Ephesus picked on his food as his annoying siblings talked and laughed beside him. His little brother laughed and spilled water from his mouth all over Ephesus because of the funny things his younger sister did.
Ephesus grabbed a wiper slowly and wiped the water off his Royal suit and off his face, the part that had water on it. His siblings quickly ran out of the dining area because they know what will come upon them if they just sat down there and do nothing to help get the mess off him.
Besides, they're not in the mood to help anyone at the moment.
Ephesus nearly followed them, but the hand of his mother that always calms him down, found itself to his arm.
"Leave them, Ephesus. They're just kids"
"They should know that if they're trying to be funny, they're attitude should not come into my territory"
"Ephesus... Don't be ridiculous. They're are your siblings"
Ephesus kept quiet. He didn't want his anger to get him into trouble by making his mother to remember how she killed her own husband in front of him when he was a kid.
*FLASHBACK*
It all happened that night, when his parents were in their bedroom preparing for a goodnight sleep and he was walking down the hallway, looking for something to eat.
But his attention got caught when something fell in their bedroom. He increased his pace until he got to their bedroom and opened the door.
And there his father was. The man that always encouraged him. Lay on the ground with blood all over him and his mother holding fastly to a knife.
He gasped and then his mother stared at him in shock. It was just like she didn't know what she just did, because she dropped the knife in her hand and gasped out loud.
Little Ephesus tears flowed like a river down his face when he saw his father on the ground.
"E-Ephesus... I-I didn't mean to... "
Ephesus screamed and ran to his room and cried that night.
He vowed never to get a bride, from his own Kingdom, nor forgive his mother for what she did.
*PRESENTLY*
Ephesus withdraws his hand from underneath his mother's and formed his hands into clench, tight fists.
A tear escapes his eye and he breathe in and out heavily, trying hard not to let the other tears out.
His mother noticed and she got uncomfortable and concerned.
"Ephesus? What is wrong?"
Ephesus bit his lower lip and his curly and short hair covered his face, as he stand up and walks out of the throne room.
"Ephesus!... " But her call fell on deaf ears.
Ephesus quickened his pace and left the throne room, angry.
Ephesus left the throne room and went to his room, just to see the lady his mother had placed in his life, inside his room.
His eyes shows a blazing fire as he made his way to her.
Everyone fears him in the Castle, not just because he is the first child or something, but because he is the first person in the lineage of Arthur that finds a certain kind of interest in wolves.
Yes, everyone knows that the wolves were the elders of the Kingdom but...
His interest is not to a minimum, but it is very high.
Ephesus rolls his eyes when he caught sight of the lady dressed in a short and exposing dress, sitting on his bed with legs crossed.
"What are you doing here?" he sneered, his curly hair making him look more handsome.
"Oh... I didn't see you there" she said and Ephesus opened the door wide, for her to get the gist and get out of his room, in peace.
"Leave" he said and the lady made her face a bit enticing to him. She stood and walked upto him, trying to walk in an enticing manner.
Ephesus don't move though. He just can't help but admire how stupid she is to think she can get him seduced after what his mother did to his own father.
"I say walk out" he repeated and the lady furrowed her brows in concern.
"What is making my man to get angry today?" she asks simultaneously and trying to get close to him.
"Sheba, don't let me kill you. I said get out!"
Sheba said nothing but did as she was told, and did it quickly.
She steps out of the room and Ephesus banged the door behind her.
He spat furiously on the ground and walks upto the mirror as he stared at it.
He stares at himself. Hating every piece of himself and feeling like he have taken a wrong step by coming into this world.
But who was he kidding, he came because of a reason.
He released a breath as he bounced on his bed and stare at the picture of his Dad, hanging opposite him, on the wall.
"I miss you" he whispered and shook his head, anger rising in him rapidly.
By tomorrow night he'll set out with some of his men. They have to get to the other Kingdoms nearby to see if their Princesses are worth seeing. Maybe someone can make his heart to be fully replaced, and be like the heart he knew he had when his Dad was alive.
Or even better than when he had his Dad.
Sheba trailed down to the dining area to where the Queen sat.
"Your son is pretty hard to stay with, can't you just allow him to choose from his heart?" she snorts as she walks upto the Queen.
She frowned when she heard this.
"What do you mean? You're done?"
"I think so. Ephesus is a hard charming thing. You should be happy he doesn't look at ladies just like when your husband stared at you not knowing you'd kill him"
The Queen got angry as she watched Sheba walk out of the dining area and close the door with a bang as she left.
She don't know what got into her that night. She hates to admit it but it's the truth.
No wonder Ephesus hated her.
Okay, read and pleaseeeeeeeeee
Follow Up!!!
"My lady, the King has asked me to call you. The breakfast is ready"
I groan as I get out of my bed with a type of pain that runs through my veins and even into my bones and blood. Always sleeping late and waking up this early? It is not helping me, you know.
Okay, let's do a quick introduction, shall we?
I am Diane. Daughter and Princess of King Luke of Azel and here I am. My life seemingly having a missing piece, my whole life!
I have been living with my maids and my Dad that never got my attention ever since I clocked sixteen. He is always busy trying to keep his Kingdom safe, meanwhile he is the one doing what he is doing and forgetting that he have a twenty one year old daughter that has never gotten the thought of marriage but he is forcing it on me!
He is!
I have a couple of elder brothers that do not know what to use their lives for and a sister that is unreasonable sometimes.
Only my younger brother understands me around here. Even My Father is a wealthy bluff.
I stand up from my bed and stare into my mirror. "Well, Good morning Diane" I whisper and the maids quickly rush me to the bathroom.
I had my bath and now I am heading to the throne room. Hope Father has some reasonable dishes today.
"Diane dear! The Queen of a nearby and unknown Kingdom is here!" the elderly among us, Thaddeus, hailed and I smile faintly.
"Good morning Father, sister and brothers" I greet with a curtsie and they all nod at me.
"Good morning, dear sister" my siblings greets and my father smiles at me.
"Hello, Diane" I bow to my father and a servant standing behind an empty seat pulled it out and I walk upto it and sat on it.
"Diane, I and your brothers and sister have come up with a very intriguing plan for your marriage"
I hardened my grip on the glass cup I hold and raise a brow at my father. "Continue"
"Come on Diane, your brothers are married and this Kingdom has been divided into four for each Prince. Your sister is married and she is a Queen of a Kingdom just behind Azariah and your younger brother has someone in mind already"
I glare at the younger boy sitting beside me.
"He's just sixteen" I mutter
"Four years and we will send the proposal letter to the girl's Kingdom and family"
I let out my breath and shook my head as I drop the cup I have been holding on the table in front of all of us.
"Father, Roy is not a girl, I can guess that he can force himself into any girl he wants"
I catch a glimpse of my younger brother, Roy, open his mouth with the "Really?" look.
"Then Xelilah that is your sister and is a girl, how come she is married?" The brother that I am following by birth, Andrew, asked.
"I don't know. Probably she found the right person quick or you guys enforced the guy on her" I answer sarcastically and Roy, Andrew, Xelilah and Matthew held their laughter.
Only the eldest son of my father, Thaddeus, and my father didn't find anything funny in what I just said. And so do I.
"Diane, finding a suitor shouldn't be a problem. There are multiple Princes out there, dying to have the face of a Princess in their lives... "
I cut Thaddeus short by saying "Finding a mistress, isn't hard, you mean... " I stare directly into the eyes of Thaddeus and he stare back at me, trying to understand what I have to say.
"I haven't even visited the nearby Kingdoms to see their Princes. You are the people going on my behalf, how am I supposed to know who is who?"
They all look at me with thoughtful eyes. Except my father though, who just stare at me like I am telling a boring parable.
I take in a deep breath and stare into the eyes of my father as I spoke.
"Anyway, I will like to go on a short trip, just to the outsketch of Azariah" I say.
I scan My Father's heart and I know he wants to object, so...
"Thank you for your support" I say and stand up and leave the room, my family staring at me, perplexed by my actions.
The door to the dining room closes and I stand there with the guards that guard the door, staring at me. The head of the soldier walks upto the dining area but I don't look up at him, instead I just stand.
I like him ever since I was a kid. We played round the fields whenever our parents discussed about war and they'd stare at us as we play. His father wanted me to marry his son, but my Father, stingy even when it comes to his own daughter, refused.
I stare at his shoes as he walks upto me.
"Diane, what is wrong?" he asks and the two other guards came closer in care. As if they didn't see me when I first exited the room.
"They're still talking about it and I don't have anyone" I whisper and the three guards looked at themselves and then back at me.
Almost everyone in the Kingdom knows about my stubbornness when it comes to this marriage thing. Only new people in Azariah and that is the babies or travelers that don't know.
I close my eyes and breathed in and out deeply.
"Come with me"
I follow him closely, his name ringing in my head and my heart beating repeatedly in my chest as we enter the darkest part of the Castle, where Azariah's Prophets dwell.
"Maria, I need your help and so does the Princess"
Before I say anything, green steam escapes the pipes hole that the Prophets normally use to enhance their vision in the spirit.
"What is it that her Highness wants?"
Shihab stare at me and nudge my hand, asking me to talk in signs, I guess.
"Umm... My father is asking me to marry soon and someone I don't know... And I really want someone that I will love and will love me always... I... I don't want force in my marriage... "
The green steam cease and a voice, softer than that of a woman is what I hear. My body rise with goosebumps and a negative feeling.
"Go out at night for three days. Whosoever you meet becomes yours"
What?
Chapter Three is up!