Royal Revenge

Prince Edward slumped on the couch in his lavish bedroom. The large space, once exquisite was now in disarray. The table and chairs lay overturned, shattered glassware scattered across the floor. Expensive garments were strewn about, alongside broken bottles and shards of crystal. The room was a mess, and Prince Edward's disheveled state suggested he was the at the center of the chaos.

Prince Edward's bloodshot eyes betrayed his hours of drinking, a desperate attempt to drown the shame and anger that had consumed him since the morning's duel. The humiliation of losing to his brother was nothing compared to the slap he received from Emily. Her audacity had left him reeling, his pride wounded.

The embarrassment dealt a crushing blow to his ego and reputation. He had always known, Emily possessed a fiery temperament even as a lady, but that she could be bold enough to slap him in public, not only embarrassing him but also publicly ending their engagement.

No one, let alone a woman, had ever dared to lay hands on him. The sting of her slap still lingered, fueling his rage.

This was the first time a woman had refused him, and in such a brutal manner. If it were any other woman, he would have made sure she was beheaded on the spot. But Emily was different, she was the only woman he wanted, the only woman he loved.

Despite his love for her, he couldn't let her actions slide just like that. He needed to teach her a lesson, to show her that his love wasn't a weakness to be exploited. He would make her pay, but on his own terms, and in a way that would leave her running to him, begging to take her back. He wanted her to realize that he wasn't a man to be trifled with, that he was a prince who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

He let out a low frustrated groan, the more he thought about it, the more his anger and frustration grew. She must pay for tarnishing his image.

Deep in thought, Prince Edward was oblivious to his surroundings, consumed by frustration and anger. The creaking of the door broke the silence, and Sebastian entered the room. The sight of the messy room didn't faze Sebastian, he was all too familiar with the prince's destructive outbursts when he was frustrated or upset, especially after a fight with his brother.

After years of serving the prince, Sebastian knew that only two people could provoke such intense anger in him: his brother, Prince Roman, and the love of his life, Emily. Sebastian couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the prince, who had suffered a double blow that day, losing to his arch-nemesis and also losing the woman he loved.

Sebastian's expression turned stern, his forehead furrowed in concern. He hated seeing the prince in such a state and was determined to help him exact revenge. He already got a perfect plan in mind.

"Prince Edward," Sebastian said gently, trying to break the prince's trance-like state.

However, Edward merely glanced up at his loyal servant, his expression unyielding, and ignored him.

Sebastian's gentle voice interrupted the prince's reverie. "Prince Edward," he said softly, attempting to rouse him from his trance-like state. However, Edward merely lifted his gaze, his expression unyielding, and dismissed Sebastian's concern.

Moments of silence passed before Sebastian spoke again. "I've contained the rumor within Brindlemark village. It won't spread further."

Edward nodded, and asked, "Did you ensure the king remains unaware of this incident?"

Sebastian nodded. "I've taken care of the advisor who witnessed the scene. A generous tip will keep him silent."

The room fell silent once more until Sebastian broke the stillness. "I found this on one of the palace servants." He held out his open hand, revealing a silver emblem adorned with a black stallion on a silver background.

Edward's gaze barely flickered towards Sebastian's hand before his eyes widened in shock. "That's Roman's royal court emblem," he exclaimed, recognizing the black stallion instantly.

Sebastian nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Prince Edward."

Edward's expression darkened, and he demanded, "Where is the servant?"

"The servant is acquainted to Miss emily." Sebastian dropped the news.

Edward looked up at his servant, his interest piqued, he asked, "How?"

"The female servant is Miss Emily's cousin." Sebastian said.

"Well, well." A wide smirk appeared on Edward's face. "We could get miss Emily on her knees pleading for her dear cousin."

Sebastian called, "Your highness," Edward glanced at him, Sebastian hesitated before he spoke, "I think I have a better idea but we will need the Miss's younger sister."

Edward's eyebrow arched in intrigue, and a low, wicked smile spread across his face, hinting at a sinister intent, as he absorbed his loyal servant's words.

*****

Nestled in a small village far away from the heart of Westfield kingdom, a woman in her late thirties sat cozily on a plush couch knitting a scarf.

Emily, her niece, who had just finished the dishes came to settle beside her. "Aunt Camille, is the scarf for mama?" Emily asked, eyeing the colorful yarn.

Camille's hands moved deftly, her gaze fixed on the knitting. "Your parents will have much to say about this, and mother won't be pleased either," she warned, her voice tinged with concern.

Emily let out a sigh. "I'll talk to them, explain everything. They'll understand."

Camille's hands stilled, and she looked up, her expression etched with worry. "I've always feared for your well-being, Emily. I strongly disagreed with your parents' decision to let Prince Edward court you."

Emily offered a reassuring smile. "This too shall pass. Prince Edward was never the right choice, and I'm glad he made that mistake today."

Camille's brow furrowed, her concern deepening. "It's not your parents' reaction or the gossip that troubles me, but the royal family. Do you think Prince Edward will let this matter drop?"

Emily's face fell as she listened to her aunt's words. Having known Prince Edward for only a few months, she was well aware of his relentless pursuit of what he desired. While he was courting her he never let another man court her, making it challenging for Emily to consider alternative prospects.

However, Emily's aspirations lay elsewhere. She had no interest in a man as cunning, ruthless, and self-centered as the first prince. The allure of lavish jewelry, royal titles, and a life of luxury held little appeal for her. Instead, Emily longed for a partner who would genuinely love and cherish her, bringing her happiness and fulfillment. She craved a simple, unassuming life, one where she could pursue her passions, including mastering swordsmanship and defending her kingdom.

"Are you planning to visit the bookshop tomorrow?" Emily's aunt inquired.

"Yes, I took the day off to watch the duel," Emily replied.

Emily's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I saw you at the duel. I thought you said you weren't going?"

Camille's face lit up with excitement. "I know Mr. Sawyer said the second prince would win, but I didn't believe him."

"It seemed to me that the second prince was toying with Prince Edward," Emily said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "While Prince Edward had endurance, Prince Roman possessed a unique combination of agility and stamina, making his defensive skills effortlessly smooth."

Camille smiled knowingly. "I thought you didn't want to attend the duel."

Remembering how she loathed attending the duel, Emily's expression turned sheepish. "Prince Roman's swordsmanship caught my attention." She stood up, mimicking the prince's moves with her hand. "The way he defended every attack with ease, I could sense his joy was palpable even behind the mask and from where I sat."

Camille watched, smiling, as Emily demonstrated the prince's techniques. The atmosphere in the small cottage was filled with laughter and excitement as the aunt and niece chatted.

Emily continued, "With one strike of his sword, Prince Edward was defeated. His face was a picture of anguish, as if his world had crumbled." Both Emily and Camille erupted into laughter, filling the cottage with warmth and joy.

*****

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the small house in Corlwield village, where the Neville family sat in tense silence. Cathy, the younger daughter, entered the living room, having finished the dishes. Her mother, seated on a stool, turned to her husband. "What are we to do?" she asked.

Mr. Neville's expression was grim. "We'll have to appeal to Prince Edward's mercy and beg for forgiveness for Emily's mistake."

The elderly grandmother spoke up, her voice laced with disapproval. "I warned you to discipline Emily properly. Now, she's brought shame upon our family."

Cathy defended her sister, "It wasn't entirely Emily's fault. Prince Edward forced himself on her."

The grandmother ignored Cathy's words and continued, "If you'd listened to me and offered Cathy to the prince instead, we wouldn't be in this predicament."

Mr. Neville's anger rose. "What was I supposed to do? The prince only wanted Emily."

Cathy felt a pang of jealousy at her father's words and clenched her fists.

The grandmother sneered, "Love can grow over time. If you'd given Cathy to the prince, he might have grown to love her."

A knock at the door interrupted the argument. Mrs. Neville rose to answer it, but Cathy intervened. "I'll get it."

Cathy opened the door to find Sebastian, Prince Edward's loyal servant. "Emily isn't home," she said.

Sebastian bowed. "The first prince has summoned you to the palace."

Cathy's eyes widened, and she felt a thrill at the unexpected summon. Sebastian's next words, however, were laced with warning. "Please, do not inform your family about this."

Cathy nodded and closed the door. Returning to the living room, her father asked, "Who was at the door?"

Cathy hesitated before responding, "B-Bridget. She needs my help with something."

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't she come in?"

Cathy stuttered, "T-the matter must be urgent." Cathy quickly grabbed her coat and exited the house before she could get questioned again.

Her mother's eyes narrowed. "I hope she isn't up to something bad."