War Princess

Chapter 20: Violet Serpent

Vrag has excuse himself from the Queen's chamber. He purposely mentioned about the dead people's voice, earning an apology and worry from the Queen. For now he is able to stop the talk about taking Liliana as his betrothed and a permission not to attend the night funeral procession. He can't see Khiv dead body after that dream. Especially Thyr, he can not know about this.

He decided to go see Edmund. They need to move fast. Edmund seems to expect him when he arrive.

"Finally..." is what he said when he saw Vrag.

"Edmund, we need a change of plan."

Vrag didn't want to waste time. Duke Lilla has negotiated with the Queen about taking Liliana as his betrothed. He has to get Zils declared as Arethean Princess and he have to invade Maranth, where the Arethea's second Prince reside, then kill him to force Arethea to negotiate. But first he need to see Marley so he will be able to go to the battlefield.

"Do you want to see Marley?"

"What? So you know where he is."

"Not exactly. We will send a messenger and his aide will come and guide us to where ever he is now. I have provided few shelters for him. He can't be detected by your country or mine. I will prepare the journey in one week."

"Of course I want to see him. I need to talk to him."

Vrag suddenly remembered what Zils said to him. Don't you two trust Marley too much? He have no choice with his condition.

"Edmund, your sister seems to distrust Marley."

"Did you talk to her? What did she say?"

"I haven't talk about everything yet, but..."

"Can I see her?"

"Sorry, Edmund, but not yet."

"If she can support our plan it will be better. I will talk to her."

"Not until I kill your second brother."

Edmund grew quiet. He kinda forget that the killing of his second brother is Vrag's plan now.

"Because you are still hesitating that's why I can't let you two meet until I have my assurance. You wanted to stop the war, I trusted you in that but killing your brother seems to have shaken you a bit."

"Is there any other peaceful way?"

"Some sacrifices need to be done, Edmund."

"Including your attempts to impregnate my sister?" Edmund never accepted this at all, he keep it civil fearing his sister life.

"If she have my child it will be easier." Vrag just stared at Edmund without any emotion making Edmund's blood boil.

"Damn you, Vrag!" Edmund hit the table with his fist hard. "She is not..." Edmund rake his hands through his hair in frustation. His sister have to bear being bedded by this guy. Eventhough he is helping Vrag, he didn't really comfortable with Vrag's cold demeanor. Vrag promised to treat her well but he didn't deny when Edmund asked if he had r***d her.

"She is well taken care of. I give you my words on this. Remember you have chosen her life over your brother."

Edmund has been forced to choose. Help Vrag to kill his second brother or Vrag will kill Zils. Vrag will eventually invade Maranth anyway so Edmund wanted to save Zils. He will apologize to her after all this, for making her a tool to bear a child for an enemy Prince.

Vrag can't have them meet. Both of them mustn't know he didn't intend to kill them until he secure Maranth. He need Edmund's aide and Zils have to bear his child. That is the only assurance so he can keep Zils around. He didn't know when did it start but he might have been comfortable with her presence. She is like a comforting distraction from his current chaotic state of mind. She make him lust over her and he didn't feel the pain when he is with her. He can forget about everything. It's frustating though for him that she didn't conceive any child yet until now.

In the past he has been ordering the cooks to put herbs in the food and drinks that make women infertile for his own harem. He didn't want any child from them. This is a procedure that is done by male royals when they are not ready for a child. There is a suspicion that the Queen has been taking this herb without her knowledge, that is why she can't conceive for so long. He didn't make them put the herbs in Zils food so she should be able to conceive or maybe he is the problem. Is this his retribution?

A knock can be heard and Juwan let himself in.

"Your Highness, the chemists has give us a report on what has poisoned the Crown Prince."

Juwan handed out the document to the table for the two Prince to view. Vrag gave a wide eyed reaction when he read the name.

"Violet serpent??"

Edmund has heard that name before. The famous violet snake from Aram and known as the most venomous of all. The poison has no smell and no taste. You can only get the poison from Aram but to get it will cost you a fortune.

"Someone that has connection to Aram..." Edmund murmur.

"I don't like this." Vrag read the report. "It said the Crown Prince drink it from his goblet."

"Someone that have access to Crown Prince food and drinks..."

"Do you want me to arrange interrogation on everyone involved?" Juwan readied himself.

"Throw them all to the dungeon. They can't touch any food."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Arrange tester for every food serve. The cook must taste it from same pot in front of us before it was serve. And...find anyone who has connection to Aram in the Palace."

"Certainly."

"Send messenger to find Marley's current location. I will have to inform Klog about this." Vrag have to tell Klog that the voices come back but Klog didn't know that the old wizard that helped him is in fact Marley. He will just tell Klog tomorrow that he will be away in a week time to get his treatment.

***

Zils can't sleep, she is standing by herself on the balcony. It's full moon, she can see the flower garden below. She can feel the cool night breeze on her skin. She suddenly noticed sobbing sounds from the one of the hall. What are these Slothian doing in the middle of the night?

"It's the night procession for the Crown Prince."

Zils can feel familiar arms hugging her from behind. "It's summer but the wind is still cold at night, you shouldn't be here."

"I can't sleep so I thought I will stare at the garden until I fell sleepy."

Zils can feel Vrag's breath on her shoulder. He is inhaling the aroma of her skin. She feel a bit embarrassed, not used to the intimate gesture from him.

"Stop it..."

"Why?"

"It's embarrassing."

"I like the way you smell."

Zils can feel Vrag's kisses on her neck. She is trying to get away from the kisses, but Vrag knew how to kiss her until she close her eyes savoring the pleasure. Vrag started to trail her neck with his tongue, earning a moan from her. Her left dress sleeve dropped, exposing half mound of her left breast triggering Vrag's lust. He wanted to just rip her dress to see her tout n*****s.

Vrag devoured her mouth with deep intense kisses. They keep going backwards until Zils hit the wall of the balcony. Vrag's hand is fondling her left breast that is now exposed.

"Wait...Vrag..."

"What?"

"We are outside... Somebody...will see..."

Vrag never stop his kisses and Zils attempts to stop Vrag is futile. She is scared someone will see them on the balcony.

"Nobody will see."

"The funeral..."

"Let them do it."

"But..."

Vrag unbelt his pants to take out his already hard manhood. He lifted Zils both legs up.

"What..."

"Hold on to me."

Zils can feel his hard manhood entered her slowly. She moaned as her body accepted it fully and he is deep inside her. She hold on to Vrag's neck using both of her hands.

"Vrag..."

It pleases him when she mentioned his name while he is inside her. He started to move and Zils started to moan louder. Vrag knew he is the worst kind of human being, running away from his pain using his s****l desires. He is using her so that he feel no pain about his brother's death.

Vrag can see Zils aroused face clearly under the moonlight. He started to thrust into her roughly sending his manhood deeper inside her. He wanted to mess her up even more than this. He wanted her to scream when he make her climax.

"Vrag... Wait...ahh..."

Zils has lost her ability to argue, she just moaned on every thrust Vrag gave her and she screamed as she climaxed while Vrag's seed burst out inside her.

Both of them panting and Zils relaxed her body while still clinging to Vrag as her support.

"You are...crazy..." Zils whispered still panting.

"I'm sorry." Vrag placed his forehead on hers, he slowly let her legs down. He carefully support her by hugging her. They both panting heavily after their release.

"Let's take a bath and sleep." Vrag whispered. Zils just give him a nod.

Vrag lifted her and carry her to the bath chamber leaving the balcony.

Little that they know that a silhouette of a woman has been hiding, watching them from the flower garden. She is wearing a black funeral dress with tears running down her cheeks.

"Why?" She dropped down to the ground. "How could you?"

Liliana's tears are not for Khiv. She has been looking for Vrag's presence during the funeral but she can't find him. She sneak out to the garden, hoping to catch a glimpse of him on the balcony but who she saw standing there is a woman. She has black hair and Liliana has heard the rumor of the Arethean general become Vrag's favorite woman. She wanted to see her face, despite it's a full moon the moonlight is not enough.

She wanted to go back after that but she saw Vrag's hugging her intimately and then...

How despicable and how immoral can they be? It's Khiv's funeral and Vrag has chosen that woman instead. Unforgivable...how could he embrace her like that?

Liliana silently decide that she will not let an Arethean woman take Vrag away from her. Khiv is gone and she is finally free from him. She will do anything to become Vrag's betrothed, she will fight for it this time.