Till death do us part

When Nikki married Demin the Duke she thought that she would only be used for creating a new heir to the throne, but she was wrong.

While Demin had worked all day with vassals and other nobles, Nikki had been put in charge of cleaning the manor, preparing food for them, and managing all of the different crops that the manor had.

Although she had help for the different servants she always felt like she could only count on herself to do all of the work.

Until she had arrived.

She was only meant to work in the manor for a week but Nikki had taken a liking to her for some reason.

Her name was Caroline, a charming young girl around Nikki's age.

Out of all the servants Nikki had never seen anyone work as hard as Caroline.

As the days went on, Demin stayed away from the manor for longer because of business which gave Nikki and Caroline more time to get to know each other.

Hobbies, interests and even books: the more that they talked, the more Nikki found herself looking at her new friend for too long.

All was well until one day the Duke fell terribly ill. Nikki had called doctors from far lands to try to help her husband but no one could help him. Only for days later for him to be diagnosed with pestilence, but it was too late, he had already died.

They held a grand funeral for him, the royal family had come. Everything in the manor was covered in black, mirrors where covered, candles where dimmed and everyone wore black. While the Duchess did shed tears at his funeral, she couldn't help but feel like she did not love him.

Weeks later Caroline had received a letter to deliver to her Duchess,

"Someone has sent this to you, your grace." She handed the envelope sealed with wax to her.

"Thank you." She replied.

Opening the letter was the second worst decision she had made in her life, the colour from her face faded as she quickly skimmed though the lengthy letter.

It was a marriage proposal.

Since now that she did not really belong to anyone, Demin made sure to write into his will that his cousin, Prince Wilbur, was to marry Nikki. To say that she was in shock was an understatement.

"Your grace?" Caroline called out trying to get Nikki's attention. She snapped back into reality and a small smile spread across her face.

Although denying the King's request could lead to her own execution, she couldn't deny.

But she did.

Nothing had happened in the castle for weeks, Nikki and the servants still tended to the work that needed to be done. The mirrors where still covered in sheets, the servants still ate in the small dining room, but Nikki and Caroline would eat together in the garden while talking. Nikki would have to go down to the village herself to collect the payment since no one else could go and do it.

Everything was finally perfect.

Everything was finally together.

Everything was finally at peace.

Caroline was Nikki's everything.

But nothing could stay perfect for ever. Freya's day had arrived. Nikki had just come back from collecting the pay from villagers and had seen guards surrounded the manor and people were screaming. Nikki was shocked by the sight she was seeing. Caroline was tied up in thick ropes and tied to a tree.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Nikki had screamed at the top of her lungs. Everyone had turned their heads to face the Duchess of the manor.

Wilbur shocked, quickly composed himself before speaking.

"Since you have declined my offer countless of times before, I'm here to make sure that the only person you will love is me!" Wilbur turned to a man behind him and nodded.

Without hesitation, a cloaked man plunged a sword into Caroline's chest.

A blood curdling scream left her body. He kept repeating the action over and over.

Nikki just stood there. She froze, not knowing what to do.

"Wait..." That guard paused. Wilbur looked over to Nikki, tears screaming to be released. He smirked before walking over to Caroline.

He leaned in and whispered. "This is why you don't take things that are mine" and with that thrust a dagger under her chin until it emerges from the top of her head.

"NOOOOOO!!" Nikki cried running over to Caroline's lifeless body.

"I guess you two were never meant to be! Now my dear, come with me to forever be mine." Wilbur smiled as he took Nikki by the hand and held her dearly.

Now forever his.