Archie's Escape

Prolongue

THIS CHAPTER IS ABOUT ARCHIE'S FATHER - King Rudolf Williams (will later make sense in the story)

"Father you can't do this. I refuse to be tied down to a woman that I have nothing in common with just to satisfy your greedy needs. I am a man and it's time that you let me control my life!" the crown Prince says angrily feeling his frustration with his father building as always.

"Nonsense!" his father yells back "you are nothing without me Rudolf and that is exactly what you will be when I strip you of everything. I want to see you control your life when you are banished with no where to go and no one to run to. You will marry Sophia and that is final! she comes from a good family, that's more than I can say for the whores you change the sheets with" King Alessandro walks around the mahogany desk in his office to the window overlooking his country.

"You wouldn't be doing this if mother was here and you know it. She is rolling in her grace at the man that you have become. Heartless, ignorant, and conceited and I swear on her grave to never be like you" he spit at the man he once admired.

The kings heart stops for a moment as he turns around to glare back at his only heir. He knows he was not a great father but he feels he should be entitled to be treated as one. He walks up to his son who is now towering over him and in a humourless voice whispers back

"Its a little late for that son, you're already me"

Rudolf stomps his way back to his room disappointedly

_____Wedding Day ________

Sophia locks arms with her father and in gentle strides makes her way to the alter. Rudolf looks anywhere but at her and she knows why.

He doesn't want this and he doesn't want her but her father made known that her mothers life was in her hands. One wrong move and she would be an orphan just like the man next to her. Abandoned and never to be spoken of.

The corset around her waist stops her from breathing or moving freely but she will do anything for her family.

"You may kiss your bride" the priest says to the absent minded man. Rudolf leans over to place a gentle peck on Sophia's lips just as the room full of aristocrats stand to cheer.

King Alessandro has a pleased look on his face as he passes the crown down to his son. His job is done and now he can be with the love of his wife.

King Alessandro took his life that night

A year into the marriage and Rudolf is yet to sleep with his bride. She has tried everything in the book and yet he won't dare lay a finger on her. He walks out when she cries, makes her sleep in another room when it's her time of month, hardly speaks to her, and always parade his whores around.

"I am sick and tired of this Rudolf. Everyone want to know when I'm going to put to bed! Rumors about me being barren are circulating everywhere and you are not doing anything about it. Please Rudolf, give me a child and I'll leave you alone. It would be my burden to bear. You just need to bless me with your seeds my lord" she begs him in their bedroom with tears falling down her cheek like a river

Rudolf stalks his way up to the helpless woman. He pushes her to lay on her back in the middle of their bed, raises the ends of her gown up and without asking has his way with her.

"Please stop, stop..." Sophia cries beneath the powerful king

"You asked and I'm delivering" is his response after he is done with her.

This pattern continues until Sophia comes to him with news of their success.

"I have not bled this month and it's all thanks to you My Lord for your blessing." she had said to him

As time progressed she became comfortable. Nothing can go wrong now that she has an heir. No one can challenge her for the throne

Sophia's maid servants rush to aid the Queen in getting ready for another day of sitting pretty. What they find is the Queen hunched over on the flood with a pool of blood around her.

They call for the doctor who declares that she has had a miscarriage.

Just like that Sophia's safe bubble crumbles leaving her prey to the predators around her.

Rudolf makes his way through the castle to his library but overhears voices coming from the east wing of the castle. He follows the noise to see Sophia in the midst of the aristocrat wives

"Women who have nothing to show for their consummation of their matrimony are not worth. They simple lack favour in the sight of god and should account for their offences" Rudolf knew this was targeted at Sophia

She sat silently at the front with the women around her gossiping and chattering of her failures as a woman. Rudolf felt pity for her and when night came he swore to help her

They tried three more times and at each time she could not carry the child for the long term.

Five years into the battle of trying to conceive and they both give up. Sophia watched her cycle closely and would open her good seasons spread eagle for her husband.

Remedies upon remedies have been her only solace. If one fails she bets all her hop on the next one.

Rudolf has cultivated a relationship with Sophia's most trusted maid servant.

"Rudolf, for how long will we be hiding. My parents want me to settle down and you know I can't do that. You made sure of that when you bedded me. We have a child on the way and I don't want him to be called a bastard" Aveline whispers after a passionate night of love making. Her breath is still ragged and her heart is beating fearfully

Rudolf kisses the back of her ear and breaths her in. He knows that life without his fiery love would not be worth living. If only she had come into his life before his union with Sophia had begun.

"My son will never be called a bastard. Sophia and I are heading to an end and the council is set to rule on our union at nightfall tomorrow. We are sure to part ways if she comes out not pregnant. I will move a motion to get a second wife and you my dear will be my first choice" he assures her

Sophia remains patient as she is assessed by the royal physician.

"Congratulations my Queen, you are with child" he bows before the council men before walking away

Rudolf's breath is caught in his throat as he watches Sophia calculatedly smile at the council men as they bless the fruit of her womb

Aveline the maid gave birth to King Rudolf's one and only heir whilst Sophia suffered another miscarriage. King Rudolf named his only son Prince Archibald Saint Williams and presented him to the public as Sophia's child. Aveline was never to be heard of again just as King Rudolf never learned to love again

Aveline died a few years later with the belief that the only proof of the kings ability to love will grow to be

Bold even though his parents loved in the dark.

Honest even though his parents would lie to their graves

Authentic even though his parents are shameless frauds

If only she knew the man he would become was anything but that

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