Romantic Death: A Tainted Love

Chapter 1

Anesha's Version

As he was throwing his last stone on the river, he dusted his hands and looked for a water bottle that was beside him. He draws closer the water bottle since it rolled a bit far from him.

He holds it and open it's lid, as he was about to drink the water a special scent hits his nostrils gently. He turned his head to look behide him and

Liam's Version

... there she was in a wedding dress!

Her head was covered with a royal crown, thick and heavy gold. Her smile was so tender like a sweet caress, Her skin fair and vagour and well suited by the pearls of her dress.

Anesha's Version

Liam stood up quickly and freeze. The water bottle that was on his hands fell through his fingers.

Liam's Version

"You, your... Your highness" I bowed down to her.

"My love" she responded in just two words and it was almost as if she told many tales of our love

I was still perplexed by what I was seeing before me. Her beauty would hold the sun not to disappear once more but I knew that what I'm seeing standing right before me I can never touch nor lay my head on her shoulders.

"Your highness, allow me to express my heart's sayings. You're like a movie star, well trimmed and cut off with a sharp razor from a magazine but yet you're so real and beautifully designed" I poured my heart out to her!

"You're words are appreciated, you are a man of many words in a short conversation" seeing her lips departing from the bottom to top aroused my manly desires.

As much as I loved Anesha, I knew that being with her is a nightmare fantasy that I do not want it to end but yet it kept ending in front of us both like a powerless cricket.

"But you shouldn't be here, the prince is waiting for you. He is waiting for his bride" I advised her trying to hide the needles that were playing drums in my heart.

Anesha's Version

I could feel the pain of my lover from the tip of my hair to the ends of my tip toes.

"I couldn't have let him see me this way before you do, he is my father's groom not mine and as I am going to sign marriage with him with my hands, I will be signing ours with my heart and my pain. Everything that I am is yours and that is why I am here" in a calm voice I said.

"What could you possibly want from a man like me" Liam asked looking very puzzled. I guess he doubted the survival of our love regarding our culture, his little faith in us brought me down on my knees always!

"For now, I just want my wedding gift from a man I love, a man that my heart chose and whom I'm pleased with" he eyes went out, it was as if he wanted to tell me off but held that voice in him.

Liam's Version

"Um, oh... you see, I don't have anything special to offer you I'll fix more cars today and and ..." While I was trying to explain Anesha went closer to me with her majestic bridal walk that brought me weak on my knees. I wasn't sure how to feel anymore!

"She pressed her finger to my lips! Shhh, the gift is not for sale. No man has never ever pressed his lips towards mine for pleasure nor did he ever burden my body with his chest and make love to me. You're the only man for me, please make me a woman, right now right here and for that I'll seal my marriage with you now"

My eyes went wide like soucers "I really don't understand" I weakly responded.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me, while she was at that her tears dessolved her eyes

"Please, have my purity" she whispered.

"And what will you tell the prince tonight when he wants to know his wife?" I asked her in a bold voice trying to get rid of my weakness. Where the hel* does she get so much power over me? How can she stay while she knows we can't be together? Will I ever forgive myself if I were to let her go? Question marks flew on my head.

Anesha quickly let go of me, she took two steps and stood behind me facing my back and smiles

"I'll tell him that I was born this way" She cutely laughed a bit. What the hel* is she trying to do? What is she trying to say? Does she really loves me this much that she'd not mind to lose something meaningful to a commoner like me?

I turned around and faced her amazed by her response

"You'll tell him that you were born impure? Your highness, this is not a joke he could kill us both if he finds out bout this" I reminded her

Anesha's Version

I was concerned by Liam's defence

"My love, we've come too far to turn back now. Do you still remember where we come from? Huh?" I demanded.

2 Months Ago

My mother Mary, the queen had sent the maids to call me out from my chambers to the royal throne to tell me the good news. The good news turned sour when it reached the my ears.

"My daughter, you're a flower in this kingdom and a blossoming one at that but now Prince Cain has desired your beauty in our garden, he's taken by the way you have spread out happily and healthy in the garden so he has asked us as the owner of the yard if he can take out this blossoming flower and plant it in his home where it'll produce more branches of flowers to beautify his home and your father and I have agreed" the king and my smiled endlessly but I the flower frowned.

"Why is it that the princess is not happy about the good news, did you hear your queen very well my dear? You're getting married" my father added with a happily laughter.

"Father, what's good about this news?

My parents looked at each other amazed after such a response coming from me.

"My dear..." The king interrupts the queen

"My princess, what's the matter?" the king asked me concerned.

"Father I don't even know this Cain character, how can I marry someone I don't love nor even know? I'm sorry your majesty but I can't! Give me time to find my groom" I pleaded with him.

"This is not a negotiation young lady! You will marry him and that's final! You'll love him on the way and my word is final" he shouted at me. But how can I be surprised, he never listened to me.

I placed my gaze at mom disappointed that she ain't even trying to defend me, I then stood up and left.

After that encounter with father the King, I ran straight to the river, the only place that grants me the freedom to express my feelings without rules.

The sun was a bit shy to be hot, it kept hiding behind the clouds and the river was so quiet while embracing the voices of the birds.

I was sitted on my usual spot, just a bit closer to the river bank on top of a rock and the breeze of air favoured me. I closed my eyes while singing my sad song, full of sorrow and burden and my bleeding heart pressured my tears to shower me whole.

A young man who was also heading to the river to clear his mind after he had disagreements with his father again. Tall and bright in complexion, sweet and handsome! An orphan and a commoner. As he was walking he heard a very sad song that promises hope and better days ahead being sang just a bit closer to his usual spot in the river.

Liam's Version

I stood a bit and listen to the song with my eyes closed, I fantasized to be in a 'promise land' the song talks about and while I was at that land everything seemed so fine.

But then Anesha stopped singing and just cried silently, it's only her tears that told her story. I opened my eyes and realise that I'm still in the same world where nothing seems to be possible for me.

I walked closer to where the voice came from, and the woman I saw blown me away with her beauty. I then went closer to her

"Ma'am?

I called out but no response from her

Ma'am, are you okay?

Still no response, her eyes closed and her tears telling her story still.

"I heard your voice from afar, you have a beautiful voice and you sing so nicely for a moment I felt like I was in a place I know I want to be in but cannot be at the same time" (I smiles)

Anesha was listening to me and she also knows that the place I was talking about is the same place she also knows that she wants to be in but cannot be at at the same time. She then opened her eyes and what was standing in front of her was the 'promised land'. Love at first sight.

We both looked at each other and smiled.

"You're crying. What happened? I curiously asked.

"Um, nothing it's just tears of joy" hearing he sweet voice was a dream come true.

Anesha's Version

"Can i?"

He asked me if He can wipe my tears while lifting his thick and muscular arms to my eyes. I found him attractive. My mouth watered for his kiss.

"Yes please" With a slow and low voice I responded

Liam wiped my tears with his hands and tasted her tears in just a tip of his finger.

"Sour tears says a lot about pain, I tend to think that tears of joy are sweeter than that of pain" he looked in the depths of my eyes and I could feel electric veins electrifying me whole.

"And how does mine taste?" I asked.

"Sour" He answered.

"So does that mean that I'm in pain?" but I was anyway!

"Yes, are you?" trying to find my eyes for a straight answer, all my lying techniques faded.

Anesha slowly looked down playing with her fingers

"You're right, I'm hurting so much" all my life I had no one to talk to, just four words lifted a burden on my shoulders.

"Talk to me, I'll listen" he offered.

"I don't want to talk about it now I'm not ready" I didn't want to scare him off with my family issues.

"I respect your decision." Yet again, it was the first time not being forced to talk even when I didn't want too.

"You do?" I was surprised.

"Yes why are you surprised?" he was surprised too about my surprising question.

"You're the only one who respects my decisions" I was blushing

"You're so beautiful." it was a different feeling hearing someone telling how beautiful i was besides my mother.

"Thank you so much, you're, you're handsome" I kept blushing still

We kept smiling at each other not saying anything but just looking at one another in the eyes. After a few minutes Liam asked me

"When can I see you again?"

Bubbles blowed when I came back to earth and realise that it's late I had to go home. I stood up.

"I'm not sure when but I'll see you soon now I have to go back to the palace." I talked to him while leaving.

"Oh... Okay"

"I'll see you tomorrow!" I promised while running

Liam: Bye...

Liam's Version

She left me standing there, still amazed by how connected I was with her and how much I think I could possibly be in love with her. But I knew that we cannot be together.

Mary's Version

Anesha arrives at the palace that evening and goes straight to her chambers. She throws herself on her bed and roll over it while appreciating the wonders of a new world she's about to reside in. All the colours are turning red and in her world it says nothing about danger.

She went by the window to watch the stars like she normally do every night but this time it was different, in her eyes it was as if the starts have turned into different colours, bigger, brighter and glittering than before. The anonymous thief, stealer of hearts... On her door step! Her heart had just experienced the secrets of it's language.

It's was roses and sunflowers for her, she left the window to roll herself with curtains and sang a song of love for the first time it's been her.

"Mommy told me it's only one world

One obvious world, such a boring one

But I broke through to the magic world

Broke through to the secret she hidden from me

The stars been in all my favourite colours

Something you can't see unless you're in love

And the roses pops the fruits of a love potion

Who knew that breeze of air could blow out the colours of glitters

It's something you can't see unless you're in love

Now I found a man who took me to the magic world

And I broke through to the magic world

Broke through to the secret mommy hidden from me

It's in how my being reacts

When I knew I found a love, in a man I loved instantly

The one I want to for me

His scent held me still

Awaiting his touch to make me whole

And break all of me down

And mommy did not share this with me

The enhancement of this world

She told me it's only one world

One obvious world"

It was long since I the queen her mother have been standing on a side of Anesha's doorway. Listening to my daughter's singing. The joy in me knowing that my daughter finally accepted the marriage request 'I thought to myself", it's all I ever wanted- to see her getting used to the idea of marring a man she doesn't even know.

I couldn't hold my excitement any longer as a result I knocked on the door.

(Knocking)

"Come inside"... 'It's mother, a woman who had failed me this morning and all my life'

Immediately she put on a frown on her face and sat on a couch that was beside her bed. I joined her happily. I then held my daughter's hands but Anesha folded her arms in refusal of her mother's touch.

Anesha's Version

The queen got confused in an instant.

"What's the matter my baby, why the sudden change of mood?"

She asked while trying to pull her chin up but then I turned the other way and went to sit on the bed. The queen gets more confused.

"Talk to me Ane" I saw her getting hurt because of awful acts.

"Mother you're the last person I want to talk to, you failed me as your only daughter and I will never forget that." I was brutally honest about my feelings.

"But a second ago you were happy, happy about the prince. I know that I failed you but I didn't I only want what's best for you and a better future for you and as a mother I..." I interrupted her before she went far.

"Stop it mother! You only want what's best for this kingdom and the status. This marriage has nothing to do with me and I want nothing to do with it too" I've raised my voice and shouted at her.

This words got the queen very angry. She stood up and faced me, I could feel her wrath!

"Listen to me and listen very carefully, I am still your mother and your queen, if you ever talk to me like that ever again I will punish you, do you understand me?" angry and pointing her finger on me.

"Yes your majesty." calmly responded and looked down

"I demand an apology." she demanded.

"Forgive me mother." I humbled myself.

"Good. Apology accepted."

Then the queen left the room.

Mary's Version

The following morning. The I burged onto Anesha's chambers

"Good morning princess"

I went straight to the window and spread out the curtains. The brightness hits Anesha's eyes, she woke up and looked at her mother , she was still yawning and stretching her body after a short night she had since she spent it thinking about the young man she met on the river.

"What's good about this morning mom?"

She asked grumply while covering her face with a causion. I hurried and take off that causion on her face and sits beside her.

"My daughter, it is a good morning and it'll be a beautiful day." With a big smile I amazed her

Anesha looked at me amazed

"And why is that?" Lowering her voice

"The prince is taking you out on a date this evening" I was so ecstatic!

"Mother, I told you. I don't want to marry this man please speak to my father and let me present the man I want to marry before you, let me bring my own groom mother please." She pleaded with me

"My baby I just want to see you happy, Cain will guarantee you a wonderful future for you and your kids, he's the richest man in the country." I explained to her why I think it's important to marry that young man.

"I'm not happy mom, I'm hurting. Please don't let this happen, mother if you love me you won't do this to me. Remember when I was on your womb, I depended on you for everything in order to survive and you loved me, remember the kicks I used to do on your tummy. Remember the feeling you had when you first saw me coming out of your womb, you wouldn't have let anyone hurt me so why start now?" with tears on her eyes I then knew she was not happy.

"Anè you don't even remember that you used to kick, you're just trying to take me on a mental trip. An, that's an emotional blackmail but then I remember and if you're not happy then I'll speak to your father about this. Come here."

I leaned towards Ane' and hugged her and wiped her tears. She herself wiped it off too and tasted with a tip of her finger, while I was still surprised to what she could be doing. she then said to me...

"My tears are sour mom, it means I'm in pain."

"Every tear is sour my baby" I laughed a bit

"That of joy are sweeter" and we both laughed.

I left her and went straight to the royal throne.

Anesha's Version

Chapter 2

Anesha's Version

Liam is standing there beside the river looking at its flow and hoping to see the me there again. I then went closer to him and stand about 3 meters behind him. The young man can feel that someone is there but he quickly dismiss the feeling and holds himself not to look behide, he was afraid of being disappointed by looking and find no one.

"I think I'm in love with you, I thought about you the whole night" I spoke up

Liam quickly turn around and yes it was me, smiling!

"You, you love me?" he asked surprised, gazing at me.

"Yes" I confirmed. I actually didn't know what I was hoping to archive by my confession.

"I'm a commoner, I have more in common with a dog that I have with you. We'll never be together?"

This words had ripped my heart in a moment.

"I love dogs" I've always been a woman of little words unless it's necessary.

Liam went silent.

"But you're here, for me. Why are you here if you don't love me? They want me to marry a prince that I don't love please save me. Let's change things" I demanded.

"For a moment I felt rich in peace, and lady, if you can make me feel that way then you own me because without you I will breathe but will not live. And if as a man I could keep you for the sake of my heart knowing too well

that I cannot afford to help you think, to bring

you food and dress you up and still in our

culture we cannot be together then in my

acts I will be disrespecting you and everything you stand for. Go home! The prince awaits your presence." He firmly commanded me.

Liam's Version

"As she turned around, since drops of tearswere flowing out her eyes and yet couldnt beabsorbed in the pores of her silky bright skin. Her whole body weakened, she felt like the joints of her bones had given up on her. She waited a bit, she thought of where she was going, she turned around once more and faced me"

Anesha's Version

I starred straight in his eyes, I was pale, my pain was draining all the pipes to my heart...

Liam's Version

"Your love is my wealth, everything that you are is my home! Without you I will breathe but I will not live and for that I shall never surrender my love for you to our culture." She left at an instant

Anesha's Version

As soon as I arrived at the palace with my maids, I find the queen waiting for me on my chamber's doorway, pacing around and impatiently waiting.

"Where have you been young lady, I have been looking for you like a mad woman!" She shouted.

Before she could continue she noticed that I was crying. She was just standing there with one arm across her tummy and the other hand covering her face. Silently crying.

"Oh sweetheart! I'm so sorry for shouting what happened out there?"

She came closer to hug me.

The queen walked me to my room and they sat there on the couch while she was trying to get me to calm down.

"My baby what happened? Who did this to you." She worriedly asked

"Mother"...(crying)

Before Anesha could finish speaking, she saw a red present box on top of her bed well decorated with a card on top of it.

"What is that mother?" I reach slowly to the box.

"Oh that is your dress, shoes, a handbag and jewellery. Prince Cain's maids brought it for you to wear this evening on your date." she explained.

I got up quickly in a shock and starred at her.

"But mom, you promised me that you were gonna speak with my father to let me find my own groom, how could you let this happen at your watch mom?"

"My baby I tried to speak with the king and he refused. There's nothing more I can do please understand that and try to love the prince. If you can get to know him better I know you will love him." she said.

I slowly brought myself back to the couch and sit next to mother.

"I'm in love with someone else mother." I didn't even know what I was saying.

"What do you mean by that? Who is he?"

Surprised as the queen was she constantly let her guard down.

"He is a man that I love and I want to spend the rest of my life with him, he makes me happy mom!"

"Anesha you're speaking but I don't understand a word you're saying, where does he come from? Where did you meet him? Like make me understand!"

As much as it was hard for her to keep her cool, she is still interested in finding out exactly how they can find a solution to all this.

"I met him at the river yesterday and I was taken by him." what am I saying? What will I archive by this, I asked myself?

"So you met a man yesterday and you think you love him?" my mother laughed a bit.

"I haven't met this prince Cain what what and you think I'll love him?" I challenged her.

"Okay fair enough, which kingdom does he come from? Who is he called?" Mother! What does it even matter, I said to myself.

"Um... I don't know his name yet." What! that's when I realised that actually I don't know his name!

This response brought yet more confusing to the queen. She hasn't yet understood a thing that I have said. She stood up

"So how will you tell your father this?" I think she was trying to scare me.

"That is why you're my mom, I can count on you to tell him. He's your husband afterall" I beat her to her own game.

"You're emotionally blackmailing me again, maybe I should do it to your father it might work coz it's working wonders on me." the queen thought to herself.

That's when I smiled at my mother and that smile has melted the Queen's heart. It's all she wanna see in her daughter's face everyday. I knew that and I used it as my weapon.

The queen left my room and goes straight to the king to try and negotiate with him for the sake of my happiness. The maids met her halfway and let her know that it was lunch and her husband is requesting her presence to join him at the table. She arrives there and joins the king for lunch.

William's Version

"My dear husband." the queen said, nervous!

*Speak my lovely wife." I commanded.

"It's about our daughter, she has no interest in going to this date with Cain" she went straight to the point. Just like the princess she's always been a woman of little words unless necessary.

"And there's more to it..." She continued

"Speak I'm listening, you're not done."

"Darling, the princess has found favour in another man whom she would like to present to you and marry." she said.

Paul: Mm, and did the princess sleep with this other man?

"She can't" I said.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty" she calmly asked.

"What I mean is that my word is final, the princess is marrying prince Cain and she's going with him on a date tonight to get to know her husband, that's it!"

"You haven't even heard of this young man our daughter wants marry, what is it that Cain have that this spoken young man doesn't? Why does it even matter what he has or not has, if he makes our daughter happy why can't we give him a chance rather than forcing our daughter on a suffocating marriage?...

She is our only daughter, we love her. Remember how you used to be like each time she was kicking and playing in my tummy, you always wanted her to do that the whole time. And when I finally gave birth to her and you held her for the first time, you were so happy than on our wedding day coz you had your own flesh and blood on your arms...

She only has us, let's not let money and fame blind us and throw her in the lion's den. How would you sleep at night knowing that your daughter is crying wherever she is because she is not happy? Would you forgive yourself? Let's let her marry a man she love please my love I beg you.

If you really love me then my happiness comes first to you that's what you've always told me, now it's time to show me how much you love me coz my daughter's happiness comes first, let her make her own choices please." She begged and pleaded with me.

"My queen, eat your food before it gets cold" I continued to eat my food as if the conversation was over.

"I've lost my appetite."

She draws back the chair with her whole body and stood up and left.

Mary's Version

I went straight to Anè's chambers, I stood on the door and took a few deep breaths and then knocked.

"Come in."

She find Anesha pacing around her room and very nervous.

"What did he say mother?"

By the look on my face she could tell that the meeting between us did not go well.

"I've tried everything my baby but your father did not budge, he still thinks that Cain is a better man for you but then I thought so too until I saw how much this hurts you, just get ready and go to this date in the meantime I'll find a way to put an end to this madness, I won't give up on you my angel." I assured her.

*Thank you mother, you are my rock!" We hugged.

Anesha rushed to the bathroom and took a quick shower while I was taking out a special set sent by the prince for her to wear on their date. I helped her dress up and while I was still putting a piece of jewellery nicely on Ane's neck, we've heard a sound of a car coming into the palace.

I went by the window to check who was coming only to find out that it was the prince.

I stood by the window and look at my daughter, Anesha knew that it was time and her nerves were all over the place. She then stood up and picked a handbag that was placed on the bed, and quickly ran and hugged me.

And she left the room, I followed her accompanying her to the main house where Cain stopped at.

As she was coming towards Cain, her father appeared and shaked hands with him. They quickly whispered something and then nodded to each other.