Price of Possession

Chapter 4

Princess Hera stood before the enormous windows in her room, gazing out at the dimming horizon, lost in her own thoughts. The weight of the past days pressed heavily on her shoulders, and the heavy silence of the room enveloped her like a cloak. Her mind drifted back to the painful farewell with Riven Kleinfelter, the man who had once meant everything to her.

She could still feel the warmth of his hand on her shoulder as he had said, "Please trust me on this. My uncle may have insisted on the engagement, but my affection for you is genuine. Even if it takes a lifetime, I'll wait for you to see that."

Her legs had weakened under the weight of those words, and in a broken whisper, she had said, "Goodbye... may you find someone you can love to your heart's content in the land of death."

The memory of her words, though they had been spoken with the hope of ending the relationship, still echoed painfully in her heart. She covered her mouth as silent tears fell, her grief hidden from the world outside.

I never permitted him anything beyond a kiss. Our relationship was nothing more than a compromise, a transaction. She closed her eyes. Just as House Kleinfelter coveted royal power and forced the engagement upon me, I, too, sought only to use the strength of their family to my advantage. I am using him even after his death.

She touched her stomach, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Relax, as for the child... there will be a way to hide the truth.

But as the thought lingered, another question arose, one that made her stomach tighten with uncertainty. Can I really deceive him?

The memory of Lord Hellrune's gaze surfaced—his predatory eyes, sharp as a beast's. His wild, cruel, and fierce presence invaded her thoughts. She could still hear him calling her "Princess," that word echoing in her mind, especially when she recalled that moment—the moment he had licked the blood from her palm. Her breath caught at the memory.

"Princess!" The sudden call snapped her back to reality. She jolted at the sound of her name, blinking as she regained her composure. "Are you listening?"

"Oh," Hera said, quickly collecting herself. "Yes, please continue, Sir Mashlow."

Standing before her, Sir Mashlow was handing her a report with a frown on his face. "We’ve secured just enough supplies to last three months. But that’s only because I reduced every possible expense."

Hera let out a long, weary sigh. "That’s a relief. At least we’ll manage to hold on for three months."

"You must stop being stubborn and raise the taxes," Mashlow urged, his voice steady. "We cannot keep scraping by like this."

Hera shook her head, her expression hardening. "A drought that’s lasted over twenty years won’t just end overnight, and I cannot add to the suffering of my people. We shall find another way." Her eyes narrowed as frustration bubbled within her. "Our revenue has been dwindling year by year. I thought that at the very least, with this year's trade deals, we’d have enough to eat three meals a day... if only those Hellrunes hadn't surrounded us..."

She gritted her teeth, her anger and anxiety rising. "Good thing I accepted Lord Hellrune's proposal. If not, the numbers would be far worse."

Mashlow’s voice softened, his concern evident. "Still, accepting his proposal was a bit rash. You should have consulted with the House Kleinfelter first."

Hera tensed at the mention of the Kleinfelter family. Here we go again.

"I will discuss the arrangements for the funeral with them," she said curtly. "Hellrune said they will return Sir Kleinfelter’s body today. Please inform them to wait."

Mashlow hesitated before replying, "The royal family should observe an official mourning period. After all, he was the heir of House Kleinfelter."

Hera’s eyes narrowed slightly, her voice steady but cold. "But that might be seen as disrespect toward my new fiancé. Though, I shall speak with Lord Hellrune."

Mashlow scoffed under his breath. "To speak of respect with savages... The Grand Chancellor will be in an uproar."

The mention of Grand Chancellor Lindon Kleinfelter made Hera’s blood run cold. He must be livid by now, she thought. He had likely been planning to exploit Seraphis by pushing his nephew into marriage with her—only to see it all go to waste. Even after taking so much from Seraphis, he remained insatiable. Her teeth clenched.

"That concludes my report, Princess. I’ll take my leave now," Mashlow said, bowing slightly as he turned to go.

As he reached the door, he hesitated, his voice lowering with a note of caution. "The Kleinfelter family has long been intertwined with Seraphis' history since the days of the late king. Neglecting them will come with a steep price. Please bear that in mind, Princess."

The sound of the door closing left Hera alone with her thoughts. Even in mourning, there was no respite from these political games. Her eyes burned with a mixture of anger and exhaustion. She stood silently for a moment, letting the reality of her situation sink in.

Time passed, and as she reviewed the reports from the kingdom, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread in her gut. The bodies should be here soon. I should change into my mourning dress, she thought absently, making her way toward her walk-in closet.

As she reached the closet, the image of Lord Hellrune surfaced again, unbidden. His dark presence and the unsettling way he had looked at her during their meeting… No. She shook her head, banishing the thought. Lord Hellrune said he would personally move them. I should wear something to welcome him...

She paused, the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. Look at me, trying to please Lord Hellrune when Sir Kleinfelter is dead... She closed her eyes for a moment. I was a selfish and cold lover to the bitter end.

Her old maid and nanny entered the room, carrying a beautiful dress for her. "I brought the fanciest dress I could find, but... must you really do this, Princess?" the nanny asked, her tone filled with concern. "Those barbarians really don’t deserve a welcome."

Hera straightened, her voice firm. "We still need to maintain some decorum."

"Do not try to present yourself too well. They are unworthy of such a beautiful sight. Is he not the enemy who took your beloved’s life?" the nanny asked, her voice filled with disdain.

Hera’s eyes hardened, but she sighed, a hint of sadness creeping into her expression. "I know how you feel, Nanny… but Madam Fiona..."

"Yes, Princess?"

"Sir Kleinfelter is dead, and I am now betrothed to Lord Hellrune. It would be disrespectful to my betrothed and I for you to speak of Riven Kleinfelter."

Her nanny’s face paled in shock. "Of course, Your Highness."

Hera hesitated, then added quietly, "Oh, and one more thing. I am with child. I haven’t told this to anyone yet, but..."

The nanny’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"

"Shh, keep your voice down... how long does it take until I start showing?"

The nanny, still taken aback, hesitated before answering, "Well... I guess... You might start showing in a few months, Your Highness."

Just then, a servant rushed into the room with urgent news. "Your Highness, the leader of Hellrune has arrived at the city gates!"

Hera's heart pounded as she turned toward the door, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her like an iron chain. She had made her choices, and now there was no turning back.