Foreign
1376 Words
It had been a few months, she took care of our son, night and day. While also continuing her duties as empress. I sat in my bed, lying awake. My eyes darted across the ceiling, thinking of her sleeping alone with our child by herself. Many people had maids and nurses to take care of their children, she insisted on taking care of the boy on her own. As if he was her sole responsibility.
For her age, she was very sophisticated, she didn’t lie when she had studied on how to be a lady. The diplomats seemed to really enjoy that she seemed like a genuine person who actually had interest in how the country was run and budgeting compared to my other wives who had only blown through my money. She provided me with an heir, a male heir. The diplomats were thrilled when the announcement came out.
I heard screaming down the hall. I shot out of bed and flung the doors open. I ran until I barged through Jade’s room. She was holding a knife while holding the baby close to her chest.
“You will not harm my son!”
“Hand the child over!”
She spotted me before taking off towards me and handing over the baby. The royal guards had finally arrived and by that time he was dragging her out of the window. I tried to set my child down but my arms were frozen as I looked back at her holding the baby. They had come here to kill him. I couldn’t let go so I could save her.
“Octavian! Don’t let him out of your sight! Keep him safe from harm! Please!” She begged as he stabbed a small blade in her leg as she yelled out in pain.
“Pay the ransom and you’ll receive your wife. Every hour you’re late we stab her somewhere new.”
With that he had taken her out of the window.
“I don’t care just pay the ransom! I want my wife back.”
I had been holding my son all day, refusing to put him down. “Emperor, they are demanding too much.”
“I don’t care, get my wife. Or I will do it myself.” I threatened back at him. I was ready to wage war over her.
Jade’s POV:
I awoke in a very nice, formal room. The sound of someone whistling startling me awake.
“I see that you are awake.”
“Who are you? Where am I? Where is my son?”
“No care for your husband?”
“Where is my son?” I spat back at him again.
“You son is with your husband, don’t worry. All your husband has to do is pay the ransom.”
“Surely he will.”
“I don’t doubt it your majesty.”
“He loves me very much.”
“Indeed he does empress.”
“He will liberate me.”
“Sure he will.”
I had been pacing in my room with this strange man. Although he would comment on my spoken thoughts he had yet to reveal to me who he was. Or what his plan was. I guess I wouldn’t tell the enemy either.
“What is your name?”
“Try better to guess my identity.”
“Must we play games?”
“I love games.”
“Yes well, I do not.”
“I will tell you if your husband does not deliver the ransom.”
“He will,”
“Then my identity should not bother you so.”
I was conflicted. I had hoped that he would pay the ransom but he never did. The man who had been taking care of me, made sure that I was well-fed, well-dressed, he let me wander the garden as much as I liked. However, no correspondence was to be sent outside of the castle that I had been brought to. I had taken it upon myself to do some investigating and had learned his name from the servants he provided me. Your name is?”
“My, empress, you don’t give up do you.”
“If I can guess your name, and your title, will you let me trouble you for a simple favor.”
“I do not see why not,”
“Your name is...” I had to make it seem like a guess. “Your name is...Edward.”
“It is a common name,”
“Your title is Prince of the Southern Kingdom, heir to the throne of the southern isles.”
“Done some digging have we?”
“Why would a prince risk his throne? Why would the prince kidnap the empress of the neighboring empire?”
“Empress, if anything I have saved you from that wretched empire that you were sold into, like a slave I may add.”
“I was not sold like a slave, I was his loving wife.”
“Yet you have no idea what he has been doing behind your back, the whole of your pregnancy?”
“What?”
“I have spies in your empire, Empress Jade. They see all, they report to me. Just like he had been seen by you kissing his maid, he was taking maids to bed and giving them jewels to keep his affairs quiet.”
“What...?”
“Empress, it is only normal to keep lovers, surely you never thought you were the only one he took to his bed?”
“We roomed together.”
“Yes but, what about during the day time?”
The sudden realization had dawned on me. He had convinced himself it was a one time mistake, yet, he had yet to pay the ransom. Any loving husband who truly, deeply cared would have paid it straight away.
“He had promised me on our wedding night that I was to be the only once since I am protected under his sovereign.”
“Yes well, all men are dogs. Say, empress, how old are you again?”
“I’m 18 years of age.”
“You and I are closer in age than he is to you.”
“And how old are you, prince Edward?”
“I am 23,”
“So it seems, young, reckless.”
“Handsome?” He gave me the most cheeky smile.
“Yes, indeed, however back to my favor.”
“Ah yes, a favor for a cheater, I applaud you.”
“The favor is for me and me only.”
“Do go on then,”
“I wish to be able to see a picture of my son.”
“Your son?”
“Yes,”
“No.”
“Why on earth not?”
“Empress, I cannot,”
“Why?”
“Empress-“
“Tell me why?”
“The Emperor has already taken a new wife and she is raising that son as her own. Do you understand that he does not belong to you anymore?”
“What?”
“...he has remarried. I have been making your accommodations as I see fit.”
“And my title?”
“I say it out of respect Empress, but, your title has been revoked.”
“My title before was Duchess Jade of the house of Mourning Sky.”
“Mourning Sky?”
“Yes,”
“You are from the Northern Kingdom?”
“Yes, that is my fathers birth kingdom before we were moved to the western region.”
“What of my marriage?”
“What of your marriage?”
“...what was the story that they told my people. The empire?”
“...that you had died after childbirth.”
My heart sank in my chest, goose bumps filled my arms as my legs involuntarily collapsed as I sat down on a small stool, the same way that I had entered the empire, the same time my reign has ended.
- Writer
