“For the crime of overtaxing the people of your kingdom and using the money for your own benefit, I order this punishment. There will be no male heir to the throne, you are forbidden from producing a male heir, should one be produced, he will be killed.”

The Emperor’s cold eyes lock me in place from his throne, far above me. The side of his head rests arrogantly on his fisted hand, his legs are crossed and his chin turned up at me, the strongest king. 

“The current princess will be locked up in the Dark Tower and will work for 10 years in solitude. Do not worry, your princess will have access to whatever she asks, so long as it is not too presumptuous.” His voice never changes, always distant, cold, bored. He believes himself to be above me. If I could, I would challenge him to a duel and beat him easily.

“Emperor Zardens, please, be reasonable, without a male heir, the Mauder Kingdom will have no ruler.” I fight off the anger of having to address this boy as Emperor. At least he cannot deny me.

“No. You do have a future ruler, the princess Roxanna. The Mauder Kingdom will have a Queen at last. This pleases me greatly, finally every kingdom will have honored the agreement made by my great grandfather, Emperor Maximillius III.” I bristle in fury, how dare he go against me.

“The princess is unfit to be ruler, please Emperor Zardons, come to your senses.” I spit out the words through grit teeth, my hands fisted and shaking with rage.

“Enough, you dare question my rule?” The Emperor’s voice never raises in volume, it grows colder and sharper instead. How dare this boy humiliate me like his? I will not let this pass, never.

“Never, Emperor Zardens. Please forgive my blunder. I would never question you.” I force myself to lower my head and hear my silent wife bow with me. Useless doll, she can’t even seduce the Emperor to give us a lighter punishment.

“You are forbidden from having any contact with the princess during her stay at the tower. I have her in custody. You may say your farewells on your way out.” Zardens dismisses us without so much as a wave.

Oh, how I long to take my sword and behead him, or stab him through the heart. Poisoning him and watching him wither in pain on the ground like a bug might be better though. Or maybe all three. I pacify the rage inside me by imagining the most painful ways to kill him. I will do it, I will kill him.

“Great King Acren, may this unworthy queen speak?” My wife beside me interrupts my thoughts. Without a thought or glance, I slap her with the back of my hand. Then I punch her in the stomach. I no longer need to refrain from doing so, Zanders has made her useless. She stops and kneels over, making me drag her through the hall by her hair.

“How dare you speak without permission,” I bash her head against a wall, “you useless piece of trash. You couldn’t even seduce the Emperor. I should kill you but I won’t, instead I’ll have you whipped. Go on, thank me.” I throw her onto the ground and grin as she thanks me for being so merciful. She kisses the floor at my feet. I kick her in the throat after I’ve had enough.

“Clean yourself up, we have to say goodbye to our dear princess.” I walk through the halls, my wife following behind me quickly. We reach the main hall in minutes and watch as five guards hold back my crying daughter. Anger rises to the surface and I walk towards the girl raising my hand to hit her, only to be stopped by a guard.

“You dare to touch me?! I’ll have you flogged!” I snatch my hand away and wait for the guard to beg for his life, instead, he gives me a look and speaks without fear.

“The Emperor has ordered the safe transportation of the princess to the Dark Tower. No harm is to come to the princess on the way to the Tower.” the guard recites the line and steps in front of my daughter. 

“How dare you go against me!? I am the strongest king, you are nothing! Leave this palace at one and take your family with you! Otherwise I will personally kill you!” The guard doesn’t move and the others move to stand with him. My entire body shakes with anger and my face heats up as blood rushes to it. I turn on my heel and walk away briskly, my wife following behind me.

“I’ll kill him, I swear it.” I make the oath, my wife the only witness as we leave the castle and board the carriage awaiting us.