Heart of the Forbidden

One rule was made clear. NEVER SLEEP WITH HIM. It was emphasized over and over again but this rule was never mentioned during the ceremony, when I took the bowl to King Abeth. “Listen to me carefully,” Queen Neliah said as we rode to Baelmont after my marriage ceremony, without looking at me. “There are things you must never do.” I was riding on the royal carriage with her, the traditional marriage rites was just completed in my palace and I was being taken home to my new Kingdom, Bealmont away from my father's kingdom, Altora. I had grown and lived in Altora my entire life but now, it was time to step out of the kingdom and it wasn't just a visit. It was a lifetime moment. My breath seized, I was born into a royal family so of course I knew what to do as a lady of the court and what not to do, but hearing her say it to me made me think it was different here. After all, Baelmont was way more powerful than my Kingdom. “Never sleep with him,” she continued. I got confused. “With who, Your Majesty?” I asked. She ignored me for some seconds before she replied sweetly, her expression suddenly softening. "You'll find out soon, sweetheart. I promise it's nothing you can't handle." My mind spilt in different directions of thinking. Was she talking about King Abeth, her husband? But he came to marry me and she was present the whole time smiling. If she didn't want me to sleep with him, why then did she let him marry me? Or was she referring to having an affair outside of the marriage? Of course, I would never. Well, either way, I was grateful I would not get to sleep with an old king, just appear married to him, and that's all, I thought to myself. Our journey back to their Kingdom was quiet. The Queen only spoke when she needed to and the King? He rode on a different carriage and never spoke nor glanced our way. My name is Princess Liora. The last princess of Altora kingdom. We were five sisters, and I was the last child. My dad had given up all my older siblings to different kingdoms and sorcerers as long as they could be of help to my Kingdom. It was said that because the king birthed only women, the Kingdom was struck by a plague after every Calitus ceremony. The ceremony happened every four years, and if for any reason it did not hold, the entire kingdom suffered something worse than the plague. I was only 20, but my father had no choice, and then, he believed King Abeth had the permanent solution to our problem in Altora. When we got to the grand castle of Bealmont, it was better than I’d ever read in books. And trust me, the books tried. This wasn’t just a castle. It was the palace of the wealthiest kingdom in the realm, ruled by the most powerful king alive, and it looked exactly like it. An embodiment of the Lair of power and riches. The towers were so tall they nearly pierced the sky. You almost had to tilt your head all the way back just to see the top or never see the top. The structure of the castle was elaborate. Everything was perfect. Clean lines, polished stone, gold details that weren’t loud but obvious enough to remind you who owned the place. The walls were high and intimidating, like they were built to protect more than just treasure. Knowing this was the richest kingdom made everything make sense. Power lived here. You could feel it. The compound was covered in beautiful flowers and carefully shaped gardens, controlled and effortlessly luxurious. Waterfalls flowed from carved stone into clear ponds, the sound soothing. It made the whole place feel almost unreal. It was breathtaking. In fact, It was paradise and not the fairytale kind, the powerful kind. I stepped out of the carriage with the help of a guard who stood next to me. I smiled even though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Please, Liora, this way." Queen Neliah motioned me. I followed her as we stepped into the tower, her gait filled with confidence and power yet softness. As we got to the hallway, we saw a lady dressed so seductively and blind folded, her hands chained to the walls, and apple tied to a leash around her neck. "You came in a little too early, my love. Your little kitty can't wait to bite your apple of affection." She said seductively as she breathed heavily between words. "Disgusting." Queen Neliah muttered in a deep, unpleasant voice. "Vaelor baby?" The lady said, trying to process the voice she heard. Queen Neliah motioned to her Queen's guard, Theron, to take off the lady's blindfold. The lady was shocked to see the Queen. "My... Your Majesty." She fumbled words. "I... I di... I didn't know it was... was you." "Get this thing out of my sight, now." Queen Neliah instructed. "Stay on your lane, Neliah." A voice rang behind us. I spun around to see a handsome man with very seductive features. His shirt was open, revealing his perfect abs, and he had a dagger in hand. Theron bowed slowly. "Prince Vaelor." My eyes and his eyes met...