Marriage
1194 Words
It was true that he had remarried, news spread through the empire and soon reached the west where I had been residing with the prince. He had come to visit me often, made sure I was well taken care of.
I sat in the garden, letting the rays hit my face as I sat on the larger stone bench placed in the middle. The mist from the fountain sitting on my pale face. It had been so long since I had felt free from my life. Never would I have imagined that it played out like this.
“Duchess Jade,”
“Edward I told you to please call me only by my first name.”
“Jade,”
“Yes?”
“It would be my honor to escort you to court, my father, the king, wishes to meet with you.”
“Of course, I cannot turn down an invitation from the king, while his son has been meeting my every will.”
“Anything you need, is only an ask away.”
He reached out his hand, walking me elegantly to court.
“Entering, Duchess of the house of Mourning Sky.”
“As our most esteemed guest, I hope that my son has made your stay very welcoming. You all my leave us.”
“Father?”
“You had her kidnapped, and in by doing so, you have costed the young empress her title, her marriage, and her son.”
“Yes father, however-“
“You shall marry the duchess,”
“Father?”
“I will hold the wedding on the 20th of August. A grand celebration shall be in order. You must pay back your debt to the young duchess.”
“Do I not get any say in this matter?”
“No,”
“Surely you cannot be mad at this arrangement?”
“No father,”
“Good, you are to be wed in two months time.”
I had no say in this matter as the king then handed me over a dark blue sapphire ring. He placed his lips upon it as if to bless it.
In the eyes of the law I was still a married woman, however, my marriage had been broken the minute he had taken another wife. I ultimately had no say in the matter as I had been staying as their most esteemed guest.
Edward had placed the ring on my left hand for me.
He looked at me with sorrow in his expression. He knew that there was no other way to object but I knew that he had been uncertain with my feelings on the matter.
“You are alright with this?”
“A marriage of convenience?”
“A marriage to me, Jade.”
“I do not see why not,”
“And you would be happy with this marriage?”
“Edward, I have no one left in my life. You are the only person who has shown me kindness, even if it is from your doing. You have shown me that I would have had a miserable life as Empress. I can settle for being Princess of the Southern Isles.”
“Someday you shall be queen.”
“I do have a request.”
“Yes, anything,”
“You know I only have one rule when marriage is talked about.”
“That I am to not have a scandal?”
“That you are not to lie with another, yes.”
“Frankly I take marriage very seriously. You will be my first and hopefully only wife.”
“That is nice to hear, however, my vows were not taken as seriously as before,”
“You shall never question my loyalty to you.”
“I should hope not,”
Octavian’s POV:
“Octavian?”
“It’s Emperor, to you.”
“Emperor, was the s*x not satisfactory?”
“It was fine.”
“Why are you so indifferent to me? You are my husband after all?”
“I did not want to be.”
“Ah yes, because of your wife dying.”
“She did not die,”
“Say what you want, she is dead to the empire and you had personally signed your divorce to marry me.”
“Not that I was left with a choice.”
“I raise your son as my own, is that not enough for you?”
“He is not your own!”
“Well, even if your wife did return to the empire, you had personally refused to pay her ransom, you have signed a divorce agreement against her, and you have already remarried. He is mine in name.”
I had stormed away in anger. All of those things were not my doing. I had signed the divorce with reluctance, I had covered up the kidnapping, in order to not go to war with the Southern Kingdom. I had tried for weeks for the clergy to release money to obtain her but they were reluctant to do so. If she were to be brought back after word of her death, then a scandal would break out and people would call for war. I had not even been present for my wedding night.
All of these things were sure to be karma from when I had gone back on vows as her husband. I had been sleeping around her whole pregnancy when she was less than willing. I had felt like a slap to my dignity was delivered when she never cared for her safety, only mine, our son’s, and the kingdom. Would she understand if she ever came back?
More importantly would I ever see her again? I loved her long dark hair, the way her eyes smiled as she would lay her hand over mine when her stomach was swollen. She was the sweetest person I had ever known, and yet, after the abuse she had suffered she had never let me see her scars, she had never let me see that broken side of her. I had in turn broken her more. And yet, I had hoped that if she returned she would forgive me for chasing after that maid and lying to her about it. That she would just be simply over joyed by our presence. However, I knew that wouldn’t be the case since I had been forced to remarry for the sake of the empire. That is when I saw the invitation on my desk sent from the Southern Kingdom.
I picked it up, it was a formal dinner for not only me, but my child and new wife as well. Wishing to make diplomatic ties with all of the kingdoms. Many of the other neighboring kingdoms were invited. They wanted to form a council for other far off countries and establish trading laws amongst each other. My wife and son would be able to converse and be with the other young children and wives to the diplomats. This would take place in two days. We must prepare for departure.
- Writer
