Reign of Obsession

After the skirmish, as soldiers returned to their tents, Emily slipped away under the cover of night, heading back to the castle. In the royal encampment, the air was thick with the scent of blood and burnt wood, and the wounded were being tended to in silence. Inside King Niklaus's tent, the oppressive atmosphere was momentarily disturbed by the arrival of Dante, a seasoned advisor of fifty years. He bowed deeply before addressing the king.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion on how we might end this war," Dante said, his voice gravelly but measured.

Niklaus, lounging in his chair, exhaled a plume of cigar smoke, his interest barely piqued. "I'm listening," he said, his tone indifferent.

"A peace treaty," Dante continued, his eyes narrowing, "but not the one they proposed. A deal."

The king's sharp gaze finally shifted toward the advisor. "What kind of deal?" he asked, his attention now fully on the older man.

Dante leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "We demand access to the Forest of Avery. In return, we offer our assistance in constructing the dam they so desperately need."

Niklaus sat back, rolling the thought over in his mind. After a moment, a thin, wicked smile crept across his lips. "Send the scroll to their kingdom," he ordered, dismissing Dante with a wave of his hand.

As the advisor departed, Niklaus cracked his knuckles, ready to settle in for the night. But his eyes fell upon two ornate bracelets lying on the table, remnants from the battlefield. Picking one up, he murmured an incantation. Dark, ominous fumes swirled around his fingers, only to disappear as swiftly as they appeared.

"Enchanted," he muttered, inspecting the bracelet closer. "A binding charm, no doubt... but what was it doing with a common soldier?"

His thoughts grew darker as he summoned his personal guard and handed him the second bracelet. The guard studied it, brow furrowed.

"Your Highness," the guard said, "this is a royal bracelet of the Aquarians."

Niklaus's gaze sharpened. "Leave," he commanded coldly, reclaiming the bracelet. His mind raced. The Aquarian princes had fought openly, unmasked—this could not belong to them. The only plausible owner was the third prince... but the eyes he'd seen beneath that mask didn't match. No, those eyes were a striking, unnatural blue.

The next day, Dante returned to the king, scroll in hand. "Your Majesty," he said, holding up the document with reverence, "Aquorion has accepted our terms. The deal is made."

A smirk curled across Niklaus's lips. "Prepare to leave. We're returning to Emberlyn."

As the preparations began, Niklaus turned to his private guard, Vizier. "Tell me about the royal family of Aquorion," he ordered. "Not the sons. Tell me about the daughters."

Vizier nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. King Albert has five children. The eldest son, Jade, and then Adrian, who is the twin brother of Princess Emily. Following them are Prince Aiden and, finally, the youngest daughter, Princess Elara."

The king listened intently, his interest growing. "And the daughters? They've been hidden for years."

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Vizier confirmed. "No one has seen them in a long time. However, if you are searching for a queen, the Princess of Eldoria is said to be exceedingly beautiful."

Niklaus scoffed. "It sounds like you've been gossiping far too much with the women of court, Vizier. Perhaps I'll have you assist the maids when we return."

"My apologies, Your Majesty," Vizier stammered, bowing deeply as they trotted along.

But Niklaus's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept returning to the blue-eyed warrior who had faced him on the battlefield—fearless, powerful, and skilled. Could she be the hidden daughter of Aquorion? The mystery gnawed at him.

Weeks passed, and the peace agreement between Emberlyn and Aquorion held firm. Yet, despite the calm, both Princess Emily and her younger sister Elara remained at the castle, awaiting word from their father. No such order came.

During this time, Emily's powers grew dangerously out of control. The loss of her enchanted bracelets had unleashed the full force of her magic. Every night, water swirled around her like a protective barrier, her power growing wild and untamed, much like a spreading fire.

One afternoon, restless and needing escape, Emily made a decision. "Elara, I'm heading to the village to pick up some supplies," she said, donning a hood and covering her face with a scarf.

Elara, lounging nearby, looked up. "Could you bring me that steamed corn you got last time?"

"I will," Emily promised, mounting her white horse, Sky, and galloping into the dense forest that surrounded their isolated castle.

As the day wore on, Elara, feeling stifled by the castle's silence, decided to explore the nearby woods. Emily had always left subtle clues in case someone got lost, and Elara felt confident as she wandered deeper into the forest. But as she rounded a bend, her eyes fell upon a group of hooded men.

Instinctively, she drew a dagger from her waist, her light blue eyes flashing. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the sudden rush of adrenaline.

The men—King Niklaus, Vizier, and another guard—paused, their hoods obscuring their identities. Niklaus's eyes darkened as he studied the girl before him. Her striking blue eyes were filled with fear, yet something about her stance reminded him of the woman he'd encountered before. Could this be the princess?

"She's the youngest princess, Elara," Vizier whispered softly to him.

Before any of them could respond, the sound of hooves pounding against the earth drew their attention. A figure leapt from a horse, and in an instant, a sword was at Niklaus's throat.

"Tell me who you are, or I'll have your head," a voice commanded—a voice so firm and powerful, yet ethereal in its beauty. The scent of jasmine filled the air, stirring something primal within the king.

Niklaus's gaze met the piercing dark blue eyes of the woman before him. Her presence was unmistakable. She was the one who had fought him—the same unrelenting spirit, the same fearless gaze.

"Mylady, we are villagers," Niklaus lied smoothly. "We lost our way while cutting wood."

Emily's eyes flicked over the group, her scarf still covering most of her face. Her blonde hair cascaded down, framing her in a way that made her look otherworldly. Suspicion lingered in her eyes, but she sheathed her sword. She did not recognize him, as he was disguised and she didn't know him because he too was wearing head armor when he fought with her.

"Follow the trees until you reach the village. Don't stop," she ordered, her voice cold.

The three men turned to leave, but not before Niklaus stole another glance at the woman who had intrigued him so deeply.

"Sister," Elara stammered, her voice small.

Sister. So, the warrior before him was none other than Princess Emily herself.

Niklaus chuckled to himself as they walked away. If she could captivate him with only her eyes and the hint of her presence, how much more powerful would she be when fully revealed? He would unravel every secret she kept hidden. Slowly, deliberately, he would strip away her defenses until nothing remained hidden from him.

"What was the name of the eldest princess, Vizier?" Niklaus asked as they mounted their horses and rode through the forest.

"Princess Emily, Your Highness," Vizier replied.

Niklaus repeated her name, testing it on his lips. "Emily," he murmured, a dark smile creeping across his face.

King Albert had been a fool—first, to think he could hide his daughters deep within the forest, and second, to grant Niklaus access to their lands. Soon, very soon, every secret they guarded would belong to him.

The game had begun, and Niklaus intended to win.