Chapter 13: Broken Relationship
1766 Words
Laddie
I woke up to a link in my head saying, "You need to be in the King's chambers by eight," I acknowledged it and sat up in bed admiring my boyfriend. I was worried about what the outcome would be, Zack had stayed in my room angry with everyone, and I took his hair out of his face caressing his jaw. I thought maybe, I made a mistake with Zack if he would lose everything because of me. I got up and took a bath wondering if I would have a job or purpose after Emile's ruling, I lied to him about the information he wanted about his son. I started getting dressed when Zack woke up and smiled at me, he was naked still after our night activities, he got up, walked over to me, and kissed my lips. I told him where I was heading and he said, "I am going with you, I need to stand up to my father because I want you, Laddie."
He followed me out as we walked together heading to the throne room, I saw Prince Levi outside talking with a random girl, he dismissed her when he saw us and opened the door, and then we walked in. Emile was talking with Mendai when we walked in and I saw Jared sitting in the window smoking and looking below at the maidens in the garden. Emile said, "Zack you are not needed here," I could tell he was still angry when Zack said, "I am not leaving, this meeting is about us, so I am staying." Emile sat on his desk looking at us, he looked directly at me and asked, "How long have you been corrupting my son?" Zack said, "He is not corrupting me," when Emile said, "Silence, Zack," shutting him up. He was looking at me waiting for the answer when I closed my eyes defeated and said, "It started when he was seventeen, we kept it private until last night, Your Majesty."
I felt the brothers look at me in disbelief but keep silent, Zack said, "Dad, it's not what you think, I approached him, I wanted it, I am in love with him." Mendai linked me, "You stupid fool, we trusted you, he is the Crown Prince, are you mad?" I held my head down in shame, I couldn't answer, Emile said, "You are suspended effective immediately, if you go near my son again, I will have you executed on-site, clean out your quarters, and get out of the Palace." My heart was beating fast as I knelt with my head down ready to ask for his forgiveness when Zack said, "No, Dad." I felt his aura, Emile was angry and looked at Zack saying, "You will be mated today, no ifs or buts, no one will know that my son loves the affection of men." Zack yelled, "I won't do it, I want Laddie, I love him. Dad, please don't do this to me or us."
He looked at him and yelled, "You are the heir, Zack, our line needs to continue through me which is passed on to you and your kids, don't you get how this works?" He yells, "You got mated an old man, why are you forcing this?" Emile stopped pacing back and forth and said, "Because things change and they are different, you know what is at stake, Zack." He was right, I turned to Zack after getting up from my position on my knees, and Jared made me kneel again and said, "Your King hasn't released you, you should have no problem being on your knees." He was taking a jab at us and Emile said, "Enough Jared," taking his knife and walking towards me, he was going to kill me to keep his son's secret when Zack stood in front of me and said, "If you do this, I will never forgive you."
Emile was shocked and asked, "Are you defending him? He took advantage of you, why can't you see that? I trust him with my precious son and he forced himself upon you, making you....., I won't have this." Zack looked at him with tears in his eyes, and said, "Say it, Dad, making me a disappointment because I love men in my bed, so you won't let me be happy with him and give your blessing." Emile said, "I won't allow this, you will mate Kya and produce an heir," Zack said, "f**k you, I denounce you and I don't care, I am giving up my rights to the throne for him." The silence in the room was deafening as Emile stared at his son and then looked at me in disgust, he said, "You are as a result of this banished from the Palace, never to return, if you are caught here, whether my son likes it or not, I will have you killed."
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Emile
My heart was breaking, I trusted Laddie, and I wanted to kill him for this, he corrupted my son and I pulled my sword pointed it at Laddie, and said, "Leave, you have one hour to get out of here." Zack looked at me and said, "Wow, goodbye, Dad, send Mother my love," I saw him walk out of the room following Laddie. I held my chest knowing he broke the parental bond, I held back my tears as I lost my son in my anger. Levi said, "Go talk to him, Emile," but my pride won't let me and I told my brothers, "Leave me." I stayed in the office, and when the time was right, I saw Laddie and my son get on horses together and ride out the back gate. Eva walked in after hearing about everything and hugged me, I told everyone not to acknowledge or speak about my son for his safety. I knew I would never be the same after this and I sat down at my desk and continued my work, I had to find a mate for Kya since Zack broke the agreement.
As the years passed, I kept tabs on my son, he and Laddie lived on a farm at the edge of town, they hid away together so no one suspects their relationship. He changed his hair colour to brunette so no one knows who he is, I hope one day I can repair the relationship with my son but he has refused to ever talk to me again. I don't blame him, I mishandled our last encounter, as far as everyone knew, my son gave up the throne and no one is to speak of his name again. Lamira stopped coming around the Palace because she had no reason to, I missed her but reaped what I sowed. Eva started to change a bit, I noticed how the staff seemed not to want to be around her, it would seem not being able to have children had taken a toll on her and I wanted to help. I had asked Marion to help us and she promised she would, I hope we do soon or I won't be able to step down when the time is right unless I make Pince Dai my heir.
I wasn't ready for that yet, I held out hope Zack would still want the job and forgive me, Laddie seemed to love him because it's been years and they were still together. Kya ended up mating one of my Elders to keep the treaty, she has twin daughters with him and I was happy for her. I f****d up big time and I got a notification about my special guests, Thorin was here with his son, Ty, who was training to take over the position of Delta when Prince Aidan accends the throne from King Ivar. They are here to renew our treaty, Levi went over to greet them, and Prince Barron is also here with his sister, Princess Polly, we all have become such good friends. I planned to have a splendid time with my new allies as we celebrated our friendships at the Pub. Polly stayed back to hang out with Eva, once I reached the Pub, I saw Zack and Laddie.
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Zack
I saw my father when his entourage walked in, they were at some level of the hierarchy, no one knew Laddie, and I were together, and most people in town thought we were cousins. We decided to leave and go home for the night, our time out was over, and we headed to get our horses when Jared stood behind us and said, "You should talk to him, Zack." I ignored him and said, "Let's go, Laddie," as we rode our horses toward our farm. Once we reached inside, we got settled for the night, I loved the life we had built here together, sometimes we struggled to make ends meet after he pooled all his money to buy the farm and I was cut off from the family fortune, not like I cared. We cuddled in bed as he whispered, "I love you," I replied, "I love you too," he breathed into my neck and said, "I am sorry, I drove a wedge between you and your father."
I turned to face him, looking into his eyes, and said, "I won't change anything for the world, you are my world, Laddie, don't you forget it. Dad will have more sons, he can make them his heir," I kissed the man I loved before we decided to make love under the still of the night. I woke up to the sun shining on my face, Laddie was in the field working his ass off to provide for us and I went into the kitchen to see the breakfast he had made for me. I smiled, ate, and joined him, he looked at me and said, "I have a surprise for you," kissing my cheek and we went into a shed on our property. There was a secret door after you pass the sheep, he had built me a room where I could paint and sculpt, I was so shocked, I didn't know where he found the money to do that. Laddie had sold his commitment ring, I cried, but I was still wearing mine, we are committed to each other but wore the rings on different fingers to throw anyone off. I wish I could mark him but we are on the down-low in a backward town and hopefully, one day we can live openly in love as everyone accepts us.
- Writer
