Wings of Ambition Shackled by Fate

Back in the castle, Antonius paced furiously in his study, his temper a storm barely contained. Everything was unraveling. The rebels had seized a critical trading city, taking it under their control. The city, situated at the harbor, was the kingdom's main point of trade with other continents. Now, he was scrambling to rally his armies to reclaim it. The problem, however, was its high walls and near-impenetrable defenses. Even worse, his spies still couldn't determine how the rebels had infiltrated the city in the first place. To make matters worse, Valeria, his little bird, had slipped through his grasp. She had stolen a maid's uniform and simply walked out of the palace, right under the noses of his guards.

Those responsible for her escape—the maid and the guards on duty—were already rotting in the dungeons, their lives snuffed out after days of relentless torture at his own hands. Yet, despite all his efforts, Valeria had been gone for weeks, and his spies had turned up nothing. He clenched his fists as frustration mounted. He knew she had ties to the Lohra household, but the pressing threat of the rebels had left him no time to investigate.

It wasn't just about her escape—it was about his plans. She was supposed to be his queen. He had given her everything, shown her kindness he didn't offer to anyone else, and this was how she repaid him? That mercy was over now. When he found her, he would tie her to his bed and keep her there forever. No, better yet, he would put her on a leash and keep her at his side every second of the day. He missed her more than words could express—her voice, her beautiful face, her pale skin, her stubbornness and fiery spirit, her scent. For days after her escape, he had buried his face in her pillow, desperate to cling to the last traces of her, but even that had faded.

He slammed his fist down on his desk with enough force to make it groan before flipping it over entirely in a fit of rage. "Theodore!" he bellowed.

The door to his study opened almost immediately, and Theodore stepped inside, bowing his head. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"How is it going with the rebels? I want good news," Antonius snapped, running a hand through his dark-blond hair as his jaw tightened.

Theodore hesitated. "We have five thousand men ready to march toward the city. The rebels stand no chance of holding it." He paused, his hesitation palpable.

"But?" Antonius growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Spit it out, Theo. I don't have all day."

Theodore sighed. "But the rebels never intended to hold the city. While they occupy it, they are systematically destroying the harbor, our ships, the warehouses, and everything inside them. Their goal isn't to defend—it's to cripple our trading capabilities. They know about the famine sweeping the kingdom. If they succeed, the unrest among the mob will only grow. It's... a brilliant strategy."

Antonius's eyes narrowed, fury burning in them. "Oh, so now we're complimenting the rebels?" he hissed. "Careful, Theo—your words might just count as treason."

Theodore rolled his eyes, his tone calm as he replied, "What are you going to do, behead me like you've done with half the court? Killing everyone who irritates you isn't always the solution, Your Majesty."

Antonius clenched his fists, his anger barely held in check. "Do you have a better idea? We have a rat in our midst feeding information to the rebels. The rebels themselves are causing chaos at every turn, and my wife—my wife—ran away, and I still haven't found her! I have every reason to kill anyone who gets on my nerves!"

Theodore sat down in the armchair by the fireplace and leaned back, looking entirely unbothered. He was used to Antonius temper tantrums after years by his side. "If you'd listened to me, Valeria wouldn't have escaped in the first place. I have to give her credit—she's got guts and a sharp mind. Her escape was masterful."

A teacup sailed toward Theodore's head, but he dodged it effortlessly, smirking. "Could you stop praising the people who make my life miserable?! And Valeria only escaped because I listened to you! I gave her too much freedom. That was a mistake I will never make again. Now, tell me—do you have any idea where she is?!"

Theodore shook his head, his expression unreadable. "You really don't know how to handle women, do you?" he said dryly. "But to answer your question—she's not at the Lohra estate. We conducted a thorough search and found no sign of her. However, we discovered a letter to her mother in Lady Katherine Lohra's possession. Apparently, Katherine is Valeria's closest friend. I suspect they're hiding her somewhere in one of the cities or villages on their lands. Torturing the Lohra family for information could work, but it might backfire. The mob adores Lord Lohra."

Antonius mulled over the information, his fury simmering beneath the surface. "We won't use torture this time," he said begrudgingly. "Lord Lohra is a cunning man. It won't be easy to break him. Instead, send men to search every village and city on their lands. I want her face on every street corner. Offer a reward of one hundred gold coins to whoever brings her to me."

Theodore nodded. "As you command. And the rebels?"

A sinister smile curled Antonius's lips. "We'll crush them. Send the army to retake the city immediately. Every man, woman, and child associated with the rebels is to be executed on sight."

Theodore smirked, bowing his head. "Yes, Your Majesty." With that, he left the room.

Antonius exhaled sharply, the weight of his fury still pressing on his chest. They could try to defy him, but it would be their downfall. He would annihilate every last one of them without hesitation. And Valeria—his beautiful little bird—would soon return to his cage. This time, he would clip her wings so she could never fly away again.