** The chapter has been divided into a part 1 and 2 because it became MUCH longer than I had anticipated. And I mean ridiculously long. Maybe I should have divided it into 3 parts lol.**

There aren't words that can express how grateful I am for your votes, comments and overall support.

This is a warning! This chapter is veeery long!

♡

-William-

The guard disappeared from their line of sight as Loren put his boot in his back and then stepped aside. All that was left of the guard was a light snowfall specking the stone he had knelt on and blood stains from his punishment.  The punishment Jade had executed. 

William's heart was beating so fast he was sure Jade could feel it as she pressed herself against him. She nestled against his chest, seeking closeness and protection. He placed his right arm around her waist and his left across her back. Shielding her completely. 

The sound of the guard's grunts and cries as he fell down the long stone steps was all that could be heard for a long moment. Other than that, there wasn't a sound or word being uttered. Not on the top of the stair or in the courtyard.

 When he finally reached the bottom of the steps low murmur passed through the spectators below before a thick silence spread across the courtyard again.

"Are you alright?" William whispered to Jade. He grabbed her cheek gently, but she wouldn't look up at him. "Jade?"

"No, I am not alright... I don't know if I went too far..." She whispered and hid her face against his chest to hide away from what she had just done. 

Don't do this. Don't hide. He begged internally. It was spectacular. 

Pride surged through him as he relived the moment when she had cut the guard the first time. It had been the most exhilarating moments in his life. Not because she was marking a man in such a brutal way, but because she looked so powerful. So fearless. So right for what she was destined to be. His queen. 

"He is still alive." William chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You did not go too far." 

"How can you-"

Jade was interrupted by what sounded like a low murmur of voices, emanating from the crowd below them. The murmuring grew slowly into separate cheers and then more joined in. The ripping sound of hands clapping erupted. Within seconds ear-deafening applause filled their ears and both William and Jade looked out towards the courtyard.

They're applauding her. William felt his heart scream with joy as he heard the people praise Jade's actions. They love her. They approve of her. 

"What is happening?" Jade asked curiously, still nestled against his chest, but he felt how she wanted to move forward to see what was happening below. 

"It's for you."

Those were the only words William could muster. He wasn't even sure that she had heard him because he had breathed them out. Barely audible. 

William eagerly looked to his side where his father stood. In his face he saw the same pride he himself felt for Jade. He had been right all along. She was going to be the most fitting queen this kingdom had ever seen. William's father smiled through his thick beard and it soothed something deep inside if him. 

"They're cheering for you, child." His father told Jade and she threw him and then William insecure looks. 

"Me?" She whispered. In her eyes William saw how she did not believe a word of what his father had just said. 

William grabbed her chin and turned her face back to facing him. 

"You." William answered with a wide smile spreading across his lips. Without being able to keep up appearances, as he had been taught his whole life, he grabbed her left cheek and kissed her deeply. In front if every soul around them; nobles, soldiers, guards and commoners. He did not care. Jade was worth everything and more, and he would gladly take their shocked gasps in order to kiss her right now. But no one gasped. No one whispered or snarled about how unfit she was for the role as princess, or queen for that matter.

She met his lips, although a bit confused by his enthusiasm. "I love you so much, Jade. I knew you were going to be perfect." He whispered against her lips between the first kiss and the next he placed against her ample lips. "In every single way."

"I don't understand." She whispered shyly. "Everyone is looking." She added in a very quiet voice. 

Before William could answer, his father caught their attention with a clearing of his throat. They both looked to him and with a sweeping motion of his hand he urged them to step forward so the people could see them.

"Present her to your people, son." He said proudly. "Let them see their future queen."

William inhaled deeply and felt so happy that he wouldn't care if he died tomorrow. This was the single happiest moment of his life. So far. With Jade by his side he figured there would be many more... but none of the ones he had lived through until now, outmatched this one. 

"Come, Jade." He took her left hand and led her to the steps. She licked her lips anxiously but followed him without objections. "Meet your people." 

The small distance between them and the first step felt gigantic but when they finally reached it the cheering and applauding became much louder. He fought the impulse to kiss Jade in front of the people. His whole body was experiencing the strangest sort of happiness. It almost felt like he was going to break into a thousand pieces, from pure bliss. 

This was the first time in his life he could face the people he was supposed to lead and protect. It felt like he could live up to the expectation which followed his father, in due time. 

With Jade by his side there wasn't anything he couldn't do.

For the first time since he had been a child, he smiled in front of the people. It spread uncontrollably from the corners of his lips to his whole face as he listened to them praise Jade.

"Why are they cheering?" Jade asked quietly and stared down at the ocean of faces beneath them. "I just scarred a man for life and made Loren kick him down the steps. What I did was barbaric."

"They are cheering because they believe you will be a fair and just queen." William answered and watched her as her icy blue eyes stared down at the people. Her people. Their people. "And the alternative to what you did, was death by hanging... so I think you are pretty far from barbaric." He told her comfortingly and placed his right arm around her waist.

"I don't want them to fear me..." she mumbled and looked up at him. Her eyes lit up as soon as she detected his joy. "Why do you look so happy?" She asked, smiling herself.

"I am just so happy that I found you..." He answered honestly and sighed afterwards. "I do not know how I could have ever gotten so lucky..." He pondered as he studied her face for the thousand time since he had first seen her. The icy blue eyes and her ample kissable lips still made his heart stop, just like the day he had first laid his eyes upon her. 

I cannot believe that if I had listened to Thomas and not ridden into Thornstead that night... I never would have found her. He thought to himself and studied his wife's insecure face. 

"Does it sound like they fear you?" He asked when her concern didn't fade. 

"No... but it feels like-"

"Jade." He interrupted her softly. "You don't have to worry about anything. Trust me when I say that they wouldn't me cheering like this if they didn't absolutely love you."

Jade swallowed and he watched as his words sunk in. She licked her lips and turned her face towards the crowd again and took their applause and loud approval in.

A lifetime could pass without him forgetting this moment.

-Jade-

William was lying with his head on her naked chest. She could feel his heart beating hard against the naked skin of her stomach. They had spent a couple of heated and intense hours entangled in each other in bed, up until now.

After the surreal experience following the audience, William had taken her straight to their chamber and not given her a moment's peace since then. He had been insatiable to say the least as he took her for the first time since they had been in Thornstead. 

This time he had not given her a second to reflect over his wound. It just happened, like a perfect storm. Unforgiving but so wonderfully mind blowing. 

"Would you mind telling me what that was about?" Jade chuckled quietly and stretched her arms up above her head, then resting them against the pillows beneath her head. 

William groaned exhausted and raised his head from her slightly sweaty chest to look at her. The dark blue eyes were still glowing with lust as they met hers.

"What was what?" He asked with a husky voice and crawled up to her face. 

He placed sloppy kisses over her breasts, clavicles and neck on his way. Jade felt waves of indecent and lustful desire wash over her as his lips trailed upwards. The sound his kisses caused her to close her eyes as she enjoyed every single one, and the effect they had on her.

When he reached her lips, he had skillfully, and deviously, positioned himself between her legs once more. Hard and ready for another go, he pressed himself against her sore body. She gasped  from the slight ache he caused as the tip of him pressed against her entrance. All the while his lips devoured hers.

"You cannot be serious?" She laughed in a whisper and grabbed his cheeks with both hands in order to get a moment to breathe. "How many times did we just...?" She tried counting the number of times he had taken her already but failed. "And you still..." William quietened her with passionate and greedy lips.  

"Four." William mumbled against her lips and she could feel him smile against them. "I have wanted you every day since I woke up after..." William stopped talking when the memory of how he almost died caused them both pain. "I haven't had you in forever..." He said instead. "And no... I'm not serious. I think you need some rest." He chuckled.

"Would you mind answering my question then?" 

"You know what this was, Jade. I don't think I need to tell you..." He growled hungrily, reaching for her lips again. 

"I still want to hear it..." She said boldly and avoided him. William took a deep discontent breath and locked eyes with her for a long quite moment before he spoke.

"I-"

A loud banging on the door to their chamber drowned his voice. She suppressed the laughter that was about to rip its way out of her when she saw William's face turn incredibly dark in an instance. 

"It is fucking unbelievable that I cannot get a moment's peace whenever I am with you..." He snarled and looked towards the door. "Every time." He grunted and sat up on the edge of the bed. 

"Poor you..." Jade said teasingly and watched him put his robe on. "'You had me, what was it you said? Four times, and you still aren't satisfied... and such language!" She whispered, pretending to be appalled. 

"Mind that attitude of yours, Jade." He advised her rather sternly before he opened the door a little. It left her shielded from whoever was on the other side. "What is it?" He muttered. 

"Behave." Jade reminded him loud enough so he would hear, but not whomever he was speaking to. 

William slowly turned his gaze towards her. The dark blue eyes threw her a smoldering scolding but very handsome look. He was telling her to mind her attitude, once more, without words. She licked her lips and blushed as he turned his attention back to the visitor.

Jade couldn't hear what was said, so she just watched her husband, lying on her side. For once the messenger didn't bring terrible news it seemed. William's quite annoyed posture stayed the same during the whole conversation. Indicating that whatever he was told, it wasn't urgent. 

"Tell him we are on our way... In a minute." William muttered and shut the door decisively before he received an answer. He moaned, pulled his hand through his messy hair and stretched his arms upwards afterwards. 

Jade noticed how he flinched in what looked like pain.

"Is it your-" 

"No." He answered her quickly. Jade raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him and he rolled his eyes when she read him so easily. "Perhaps." He said and she settled for a shred of honesty instead of lies. "Fine. Yes. It aches a bit." 

"Who was it?" Jade asked. Ignoring that he had just interrupted her. William returned to bed, quickly crawled up over her again and stole a tender kiss. She also ignored his answer about his wound since he so clearly did not want to speak of it. 

"My father wants to see us..." He answered airily as the kiss ended and started another one afterwards.

"Remember that I have to breathe." Jade scolded him breathlessly. "What does he want to see us for?" She asked curiously while pressing her palms against his chest to keep him at bay for a moment while she tried to catch her breath. William shrugged his shoulders and brushed his lips against hers.

"I don't know, but we have to get dressed... now. He is waiting in the library."

"Very well. Will you ever give me that tour of the castle, which might I add, you have been teasing me with?" Jade asked. 

William's eyebrows shot upwards in confusion.

"I haven't teased you with it." He huffed, amused by her bold words. It was very enjoyable to see how far she could push him and his patience. Especially now when she knew exactly how to handle him, and his anger. 

He still wasn't used to being talked back to in such a crude manner, but it was clear that he had grown much more patient from when she had first met him. However, his new amount of patience was solely reserved for his provocative wife. 

William laid on his side next to her and propped his head against his hand. The dark blue eyes studied her with affection and the corner of his mouth twitched. He was holding back a smirk. 

"I will show you-"

"Yes, you know what, my dear prince?" She interrupted him and sat up. William's eyes followed her face and then suddenly dropped to her naked breasts, without trying to hide his indecent intentions. 

"No, but whatever it is, it feels like you are going to tell me... or scold me for it." He chuckled and quickly raised his eyes from her breasts when he noticed that the expression in her face became slightly upset with him after she had caught him. Jade was pretending to be upset, but he did not know that. Not yet at least. 

"I will not believe a word that comes out of that mouth of yours until you have given me that tour." Jade scolded him and grabbed him by his jaw. 

"My apologies, your grace. I will gladly give you that tour, right after our meeting with my father." William purred and locked eyes with her. His were glowing and she could see that he had more in mind than just a tour.

"Do not call me that." She cautioned him with narrowed eyes. "And forgive me, but it doesn't seem that you are well enough for a fifth time." She added snidely, in reference to his filthy but unspoken suggestion. 

"Make your peace with it, Jade." He whispered hotly and ignored her remark about what he could or could not do. "You only have about a week or two left before your coronation... and then everyone will call you by your title." 

"That does not mean you get to." She muttered. William winked very handsomely at her, making it impossible for her to keep a straight face. 

"I knew you were pretending!" He chuckled and threw himself. Jade screamed out in laughter as he came flying. 

.  .  .

"There you are." The king said as they entered. Jade shot him a warm smile and then turned her attention to the enormous bookshelves that reached all the way to the ceiling. 

"Why did you call on us?" William asked with curiosity in his voice. However, Jade heard that he was slightly annoyed that they had been forced out of their chamber.

"We need to discuss some details concerning Jade's coronation..." The king answered. "And the war."

"The war is inevitable, what about it?" William stated, suddenly sounding very harsh and cold. "I sent word to our banner men. We have to wait for them." He said and Jade frowned a little from his tone. 

Does he think that his father does not know this already? 

After a moment of silence, William seemed to remember the part about Jade. "What of her coronation?" He asked and looked at her with puzzlement in his eyes, she gave him an eqeually puzzled look back.

"If you would let me speak until I am finished, I will tell you." His father sighed, sounding bothered by his son's eager but rude interruptions. William bowed his head apologetically and waited for his father to continue. "Jade." The king suddenly said and turned to her. 

"Yes, your grace?" She shot William an insecure look before she faced his father. 

"I need to ask something of you." He sighed heavily and waved his hand towards her, urging her to come closer. 

Jade and William walked over to him. She placed herself in front of the king.

"What I am about to ask of you is... well it is not so much of a question as..." He stopped himself for a moment and seemed to think about what he was going to say. "What I am about to say will probably shock the both of you, but I am more concerned about you Jade." 

"What is this about, father?" William asked impatiently but still with his eyes on the floor. Jade could sense the stress behind his calm exterior. His father ignored him and kept his eyes on Jade.

"Since you haven't completely adjusted to the life that comes with being married to my son, I wanted to tell you this in person, myself."

Jade noticed how William raised his head, scrutinized his father's face and then turning his attention to Jade. He was confused, and so was she. 

 "I want to step down." The king declared. 

The only sound that followed was the crackling fire behind him. Neither Jade or William said a word. 

Jade could not understand the words that had just left her father in law. She felt her jaw drop and when she looked to William; he was equally as shocked as her. The two of them seemed to share the same amount of confusion and shock, because neither of them spoke for a couple of seconds.

"I thought you would have something to say about this, Jade." The king smirked a little. "You always speak your opinion... especially when it concerns you directly."

"What?" William gasped before Jade could open her mouth. "Step down? Why? What for?"

"Yes... Why, your grace?" Jade whispered in shock. 

Why would he step down now? When his kingdom is facing war? What will the people think of this?  Questions started filling Jade's mind but she had no answers. 

"Father." William said, demanding his attention. "Why would you do this? Rowan will think it out of weakness..."

"Rowan?" Jade wondered out loud. 

"My uncle." William answered quickly. 

Oh... 

"Let them underestimate us then." The king said sternly. "If your uncle and mother are stupid enough to believe that I would step down due to weakness, they will become both shocked and disappointed when I ride into battle with you."

Jade's chest felt tight when she was reminded that William was going into battle. Soon.

"I have decided to step down so you can be king... and Jade can become queen." The king continued darkly. He placed his hands behind his back. He had given this a lot of thought. She did not need to hear the words out loud to understand this. The king had already made up his mind. 

"Will this not anger the queen even more?" Jade gasped. 

"There is nothing she can do about it." The king said with a dark voice. "Hopefully, if I step down, her delusional followers will see her for whom she is." 

Jade bit down a bit on the inside of her cheek. The king felt betrayed by his wife, and rightfully so, but she still wasn't sure that crowning her as queen was a good idea. 

Then it all dawned in her; he was telling her that she was to become queen, right away. Now. He wants me to become queen? Before I... No! I was supposed to be crowned princess first. I cannot become queen before I even became princess!  She thought and felt her breathing becoming heavier and her body turning hot all over. 

"Breathe, Jade." William told her quietly. She pressed his arm to reassure herself that she had something to cling to if she fell. 

"I am not ready to be a queen." Jade gasped out of nowhere. Her hands felt sweaty and her neck felt awfully warm and clammy as well.

"Oh, you have already proven yourself fit for the role." The king chuckled, suddenly sounding not so angry anymore. "You have already done more than William's mother ever did during our years on the throne."

"That can't be true..." Jade turned to William for support. He was dead silent with his eyes still fixed on his father.

"Son?" The king said and frowned a little. "Where are you? Have you gone mute?" 

"I am not ready." William finally said. "We aren't."

"Yes, you are." The king objected. "I know you are."

"I still don't have the people behind me. Not like you do." William argued.

Jade was surprised that William seemed a bit reluctant to this. He had been groomed for this his whole life, apart from her, who had been thrown into this life. However, it was clear that the importance of having the people's respect, and approval, was something he took very seriously, and she could see how it could be daunting to take over his father's throne. 

"Do you think I had their approval when I first became king?" His father scoffed at him.William didn't say a word. He knew there was more coming. "I have earned their trust and love during my years on the throne. And so will you. Nothing comes for free, William."

"I am well aware of that." William said gravely. "I think it would be better to wait until after the war." 

"Why?" His father asked without expecting an answer. "By crowning Jade queen now, directly after she won the people's heart, we will decrease the risk of your uncle being able to overthrow you."

"The whole kingdom does not know of what she did, yet." William argued. "They only know of the rumors mother spread."

"Hold on!" Jade exclaimed. "How can Rowan overthrow William?" Jade asked. She was still very confused about this, but then again, she had no experience of this. 

I must ask Mrs. Coen to help me understand how these matters works. Jade thought to herself. She knew nothing of politics and how William's uncle could make their lives miserable, besides starting a war. 

"Royals have their ways of making life miserable for each other." The king answered. 

"That is very clear to me." Jade breathed. "But the throne is rightfully William's-"

"It has nothing to do with that, Jade." William said quietly without looking at her. "If I do not succeed in leading the people, or of I do not gain their loyalty in time... my uncle can use it against me, and the people, in order to overthrow me."

"And he will act as their savior doing it." The king filled in sounding very grave. 

Jade suddenly missed her old life. It slapped her right in her face and her heart dropped a bit. This sort of problems did not exist in Thornstead. The only problems the village had often concerned spoiled crops and keeping them from becoming spoiled. 

"Is there no other way?" William asked. "I don't believe that this is the only option we have. There has to be-" 

The king raised a hand, silencing William immediately. 

Jade's heart broke for him. She could hear in her husband's voice that he did not deem himself worthy, or had his father's announcement taken him with such surprise that it caused him to panic? 

It was not just about the matter of being ready. There was more... It was written in his eyes. Was it doubt? How could he doubt himself? Her heart filled with sorrow as she studied him. His eyes were fastened to the man who had raised him for this moment. Prepared him and groomed him for it. And still he did not think he was ready? 

Could he seriously believe that he is not good enough? That he hasn't proven himself enough yet? 

"You are ready, William." The king said for what number of time Jade couldn't recall. "I know you want more time to learn more about what lies ahead. But I can never fully prepare you for what it means to be the leader and protector of an entire kingdom." He said and walked up to his son. "There is no such thing as being completely ready, son. There will be times when you will not know what to do, but that is when you will have a council to lean on... and your very clever queen." He added and shot Jade a content look. 

William did not say a word. He stood there, looking his father into his eyes and silently accepted was what expected of him.

"I know you don't like to, but you will have to make mistakes of your own. That is part of it, my son. Hell, I made a lot of them, but I always learned from them and that helped me build our kingdom." 

Jade stood silent and listened. She was completely taken by the pride these two men took in their role. How was she supposed to be of any help to William? She knew nothing of this world and now the king was just throwing it at her? 

At least William had his whole life to prepare... 

"Alright." William sighed. Jade turned her gaze towards him. Her husband and the king shared a short but very grave look before the king drew a quick breath. 

"Good! I have made all the preparations." The king said after a long silent moment. "Jade. I hope you will agree to this." 

"Do I have a choice?" She asked, still stunned by his announcement. "As you said, your grace, it wasn't much of question." 

William faced her immediately and she could read his face loud and clear; don't leave me now. She grabbed his hand and gave him a reassuring but faint smile. 

Of course she wasn't going to leave, but the king did not give her much of a choice. It was either stay with her husband and become queen or... no, there was no other option because she wouldn't leave William for anything in this life. Not even to escape the burden that came with wearing a crown.

"You always have a choice." The king chuckled. "I know that I did not give you an easy one." 

"Father!" William hissed. "What are you-" 

"I am not going anywhere..." Jade  said quickly to soothe William's distressed soul. 

"Perfect!" The king exclaimed in a heavy sigh. "The coronation is tomorrow." He declared and walked past them. Jade lost the all of the air in her lungs and she felt her jaw drop. 

"Tomorrow?" She gasped.

"You cannot be serious, father!" William almost furiously blurted out and took one step after him. "There is no time to-"

"I have made all of the preparations." The king reminded his son sternly.

"Jade doesn't have a-"

"Yes. Her dress will be ready." The king interrupted his son once again. 

"It is not possible." Jade objected. She did not turn around. She was just staring straight out into nothing as she spoke. "They just started on it." 

"There is three of them, and a whole castle filled with servants which also know how to sew. I told them to hurry. They have until tomorrow afternoon before you will need it." The king answered her confidently.

Jade's gaze fell to the flames that were dancing in the fireplace in the end of the room. She still hadn't turned around to face her father in law. She was in too much of a shock. 

"I will leave the two of you alone." He said and left. 

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Thank you for reading

Love Jenny

Hang tight for part 2, it will be up tomorrow (CET) 

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