Chapter 16 CHAPTER SIXTEEN
VALERIUS'S POV.
\-Ten years ago.
"She insulted me!" My father, King Haves yelled as he punched the wall, the sound echoing in his vast chamber.
I shrugged as I sat on his bed, my shoulders slumped. "Rosalinda is arrogant and mouthy, I'm sure she didn't mean it that way-"
"Didn't mean it that way?" He snarled as he walked closer to me, he grabbed my chin forcing me to look up at him. "No matter who it may be, a god or a human. We the, Ravenflow Kingdom don't tolerate such!"
"I- I understand father," I whimpered, he let go of my chin making me hiss in pain. "But I still think you shouldn't take the word of a child to heart. Father. What good will it bring if you go to war with King Theron?"
He smirked. My stomach churned as my eyes met my father's. It was dark and devoid of any human warmth or emotion. "If I take his kingdom, I'll the most powerful,"
"It won't be so easy,"
"I never said it was easy."
"It's absurd father. I can get Rosalinda. Just give me some time. She likes me, I know...she's just being difficult."
"I already have Theron all the time he needs, soon he will realize what damages having a child with no manners can create."
A week later.
I watched as Grayson and Rosalinda played in the fields in her father's palace gardens. I hated how she smiled brightly whenever she was around him.
It irked me.
We were supposed to be bethroned until she insulted my father and now he's planning in waging a war against King Theron.
I shouldn't be feeling this way.
I should tell the king.
I should warn them.
But watching the girl I liked fall for a serving boy hurt me more than I could imagine.
All I was ever to her was 'the son of a tyrant'
That was all I was to everyone.
The son of a hideous monstrous man.
And right now, my father was pulling another stunt, even more mighty than he had ever done.
I walked away, unable to watch them. As I stepped outside of the palace, I entered my carriage, headed back for my father's palace. On my way back home, an idea came to mind. The moment I rushed back home, I ran straight to my father's office but stopped when I overheard the conversation between him and his Royal guards.
'No one should leave that kingdom alive. Bring me all their heads, especially that lousy mouthed princess.'
I was on my way to warn King Theron but my father was ahead of my plans. He had me locked up for days till the war started. Even from my window. I could hear the cries and screams of Rosalinda's people.
Her words from earlier snaked into my head. 'I rather be with a serving boy than marry Valerius.'
Grayson.
Grayson.
With him dead, maybe the war could end.
Maybe I could get my father to understand.
Moreover, killing his bastard son that he never knew about wouldn't be so bad right?
My hatred for Grayson wasn't just because Rosalinda loved him, it was because he was my stepbrother. A secret that King Theron and Queen Arabella knew yet still kept him within their walls because of his mother.
A pretty young lady who was loyal. My father loved her, but shortly before my mother passed she had her thrown away unaware that she was carrying a child- Grayson- my stepbrother.
King Theron found her, had her as his maid, but the moment his daughter was born, he regretted that decision.
And I loathed him for it.
I loathed him for saving Grayson's mother.
But I knew he had no idea until years later, like I did.
As the war raged on, I managed to escape, I stole a horse from the stable and raced to Rosalinda's palace but to my most utter shock, it was already on the brick of destruction.
Oh no.
Bodies laid on the floor from outside the walls of the palace.
The rumors were right.
My father was a bastard drunken warlord.
I ran through the chaos, looking for King Theron, maybe if I told him to kill Grayson and my father, maybe he would listen.
With Grayson and my father gone. The war would end.
"King Theron!" I yelled as I saw him fully dressed in his armor, fighting off few of my father's guard, I picked up a sword and swung it, hitting one if the men in the head, I watched as he fell to the ground, gasping for air. King Theron's eyes widened but he didn't let that distract him, he used that opportunity to slice through the other two guards.
"I have something to tell you." I breathed.
After I was done revealing everything to Theron. He agreed to my plan.
Kill Grayson.
And my father.
Grayson was the first to die. I had him thrown over a cliff just as he was about to save his mother who was already dying after being attacked.
I watched as he fell into the ocean, my heart dared to ache but I refused.
The last one left.
My father.
However before his death, I revealed the truth about Grayson's origin to him. Watching him cry in pain and agony did not bring me the joy I thought it would- rather, it only brought pain.
He loved the child he had never met or had the chance to be meet.
And even though I assisted Theron in ending the war, he still didn't regard me as a person. He abandoned me, left me to perish all alone in my father's empty palace.
To him.
To Rosalinda.
To everyone.
I was the son of a murder.
A killer.
A psychopath.
Which is why, I wouldn't stop trying to get my revenge.
Not now.
Not NEVER.
I will have Rosalinda.
And I will make everyone else pay for pushing me aside. Including Theron and Zade.
The war may have ended a decade ago. But the war in my heart never did, and I won't stop until I finally conquer.
I'll tell Rosalinda the truth one day. But not now, not until after I've achieved my goals.
Grayson's death was just the beginning.