How to Seduce a Tyrant

Chapter 1 - Forgotten Princess (1)

Being born a princess, one would expect to receive several things. Wealth, power, love and devotion, are simply natural when you are born into the royal family.

But for a princess such as Aine, born illegitimate and from a commoner mother, she was never able to experience such luxuries as her other siblings had.

Ashamed by her existence, her father ordered for her to be sent far away from the palace, locked inside a tall tower with but a single maid to keep her company.

Rumors say that if one ever wanders near the tower where the princess resides, they would hear a soft but lovely voice weeping under the moonlight.

Truly, what a pitiful princess...

***

Thunder roared throughout the palace as the lightning flashes its current, scarring the dark ominous sky. It's a sign, fate has spoken and no one is exempted from its grasp. This included the King who now kneels before his usurper.

The once-great Helenika Kingdom has fallen, all to the hand of the 'Bloody Tyrant' no less. It was clear to all that resided within the nation that the thunderstorm has come, and they were all doomed.

"Please, I'm begging you!" the king beseeched, lowering his head further to the ground as it trembles. "You can have whatever you want, just let me live!"

"And what else could you offer me exactly?" With the dark and mischievous smile he often wore, Liam gazed at the insignificant fool he had recently trampled on, "When I already own everything that's yours?"

With fear eating up at his nerves, the fallen king raised his head with much difficulty, gazing directly at a certain girl.

Beautiful and elegant, Bella was certainly sought after by many suitors. She was a princess who knew the required arts very well and was well-versed in many of the realm's languages. Surely, this tyrant would favor her.

"What about my daughter's hand in marriage?" the fallen king suggested, causing his daughter to look at him, eyes speaking of fear and betrayal. Bella's mouthparts, failing to comprehend the words uttered by her own father.

'How could he...' Bella thought. Tears threatening to spill as she balls her hands into fists. After years of doting, years of unconditional love. She never thought there would come a day that he would try to sell her out.

Everyone knew how dangerous the man sitting on the throne was, tales and rumors had weaved themselves into the kingdom, his conquest of ash and blood spread like wildfire. No matter how stunning, wealthy, or powerful he was, no sane woman would ever dare be with him. Especially Bella, who only wished to live a quiet and secluded life.

Feeling as though a tear would finally slip from her silver eyes, Bella chose to direct her gaze down towards the ground, hoping and wishing with all her might that the man before her would refuse.

And as if the Goddess Helen herself had answered her prayers, the atmosphere surrounding the room had grown colder, her father started to sweat bullets while his entire body grew rigid.

Liam cast his cold glare at the princess, eyes sparkling with a hidden glow before directing it back to the fallen king. "I have no interest in such a woman."

"Ugh..." While it hurt to hear such words, Her shoulders sagged as she released a long quiet breath. Bella was certainly grateful for that. But she wondered what he meant by 'such a woman'. Was there perhaps something wrong with her?

Realizing where her thoughts had strayed, Bella quickly shook her head, frustrated that she would even think of such a foolish thing, at a time like this even.