Once I had washed her dress, I hung it over the balcony to let it dry. I then covered my Little Flower with the comforter right up to her neck.

The King wanted to see me to discuss some urgent matters so I left her in the care of Percival. I had to strictly warn him about keeping this a secret.

'The Dark Prince Caring For His Personal Servant.'

Imagine this news going out in the open.

Percival is my most trusted help and would never defy me. He's been working for the Royals and especially me for many many years.

The only annoying thing about him is that he had the need to report everything to Odelle. And by everything I mean everything. Which was why when I told him to keep everything regarding the girl a secret, I had to basically threaten his life. Only then did he give me his word.

I did not need that woman Odelle, finding out about this.

Before leaving the room, I kissed her forehead goodbye. She was completely worn out so I don't expect her to wake up anytime soon.

I despised meetings and today was no different. Except it hasn't even started yet! I already knew what the King was going to talk about. I hated it so much because it had everything to do with me preparing myself to sit on the bloody throne.

However, that wasn't the only subject I hated. I already knew the throne was mine from the beginning. The problem was they were trying to get me married. "A King would need a wife to rule beside him." They said.

Well fuck that.

I didn't need anyone. I was fine for four hundred and twenty seven years and I don't need anyone to help me do anything now.

They wanted me to marry Lady Esther, daughter of Lord Marcus of Silver Heights.

And you'd think they would choose someone fit for me and the throne.

Esther is the spawn of her power hungry father. Any idiot could see that she wasn't fit to be a ruler.

But who am I to judge?

I wasn't going to be a great king either but this Esther....she was vile and sinister. She had somehow managed to gain full support of the entire council.

Because of this very reason I cannot easily kill her.

Yes, I am thinking of ways to end her pathetic life.

She can be an evil, problematic bloodsucker all she wants but she CANNOT just force herself into my life and ruin it for me.

Why would they give her to me in the first place?

This arrangement was so wrong on so many levels. It's like they were punishing both of us. I hate her, she knows it, she doesn't like me either and only wants me for her own bodily pleasures. She made it clear to me on various occasions. I wish I could wash those memories away. She disgusted me.

She craved power, attention, pleasure, riches, and nothing else. More importantly, she never let anything or anyone stand in her way. That made it easier for me to see her vicious side.

Apparently, this was overlooked by so many.

I don't know how many council members and members of the Royal family, she has slept with throughout the years. They of course never objected. Why would they? She had the looks, the sensuality, the confidence and most importantly her pernicious influence on everyone. Her so called perfect personality.

Even so, once she realized that none of them could bring her to the top, well that's how I came into her picture. I loathed her and whatever she was up to. This is not how a person should come up in life.

The funny thing is, even my parents were never fond of her. Then why make me marry her? To make things worse, everyone is acting like she is the ONLY one! Surely there were MANY other women who could meet the demands of being a queen.

Then there's this meeting to discuss this idiotic matter.

I burst through the door and took my seat at the large meeting table, greeting no one. My actions were deeply frowned upon by the king and queen but I wasn't in the mood and everyone here knew better than to rile me up at this point.

"So, are all of you just going to look at me or shall we get this over with?" My age greatly affected the sound of my voice so I never really had to raise my voice to get people to do what I wanted. They feared my calm exterior more than anything. Plus, they also feared me as a hybrid.

"Son, you don't have to get angry yet. We're just gathered here to discuss cer...."

"Like I've said before, I'm not going to ma..."

"We're not discussing about her now." The King said sharply. I was both relieved and curious at the same time. "We're gathered here to think of ways to stop this war from getting any worse. The giant trolls are destroying Golden Haven as we speak. Their strength or strategy is not behind their success. The population of the trolls is just too big now and it's getting bigger." King Caelestinus gave a worried look at his empty-headed advisors who were mostly useless in any matter. I would have yawned out loud if I was in a good mood.

Too bad I didn't have time for this shit.

The silence in the room was filled with the sound of slow claps. "Congratulations Your.....Majesty." I drawled. "You are finally aware of the situation I see." I praised the dense king.

From the corner of my eye I could see one of the advisors controlling his laugh.

"Do. Not. Mock. Me!"

"What else was I supposed to say? How it took you so long to figure it out? How it took you this long to realized how important The Core of Life is to the survival of all the beings in this world? Red Kingdom, our kingdom could have ended this a long time ago! Instead we did NOTHING because of all your fucking pride! Should I remind you how many lives were lost during this war? Just because all of you did not want to help? Where did all of that get us now?" Before I even ended everyone was already uncomfortable. I could sense and feel their fears. It was feeding me. Empowering my soul.

I saw the queen holding on to the king's arm like her life depended on it. The king stared at me with steel eyes, attempting to look unafraid. But as the seconds ticked by, so did his hardened gaze on me. That made me realize that the surrounding temperature instantly dropped and there was a low vibration which spread throughout the area. I could see the clouds beginning to darken through the windows.

Before I could do anything else I left the room in a split second. The last time I gave into my powers in that very room, four council members did not make it out alive.

I walked up and down the hallway to cool myself. It wasn't working though.

I didn't know for how long I was pacing back and forth trying to control the other side of me which was itching to get out, before someone interrupted me. "Phoenix, a decision has to be made. We need you inside now." The queen stood before me, looking as elegant and sharp like the ruler she was.

She then stretched out her hand to me indicating that she wanted me to follow her inside.

I walked past her towards the meeting room without giving her a single glance.

The second I walked in, I was greeted with complete silence. The eyes of every advisor were directed towards me.

As I casually took my seat the king spoke.

"Since the weight of the throne will fall upon you soon, I want you to make the decision on how we are to proceed with this war," as he said this, the murmurs across the room got louder. No doubt they hated the amount of authority the king added onto me. I wouldn't blame how they felt.

"Why? Afraid you wouldn't be able to end the war? Terrified that you wouldn't be looked upon as the 'almighty King'? You just don't want to risk anything do you? So you drop this on me and if I don't succeed, another one of the countless blames will fall upon me."

"You will do this, only because I want you to show the world that you are worthy of the throne. End this war." Came his lame reply as he drank from his chalice as though his command was the most ordinary command ever.

"And you just suddenly decided on this? To put the fate of the damn world on my shoulders so I could prove to be.....worthy? I thought everyone here enjoyed the power that came with pride and authority. After all these years all of you just decided to swallow your ego and pass this on to someone else?"

"Not someone else, but the future king!" General Octavius spoke up. I never liked that brat.

"So kind of you to acknowledge that kid." I gritted out.

"Son enough! What he said was right. You are my firstborn, the heir to the throne, soon to be the most powerful being...."

"I am already the most powerful being on Earth." Hatred filled my voice.

"Listen to me. This. War. Cannot. Continue." He took another gulp from his chalice. "Do whatever you must. Use whatever we have but this war must be stopped. Octavius! The situation, now."

Octavius got up and began to tell the council what I already knew.

I blocked out his entire speech. Soon after, the meeting was over. I didn't even get the chance to stand up before the king and queen stopped me. "Phoenix wait. The rest of you leave!"

A family meeting? Well, fucking great!!

"You can sit down son," the king said filling up his chalice once more.

"I was going to do it anyway." I replied flatly. To my disappointment he ignored my comment. The Queen just stared at me. As usual.

"Phoenix," even by her tone I knew it was going to be a shitty news. "The Lady Esther will be coming here in a few days. She'll be staying here for maybe two weeks or so."

As expected it was something shitty.

"Why are you telling me this? Should I care?"

"Would you just stop for a minute?! You know why we're telling you this. Both of you-"

"There is never going to be the two of us doing anything. Ever. Get that into your thick, immortal skulls. I wish both of you would stop dreaming that this marriage would actually work!" I sneered at the king.

"Phoenix, please....calm down." Came the queens voice. But it was too far away now. All I felt was irritation, anger and frustration towards everything and everyone around me.

Before I knew what was happening the files on the table were on fire. The walls began to crack while the ground shook.

Even the lights were flickering.

"Phoenix!! Stop this now!" I shut my eyes tight willing my mind to stop it.

Why can't I fucking control it?!

The two people in front of me held each other as they looked at me horrified. Without making things worse, I raised my hand up to one of the large windows and it exploded into a million pieces. Shiny diamond like glass decorated the floor.

And I was gone in a blur.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I gently laid the tray on the table close to the bed like the last time. I was ordered to watch over the servant girl again. Well, more like threatened to. I couldn't understand nor believe something like this was actually happening. I've worked for the Prince long enough to know that he's never cared for another being like how he is caring for this girl.

What was she doing to him?

Whatever it was she should continue doing it. I've never seen the Prince with a sparkle in his eyes or a genuine smile on his face before her. I could see why he likes her but I couldn't understand how he likes her.

I guess opposites really do attract. She is a beautiful young girl alright but beyond that, she is respectful, innocent and most of all pure. Very pure. She constantly gives out a delightful aura.

The first time I actually saw her was her second day on the job. She was the only servant who walked around with a smile on her face. Greeting other servants and so on. It was impossible for someone not to like her.

The Prince on the other hand, was.....more....

complicated.

Nevertheless I would very much love to see how things turn out.

Once everything was arranged, I finally turned to take a closer look at the girl. To see if she was comfortable.

And my God she did not look good at all. I only saw her two days ago, she didn't look well then either but now she looked even worse. Her eyes looked swollen. There were dark circles around them. She also looked extremely pale and has somehow gotten thinner. Thinner than a lot of other servants. Even her cheekbones were more noticeable.

What was he doing to her?!

I should have known better. This was all new to him. The prince had never actually taken a liking to anyone. Kindness and gentleness were not his best traits. In fact, they contradicted him. He'll need time to learn. Hopefully he doesn't take too long because this girl isn't doing so well.

She looked broken.

~~~~~~

It was past eight at night when she began to stir. I looked up from my book I had been occupying myself with.

Moments later she finally opened her eyes but no other part of her body moved. She simply laid still looking up at the ceiling. Her face did not show any emotion. She continued to look up, blinking once.

Twice.

I don't recall how long she was looking at the ceiling before her eyes landed on me. Eve, who suddenly looked a lot more fragile, continued to stare at me.

"Hello dear, how are you feeling now?" I asked as softly as possible. I expected to see curious eyes like the last time. The last time she had a lot of questions, like a child. Now, all of it was gone. She looked at me for a few more seconds before whispering some disturbing words.

"I was so ready to die. Why didn't he let me?"

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Soooooo, that's all for now! Till next time. Love you guys 😊😊