LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 6: Chapter 6
The morning after his wedding night with Valeria, Antonius sat upon his throne, barely listening to one of his subjects' complaints. His mind wandered back to the previous night, and a simmering anger began to churn within him. Everything had been perfect. Valeria had been right there beneath him, vulnerable and ready to be claimed, and then that damned knock on the door shattered the moment.
And the worst part? It had been a real emergency.
One of the prisoners had escaped — not just any prisoner, but the son of the leader of one of the rebel groups determined to overthrow him. Those rebels had been a thorn in his side for years, and finally, he'd managed to capture the leader's son. But somehow, the prisoner managed to slip away before Antonius could extract any valuable information. Someone had clearly helped him; there was no way he'd have escaped the dungeons on his own. Now, the guards were scouring the city for him, but the interruption had ruined Antonius' night.
Yet, despite the ongoing search, his thoughts kept drifting back to Valeria. He couldn't shake the memory of her soft curves beneath his hands or the way her tear-filled eyes pleaded with him. Valeria was unlike any woman he'd ever met. Strong-willed, intelligent, ambitious. She was nothing like the typical noblewoman who fawned over him, eager to gain his favor. No, Valeria was different. She'd never sought to be anyone's pawn; she wanted power on her own terms.
It was that fiery spirit that had captivated him from the first moment they met, three years ago. He still remembered it vividly. Valeria, just sixteen at the time, had attended a council meeting with her father. Antonius had been surprised to see such a young girl in attendance, but curiosity kept him from dismissing her. During a heated discussion about the fate of a noblewoman who had killed her husband after years of abuse, Valeria had dared to speak up. Her voice rang out with conviction, challenging the other lords who looked at her with scorn. She refused to back down, even when her father, Lord Dominik Elsass, threw her out and groveled at Antonius' feet to apologize.
But Antonius hadn't cared about Lord Elsass' apology. No, he'd only wanted Valeria back in that room, to hear more of her sharp, defiant words—just so he could relish the thought of breaking her. Subduing women who already bowed to him was no challenge, but taming someone like Valeria? That would be true satisfaction.
Since that day, he'd been determined to make her his, by any means necessary. When her half-brother Maximilian approached him, desperate for power and willing to betray his family, Antonius saw his chance. He had promised Maximilian the title of Lord Elsass, with the assurance that Valeria would no longer be a threat. Of course, Maximilian had foolishly assumed this meant her death, not her marriage to the king. But Dominik Elsass was far more pliable than his conniving son, and Antonius had no intention of ending the old man's life just yet. Besides, he had everything he wanted now: Valeria, the ambitious young woman with wings that once soared so high, was now shackled to him.
He nearly laughed at the thought.
Tonight, he'd finish what he started. He'd claim her, break her, and watch her fire flicker and die in his hands. The anticipation sent a thrill through him.
His subject's voice finally trailed off, but Antonius hadn't registered a word. He waved the man away dismissively, and Theodore, his right-hand man, stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty, I have new information regarding the escaped prisoner," Theodore reported.
"Speak," Antonius replied, his tone lazy but laced with menace.
Theodore hesitated. "This may anger you, my king… but the prisoner managed to infiltrate our strategy room and steal important documents."
Antonius sat up, fury flashing in his eyes. "How is it possible that he not only escaped from the dungeon but also breached our strategy room?! There must be a traitor among us!" His fist slammed down on the armrest of his throne.
"Divide the search party," he commanded, his voice cold and deadly. "Half of our men will hunt down the prisoner. The other half will root out the rat who aided him. Do not disappoint me, Theodore. I expect swift results."
Without waiting for a response, Antonius rose from his throne and strode toward the strategy room, his mind churning with barely-contained rage. Valeria would have to wait; there were more pressing matters to attend to. But soon—very soon—he would return to her. He craved to see the fire in her eyes extinguished, to strip away every layer of her defiance until she was his in body and spirit. His other wives had never stirred such desire in him, but Valeria, with her fierce pride and unyielding attitude, was different. He would savor each moment, every crack in her pride, every flicker of despair that darkened her gaze. She was his wife now, bound to him in every way that mattered. And when the time came, he would make sure she understood exactly what that meant.