"Till Your Brother Do us Part": The Return Of The Forbidden Prince

Prologue "In their arrogance and drunkenness, your greedy kings have engraved wrath in my heart. I alone decides what they can and cannot take from their subjects. Yet they dared go against my devine commands," Prince Theron seethes as he addresses the crowd of fearful nobals, his vengeful gaze fixed on the three kings chained before him, an oven of red hot coals smouldering near their feet. "Therefore, I shall engrave my name on the skins of their backs, and you will all know that I own them henceforth. That they are no longer Kings but my slaves." Despite the crowd being fearful of him, there is loud laughter. King Nolan lets out a gasp of horror as glowing red branding iron is lifted from the furnace. The bewildered crowd of nobals hold their breath as they watch the brutal punishment of their kings. When the revolting tool comes into contact with the soft King's flesh, King Phenius screeches in a language unknown, his royal brothers curse vengefully at the mighty prince, as their tomentors move to bare their backs for the branding. * * * * * * * EPILOGUE Princess Liasa's Pov "You better give the man an heir on your very first night in his bed," My father, King Adriel, does not look at me when he speaks. His hungry eyes are on the imperial palace of Edrath. He’s been gaping at it for almost half an hour, and honestly, I can see why. The place looks nothing short of divine. Its like a piece of heaven that descended down to earth, expecially now that it has been decorated for my upcoming wedding. It's towering white walls stretch up, like the palace is trying to poke holes in the sky itself. Frankly, it makes my father’s own palace look like a farmhouse, which is probably why his jaw is still dangling open. Tomorrow, I’m being wed to Eldrath’s prince, Hezron. Something I did not choose. Long ago, the kingdoms of Eldrath and Valenor were ruled by two wise kings whose powers were believed to come from the gods. Their lands were rich and most prosperous, and their bloodlines carried the rare sacred, "Blood of Kings" that granted them unmatched wisdom, strength and glory. Their queens were said to be as beautiful as the morning sun itself, and every princess born into their families had the most unique and unmistakable features, hair as white as winter snow and eyes encircled by golden rings. No matter where they appeared, anyone could spot a true princess of Eldrath or Valenor by those rare features. Other kingdoms wanted to have their bloodlines through marriage, but since each king had only one wife, the pure royal heirs became fewer with each generation. Prince Theron, born of the special bloodline, was a terrifying prince of war. His strength was unmatched, and he conquered enemies easily, expanding Eldrath’s territories far beyond any other kingdom. His powers and looks made women desire him. Kings bowed to him in submission. But then he conquered so much that he became a gluttonous beast with insatiable appetite for fame and glory. He became cruel and ruthless, destroying even innocent, and that earned him the name "The Forbidden prince." Angered by his cruelty, the gods placed a terrible curse on Eldrath. His father, King Edrick, wanting to punish his son, sought a witch of immense power, to cast a binding spell, trapping Theron in another realm forever. But even after Theron was punished and his weak stepbrother became the illegitimate heir to the throne, the curse remained. The land grew barren, fields dried and rivers dried. The kingdom’s seers found only one hope for the curse to be broken. If Prince Hezron, the illegitimate Prince, married a woman with even a trace of the sacred blood of the old kings. Their child would be favoured by the gods, bringing life and prosperity back to the land. The seers foretold that a beautiful princess with the blood of the old kings would one day be born from the house of Valenor. Her name would be Princess Liasa of silvermere, that is . . . me! The moment I came out of my mother's womb, bearing the two rare features that identified one of being from the bloodline of the old kings; hair like snow and eyes circled with rings of gold, I stopped being a daughter and became a commodity. My father, saw not a child, but a vast, gleaming honey pot of wealth. He immediately reached out to Eldrath to demand an alliance and an astronomical bride price. By the age of five, when the purity of the "Blood of Kings" in my veins was undeniable. My bride price was paid with mountains of gold and silver, and enough land to effectively double my fathers kingdom wealth. So, yes I always knew I was never going to marry for love. Not because I didn’t want to, but because being a princess, especially one carrying this mythical blood, means my heart belongs not to me, but to the kingdom, or rather, to the man who can buy me. You see, prince Hezron only wants me for one reason, so that I can bear him an heir that will be favoured by the gods, then the vicious curse that has been haunting Edrath will come to an end and he will be able to rule a prosperous land. The cruelty of his imprisoned brother, The Forbidden Prince, may be what doomed the land, created the curse, but Hezron is rumored to have a worse character. I wish I could meet this forbidden prince, just to see if what people is is true, if he was really as beautiful and terrible as they say. Because frankly, I can’t imagine anyone crueler than the man I’m about to call husband. I’d met him only once, seven years ago, when he came to see how long it will be before I am ready to be offered to him. His ugliness was not just skin-deep, it was in every word he uttered. His only concern was whether I was fertile enough to solve his kingdom’s problem.I hated him immediately. Not that it mattered. I couldn’t have said so aloud if the fate of the world depended on it. Within no time our long Caravan is rolling past the massive gates of Edrath palace and a crowds of jubilant commoners, who had been waiting to welcome us, surge forward, running along our Caravan in jubilation. They toss flower petals at our carriage and shout blessings. I don’t hate them for it. They’ve lived with the curse for years and believe my union with their bastard prince is their salvation. The carriage slows to a halt in the expansive palace courtyard. Guards force the crowds back, allowing me a clear view of my new home. At the base of the wide main staircase, a throng of Eldrath royals awaits. Which includes the man I am to marry, Prince Hezron, his father king Edrick, his mother queen Izzadra and their council, a number of men in robes. They all stand behind the prince. The man is a sight to remember. Physically, he is not very muscular, but he stands with affinity of a little god, he wears a magnificent pure gold suit of armor and a crown sparkling with silver accents. But all the expensive ornaments only emphasizes his not so attractive features. Our carriage slows down to a halt before them. I see my father's tongue flick out, as he nervously licks his dry lips, as well dressed servants rush to open our doors. He has worn his finest silver robes, saving the gold for the main wedding. "Darling, please smile. It makes you ten times more beautiful.” my mother urges, nervously fixing supposed flaws in my hair. “Everything will be fine,” she assures me. “Just remember what I told you, don’t embarrass your father.” I nod forcing a smile onto my lips. A servant takes my hand, helping me out of the carriage. The entire courtyard turns to stare. Yes, my rare features attracts quite the attention always. The prince's black languorous eyes move up and down my face and body with a relentless intimacy that nearly immobilizes me with embarrassment. My stomach twist into knots as the man steps forward and lifts my hand to his lips, his breath unpleasantly warm against my skin. "You're as ravishing as the goddess of love, m'lady," He flatters. "Far more beautiful than any of my concubines,” So the rumour is true then, that Prince keeps an endless, unsettling entourage of women to appease his strangest s****l desires. “Thank you, your Highness,” I murmur, bowing slightly. A sign of respect I do not feel. It will take centuries for my heart to soften toward this man I am being forced to call my husband. Turning back to my father who has approached, he says. "She will indeed bear me the most beautiful heir,” My father's face light like the moon on a dark night. “Then It is time our houses are joined, my prince." He says proudly. I am then subjected to a barrage of introductions. I am hugged, kissed, and my head touched by the various nobles. My jaw is already aching from holding a false smile by the time the prince announces he's taking me inside. "Walk with me, my friend." King Edrick says to my father. "I want you to savour the pleasures and the kind of life your daughter is going to enjoy in my son's palace." I can hear the tremor of happiness in my father's voice. "It would be my utmost pleasure, your majesty." Father tells. The prince offers me his hand. I have never even touched a man before, not even held hands, my father had guarded my purity as fiercely as his own crown. I take the prince's offered arm, and he leads us inside the huge palace.