[Pride Awards 2023, hosted by official lgbtq , Romance Category Winner and 5th Place Grandwinner] The foster son of a former cupbearer marries the cursed king of Persia, becoming not only the first consort to survive after the wedding, but also a th...
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Early morning trainings always refreshed Naseer's mind. It increased his appetite and made him feel alive– so hungry and wild, like a black bear of the forests.
Asking the trainees to wait for him, he went to see why Caspar wasn't still ready. Caspar wasn't a man to break rules unless his temper came in.
"That man has a fragile mind."
Naseer didn't remember a brawl from last night. Well, they were drinking then, at least all the melophoroi except Firdaus. He would have to ask the man later if anything ugly had occurred, something that slipped from his memory.
"Wake up brother!" Naseer knocked on Caspar's door several times. No answer came from inside. Having the least of patience, he banged his fist on the door, only to see it open.
"It was unlocked all this while?" Naseer barged in. "Caspar, you son of–"
He is still sleeping?
Caspar had covered himself with a blanket from head to toe. He looked like a cocoon in that form.
"Are you crazy? You will turn your blood to sweat. Wine makes your body go warm."
What is that?
Near his stomach, the blanket was stained. Only now did Naseer sense the acrid smell emanating from it. The spot was huge and dark red in colour.
With a swift move, Naseer threw away the blanket. Beneath it rested the body of Caspar, now cold as ice. A pool of blood had formed. A gaping wound in the stomach was the blow which had the melophoroi killed.
Naseer took his face near Caspar. No, he wasn't breathing. Naseer felt his pulse and heartbeat– there was none. His lips had gone dry and blue, froth forming in the corners.
He was as dead as a man could be.
"Call the hazahrapatish!" he cried "There has been a death!"
And this time, it wasn't the spouse who had died.
This time it was one of the conspirators.
****
Parmenion had instructed the body to be examined by the doctors before burning it. The doctors concluded it was death from a dagger, a sharp object akin to it. It had pierced his veins and vital organs, thus it was long and deep. There was a lot of internal damage done, probably by twisting the dagger and attacking with it several times. Inspection of the room had brought to the front a gag and a set of ropes, hidden in the trunks, which might have been used to stop Caspar from shouting and rendering him helpless.
"But the froth from his mouth, it's from a poison," the doctor said. "It was administered through wine and reacted quite soon. It made the melophoroi weak in mind and stunted his thinking abilities. It also accelerated the clotting of blood in his body. Even if the dagger was not used, he would have died since no antidote was given."
