A Loving Husband
1183 Words
I returned to my house, seeing my mother and father filled me with joy, especially seeing my younger sisters.
“You are a w****! Giving yourself to anyone who will so much as look at you!”
“Shush, she is empress now! She can have you executed!”
He fought back my mother, taking off his belt and lashing the buckle at my face.
“In order to do that you have to have the emperors favor. I doubt a lowly slut as she has anything more than a night with his majesty.”
The blood trickled down my cheek before I was whipped again, this time the buckle tearing the back of my dress.
I fled the house in a hurry, running back to my carriage, pretending as if nothing had happened.
I returned home, retiring to my quarters the rest of the day. I sipped on tea, trying to focus on my book.
My door was suddenly thrown open, I dropped my book out of fear, instantly covering my face.
“Hello my love, you weren’t taking your usual walk in the garden. Why the sudden change in your schedule?”
I avoided his gaze, keeping my head down.
“I am not well your grace, I wish to be left alone.”
“My dear wife I don’t want to command you but I will, show me my beautiful wife’s face.”
I turned it slowly. I had tried to bandage it up, but I felt it needed to air out first.
“Please don’t stare. I have suffered enough humiliation for now.”
“Who did this?”
His voice trembled, but it was firm.
“Emperor my light, my sun, please do not worry. Nothing like this will happen again.”
“Who was it?”
“Octavian...please.”
“Jade. A name. I command you as your emperor.”
“...your grace, you force my hand too much. I have told you before no one but my father has ever laid hand to me.”
“It doesn’t look like a hand, my love.”
“A belt is the same, he is the only one to laid hand to me.”
“My darling wife, why would you let someone strike you?”
“My father has been striking me my whole life your grace. It is no secret with the other dukes.”
I turned my back to him. Trying to block him out of my head.
“My love, your dress is torn. Your back split open. Come please my love.” I couldn’t even make myself stand.
How was I to be the empress if I couldn’t even stand up to my father?
“My light...my sun.” He said solemnly. “We should treat these at once. How many lashings?”
“Eighteen.”
“My love...”
“I am fine, your grace, my light my sun, please, attend to your other meetings. You have a very busy day. Find the will to improve our beloved kingdom.”
“Your father will be summoned at court.”
With that he left.
He returned later with the royal physician. He always glanced at my back, my skin was broken open, black and blue, no real reason to stick around other than he just wanted to stare at my wounds.
“Remove yourself from the room, I wish to speak to my wife alone.”
He came up beside the bed, taking my hand.
“I have requested his presence at court. He is under the assumption he harmed someone, he doesn’t know it was you. I will try him with treason, for him sabotaging my thrown, my reign, my divine right to rule, ending my bloodline.”
It was the ultimate punishment. Of course I had no say in the matter, he was my superior. He carefully bound my back with the help of the doctor. He picked out my first gown. It was black and gold, with touches of red. The maidservants helped me dress as he silently watched.
“Not too tight ladies! I will not have her sit in discomfort.”
I hugged the railing as I let out a sharp hiss of pain. It was my choice to go to court today. I was the lady of the house now. I had to take my duties seriously.
He accepted my hand, leading me down the long and extravagant hallways. We arrived at the door, waiting for the announcer to invite us through.
Their eyes were locked on me. His majesty’s hand wrapped around mine as he helped me up the stairs to sit at his throne. I still had to sit on the stool.
I looked down at my fingers, I wondered what kind of life I would live here.
“Call in the duke.”
“Entering...”
I blocked out his name. I turned my head in shame, my eyes refusing to meet his.
“As my brides father, I thank you for the dowry. However, it has come to my attention that you have whipped my wife, your empress!”
His voice boomed, echoing through the whole room.
“Your majesty, my great light and sun, I have not laid a hand on my daughter. Never.”
“You whipped my wife! And now you’re speaking lies to me? Is my wife just lying? Lying under a sworn oath? Did you miss our vows?”
“No your majesty.”
“So you are lying through your teeth before the royal court?”
“Your majesty, she had come home, acting intolerable. Speaking ill of our family name!”
I sat as still as a statue, my face not moving from its spot.
“She was right to speak ill on your family name. How many times did you lash my wife?”
“18 times your majesty, for 18 years of her life.”
“How many times have you lashed my wife before this? Answer truthfully. You are under my rule.”
“A few your majesty.”
“All of them like this?”
“Mostly.”
“Duke, do speak up. I will not tolerate this kind of dishonorable behavior.”
“Every week since she was old enough to take it.”
“What age?”
“I don’t remember your majesty.”
“My love, when did this start?”
He was hesitant to ask, but knew he would never get the answer from my father.
“Since I was seven, your grace.”
“For 11 years you have struck my wife!”
I kept my gaze down. Trying to stay out of his affairs.
“I sentence him to 18 lashings. The same number as my wife. Your empress, your light, your sun. I should punish you with death!”
“Please no your grace!”
“My wife has already advised against it. Thank her for your life.”
- Writer
