13 Such A Beautiful Necklace...

Emperor Sargon's POV.

"This is a little present from me to you, Queen Ariadne," I said.

"F-for me? You brought this for me?" She asked with utter excitement.

"The necklace was given to me by one of the kings from the north. It's a symbol of his respect for me and Akkad at Large".

"Wow, it's such a beautiful necklace, I love it your highness" she smiled and tried to put it on. But it seemed like her hands couldn't reach her neck well. I went closer, sat beside her, and helped put the jewelry on.

"Thank you, Emperor"

I didn't answer this time around. Her neck was beautiful and the only thought that came to my mind was to kiss her neck. Queen Ariadne was fair in complexion, her skin was smooth from the way it looks.

Drawing my lips closer, I kissed her neck softly and.. quietly. I could hear her heartbeat. It was pounding harder each second. Was she was scared of me? I could feel it as she shook her body a little.

Maybe she was trying to behave like a good wife that's why she didn't refuse me. I stopped kissing her and stood up from the bed.

Queen Ariadne looked at me like she was going to cry. What was I thinking? I was supposed to ask her if she wanted this or not! Here was I, taking advantage of the little gift I gave to her.

"You should leave now, please do" I pointed towards the door. I didn't look at her, because of the tension in the room, sending queen Ariadne away was the only solution to this situation at hand.

"Forgive me, Emperor" she stood up from the bed and curtsied.

****

Queen Ariadne's POV.

Quickly, I left the Emperor's living area without thinking twice. The kiss he planted on my neck shocked me. I wasn't expecting it.

When I got to the women's quarters, the hall wasn't crowded like before. Most of them have gone to their Chambers, I felt better at least, I won't be questioned about my where.

There were many rules in the quarters been made by the Emperor, violating them will result in rebellion. All women were asked to obey them to avoid punishment.

Apart from the king's room, no woman was allowed to stay out late at night, when no social activities were going on, in the palace such as the king's ball, marriage ceremonies, birthdays, etc.

Today, no social activities were going on in the palace, definitely one could guess where I was coming from "The king's room!".

I increased my pace as I walked toward my room.

"Please wait Queen Ariadne" it's was princess Morgana's voice.

"Greetings princess" I greeted.

"Are you coming from my brother's room?" she gave me a smirk.

"No, I am off to my room" I answered.

Princess Morgana and My Maid Anne loved teasing me with any opportunities that come their way. I shyly raced to my room and locked the door.

I leaned against the door thinking about what happened in the king's room. I was scared at first, but now I felt like going back there to meet him.

If my body isn't ready for this, there was no need to force myself to do it. Going back there will only make the king angry because I was not going to give to his demand.

I looked at the necklace he gave me. It was really beautiful and expensive. Why didn't he give it to his special queen? Valeria will be pleased if she gets a beautiful piece like this.

Agreeing to switch places with Princess Eva was the best thing I ever did. Being a queen was fun, I don't need to be a servant to anyone here. If only she knew the type of luxurious life that await her in Akkad. Am sure Eva won't have been replaced.

I went to my bed laid still, the night was long, and sleep deserted me. My eyes were weary but I couldn't close them. I was too happy to sleep, the night was long, and my heart kept racing like I was not in control of it anymore.

***

Emperor Sargon's POV.

After she left. I wanted to call her back but I stopped.

I was the Emperor of Akkad, not a rapist! It was obvious, that queen Ariadne didn't want me. I could tell from her looks. Being a bad person hurts, I needed someone to talk to but there was nobody around to do that. Everyone was afraid of me and it was for the best if they were. Because I was the devil they always talk of.

I picked up one of the journals from the second shelf and went through it. I saw writing that mentioned a curse that was forgotten. In the journal my, Grandfather describes his reign as a failure.

I closed the journal as I lay on my bed. My mother lied to me all these years, she knew something I didn't know, but she hid it away from me. What was mother thinking? That I won't find out the truth or what? What happened to the popular saying, she was always telling me about- there is nothing hidden under the sun.

Right from the beginning, I knew this curse, but my mother never told me the parts that Grandmother played in it.

I opened the journal again, a page of it was torn. I wondered what was written there, that made the person do away with it. I felt like the torn page carried a vital message leading to the curse.

The first thing I was going to do tomorrow morning was to discuss this with Apollo and make sure that we find the former chief. After that I will go visit my Grandmother, it's been a long we saw-She has a lot of questions to answer.

I was the one paying for all their sins, my Great-grandfather had many children but nothing happened to them. Same, with grandfather and my father. I had six-step Brothers and a sister the curse didn't affect any one of them. Everyone escaped it, except for me, who was suffering silently.