The War of the Isles

27. Leslie

My left hand was sprained and I felt lethargic after the battle, but other than that, I was alright. I did not understand all the fuss the healers were making. I had visited Adrian's tent once and then returned to my tent. He had a head injury which had knocked him unconscious. 

I wish I were the person who would show care and concern for someone who has displayed an immense amount of loyalty towards me. I know, that Adrian pined for me, did whatever I desired, danced to my will, all because he desired me. Funnily enough, he expected nothing in return. Indeed, I truly wish that I cared. But the truth was simple, I couldn't care less if he died or lived. My life was fuelled with another purpose. 

I lay on my bed in my tent thinking about my life after I left my village to join Prince Leopold in Wemburg. It was the first time I remember seeing my father proud. He bid me adieu with great gusto as I left for Wemburg in my cart. It was upon reaching Wemburg, that I truly realised how small my village was, and how endlessly large and overwhelming a city could be. It was a place beyond my dreams. My father could do what he desired with the money given to him by the prince. I couldn't care less about this either. I just wanted to be someone worthy of something phenomenal.

I was given accommodation and began to spend my time at the royal combat training facilities. When I excelled, I was promoted to being one of the Guardswoman for the prince's mother Queen Seyira.

I soon learnt that the prince enjoyed watching sports and martial arts of all kinds. Everywhere he went he brought many great warriors and fighters under his patronage.

The prince soon began to take an interest in me and would often visit me in the Guardwoman Lodgings during the evenings for drinks and dinner. I did not realise it then, but soon he began to become infatuated with me. He would often visit me in my quarters at night. I remember feeling like the most important woman in the world those days. It was an endless surge of power to have Prince Leopold desire a nobody like me. 

Only later did I realise that I was a fool to think this way.

One such evening he appeared extremely drunk. And so he decided to skip all conversation and forced himself onto me. I was shocked and almost froze but I was unsure as to how to react.

You see, I could have fought him then and there, but I did not dare to resist the future King of the United Isles. And so he finished whatever he did and went back to the palace the next morning.

Nobody among the guardswoman knew about this. And did not dare open my mouth. He began to make the habit of coming at me rather regularly. The ordeal was pretty much the same. He would come to my quarters at night, extremely drunk and violate me to his heart's desire. The terror I felt during the process was so shocking, that would collapse or faint midway simply out of horror, only to wake up the next day and find him gone. This went on for a few months.

And soon enough, my life took another unprecedented turn. I realised that I was with child. I decided to confront the prince privately, but when I did, he denied any wrongdoing and accused me of defaming him. In a desperate attempt, I fell to my knees and begged for help, after which he convinced Sir Johannes Feuerstein to marry me.

Sir Johannes was an old decrepit knight who was then looking for a wife to sire children to continue his family name.

There was no other way aside from survival. I married Sir Johannes and performed my marital duties on our wedding night. I despised every second of it, but I knew that I had to do everything in my power to convince Sir Johannes that I would be siring his children.

My son Adam was born soon after. A beautiful boy, I loved with all my heart. When Prince Leopold visited us, Sir Johannes was elated. He congratulated us but looked at me with lust. He did not bother going to my son's cradle or even holding him. For that, I was slightly relieved. I wanted to distance this monster as far away as possible from my children.