Adira lost all strength and fell to her knees when she heard what the man said. That her husband had entirely relinquished his hold on her. That he had given her as a peace treaty token between their kingdoms and abandoned her.

"He.. has no more use of me... He.. doesn't need me anymore."

She muttered to herself while lifelessly and unflinchingly letting the enemy commander take her away. She had gone with him without a fuss and, of course, Heise wanted to go with her if only she said the word.

But the last that she told him was to stay and protect the people—especially Triton.

Soon, they arrived at his kingdom and the people warmly welcomed this man. Adira watched how very well-loved he was and how very bustling and prosperous their kingdom was.

It looked very much like their empire before Triton assumed the throne. And even if she very much loved that bastard, she could also see how the empire slowly deteriorated under his reign.

"Welcome back, your majesty." A girl, who seems to be a bit younger than Adira, came forward to greet him and curtseyed.

The king reached out and petted the girl in the head playfully before speaking with mirth in his words,

"What kind of nonsense is this, Riv? You're not suited for anything close to elegance."

"What the—? I even practiced that whole night because you said you were gonna bring back that Maiden-whosoever back! You could at least praise me!"

The girl complained indignantly to their king and Adira feared for her life. Back in their empire, when someone so much as talked back to Triton then there was hell to pay.

Someone even unfortunately lost their tongue because of such act and this girl was carelessly running her mouth right in the presence of their king.

Adira was prepared to step in—if need be—should the man decide to cut this girl's tongue for shamelessly complaining to him, when what he did made her freeze on her spot.

"Okay, okay. It could pass for an average lady. And yeah, I did bring her back." He surrendered and then stepped aside so the girl could see Adira better.

"This is Queen Adira Remeria Sylveris Dalriada. The Ash Demoness. Adira, this is my sister, Rivienne Ceto Via Astor."

He introduced Adira and the woman jolted back to her senses before she curtseyed like a real royal and noble lady, which weirdly awed the girl.

"Oooh~ you're right. Mine indeed was crappy in comparison to the real deal. I didn't know true elegance could be as beautiful as that."

"Told you."

"So, she's staying here as your new Queen? How were you able to snatch this beautiful woman anyway?"

The girl curiously asked but unconsciously pried on Adira's still-fresh wounds as they opened again when the king answered her,

"Her husband gave her as a token."

"Wow, what a bastard."

And on pure reflex, Adira grasped for the sword on her waist and would have killed the girl on her spot if only her sword wasn't taken away.

Luckily it was. Else, she might've unnecessarily took this girl's life away just because of one bastard, indeed.

Rivienne was amazed at the swiftness of her footwork, stance and everything but most especially of that bloodthrist that was corrupting their air and making it a bit too difficult to breathe.

"Okaaay~ let's stop there and get inside."

The king broke the tension hanging in the air with a loud clap of his hands before guiding Adira in.

For the week that Adira stayed there, everyone was very kind and gentle that she almost had this delusion that maybe her life might be better here where everyone liked her—where the people do not know the horrid things she did for love.

But, it was yet to be another one of her misfortunes when the first month rolled in. It was then when her nightmare began.

This horrible king started to chain her up and lock her inside the room, allowing only the chamberlain ladies to go in and tend to her needs.

Another week passed and he started to question her about the secrets of this Maiden of Light—what she was capable of and what could be her bane.

Adira did not know what to answer as she never tried to get to know the Maiden of Light. All she knew was that this so-called prophesized Queen stole everything that was hers.

But the king did not believe her so he started to torture it out of her. He broke her so bad that she didn't know how she was able to last so long. He wrecked her, disfigured her, and destroyed everything that was Adira before making her his puppet.

One that opened her legs for him and him only and one that did his every bidding. He essentially broke her to make her completely his.

And he succeeded.

Everytime she hears the door to her room open, she would start to tremble and then surrender herself. Because if she didn't, then there would be another torturous night.

All day and night, the only sound that she could hear, in the desolate room she was kept in, were the clanging of the chains. All she could feel was the cold wall she always cowered in after he uses her—after he vents out to her.

She was taken from another demon by the devil itself. She escaped the fire only to fall into the burning embers.

Her life by Triton's side incredibly looked more appealing to her then. Because even if her heart broke everyday, at least she wasn't degraded to a mere pleasure doll like this.

And all along—even after she lost her life—she never knew the real reason she was given away.

It wasn't because Triton was a scum to the deepest of his bones but because Iris made it possible. She made sure she would not be able to return by purposely poisoning Triton's mind that his Queen had ran away with the enemy King.

...

"That's the reason I suddenly had that anxiety attack. I'm sorry for worrying you."

Adira apologized while wiping the silent tears that cascaded down her face. It was a brave thing to reiterate her nightmare even when she shook badly while telling the tale she lived through.

"What a nightmare. But where was I in your dreams?"

Casimir asked her as his heart broke while watching his wife's tears. The story of this nightmare that she spoke of seemed too vivid—it felt too true.

"You.. died, Casey."

"Died? I have a hard time believing that."

"Right? Who could even kill the great dem—umm the great first prince of the empire?"

Adira quickly corrected herself before laughing and relaxing her tensed shoulders within Casimir's warm embrace.

"But, how disappointing of the me in your dreams to allow all of those to happen to you. And that bastard Dalriada! How could he be so blind as to let you go?

I swear that man has no taste in women. He was lucky enough he got to marry you in your nightmare, though I really want to kill him now, but to give you away? That bastard has gone crazy."

Casimir nagged, uncharacteristically, as the temperature dropped more. But Adira didn't mind it. She loved the way Casimir's coldness comforted her. She loved the way her husband was supposed to be cold but was, in truth, adorably warm.

"However, you don't have to be afraid of those dreams, my wife. I'm here. Heise is here. As long as I'm alive, I won't ever allow that to happen. I will kill whoever wants to take you away from me."

Casimir pledged and peppered light kisses all over the woman's face and body that inevitably led to another exercise yet again.

Thank you, Casey. Thank you for loving me.

...

A month had passed and everything was already prepared for the Royal family's trip.

The reason for Casimir's visit to the neighboring kingdom was to grace the invitation they received for the coronation of their new King.

And although he initially planned to take Adira along with him, his wife beat him to it and proposed that they must accompany him. Even saying that it was a chance to have another little family trip together.

Casimir could only smile in a pampering way and nodded to her request. Who was he to reject his wife's wishes, right? And how can he even?

So this little Royal family went together to Bycrest Kingdom, to the far west of the Versaillus Empire, and took their sweet time by stopping at various places to have fun. They had time after all.

Their entourage was a little ways behind their carriage to give their family some privacy—on the first prince's orders, of course.

He wasn't about to allow any more knights and soldiers to see his beautiful wife's brilliant and happy smile.

She already has too many men ensnared with her charms and he's not allowing any addition to her ever growing harem—if he can help it.

"Husband, look at this! Isn't it cute?"

Adira happily pulled him along while showing him a necklace with a little butterfly pendant that had rainbow-colored glass wings.

Casimir took it from her hands and held it against her before smiling softly and handsomely. He then proceeded to wearing it on her and whispered,

"It looks more beautiful on you."

The lady shopkeeper blushed at this couple's dogfood show while clutching her fastly beating heart.

A God and Goddess was right in front of her and showering her with too much dogfood, she didn't know if she should be thankful or sad she didn't have a man like this handsome creature.

Not only was he incredibly handsome—the most handsome she's seen all her life—but he was also incredibly caring and loving to his wife. She bets he was amazingly loyal as well.

Well, who would not even be loyal with his wife's beauty?

"Can't you smile a little less when we're outside?" Adira muttered with a cute blush on her face.

"Why?"

"Cause you're seducing women left and right even though you're with me."

The woman adorably pouted that struck such a big arrow into her husband's heart and awed the lady shopkeeper as well.

Oooh~ she plays nice as well!!!

"But I'm trying to seduce you though?"

Aaaand he comes back!!! Daaamn!

"Mommy, Heise is hungry."

A little child interrupted the couple's hot atmosphere that effortlessly seized the shopkeeper's heart immediately.

What's with this family's level of attractiveness?!!! So God-like!!!

The shopkeeper could only cry mentally as she was blinded with their brilliance and beauty! They looked liked they were on a different plane of attractiveness—as if they were carved with the likeness of the Gods themselves.

Just one of them was enough to take one's breath away. How much more when they three were together? It could cause serious cardiac attack!

And it wasn't only one poor shopkeeper, who had to deal with this, but practically everyone that came across this little family of three.

They were a disaster in their own right. The most beautiful disaster they've laid eyes on—and one they will welcome no matter how many times.

Notes:
So I've been away for so long because I had two week-long exams and I had a short vacation after the gruesome hell we went through. So I'm recharged now and I hope I can write everyday again!

Thank you for all those that kept looking forward for more updates! I love you guys! 😘 Banzaaaaaii! 🎉🎉🎉

P.S. I wrote a long chapter this time to somehow make it up to you 😘❤️