Dominique's POV -

Father, Julian, and I have been busy.

Father has been sending non-stop letters to the other 4 Kings in the Syndicate. Most of them took our side and agreed to help us while others were more hesitant to go up against the North, which was coming up as a future empire.

Rodask in itself had the strongest military forces in the United Kingdom but I had personally seen how strong the Udril Army was and how they were only spat on because of their status and their wild way of fighting.

Julian and I trained with Amir every day and had meetings with Wyatt and Lord Trevor about future possible strategies.

We were currently stepping out of the room, leaving Lord Trevor behind, when I heard Michel's voice coming from inside Father's office.

"Father, I'm ahead of my class in swordsmanship. Please, Let me help."

"Is he still going on about that?" Julian says

"He wants to come with us. He feels useless. We've all felt like that." I remarked

" He's 15. He's too young."

"You and I both went to our first war at 16." I say

"I was the Crown Prince and you begged like hell to go. You wrapped Father around your pretty teenage finger and voluntarily traumatized yourself for life. He shouldn't do that."

"I do agree about that. He shouldn't come. Speaking of which, are Scott and Lucio coming?"

"Scott is rallying up spirits with the people and Lucio is spying on the North."

"So Scott's our face?"

"He's the public's golden boy. He's making sure the people don't riot about the rise in taxes to pay for the war."

"I'm worried, Julian." He slows and looks over at me

"They'll be fine,"

"Unfortunately, Scott's all talk and no show. He's never been to war and he's not training with us. Lucio has fought in battles but has never had to sleep in a freezing tent or eaten mediocre food, That doesn't change. It won't matter if you're a simple knight or a Royal."

"Scott will come train with us soon. Lucio isn't a kid, Nik. He can handle it. He has to." Julian walks away into his room before I can say another word and I lean on Wyatt.

"I'll miss you,"

"I'll miss you too, Nikki,"

"I have to meet with the lawyer tomorrow, about my will." I say putting my head on his shoulders

" Don't you dare die on me," I let out a weak laugh

"I'll try," He kisses the top of my head and we stop In front of his room and he lets me go and goes inside. I walk a little farther for my room and immediately pass out on the bed.

"Your Highness," I almost jump awake at Nette's voice

"Hmm?" I hum out a response

"It's morning. Time for breakfast." I nod and Nette gets me ready

I walk to the door of the dining room and the big double door slide open

"Her Highness has arrived." I nod curtly at the guard and sit down next to Lucio.

"How's Dana's friend doing?"

"Well. No suspicious movements."

"Good. How was your trip to the north?"

"I saw your girlfriend." I clench my fist and take a bite of my pancake.

"She was arguing with one of her sisters and happened to mention you," I raise my eyebrow

"What did she say?"

"Don't know. The conversation was boring so I started following one of her brothers." I groan and give him a glare

I haven't really processed that Anastasia might have known about her engagement with Julian before sleeping with me and slept with me to use me to start the war.

I was so enraged by the thought of her marrying Julian that I made my father take back the engagement which is what gave them the excuse to take us to war. It was my fault.

Lucio talked to me once we got home and brought this possibility to me. The possibility of Anastasia just placidly toying with me to get to my family.

It makes my blood boil just thinking about it.

Which is why I haven't. I've decided not to think about that until I really have to.

Anastasia's POV -

Her skin haunts me.

I can still feel her body on mine and my skin burns where she touched me.

I debated sending her a letter but It wouldn't do much good and I have no doubt she hates me right now.

I slept with her knowing full well I was getting engaged to her brother that very night and how I wish I could regret it but I can't. I would never want to take back that night with her. Never.

After the news came in about Rodask taking back the engagement, Father and Lucille's plan began.

They started preparing for war and immediately sent all three of my older brothers off to Udril for them to train with the soldiers.

My mother distanced herself even more and we never even saw her anymore but I'm pretty sure Isabella, Roslyn, and Victoria constantly visited her to make her feel better.

Lucille and I were constantly stepping on each other's necks. Lucille kept trying to convince dad to sneak attack Rodask as if they didn't have spies in our walls as we did. They would immediately get word as soon as the Udril army made a move. I had to make sure she didn't slip any more incredibly bad ideas to Father and kill us all. I tried talking to Father alone but Lucille wouldn't give me or him a moment of peace.

Lucille, Father, and I are currently sitting in his office while he quietly signs some papers. Lucille is scrolling through her phone while I look over some contracts we had to revise before everything went down with Rodask.

I flip over the page and sigh.

"What?" My father asks

"Do you really want me to say?" I ask still scamming through the contract

"Yes."

"We could ask to settle and fix this without anyone dying"

"Why would they do that? It's their land. Their Kingdom. I haven't even done anything yet but they're ready to defend it. They won't just give it to us."

"Maybe not but we can settle this without going to fucking war" I raise my voice

"Lucille, leave" he says putting the contract in his hands. I look over to my side, remembering she was there.

She gets up and quickly slips out the door after a quick bow. I place the contract I was going over on his desk and sigh.

"What happened with Dominique Heath?" He asks

"Nothing. We were school friends."

"And that's why she practically crashed your marriage?"

"Future marriage." I clarify

" I did as you told. I studied my ass off and made friends with powerful people. I would've gotten you whatever it is you want without having to do this."

"I know you would've."

"What do you want, Father? Why are you doing this?" He stops

"Leave." I can't stop myself from getting angry.

"We were having a conversation."

"And now we're not. Leave."

"Father-"

"Leave, your highness" I hold my tongue and leave his office.

Fuck.

*_____*

Thanks for reading, you guys.

I've been having trouble writing and I just moved from Alabama to Florida so I'm swamped with school right now. Btw. If You're in Jacksonville, fl message me :) I need cool friends fr