AVERY

  I stayed outside for a while. When I felt a chill, I deciced to head back inside. My eyes slowly widened when I saw King Ferhann crouched down on the elegant dance floor. The man I was talking to earlier loomed over him, his face was dark with rage.

  "You are one brutal king, Fervocour." King Ferhann hissed, eyes glowing. The king looming above him smirked and bent over. He whispered something to King Ferhann which made him yell.

  "You bastard!" He was about to punch the man before him, but the bigger man dodged and kicked him on the back.

  "From this day onward, I will claim Ynkerthia and marry the sole heiress of the kingdom." The man declared. I gasped and rushed before him.

  "You can't do that! I won't allow it!" I was furious, but my father held me back and said the words I didn't expect him to say.

  "We accept, Your Majesty." My father bowed and so did my mother. I was in shock. I got out of my father's hold and met the man face to face.

  I got on my toes and got close to his face. I hissed, angry, "You can have my kingdom. You can have my family's riches, but you can't have me. Never."

  I was even more annoyed when he smirked, his crimson eyes shone brighter than when he was enraged. He leaned closer and I could feel his warm breath on my lips which were mere inches apart.

  "We'll see about that, won't we... Princess?" He whispered, voice deep and hushed.

  My cheeks flared and I huffed, letting the tension rise between us before leaving. I ignored the hushed whispers of the other guests and walked to my room. I slammed the door shut and groaned. I sat on the bed and took off my heels. I sighed.

  Just as I was about to lay on my bed, there was a soft knock on my door.

  "Your Highness? It's Meylin. Her Majesty told me to follow you." Meylin's soft voice brought me comfort.

  "Please come in." I called out. The doors opened and her expression said it all. She looked like she was about to cry.

  Once the doors were shut behind her, she rushed forward and hugged me. She started crying loudly. I giggled and rubbed her back, "What's wrong? Why are you crying, Meylin?"

  "I heard everything! I heard how... how the King of Beasts wants to marry you! I'm scared to lose you, Avery! I don't want you to marry that heartless king!" She wailed. I was curious at her choice of words about the king and pushed her off me gently.

  "King of Beasts? What do you mean?" I asked, brows furrowed slightly.

  Meylin sniffled and said, "Oh. You don't know him? He's the most fearsome king in the continent. He's slain thousands of monsters and conquered several kingdoms for the past years."

  "King Typhone Fervocour. No wonder his name rings a bell." I mumbled softly to myself.

  "Yes. Him. He's known for being a ruthless killer, heartless, a womanizer, and a tyrant." Meylin wiped her tears away and grabbed my shoulders. She added, "Don't let that man get to you, alright? He doesn't deserve you."

  I sighed and looked down, "But what can I do? I don't want him to kill my parents or destroy our kingdom."

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  We both looked at our laps and sighed for the nth time. I didn't want to think that I'll be marrying a man as cruel as him, but I have to save my home.

  After a few moments of silence, Meylin helped me get dressed for bed. We talked about how nice it would be if she could come with me to the King of Beasts' kingdom as my personal maid.

  "The marriage will happen before you even know it." Meylin said as she brushed my hair gently. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and imagined myself in a very exquisite and detailed dress.

  "A wife only in paper and for status. I never dreamed of a love like that. I always... wished for a love filled with joy and passion." I said mindlessly. Meylin hugged me and sniffled once again.

  "I'm so sorry you had to endure that pain, Your Highness. I only hope that this marriage can at least bring you a little bit of relief for the safety of our kingdom." She said and hugged me tighter.

  I have to accept my fate. For the sake of my home and the ones I love.

  **********

  It was the middle of the night and my eyes are wide open. The room next door was too loud that I woke up in the middle of my deep sleep. The high pitched moans of a woman annoyed me to no end.

  I growled softly and jumped out of my bed. I grabbed my pink silk robe, hastily wore it, and walked out of my room barefoot. I stood in front of my neighbor's room and knocked on it loudly. When no one answered, I knocked even louder. The door clicked and moments later, the door opened. There stood a half-naked man. His hair was damp and was dripping with sweat. His chest glistened and his muscles were highlighted under the moonlight. I swallowed thickly.

  I cleared my throat and said angrily, "Can you keep it down, Your Majesty? I'm trying to get some sleep."

  The king revealed his smug smirk and said in a low voice, "Oh? Is that so, Princess? I apologize, but... who told you to order a King?"

  His voice sent a shiver down my spine. I noticed how his eyes slowly rake up my figure. I subconsciously wrapped the robe around me and crossed my arms over my chest. My cheeks flushed under his heated gaze.

  "As much as I'd like to ignore your loud... voices, I can't because it just gets louder and louder." I huffed.

  "Hmm... but why is it that only you were awoken by our loudness? The other person next to my room doesn't seem to mind." He playfully said. I blushed even brighter and opened my mouth to say something, but no words escaped my lips.

  "Just keep it down, if you may! Have a good night, Your Majesty!" I hissed before storming off to my room. I slammed my door shut behind me.

  There was silence for a few moments which made me think that he listened to my request. I was relieved for a second, not until the loud moans started again. This time, it got even louder. The bed was banging on the wall and the woman was not moaning anymore. She was screaming. I laid on my bed wide awake as the noise continued on until dawn.

  This bastard is really testing my patience.

  **********

  During breakfast the next day, King Ferhann's face was slightly swollen because of his fight with King Typhone the night before. The ruthless king was nowhere to be seen and I don't know if I should be glad or sad about it.

  The dining hall was peaceful. Everyone was making small talk whilst I dissolve into my seat and ate my meal in silence. Just then, the large, heavy, oak doors opened, revealing King Typhone in all his glory. He was wearing a pair of loose brown pants, a white V neck shirt which reveled his muscular chest, and his red cape that had white fur lining on the sides. His hair was damp and disheveled as if he just got out from the shower. I only took a glance and I could feel the tip of my ears turning red.

  "You're late and you're clothes are indecent." King Ferhann mused. He didn't hide the displeasure on his face as the other king strutted inside the dining hall.

  "It's better late than never, Ferhann." He said, smug and proud. Our eyes met and I was the first one to break the eye contact.

  I felt his presence behind me and I heard him say in a dark and commanding voice, "Get out of that seat."

  I thought he was speaking to me so I got up, but I felt his huge yet warm hand on my shoulder. He slowly guided me to sit back down and I looked at the man beside me. The king's big hand was squeezing the man's shoulder tightly. The man whimpered and immediately got up. He sat on another vacant seat while the king sat beside me.

  "Is that how you win a woman's heart? By intimidating her?" King Ferhann asked.

  "I'm only protecting what's mine. Those who dare touch what's mine might just end up on the other end of my sword." King Typhone replied firmly. His voice was laced with a possessive lilt and I shivered at it.

  Silence enveloped the whole room and even my parents did not have any words to say. I was stunned and I stared at him as he glared at King Ferhann.

  Oh. Did my heart just skipped a beat?