Always, For You

Chapter 7

Years pass by. Like a river that flows endlessly. Never waiting for anyone. Kazien was now 24. Gathering support hadn't been easy but either way they were successful. Ever since the day he stepped into the duchy he had worked hard for everything. He couldn't remember the last time he had sat back and took it easy.

He had trained so much under Fenric. From swords to politics. The lords who were part of the northern region, the vassals of Stormvale Duchy, supported him endlessly. He learned the ways if the royals. From etiquette to studies taught only to royals.

So now he stands in front of armies he had gathered, standing beside Fenric. Tomorrow. The day he will stand against the royals.

"You are not too nervous are you?" Fenric asked as he got on his horse. "No." Kaizen says as he does the same.

"You cannot afford to be. You lead this army. As a prince. You have to learn to command and to put yourself forward. That's when people follow." Fenric reminds him. Kaizen nods. He understands. Especially the responsibility of a true royal.

And so they head out. Heading towards the capital. Fenric had made arrangements. A big one so that they can enter the capital without anyone's suspicion which made everything easier.

Kaizen looks down at the small bracelet around his wrist. Marilyn had made it. "It will keep you safe." She had said. She had become a beloved sister to him during the time. A sister Kaizen never had.

Another thought passes by. A thought about Camille. It has been 4 months since he stopped replying to her. It was for the best Fenric had said. And maybe it was for the best. He wonder how she will look at him when she finds out everything. Will she hate him? Will she accept him? Will she smile at him like he always did? He didn't knew and it make him feel anxious.

[On The Other Side]

Wedding. Camille sits in front of a huge mirror as the maids and so on shuffle around her. It is early in the morning but wedding preparations take long. She fiddles with her fingers nervously.

Over the years, she had gotten "close" to the crown prince in a way. Not to the point that they would talk about deep feelings or so. But good enough to appear like any other normal couple who were arranged to marry.

Everything pass by a blur. She feels like she is having an out of body experience. Is this what wedding jitters were like? The next she knew she stood on the altar with the crown prince. Various nobles are watching. The emperor and the empress sits together looking impressed and satisfied.

One moment everything is going okay. Then the next, a scream echos. One then two then three. Everything falls into chaos. The guards and knights draw their swords but they are not ready for surprise attacks.

Camille watch as the crown prince takes his sword out but his reflex is not fast enough the arrow that is being shot from somewhere, hitting him on his arm making him drop his sword. It makes Camille scream.

"Silence." A voice speaks.

Camille looks towards the source of the voice. Her eyes wide as he recognises thw person. Kaizen. He has grown. A lot.

"It is time the crown goes to someone deserving." Kaizen speaks his voice void of any emotions. His sword bloody. "You wretched child! Is this what you do to your own family? You ungrateful brat." The emperor snarls. But he is held still by the knights with swords near their neck. Same goes for the empress.

"You.. you.. Ha. How dare you?" Caelus growls holding on to his bleeding arm. Kaizen smiles at him coldly. "Why? I am just here to take back what belongs to me. The crown.... And.." Kaizen trails off looking up at Camille.

"Belong to you? You are just a concubine's son." Caelus spits out. It makes Kaizen laugh coldly. "You all must really think I am a fool who would never find out the truth. I guess it is time every noble knows the truth. The disgusting truth of your father." Kaizen sneers.

He straightens himself up. "Emperor Alpheus killed Prince Aurelius." He announced. His words make the already scared crowd of nobles whisper among themselves. "And funny thing. Turns out I am Prince Aurelius' blood. You didn't know? Even I didn't knew. Until I learned of the truth." Kaizen says.

Emperor Alpheus tries to deny it but he is instantly silenced by the swords against his neck. "I have no wish for a blood bath. But I will take what belong to me. The throne that once belonged to my father." He says as he rips off the crown from Caelus. His sword instantly slicing the crown prince's head off of him. It makes the empress scream louder than anyone. The blood splashes on the write dress Camille wore as she fell on the ground mute from shock.

The knights start killing everyone who stands with the emperor without mercy. Those who quickly changed sides, lives.

The whole place where there was supposed to be a wedding is filled with death and blood. Kaizen approaches Camille who looks at him with shock and with fear. Kaizen hates it. He hates it more than the blood spilled all over the pristine floor.

"Long time no see darling." He greets. Camille's lower lips trembles as she looks at him. Lost of words.

"We have a wedding to complete. I have no time to find a new empress candidate. So come on sweetheart." Kaizen says as he drags Camille up. She fights against him. As fiesty as always. Kaizen never expected her to give in so easily. That was not the kind of woman Camille was anyway.

Camille pushes him away as she grabs the dagger that Kaizen himself had given him. She attacks him with all her might but it is no match for Kaizen who has trained for eyes. He avoid it quickly grabbing her wrist and taking away the dagger.

"You always exceed my expectations darling. But it is not so nice to try and stab me with the same dagger I gifted you to protect yourself." He says. He drags her over in front of the priest who is shaking and trembling.

"Continue the wedding." Kaizen says. It makes the priest start immediately.

Camille has imagined her wedding in various scenarios. What she didn't imagine was being married while surrounded by the dead bodies and her wedding gown stained with the blood of her own fiance.

As Kaizen slips the ring on her finger, he smirks. "Now you are mine." He says. More than getting the crown, having her feels so much better.