"The chariot is ready. We must leave now." It was Morris who was the right hand of Darius Simard.

"Can't you wait for a while?" He roared and Jane Dover lowered her eyes in panic. He wanted to do it now!?!

"If we do not leave here now, we will not be able to cross the dense forest before nightfall."

"What difference will it make?" He roared back.

"Staying in a dense forest is equivalent to taking the risk of life. The wild animals there are frightening and our soldiers will refuse to stop there for a night's stay. We cannot cross that forest without them. It would be better if we go out now."

Darius Simard turned back and looked at Jane Dover with irritation.

"Get Ready. We are leaving." He turned back and left the darkroom and Jane Dover swallowed her anxiety.

A large and decorated chariot was passing on the unpaved footpath, on both sides of which some soldiers were walking with swords and Darius Simard and Morries were riding on their horses.

And the convoy was moving towards the deep forest. Jane Davor had never seen the outside world, but when she looked out of the small window of that chariot's cabin, a smile appeared on her delicate lips. To her surprise, she found many colourful butterflies hovering near her window, of which the most beautiful looking butterfly was the largest and golden red in colour. Her gentle gaze was not going away from it and as if that butterfly was also trying to touch this beautiful woman's cheek, because of the glass on the window, that butterfly was not able to come inside. When that butterfly got tired of trying, got up from the edge of the glass and flew away. Jan Dover sighed sadly because she liked that strange butterfly so much. Just then, the chariot stopped and after a while, a soldier opened the door. Jane Dover bit her lips shyly when she saw Darius Simard at the door.

"This is where the convoy will stop for tonight. You can come out."

The evening was cloudy and the air was too cold. Jane Dover got out of the cabin with her sweet smile and saw the beautiful nature around her.

"Our tent is on that side." Darius Simard held her tin waist and said in his low and deep voice.

"Prince, I want to go over there." She pointed at the large tree near the bank of the river. She sat down near a small stone under a sheet of white flowers. Within a short time, the swarm of butterflies reached her again and started making her cheerful mind even more joyful. She had never experienced this sight in the past. But when her eyes fell on the back of her palm, she was amazed. That golden-red coloured butterfly was very big, maybe it was not a butterfly. She could not clarify which thing it was! Jane Dover's mind got disturbed on seeing it and she ran away from there in fear and came to her tent.

"Are you ready?" She heard the heavy and hoarse voice behind her and she swallowed saliva after turning back. Her husband was standing over there without any piece of cloth on his body.

"Prince." She lowered her eyes shyly and forgot her fear.

Darius Simard stepped ahead with his strong body and as soon as he touch her that big butterfly-like creature flew between them and injured his eyes. He started screaming in pain and Jane Dover got frightened after seeing blood dripping from his eyes.

"Prince." She kept looking at him with surprise.

Morris rushed into the tent along with some soldiers after hearing his screams and covered him with a cloth and let him sleep on the bed.

Jane Dover covered her mouth after seeing Darius Simard's pity condition and just then, she started trembling in fear. That golden-red butterfly was present on her left shoulder. She could not move. Her heart was tightened and her throat was dry.

What was it? And why it was behind her?