19 "GO FOR THE THROAT."

HALE'S POV

"The Queen's twenty-four years old, and belonged to a rich family. It was more of her father's possession than her mother's that contributed to the riches. Her father, a Russian businessman, and her mother was an Arab. Her profession hasn't been mentioned much, but from her constant visits to schools, I believe she was a teacher. She has an older brother, Vikt-"

"Boy, I asked for information about Rosabella. I really don't want to know about her family history."

He sighed and nodded.

It was almost boring, not having him counter my every word.

Was something wrong?

Why did I care, though?

He was a servant and as long as he fulfilled his duty, I didn't need to pry further.

"I wasn't able to find much information about the queen personally. She has managed to hide her tracks quite skillfully, that it was actually impressive. What I did find is that she was one of the best warriors of the former government army. She was mentioned in multiple parades. However, her name came out a lot less frequently after she lost her parents to the war. It has not been confirmed yet, but suspicions had risen, that she hadn't fought in the war. I think, that's it. Yes! One more thing, she was also in a long term relationship with a man slightly older than her. My guesses are probably a year or two."

A warrior, huh?

The former Loraine government was quite progressive, but I wasn't aware that they took in female warriors too. It's a shame she lost her parents in that war.

But she wasn't the only one who lost something in that battle. Hell, almost everyone I knew had lost someone or something. Their family, their loved ones, spouses, their own legs, and even their arms.

I did lose my brother to that war. But we were never very close.

I looked up and saw that he was still standing there.

"Thank you, Benjamin."

He managed to bring about a smile and scurried off quickly.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

I tried not to snap at the baffled peasant who rambled on and on about how a robbery that had taken place at his shop, while I slowly rubbed my wrist.

It was a habit I had picked up unknowingly and I couldn't get rid of it. A week and a half had passed and I still couldn't help but think of all the information Benjamin had gathered for me.

It was clear that the man had plotted his own robbery. From the decreasing sales, and amount of debt that he was carrying, it was clear that he needed money. And he found this as his last resort.

"And your highness, I also have insurance. As the robber hasn't been caught, I will compensate with the money from the insurance too-"

"Enough!"

The whole council turned their heads towards me. I had never lost my cool dealing with the peasants that came to seek justice in my court. But I was loosing my patience because the damn shopkeeper thought he could outsmart me.

"Where were you on the night of the robbery?"

I tilted my head as I waited for him to blatantly continue to lie.

"Sir, I was in the open field of my backyard, with my wife. We were stargazing and admiring the full moon."

That's it.

"A full moon, you say. The next full moon is in four days. Then how could you have witnessed one just five days ago?"

He looked startled. Almost as if he couldn't believe I had looked through his lies this easily?

What did he take me for?

"Guards! Arrest this man! He shall be facing three months in the prison for attempted fraud, and wasting my time along with the council's."

He fell to his knees and shook violently. Tears welled in his eyes, as a vein in his forehead looked like it would pop any time now.

"Your Highness! Forgive me! I was just trying to feed my family! This was my only option."

I smiled and got up from my sapphire-coated throne.

"Well, this is my only option. Guards!"

I got up from the throne, and looked around. It almost looked like the councilmen were trying to figure whether I had finally lost it today or not.

I had been on the edge since the day Davina and I had fought. The new colonel that was working with her had turned out to be really dedicated. He trained for a good three hours every day and even co-operated with Davina's demands. No matter, how horrible they were.

Once Davina lied and told him that the general army training was going to take place in the south wing. However, she ended up taking it at the east one, and he wasn't even present at the training.

What was even more surprising was that, he didn't lose his patience with her, even once. Nor did he try to get her fired.

That Viktor was one calm man.

It would be a shame really, to let him go, once Davina regains her health.

I knew no one would have dared to question me. It was easy really. To be feared this easily. But the consequences that came with it were hard to carry.

When I looked around the courtroom and noticed how everyone had found a confidant in someone or the other, it really stung.

I told myself to not let Davina's almost insane reaction affect me much, but it still stung. Especially considering how she was my only friend.

If someone could read my mind, they would laugh at how pathetic I sounded.

I sighed and turned towards the her chamber.

It was her resting time, and the last thing I wanted to do was disturb her.

My thoughts were contradicting each other right now, and what I wouldn't do to just have her forgive me and help me figure them out.

But I wasn't going to admit that first. After all, I wasn't at the wrong here.

I shook my head and knocked on her door without giving it a second thought.

I waited for a second, and knocked again when I didn't get a reply.

"Vin- Davina, are you there? Are you resting?"

I looked sideways and tried to get a good look whether I was embarrassing myself in front of the guards.

There was just three of them at the very end of the hallway. She really fired them to infuriate me more, didn't she?

Was she even in there?

"Davina! I am opening the door."

What was she even doing in there.

Fuck!

I walked in and was not surprised when I saw her room empty. She wasn't in there.

I balled my fists and let out a shaky breath. I hated it when she tried to do the exact opposite of what I had instructed her.

I knew exactly where she was.

I closed the door to her room and didn't even flinch as it shut with a loud bang. The only thing I was truly concerned about right now was her health.

"Your Highness, I was looking for you. It was actually about the annual ba-"

"Not now, James. I have got some important business I need to take care of."

She wanted this.

She wanted to get a reaction out of me.

I could either comply to whatever plan she has devised to get her position back, or wait and see how her little rebellion works without me losing my temper.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to see if James was still there. Sadly he was gone.

Vina was smart. She knew my limits and pushed them accordingly. If anyone were to write a book about my dislikes, and distastes, and I was damn sure no one could write it better than her.

Some days I just hate how vulnerable she gets me. How weak I am when it comes to her. How I would drop almost anything just for her. I hate myself for letting her this close to me. Close enough to let her make me lose control.

I had a perfect place to go to when I didn't want to lose control. This was the control that was the only thing keeping me alive.

Keeping me sane.

I climbed down the steps, as I grinned. I could almost feel the blood rush through my veins, as all the logic just flew right out the window.

Once upon a time, I was the one being controlled. My life, my actions, my steps, and even my breath.

Now, I am the one that holds control.

The darkness of the dungeon filled my eyes. I could hear the guards banging their metals rods on the dirty ground to announce my entrance. My dark robes that touched the ground, were almost sweeping everything behind me.

If only they were long enough to sweep my sins too.

"Guards, bring in the latest prisoner."

I walk into the empty room, and smirk when I see Adam already ready with his spell book. He was born in a wizarding family. However, his loyalty lay with the Mortales.

He has been helping me get answers from prisoners that didn't break and torturing those that did break a little too early.

The guards brought in a tall scrawly man, probably in his late twenties. He stumbled onto the ground and the guards pushed him down.

Adam conjured a wooden chair for me and I took a seat comfortably.

This prisoner had already broke too early. He confessed about stabbing a 26 year old mother and choking her five year old son to death. It wouldn't have been hard to catch him even if he hadn't confessed. He was our top suspect. After all, he was the husband.

He was high on some relaxer that he stole from the Lormeian witches, and had an argument with his wife. He lost it after a while and ended up destroying three lives.

"What's your name?"

The offender sat near the opposite wall, and shivered when I spoke.

"D- Dave, Your Highness."

Adam looked at me, and raised his eyebrows.

"Should we start, Your Majesty?"

I nodded and whispered.

"Go for the throat."

He flipped through the pages and stopped when he found the one he wanted.

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

His palms raised as he repeated the gibberish words that had a much bigger power.

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

Adam and I knew each other since elementary school. He rarely used his magic growing up, because of how he didn't support the Lormeian morals and their tendency to dominate the entire kingdom.

He was the funniest boy I knew. Now, I never see this man smile. I still remember the night he came down to my house. It was pouring heavily and he begged me to let him join the Mortale Kingdom.

There wasn't a part of me that would have disagreed.

It was tragic to see how he had changed so much. We drifted apart almost immediately as my training for becoming the King began. Our interactions were limited to these four walls.

I heard the petrified man begin to cough. It was working.

I looked at Adam and nodded, asking him to not increase the intensity of the discomfort. I liked to take my time and hurt these criminals.

Hurt them until they became victims.

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

"How does it feel? Huh, Dave? To have so much air around you but still gasp for just a little bit of oxygen. Do you feel it? The pain? The light headedness? This is what your son felt. A five year old boy. Being held down by his own father as he tried to escape but couldn't. Why would he? This was his own father. He couldn't hurt him, right?"

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

I looked at Adam and nodded once more.

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

He began to increase the intensity as the man's face got redder while he tried to move around. His hands moved to his throat and tried to pull away whatever it was that was choking him.

I grinned as I felt that lost control coming back into my palms. It felt malicious.

Powerful.

Almost like a drug.

Something that could kill me just as easily as Adam could kill that poor excuse of a man.

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

"Little did that young life know that his own father would take away his last breath. What was his fault, huh? What did that poor life even do to you?"

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

His mouth opened, as if he were trying to scream, but only a sick gurgle escaped.

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

"What? Is it hard to breathe? Does it hurt you? Well, that's what a man gets for taking two innocent lives."

"Halitum meum noli contraherent faucibus."

"Stop."

Adam's hands fell to his side. Dave's eyes watered as he coughed violently. I got up from my seat and walked closer to the victim.

"Y- Your Majesty! P- Please. P- Please, have me- mercy."

I kneeled to his level and gripped his chin firmly.

"Listen here. This Kingdom does not harbor sick minded people like you. You are a danger to my people, and I would do anything to protect them. Anything. The only reason I haven't gotten rid of you, is because you don't deserve peace. Not a single ounce of it."

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