CHAPTER 667: CHAPTER 667

"I cannot keep doing this." — A Few minutes before returning to his chambers to find the beloved, he expressed to his Father, the Emperor. — "Doing as you asked me to has only made my lady more distant."

"How does that have anything to do with what I asked you to do?"

"Tsk! ’How’ you ask?! That Latrishk scum has placed his eyes on her! He even dares to ask you permission to take my love with him!! Don’t you think this doesn’t have to do with it?! If I hadn’t done as you told me he and that nauseating woman would be dead and none of this bull would be needed!!!"

"You don’t know that! Do you think anyone would be so stupid as to come to the enemy’s lands without preparation?! You know well nobody would, d*mn brat!! Ruinam started to spread the moment he came into the Empire! And it is clear he has some bond with that lady you despise! If we are not careful we might not be able to prevent the war they have been crafting in the shadows!! The lives of many are involved! You cannot be so blind only for one girl—!?!"

"Shut up." – With his aura, the Emperor’s yell stopped. Finding Zeleskiaz’s glare become eerily calm in an instant.

"... again, you think I won’t punish you only because you are my son? To be the Emperor... I killed and saw my family kill each other. You seem to underestimate me, Zeleskiaz. Only because I am being nice."

"Punishment, that word doesn’t mean you can kill me. Your way to act with us your children... mother told me about it long ago, Francois."

"..."

"You hope not to repeat the story of our lineage, but Fenrir’s bloodthirst is in our vessels. I respect your efforts, yet I have no obligation to follow your wish and neither do my siblings. Much less while in ignorance."

"..."

"I’m not the only one who thinks this way." — Releasing the weight on his Father whose eyes lost any fright he once could find, Zeleskiaz regretted this outburst. For in the deepest of the madman, no wish to kill his own blood governed anymore. — "Sverre’s steps seem suspicious. Pay attention to the second prince for I know well he does seek the crown intensely since young... unlike me. I’m leaving, continuing this conversation won’t get us anywhere."

"... Is it wrong for me to not want the same fate for you? For my children?"

"..."

"Earning the crown like I did... I believe that wasn’t the aim of the First Emperor Oregor when building the Empire."

"I cannot say if it was... But I also don’t think your way was the correct one, your majesty. Although... I had never really cared about your ways in the first place. Hence, my opinion is useless in this matter." — Dioclecià’s young smile came to Zeleskiaz’s mind along with the innocent questions he would sometimes ask and the big brother could not reply. — "... my younger siblings do differ, however. Good it is that the four of us are very different."

Such a conversation as the last one of the day drained the crown prince’s endurance. Things had changed within him once he started to involve himself further with those surrounding him. A consequence of knowing love this was... and so, the coldness and indifference to others’ lives he once possessed diminished when acknowledging the meaning behind their actions.

Sick he was of it. Of caring when he was not used to it... But in the end, everything came back to her. To Marianne whom he loved enough to change.

The mutters he told to the empty chambers, were not about hatred but about the exhausted heart of a man who had found a dead end as to what to do so some relief could be recovered.

"I’m sick of it... should have never agreed to anything... all because she’s the Ninth..." — He alleged annoyed to the point of frustration. For her status made it a must for the royal family to follow harsher formalities. — "I shouldn’t have... Tsk! Even the courtship is annoying, cursed be all..."

’I miss her touch and taste... I want her in my arms... to feel her scent... I must be losing my mind out of yearning for I can even smell her sweet essence when it’s impossible at this time and here of all places...’ — Closing his eyes in pain he shuddered, sad and lustful. Missing the days when nobody knew anything and they were free to do anything while hidden. — ’... what I would offer to the gods... if only I could make love endlessly with her without worries for what is proper...’

He started to imagine, like he had become used to in a desperate escape. Losing a tad of consciousness to wake at the sound of her stoic voice.

"... How regrettable for you to endure such torture, your highness."

"?! Wh-... Marianne?" — Seeing her in pyjamas, his head turned blank while his heart rushed from elation. — ’A dream... a marvellous one.’

"Being around me must have been a terrible agony. Do not worry... I have come to put an end to all of this circus."

Zeleskiaz was too hypnotised to comprehend the words and it was the lowered head of the woman that made him step closer to her. To see the mirage he thought was not real.

’I can smell her so clearly... my lady...’

She did not step back to his overwhelming size, thinking such was his way to intimidate her and Marianne continued hoping to let him know that she was not afraid of his savagery.

"From now you may forget everything. You are free to do as you really wish. What we had... we can simply call it off— gasp!? Hey! What are you doing?!" — Her remaining in place ended up with him taking her in his tight embrace. Surrounding her waist strongly, making her captive of his force and mesmerised gaze.

"Marianne... my love."

"... wh-..." — ’L-love?...’

His nose was buried in her nape, inhaling the scent and kissing the skin delicately... to later bite it impatiently.

"?!? Wh- wait! What are you doing!? Let go!!"

"Huh? Why? Can’t I love you senseless? That’s my wish, my love. My Marianne..." — Her push and blows had done nothing to the man. His grasp was stronger and the distance had only shortened, feeling his breath and the firmness of his body pressing against her softness while his hand held her crown so she couldn’t turn away, nor escape his reach.

*Peck*

The soft, sudden kiss left her speechless but the next one promised to leave her breathless. Hurriedly he indulged in love. The tongue searched every corner so her taste would be thoroughly enjoyed. Heated and feverish, puffing and weakened by the passion he thought was allowed by a dream’s privileges.