Under the warm embrace of the sun's golden rays, Carol found herself nestled in the tranquil haven of her garden, surrounded by the ones she held most dear. The gentle breeze whispered through the vibrant foliage, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming flowers, as if nature itself was serenading their blissful moment.As Carol lay there, her heart overflowed with a profound sense of contentment.
"Carol, don't you need to wake up?" Chloe asked with a gentle tone.
"Just for a little while..." Carol murmured, her body shifting restlessly in her slumber.
“Wake up because we are not here for you anymore.”
As their voices faded, she awoke abruptly, realizing that she was no longer the center of their attention. In the wake of their departure, her once vibrant garden withered away, mirroring the disintegration of her family. Overwhelmed by fear, she jolted upright in bed, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and uncertainty.
She awoke in awe, utterly astounded. The lingering impact of the nightmare left her quivering with fear..
The chirping of the birds and the sunlight reflecting on her eyes made her realize the reality.
The surroundings were different and made her uneasy.
“Guess you didn't have a good night here?” A low, nice voice stole Carol's attention.
She gazed in the direction from which the voice came to observe Ragnarök lying beside her, shrugging off.
" Did you miss me, Carol?"
“No, I did not,” averting her gaze away from him, she answers.
Of course, I did, you bastard. Do you even know, I haven't had a proper meal since I heard you were sent to hell, you shit? I missed your annoying face so much, she thinks.
“You shouldn't curse a royal, Carol,” he smirks.
“Did I say it out loud?” confused, Carol asks.
“No, but I can read your face. How many years have we known each other?” he smiles and gets off the bed.
“What is going to happen to my… family?” Carol nervously asks.
“Normally, traitors are ordered to be killed on sight.” Carol pauses at his words.
“But since I promised you, stripping his title and seizing his property is enough.”
He starts taking off his shirt, and Carol gets goosebumps.
“Then what… what about me? What do you want me to do for you?”
“You… Carol, you…" she waits eagerly for his answer.
“Honestly, Carol, you are useless.”
“What did you say?” She gets angry and throws a pillow at him in embarrassment.
He laughs loudly.
“But I said the truth. You don't know housework, no martial arts, don't even know how to hold a sword. What can I even make you do for me?”
Carol is flustered by his words, turning red like a strawberry from head to toe.
She jumps from the bed, aggressively hitting him with her little punches.
“See, you can't even throw a punch,” he mocks her.
“Then why did you let me live? Kill me like you did with the other… who cares? I am useless anyway,” Carol wails while hitting him.
He grabs her hand, then holds her waist.
“I can't do that, Carol. Not even once have I thought of hurting you. And I brought you here with another intention.”
His lips gently curl at the corners of his mouth, exposing a slight showing of teeth.
His chest with a few buttons undone, touching her chest, gazing directly into her eyes.
Carol is stunned by this beautiful sight.
“What intention?”
“Don't get angry, I was joking. But you will stay in this room with me. There are still many people who don't want me on the throne. I can't risk your safety, now that I am the Emperor,” he leaned his back on the wall, smiling.
“What do you mean, Emperor, is you? What about the king?” Carol asks.
“Yesterday, the king was found dead. His limbs were torn off. Rebels killed him,” he smirks.
Carol gulps nervously as her father was one of the rebels.
“Was my father involved in the king's death?” she asks anxiously.
“Who knows? He was a part of the treason, and he wanted me dead, so maybe,” his smile disappeared.
Carol moves closer to him and touches his hand gently.
Ragnarök stiffens, dumbstruck by the situation.
Her gesture makes him speechless.
HE IS CALM, EVEN THOUGH DAD TRIED TO KILL HIM. BUT DEEP INSIDE, HE MUST HAVE FELT HURT.
HE WAS IN THE BATTLEFIELD FOR TWO YEARS, FIGHTING FOR HIS COUNTRY, AND THE COUNTRY'S NOBLE RETURNED HIS KINDNESS WITH HATE.
“Your hand, it's full of wounds… Must have hurt,” her face saddened as she grazed his rough hand. She looks at him just to see him looking back at her.
Their eyes meet, chills from his ruthless look run down her spine.
.....
Knocking on the door makes her avert her eyes from him.
“Someone's at the door…" embarrassed, Carol says.
“Your highness, all remaining traitors and their relatives, or anyone related to them, even the maids, are captured, waiting for your order on what to do with them in court,” Knight Birtholt informs Ragnarök.
“I'm heading there, wait for me outside,” he answers.
“I'll go first, Carol. You can come after dressing up. Maids will help you,” he says while heading to the door.
“Am I allowed to?”
“Now you are one of my people, you can do whatever you want.”
“Okay.....” the thought of her family makes her restless.
He pets her head, ruffling her hair with a smile, he says, “Don't worry.”
Even if they were empty words, they made her relieved.
“Why does he always do that….?” she whines slowly.
AT THE COURT:-
There were thousands of people begging for mercy, crying, weeping, handcuffed, on the floor waiting for the punishment. A noble who was on Ragnarök's side was witnessing and enjoying this view.
Crying stops by hearing the sound of Ragnarök's footsteps. It was as if death were approaching them. He stands in front of the crown, putting his sword on the throne, he announces.
The sun has set, and there is only darkness in our kingdom as my father, King Henry Alzack, has been killed by the hands of rebels.
“What punishment is sufficient for these people?”
Nobles who were loyal to Ragnarök answered,
“Behead them all, your highness.” “They are filthy dirt.”
“If you show them mercy, they will betray you again.”
“They bite the hand that feeds them.”
“As I am the only heir to the crown, the only person left to avenge my father, and I want people to take it as a lesson. I hereby announce that all these people are to be burned alive.” The anger in Ragnarök's eyes scared even her knight.
Listening to their punishment, the traitors shout and ask for mercy. Carol, from a corner, watches and feels sad for them.
“Wait a second, your highness. It is not fair,” a voice comes from among the nobles who were witnessing. It was Isabella Rouse, Ragnarök's fiancée.
“I didn't expect my fiancé to be displeased with me. Say what you want to say, Isabella,” he looks at her fiercely, making her shiver, but she
continues anyway.
Your Highness, Count Beth was one of the traitors, but his whole family isn't here. Forget about them getting punished, but this girl, Carol Beth, is even standing here unharmed,” she points at Carol.
“Is it because she is your close friend that you are forgiving her and her family? Isn't it unfair to all these people? Isn't it unfair to the king who died because of Count Beth? Isn't it unfair to you, who was going to die on the battlefield leading the army?”
Carol realizes after hearing those facts that were pointed out by Princess Isabelle, daughter of the West Duke.
I AM CAUSING NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FOR HIM. HE BULLIED ME A LITTLE IN THE PAST, BUT NOW ME AND MY FAMILY ARE BECOMING A THREAT TO HIS POSITION, MAKING THEM QUESTION HIS DECREE.
“Are you questioning my law, Isabella?” he asks in anger.
“No, my lord, I just… care about you. Changing the law just for her will tarnish our relation,” she answers, trembling.
“I don't care about you at all, but I hate this girl, and she is a threat to my position as the empress. I am not going to let her go easy," Isabella thinks.
Whispers go around the court.
“Carol Beth is indeed dear to me, but there is another reason for me exonerating the count family.”
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