I Know What You Did Last Summer
Part 1 | Part 2 Preview | Part 2
Summary: After a fun-filled graduation night, your heart is torn between your two best friends, Ten and Lucas. A fire is ignited between the three of you that isn’t as easy to calm as it was to start. And this lustful fire, just like any fire, spreads and seeks to destroy anything in its path, for there is no telling what Ten will do for you, or rather, to you.
Pairing: King!Ten x female reader (as well as Prince! Lucas)
Genre: Royalty!AU, love triangle, angst, smut, fluff
Warnings: manipulation, possessiveness, blackmail, cheating!, character death, mention of blood, mention of self-harm, alcohol use, smut!: threesome, unprotected sex, penetration (v and a), oral sex (m and f), hand job, fingering, fondling, c*eampie, biting, bdsm (paddle use, choking, rope use), orgasm denial, overstimulation, semi-public sex.
Word Count: 20.9k
Taglist: @suhweo @5shotsamericano @alreadyblondenow @khiphoptrash-0 @adorejaehyn @08skrr @ateez-babygirl @cherriesaries @suhfluffy @starlightdustsposts @agnessvaltersen @krispysun @montersloth @galadrielbeth @cafe-lectura @Jiyoungiejae @labelleetoilex3 @ceruleanskies @neo-cult-ure @goldensky @verasloggia @jaewalking @hhaechann @commentgirl @uwusofties @toffee-reads-and-writes @generalkpopwhore @kawaiimusiccollection @ainigmatikos-posts @kkuljungwoo @kaiwatabe
A/N: PART TWO is HERE!! Thank you all for your support for part 1!! We appreciate it so much! We hope you enjoy part two, the finale to this adventure. We are so excited, once again, for you guys to see what happens! We had so much fun writing this and would love your feedback💕
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[JANUARY 1896]
It’s the night of the Chinese festival. Kids run about the town as folks put up their decorations and line up delicious and colorful foods for all that walk by. The air is light, with everyone laughing and talking as they enjoy each other’s company.
Friends meet from all over the land, as all kingdoms come together to celebrate the turn of the new year.
You’re dressed in a beautiful red dress with gold adornments, leaving Ten’s mouth agape once he opens the door of carriage to help you out. Seeing you in your bright and dazzling outfit under the lantern lights makes his heart flutter. Your gold eye shadow brings out the depth of color in your eyes, the ones that looked around nervously.
“You look amazing, my love.” Ten states as you take his hand and fall onto his chest lightly.
He gives you a light peck on the cheek, but you move away and let go of his hand soon after, hoping that you didn’t move too quickly while in front of the other attendees.
The last thing you wanted was for everyone to be able to see or even speculate that your marriage was in trouble.
You walk slightly ahead and force a smile to the onlookers.
“Hello, hello.” You say to everyone that bows while standing poised with both hands in front.
Ten also forces an awkward smile as he is left behind.
You look over the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the tall man that neglected to speak to you for the last few months. Oh, how you missed him and his letters. You missed his warmth, for Ten’s coldness only grew to annoy you more and more as your time together increased.
You start to frown slowly, but in an instant, you see his bright smile. He holds Rosé’s hand and reaches for a lantern from a store owner. He hands the beautifully detailed lantern to her with the brightest smile on his face and wide eyes.
You heart begins to shatter. You wished you could have that moment with him, you wished you could be the one to kiss him when the fireworks went off later that night. Rosé was so lucky, she had no idea.
Ten quickly steps forward and takes your arm into his hand from behind, guiding you to the left and distracting you.
He knew you had spotted Lucas so he took you away as fast as he could.
“This way, honey.”
You and Ten enjoy some of the food provided by local chefs. It’s the finest food you’ve ever had, as they worked diligently to provide for you two, the highest royals in the land.
But you can’t focus on the flavors, you still think of Lucas’ face. Even with the loud drums and strings that play throughout your entertaining dinner set, you can only see his smile.
“What’s wrong? Are you displeased? Waiter! This food is no good! Can’t you see how upset my wife-?” Ten waves over the servant.
“Ten! No! It’s great, amazing actually.” You put your hand over his and turned to him, your eyes big as you try to stop him.
“It’s fine, calm down..please.” You whisper to him.
Ten frowns. “Then what’s wrong? You look like you’re unhappy. It’s not good for us or for the people.”
“It’s nothing..I was just lost in thought Ten, I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize, sweetheart..I love you.” He forced a smile and brought his fingers to your chin. A moment passes when you look into each other’s eyes.
His calm demeanor shifts at your hesitancy.
“Do—you love me?”
“Of course..” you turn your head away from him and look back at your food.
“Then say it.” He holds your chin again, this time placing his thumb on it to bring your attention back to him with a little more force.
His eyes are dark, his tone is low as he speaks through gritted teeth.
“I—have to go to the ladies room.” You stand up instantly.
Ten exhales loudly. “Seulgi! Please escort our Queen to the nearest bathroom.”
Seulgi walks up to you and quickly places her hand around your arm to guide you, but you pull it away.
“I don’t need..your assistance. I’m not a child.” You look from her and back to Ten, who knew what he was doing. He wanted her to watch you and make sure that you don’t find Lucas.
“You look a little ill, darling. She’ll go with you to make sure you don’t fall out. I know you and corsets don’t exactly get along.” Ten flashes a small smile when he sees your look of disbelief and nods towards Seulgi.
You turn to leave but Ten calls you again.
“Oh, and my love..”
You turn back to him.
“Yes, Ten?”
“Hurry back before the fireworks.” he winks and takes a sip of his wine.
The two of you walk slowly to the bathroom as you think of a way to escape her. That’s when you see a dance going on between a group of teenagers. They hold hands and move in a tightly knit circle around a large dragon.
You take this as your opportunity to scurry away from Seulgi, ducking under the joined arms quickly and putting yourself by the large dragon in the center.
The immense dragon spins around quickly and moves up and down to the music and cheering.
“Your majesty!” You hear her call out, but you duck again and shimmy around the dancers.
When you look behind you, you see that she’s looking for you on the opposite side of the circle so you run underneath the linked arms again and away from her.
About five steps away, a store owner hands out decorated dragon masks, so you swiftly grab one and bow.
You place it onto your face by pulling the string around your head. Luckily for you, the town is crowded with thousands of people so you’re able to slip away and into any corners without anyone really noticing you, the Queen.
You walk around, searching for Lucas while avoiding Ten, Seulgi, and the rest of the servants. It’s difficult to breathe behind your mask, but you’re not focused on that, you’re focused on finding him.
You eventually see what looks to be the back of Rosé’s head, but you don’t see her giant counterpart. So you step closer.
Suddenly, you’re snatched up by the arm and dragged into a dark alleyway.
Shit.
“Hey!” You yell as the large hand squeezes you.
You try to identify the man but he wears a mask similar to your own.
“How dare you hold me, the Queen, like this? Unhand me right now!” You have a fit as you believe that it’s one of Ten’s men that has dared to touch you.
“Shhh!!” The man pushes you into the wall and tears his mask off.
Your heart drops when you recognize the beautiful brown eyes that look into your own deeply.
You take your mask off slowly and stare at him for a moment. He bends down towards you, keeping you locked in between his strong arms with his hands placed flat against the wall.
“Lucas..where have you been? Why have you been ignoring me? Wait, how did you even know it was me?”
“Shhh..just kiss me.” He leans down and places his lips onto yours, drawing you into a kiss full of passion and longing.
His tongue traces over your bottom lip as you lean into him more.
You wrap your arms around his waist to pull him closer to you, your shoulders raising as your eyes shut.
His face leaves yours, steamy breath decorating your bottom lip as he looks into your eyes.
“Lucas..that’s not enough..you ignored me.” You lick your lips.
Lucas still stares at your lips. “What do you want me to do, y/n?”
“I want you to write letters to me..tell me..”
“Tell you what?”
“Tell me..you love me” you look into his eyes as your heart races because of his close proximity.
“I could write a million letters proclaiming my love for you, y/n. But it wouldn’t matter. You still belong to him. We aren’t meant to be together, can’t you see?”
“I..I don’t care. I need you, no matter what happens, I’ll always need you.” You hold the side of his face as you whisper.
“Please..y/n. I love you, but we can’t do this anymore. One of us will get hurt.” Lucas pleads, but looks out to the side, carefully watching for anyone that walks by and peaks in. He looked worried, like he was contemplating spending any time with you.
And the truth is, he was worried especially after Hendery’s threatening visit. Hendery topped it off with a challenging duel to assert his devotion to the King, but as hard as Hendery fought, Lucas overpowered him. Nonetheless, Lucas wouldn’t tell you this as he wouldn’t want you to worry.
“It’s best that we stop this.” He exhales.
But you want him so badly. You want to feel him hold you in his arms again. You want that feeling of sunshine running through your veins as you make pure love.
“Fine. But first put my heart at ease, Lucas, don’t just ignore me. Look at me and tell me you don’t care, tell me you don’t love me and that you want this to end. Tell me that your heart does not tremble as mine does when I’m with you.”
He turns to you and looks into your eyes, his mouth falling open but no sound comes out.
He shakes his head slowly and closes his eyes while sighing. “You know I can’t do that.”
So you kiss him again. Your arms circling around his neck this time as you press your lips into his hard. Your teeth clash as the kiss becomes messier, your lips becoming red.
The two of you kissed as a feeling of frustration filled your bodies. You couldn’t be together honestly, yet you couldn’t be away from each other. Lucas tried to ignore you unsuccessfully. It tore him apart when he had to stop writing letters to you. He tried to distract himself by hunting and fulfilling his duties, and by being a good husband to Rosé and giving her happy nights. But at the end of it all, he always missed you.
Lucas stopped the kiss, pulling away to look into your eyes filled with tears.
“I missed you.” He says before giving you the softest smile.
You feel your face become hot. “I missed-“
“Has anyone seen the Queen?!” You hear a man shout.
“Put your mask back on.”
He states before putting his on.
“W-what?”
Lucas only takes your mask out of your hand and places it onto your face then tying it for you.
He takes your hand and leads you out of the alleyway.
“Hold your head down.”
You both hurry past the crowds, working your way to wherever Lucas was taking you.
People gather to the river where they will get the best view of the firework celebration that is to happen soon.
But the two of you move in the opposite direction.
After about 10 minutes of brushing past hundreds of people and into an empty area outside of the market, you finally reach a gazebo.
It just the two of you there, everyone has gathered over a thousand feet away and towards the river where music is playing while people cheer and dance.
Lucas tears his mask off and sits down onto the bench in the gazebo. You take your mask off too as he holds your waist and brings you down onto his lap.
You resume your kiss, breathing heavily as your body moves back and forth onto his growing bulge.
He reaches under the many layers of your dress, laughing out as he struggles to find your thighs.
“I know..it’s a lot.” You laugh.
He smiles widely. “But it’s beautiful...you’re beautiful.” He looks into your eyes while pressing his fingers onto your slit.
You hiss at the contact, your hips instantly moving faster.
He fixes his pants down his legs as you lift yourself up slightly. His free cock now presses against the skin of your inner thigh. You wish you could see it or even touch it, but you had to move fast. Surely, Ten and his men would be combing through the crowds now looking for you or even Lucas.
“Fuck.” Lucas whispers through a staggered breath as you lower yourself onto him.
You kiss him hard as you grind down on him, his fingers gripping your legs hard, pressing into the soft skin.
He licks your neck and kisses it softly, careful not to leave any marks. He would tear your dress off and decorate every part of you with kisses if he had his way, but he knew it was impossible for tonight.
Just being close to you for this moment was enough. Red made you look gorgeous and the night lights and makeup you wore made you look like an angel that graced the earth.
You moved up and down faster, your mouth falling open as that familiar feeling started to return.
Lucas brought his hands onto your ass now, pushing himself deeper and deeper into you as you cried out.
“Shhh.” He tried to shush you as your moaning grew louder. No one was close by, and the commotion would’ve covered any noises the two of you made but he had to be sure.
He grunted into your ear, his teeth lightly grazing your neck as he also got closer, his pre-cum spilling into you.
He places two fingers onto your clit, rubbing it slowly. Your chest falls and you can’t hold back any longer.
“Yes..” you cry out, moving faster. Some of your hair falls out of your bun, you can’t form coherent sentences as Lucas dick commands your wet flower, pushing against your sweet spot repeatedly.
You begin to make out again, your lips covered in spit as your tongues dance.
“Lucas!” You moan loudly, but the sound of the fireworks booming through the night sky covers your noise.
Your eyes shut tightly.
He curses as he releases into your trembling body, holding you down onto his hips.
The fireworks still blow up and out into the sky while you relax.
Your heart rate normalizes and you pick yourself off of him. You sit beside him, legs weak and chest still heavy.
He fixes his pants and clears his throat.
“I love you, y/n. I love you so much. I would never abandon you.”
Lucas contemplated telling you about Ten’s demanding letter, but it wasn’t the right time.
“We must be careful, should we continue.”
You smile and kiss him once more. Nothing mattered in that moment. You just wanted to enjoy the fireworks with him, for you knew that the fireworks were meant to bring good luck to any couples that stood beside each other as they went off to bring in the new year.
Maybe you would receive a blessing. Maybe..the two of you could end up together.
After several minutes of enjoying each other’s company, you both decided to head back to your spouses, departing in opposite directions.
You made sure to wipe yourself clean in a restroom, then fix your lipstick and hair before heading out towards your carriage.
People started to disperse as the celebrations calm down after the fireworks. They made their way back to their own carriages, smiling and laughing, but you heard a commotion as you got closer to your grand carriage.
You flinched as you heard a screeching scream. You picked your dress up and walked faster, your smile fading from your face.
“What’s going on?” You asked a man in the crowd that circled around your carriage.
“Oh!...your majesty, excuse me.” The man stepped out fo your way as did several other men that stood in front.
You heard the thunderous crack of a whip and another screech followed by a woman crying.
You looked closer and saw that someone kneeled on the ground, their back was naked and littered with red slash marks.
“Oh no..” you ran forward when you saw Ten watch as one of his men pulled his arm back to deliver yet another blow to the poor girl.
Your eyes widened when you saw who the person being attacked was.
Seulgi.
“Stop!” You threw your body over hers before the man could whip her once more.
“Halt!” Ten called to stop the man.
“And there she is..” Ten says softly, a smile creeping across his face as he watches you hold Seulgi, her blood staining your expensive dress.
You start to cry, looking into her cherry-red face wet with tears. “I’m so sorry, please forgive me.”
“What are you apologizing for? She’s the one that’s incompetent and cannot complete a simple task for her king.” Ten raises an eyebrow.
You become furious. He took his madness out on someone innocent and in front of many people. He humiliated and hurt her all because they could not find you.
You snap your head up to look at him through angry eyes. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
The crowd gasps and Ten’s eyes grow, but his face still displays an evil smile.
“How dare you talk to your king like that!” You hear his mother yell.
“You wretch! You should be punished!” She steps forward.
“Mother..calm down..shes our Queen after all. She’s allowed to express herself.” Ten speaks calmly.
He walks over to you and crouches down.
You hold Seulgi tight, covering her body as she sobs into her hands.
“It’s my fault, your majesty, I shouldn’t have abandoned you. I failed you, please, I must receive the lashings as punishment for my incompetence.” She says in between sniffles, her body shaking out of fear and immense pain from her burning wounds.
Your heart breaks at the sight, you’re the cause of all this. You were the one that abandoned her. “No..no, it’s not your fault, I was the one that slipped away, I was the one that lost you. I’m so sorry.”
“Go away!” You yell out at the people that still crowd you and watch the drama unravel.
They quickly disperse into all directions and leave.
“And where exactly did you slip away to for all that time, y/n?” Ten turns to you.
“I got lost, there’s thousands of people here, Ten..but how could you do this?”
“And what about Lucas?”
You look up at him slowly, a moment resting between his question and your answer, but you are quickly interrupted by a soft voice.
“He was with me, your majesty.” Rosé walks quickly towards the three of you, Lucas following behind.
She lied to protect you, or rather, to protect Lucas.
Ten stands up straight and looks past Rosé and onto Lucas.
“That’s good to hear..it seems he understands the importance of being beside one’s spouse once the fireworks light up the sky on this special night.”
Ten smirks and turns back to you. “Get up, we have business to tend to back home.”
You obey his order as to not piss him off any more. You don’t dare spare a glance to Lucas but you can feel his eyes on you, how sorrowful they must look.
“Irene! Get her cleaned up and out of my sight!” Ten says before squeezing your arm and taking you to the carriage.
He helps you inside and sits beside you before the two of you endure a long and silent drive back home.
Once you get back home, Ten takes your arm and practically throws you inside. You quickly turn to him and close your fists tightly.
He pushes you into the wall, pressing his body into yours. “Do you take me for a fool? Huh?! After all this time, do you think I’m just some foolish schoolboy still?”
“I think you’re crazy! Wait, no, I KNOW you’re crazy!”
He takes your jaw into his hand and brings his lips to yours, forcing a kiss onto them.
You slap him and watch as he backs away.
“You expect me to love you after that? You embarrassed an innocent woman, Ten! And on the night of the Chinese festival of all nights, how can I love you?! You keep me caged like some kind of animal! I can’t take it anymore!”
Ten rubs the spot you slapped him and grows furious, fire roaring through his veins.
“You were supposed to come back to me! We were supposed to kiss as we bring in the new year together!”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find my way back, but you have to understand, I didn’t do it on purpose. It was an accident.”
“I know what it is..” Ten exhales and walks around the foyer.
“I’ve been too lenient, I’ve been too giving. I am not a king, I am a weak fool that falls for the same person over and over. The person that never stops taking advantage. The person who I just can’t say no too.”
“Ten..” you shake your head.
“But I know what I’ll do..I’ll release you..I’ll let you go, like the caged bird you feel like you are. You will be free.” Ten swallows hard..he walks into the guest room and sits down. You follow him and watch as he pours himself a glass of scotch.
“You will no longer be Queen, you can leave me..”
Could Ten possibly be letting you go? Could you be with Lucas after all?
You sit down on the chair adjacent to his.
Ten gives you a moment to protest, but once you don’t, he begins to grow angry again. He thinks that you do in fact want to be free from him since you do not call him a fool for saying such outrageous things. He knew he’d never let you go, but seeing your eyes grow with hope made him irritated.
“You can be relinquished of all royal titles and live as a beggar, you’ll never see your family again, but that wouldn’t matter, right? Just as long as you have Lucas..”
Your eyes flicker up to him.
“Ten..”
“But poor Lucas and his family, they’d have to live and eventually, die in poverty..hmmm so sad.” Ten downs the liquid and slams the glass onto the table. He gives you a sarcastic smile.
“I...despise you, Ten.” You stand up and head for the door, but Ten rushes after you spinning you around before grabbing a fistful of your hair.
His lips smash into yours once more as his hand pulls your hair pin out, your hair falling loose.
You kiss him back, biting his lips on purpose but not pushing him away as you did before.
He bites into your neck as he listens to you whine. Your hands scrape at his back, scratching him through his shirt as he groans.
He breaks the kiss off and tears away the fabric of your dress, revealing your breasts and exposing them to the cold air.
“Do you want to know what I was thinking when I watched her be punished?”
“What?” You say before he sucks your nipple as the two of you stand in the foyer, angrily embracing each other.
“How badly I want to punish you in ways you’ve never been punished before..”
Ten flips you around, pushing you into the wall so your back is against his chest.
He kisses you from behind, but quickly bites into your shoulder while grabbing your hair and pulling back roughly.
“And the way you spoke to me in front of all those people..that was the icing on the cake, sweetheart.” Ten’s gravelly voice enters your ear.
He unlaces your corset and slides down what’s left of your dress with one hand while his other hand holds both wrists tightly and over your head.
He then presses his fingers onto your clit, immediately rubbing circles into it as you cry out his name.
He bites harder into your shoulders, breaking the skin to draw blood.
“Fuck!” You moan at the mixture of pain and pleasure.
He fingers you as his cock presses against your ass, your head falls back, you close your eyes and focus on the way his fingers stretch you out so wonderfully.
Ten pinches your nipple with his other hand, but continues to suck hard onto you shoulder.
Your essence runs down your wavering legs. You can’t think or even speak straight.
“Yes..T-Ten..right..there.”
You’re so close, you clench around him but he takes his fingers out and spins you around to face him.
“Did you really think it would be that easy?”
He kneels and gives you a smirk as he looks up at your disappointed face.
Ten was never like this, he always made sure you came no matter what, but now he was denying you.
You lock eyes as he sucks his fingers clean.
“You’re cruel.” You whimper.
He chuckles and runs a hand down your abdomen, adoring your soft skin and the way you fidget.
“Oh, you have no idea.I’ll show you crazy, my darling. Yes, tonight, I’ll drive you mad, just as mad as you’ve made me.”
He holds your legs by the crook of your knees and places them over his shoulders, his head now in between them and hot breath fanning over your soaking entrance.
He licks slowly as he watches you moan.
Your hand goes to the back of his head, and runs through his hair.
“Oh, my love. I would be a fool to let such a sweet thing go.” Ten whispers then licks in between your folds.
His kitten licks drive you crazy, you can’t help but grab onto his hair tighter.
“Please Ten..”
But he continues to go slow, watching you above him as you play with your nipple and mutter out curse words. He won’t push in further, but he allows the tip of his nose to tickle your bud.
He flattens his tongue, working his way past your folds as you shake.
You’re needy to the point of tears, but Ten doesn’t budge.
“Oh fuck.. let me cum please.” You whine again.
He finally dips his tongue in, swirling it around as he kisses your slit. You move your hips against his face, feeling the bridge of his nose press onto your bud.
“Yes..” your head falls back.
Ten applies pressure to that one spot he knows will make you go crazy, and just as you’re about to cum he pulls his face away from your pussy, kissing your thigh while your chest falls.
“You don’t deserve to cum.”
He yanks your arm and drags you upstairs to the bedroom.
“Do you..remember..the first night we fucked sweetheart?”
“How could I forget?” You breathlessly let out, your legs still weak from being close to your climax not once, but twice.
“The safe word..what was it?? Ah yes, gold.” Ten pushes you onto the bed.
“On your stomach, hands behind your back.” You turn over as he demands, your ass up and ready, but little do you know what Ten has planned for you.
Ten takes silk rope that was placed inside
the nightstand and ties both of your wrists together.
You squeal as he tightens it so tight, you know that you won’t be able to shimmy out of it if you tried.
Ten holds the back of your neck as he leans down to whisper into your ear.
“Ass up at all times, if you falter, you’ll be like this all night.”
You nod. You’d do anything to cum at this point.
Ten then ties two silk ropes around your ankles, each rope leading to your wrists. You can no longer separate your legs from your arms. You’re open for him and restricted, unable to close your legs or move your arms. The ropes are right, you can feel the blood pressure increases, but a part of you likes it.
The image of Ten over your bound body only makes you ache for a release even more. You want to feel him inside you, running his veiny cock against your walls.
Ten rubs his hand over your ass teasingly, just barely touching it to trace the roundness of it.
He pulls his pants down and pushes into you in one swift move, you can’t adjust in time and whine loudly at the sudden penetration.
Your body falls forward, but he grips your wrists and brings you back to him, grunting as he reaches your depths and runs his length along your soothing walls.
“Ahh!! Ten!” You scream as he pushes into you again, ramming his dick into.
“Don’t be so surprised, sweetheart, I told you I would punish you. But you’re so fucking wet, I’m beginning to think you’re enjoying this.”
Ten pulls out slowly, groaning at the way you clench and twitch around his length.
Your feet and hands go numb, the tight rope digging into your skin to leave a mark.
“You look so pretty like this, all tied up for me. If i could have you like this all the time, I’d be overjoyed.”
Ten growls then slams into you once again, this time, letting your body fall onto the bed while you moan.
He pulls you by your hair and whispers into your ear, pinching your nipples so your eyes fly open.
“I hope it’s not too much for you.” He states in a mocking tone.
He pushes your head forward into the bed again, drilling into your body as his skilled hips fail to miss a beat.
The sounds of skin against skin and your moans fill the air, making you feel weak. The tingly feeling in your stomach just begging to be eased.
“Ten..please..I’m almost-“ you say through staggered breaths.
“I’m gonna..”
“Do you want to end up like Seulgi? Don’t you dare cum without my approval.” He growls and moves even faster.
It’s hard to hold back, but you’re not exactly sure what Ten is capable of anymore. You follow his orders as tears run down your cheeks. You bite your lips and try not to cum as he coats your walls with his own essence and holds you fast against him.
He pants and lays his body on top of yours.
He pulls out, but replaces his dick with his fingers, pushing the cum that has leaked out back into you.
He looks at the side of your face as he fingers you, looking into your eyes before giving your cheeks a light peck. His hair has fallen into his face, his exposed shoulders shining in the dimly lit room with sweat. He’s incredibly gorgeous, even when he’s angry.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. A king never disappoints his obedient queen at the end of it all.”
Obedient being the key word.
“Ten..baby, please.”
“Shhh...it’s too late to beg, stay here.”
Ten leaves the room, your body still on the bed, aching in your strenuous position.
He comes back in not too long after, however, retaking his position behind you.
“Ahhhh..my beautiful queen, how will I let the world...” he takes a breath before continuing, traces of sarcasm echoing in his tone. “And any other man..know that you are mine?”
You breathe heavily.
Then feel a sharp slap to your butt. A wooden paddle sends you into the bed, your voice letting out a crackling cry at the unexpected hit.
“No..no..keep your body up, sweetheart.” He puts his arm under you and brings your body back to its original position.
He then smacks you again, but with less force.
“See? Here I go, going easy on you again.”
Another smack, you shut your eyes tightly and feel your slick run down your legs.
“Look at you..getting turned on by this.” He swings the paddle onto you again, but with as much force as he did the first time.
He grabs you by your hair before you can crash into the bed.
“Oh my god, Ten!” You cry out.
He slaps you again.
“There we go..now we are getting the reaction that we need..your skin is magnificent, especially in this bruised tone.”
You sob, but you won’t give him the satisfaction of saying the safe word.
He delivers another blow as you yelp.
He becomes hard again at the sight of your entrance dripping and ass irritated.
He moves behind you and places the paddle down. His fingernails dig into your hips as he drags your ass towards him, this time he pushes into your asshole slowly.
“Ten!”
He grunts then pushes into you all the way. “So tight. Just like the first night.”
He moves in and out at a steady pace, your breath leaving you with each thrust. You whimper and struggle against your restraints, but he feels amazing, you don’t want him to stop.
He leans forwards and pushes two fingers into your mouth, his hips increasing in speed.
“Ahhh..fuck.” Strings of cum enter you once again.
That night, Ten teased you endlessly, playing with your body like it was a toy for a spoiled child on Christmas. Keeping it in weird positions as he fucked into you over and over. Choking you while denying you of release, your makeup was smudged and messy as you cried from over-sensitivity. He took his frustrations out on you all night and you wondered how he was still so energetic.
And when he finally let you experience your long awaited orgasm, your hands loose and scratching at his back, your ankles over his shoulders as he pushes into you from above and kisses your lips like he needs them to survive. You came hard, your eyes rolling into the back of your head. Shortly after, you fell asleep as he cleaned you up.
The next day, you couldn’t walk. Your bum, wrists and ankles were littered with painful bruises. Your neck and chest also had too many love bites for you to count. It was safe to say you’d be in the house for a while. No one could see you like this.
Your eyes squint as the sunlight burns through the thin curtains.
Ten walks into the room. “Good morning.”
He gives a small smile then scoops you off of the bed.
“W-where-?” You rub your eyes.
“Is a man not allowed to take his wife to the bath?” Ten looks onto you with furrowed brows.
He places you down into the bath filled with water and rose petals. Usually, your maids helped you bathe while Ten was out of the room, but here Ten was being the caring husband he should be.
“That was the hardest I’ve ever gone, darling. You are clearly fit to be my wife after all.” He says as he washes you down. He sits on the side of the tub and massages your body with warm water, and expensive soap he created far away in the mountains just for you.
You moan and bite your lips. His touch is soothing, his hands move over your breasts and your abdomen slowly, and soon, the apex of your legs.
“Ten-“ you draw in a sharp breath.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Join me..please.”
And so he joins you in the oversized, luxurious tub, making love to you once more as water splashes onto the floor, your legs around his waist, your hands running along his soft back. Ten moans as he feels your fingers delicately trace over the scratch marks you gave him last night.
“I’m so happy you’re mine.” He whispers as you drift into sleep again.
————
[MARCH 1896]
Ten holds your hand tightly as the two of you walk into a tea shop.
The store owner immediately bows to both of you. “Your majesty, welcome! Allow me to provide you with the finest tea in the land. I would’ve been more prepared had I known of your visit, I do apologize.”
“No need to apologize, thank you for welcoming us.” You cut in before Ten can make a snarky comment like he always did to people below him.
The two of you sat down to enjoy delicious tea from all over the world. Some spicy, some incredibly sweet, and some so refreshing, it felt like you were drinking liquid happiness.
“Which ones do you prefer, my love?” Ten turns to you as you wipe your mouth with a napkin.
“I like..the Wuyi Narcissus..” you breathlessly let out, suddenly becoming weak and dizzy. Your heart beats rapidly, almost like it’s threatening to burst through the cage it’s in.
Blood rushes to your head as you lean over, your vision blurring and hands releasing the tea cup you held.
A crash sounds as the fine china splatters all over the floor, a commotion follows.
“Y/n? Y/n! What have you done to her?!” Ten holds your body and shakes you lightly, but you’ve already passed out completely.
Later that day, you wake to find yourself laying on your shared bed. Your eyes flutter open to see a man with glasses and a small smile over you.
“I don’t care if no one has ever been sickened by his tea before, I want that man dead by sunset!” Ten yells outside of the room.
“What-what happened?” You ask the man that seems to have just taken your temperature.
“Sweetheart! You’re okay..” Ten rushes over beside you.
“I promise that man will not see another morning for hurting you like this.”
“Ten..what are you talking about?” You still feel very weak, your hands and feet are numb.
“Bring him in!” Ten yells outside of the room.
Two guards drag the tea shop owner inside your bed room and make him kneel at the foot of your bed by kicking the crook of his knees.
“Ahh! Your majesty, I did not poison you! I swear by it! I would never-“ the old man cries, his eyes are bruised, swollen and blood runs from the corner of his mouth.
“Shut up!” Ten slaps the man hard with the back of his hand, making him fall forward and cry louder.
“Ten!” You cry out and reach for him.
“Please..please don’t.” Youre voice is barely above a whisper as you still struggle to breathe normally.
“this bastard poisoned you!”
Ten walked back towards you.
“Actually, that may not be the case.. your majesty, now that you are awake, may I ask you a question?” The man with the glasses beside your bed cuts in.
“My name is Kun Qian, I am the royal family’s physician.”
“Hello, Doctor. Yes, you may ask me anything.”
“When was the last time you experienced menstruation?”
Your eyes widened at the doctor asking such a private question, but then you really thought about it. You hadn’t seen your period for some time.
“It-it’s been quite a while, doctor.” You look up at him and nod your head.
“As I suspected, based on your temperature and low blood pressure, it seems as though you are pregnant.” He gives you a smile and looks back at Ten.
“A heir is on the way!”
Your mouth falls open as anguish covers your entire body. You weren’t ready to be a mother, you didn’t think you could even carry a baby. Hell, it was only the first few days or so and you had already fainted.
Your brows are knitted as you stare at the doctor, then look back at Ten.
He smiles from ear to ear, then leans down to pull you into a big hug.
“My love! We are going to have a baby!” He exclaims then pulls away to see your reaction. You still look dumbfounded, clearly not as excited as he is.
Ten frowns slightly, then turns back to the men in the room.
“Leave us!” He yells and they quickly scurry out of the room.
He turns back to you. “Well, don’t look so thrilled, sweetheart.” A sarcastic smirk falling over his face now that the room is empty.
“I..I am excited..I’m just nervous.”
“Please don’t worry, my love..” he rubs a hand slowly on top of the blanket covering your belly.
“I will ensure that you receive the best care throughout this pregnancy and after. As well as our dear child. They will be the most spoiled baby on Earth. Do you trust me?”
The answer was no. Ten was aggressive sometimes and words were just words. You weren’t sure what he was capable of.
“Darling?”
“Y-yes..I do.” You nod, and give him a reassuring smile to ease his concern.
“I would like to rest now, Ten.”
Ten nods before kissing your hand and leaving the room. He felt like he was on cloud 9, he ran through the house like a child that was just gifted a dog to chase and play with.
You rested your head onto your pillow and stared at the ceiling, thinking all sorts of things.
The night of the Chinese Festival..it had to have been then.
But which man was the father of the baby growing in you?
Ten believed it was his, but you weren’t sure, for little did he know, you too had been unfaithful.
————
[MAY 1896]
You sit and have tea with Ten’s mother.
“How do you feel?” She asks, faking concern.
“Well..I’ve had better days.”
She sighs and takes a sip from her cup.
“I don’t understand what my son sees in you. You can barely handle a pregnancy, how can you handle a nation of needy people?”
“You’ve said that before. How do you expect me to react?”
“I don’t expect anything from a weak girl like you, I know I’d only be setting myself up for disappointment. You came into his life out of nowhere. Your family barely has a respectable lineage. He could’ve gone with someone like that gorgeous Yoona from the Im Estate. But instead...he’s fascinated with you. And why? I’ll never understand.” She shakes her head.
You place your tea cup down loudly and exhale. “Why do you hate me so much, mother?” You say with venom in your tone. You’ve just about had enough with her for she always treats you like you’re less than Ten. She practically threw her hatred in your face since the day you met her.
“Oh, is it that obvious?” She chuckles then takes another sip.
“Well, quite frankly, y/n..I knew you were a lustful wretch from the minute I met you by the look in your eyes..even at your young age, I knew you wanted to corrupt my son, my baby. I knew you were gonna enslave him with your body, taint him and make him forget all that he’d learned.” She spits out while leaning forward.
You stare blankly and look at the table, trying to calm your nerves.
“You’re a whore, y/n, and I just know you fucked that fool, Lucas. That mistake of a man that was birthed by a disgusting prostitute. She threw herself onto my husband in order to take his money. And you’ve done the same to my naive Ten because you are just like her..a whore.”
You chuckle and leaned forward as you remembered catching her son all those times, in the stables, in the library.
“The only whore in this house is your son! He’s just like his father, your cheating bastard of a husband. All he does is stick his penis into anything with a heartbeat! And yet the King ended up with you! A hateful and downright evil bitch! Bless him for being relieved of your presence finally in death!” You lash out.
The queen backhand smacks you so hard, you placed your hands flat onto the table to hold yourself up straight.
The queen gasps and shoots up from her chair. She huffs. “If you ever dare open your foul mouth and speak to me like that again, I’ll see to it that your tongue is removed and fed to the wolves! I can’t kill you, for your death would ruin my son, but I will hurt you, child. Do not..mess with me.”
Seulgi runs over and helps you up from the table after the queen leaves.
Your back aches in pain as you stand up from the dining room table. You press your hand into the small of it and wince.
Your belly was so huge, you couldn’t even walk 10 steps without the need to stop and take a breath.
“I believe you should rest in your room, your majesty.” A maid helps you up the stairs and towards your bedroom. She was the one to always hold your hand and help you through any cramps you felt. You rarely saw Ten. He was always away for some trip or completing tasks in town, writing orders, or even hunting with other men.
You found it quite odd that he promised to give you the best treatment, but neglected to even check in with you on some days.
“Where..is my husband, Seulgi?” You move up the steps slowly.
“I-I am not sure, Miss, I believe he is out of town at the moment.”
You sigh. “Of course he is.”
“A letter came for you today, your majesty, I have placed it onto the desk in your study.” Seulgi changes the subject quickly, for she knows of Ten’s true whereabouts. She knows that he is actually in the very same castle that you’re in, only, he rests in a room far away on the other end of the large mansion, laying in bed with his favorite servant, Jade.
She knew that your pregnancy would be in danger if you ever discovered this.
“I would like to go there now, I will rest later.” You tell her. You put Seulgi in charge of collecting letters and hiding the ones that were closed shut with a distinct label. She didn’t know who the letters were from, but even if she had her own assumptions, you knew you could trust her of all the maids to stay quiet.
“Yes, your majesty.”
Once in the study alone, you open the letter from your beloved Lucas.
Your mouth widens into a smile as you read it and rub your irritated cheek.
Dear y/n,
I am delighted to know that you are doing well. Please continue to rest, eat, and sleep well. I wish I could be there to hold you and feel the subtle kicks of our child. I can imagine how cute it will be already, with your beautiful eyes and my dimples. The baby is so loved , it does not even know. We will provide it with everything that it needs and more. It will have the most caring parents known to man. Once the delivery is successful, I will pick you up and we will run away from this place together, raising our child in the sunniest place for the rest our lives. We will finally be together, my love. All three of us. I promise to see you soon.
Yours Always,
Lucas
A tears drops onto the paper. Your heart swells with joy when you think of finally living your life with your true love, Lucas. Carrying a baby was painful, but knowing that he loved you and planned to take care of you made it easier.
You wouldn’t have to deal with your careless, self-centered husband, you could finally be happy.
You clutched the letter to your chest and brought it with you to your room, holding it tightly as you fell asleep with a smile on your face.
————
[One Day Later]
“Your majesty...” Jade rushes into Ten’s study.
“What are you doing?! You know we can’t meet here!” Ten quickly stands up and walks close to Jade.
With shakey hands she lifts up a piece of paper to him.
“I am so sorry, your majesty, but I was cleaning the Queen’s quarters when I came across this letter. It was under one of the pillows on the bed!”
“Shhh..quiet down, you’ll wake her.”
Ten grabs the paper from her and looks into her eyes sternly. “And what gives you the right to read through our Queen’s personal documents, Jade?”
“I-I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but recognize the name at the bottom.”
Ten raises an eyebrow, but then proceeds to read through the note.
His face grows angry, his grip on the paper tightens as his knuckles become white as snow.
‘Our son.’
The audacity of this man. Ten thinks to himself.
“How dare he..” Ten scoffs, he begins to lose it slowly, he can’t even form coherent sentences or words to express how upset he is. So many thoughts run through his head. Had you and Lucas really fornicated that night when you disappeared at the festival?
Lucas wouldn’t be a fool to call the baby his child if this wasn’t the truth, for this was the only time that you had slipped out of Ten’s sight.
How dare he. Ten thought Lucas would’ve stopped it all. He thought he would’ve been a decent friend and left you alone like he asked, but he disobeyed his order and still continued to keep in touch with you.
How dare you. Oh you...you lied to him. His sweetheart, the one he loved so dearly with all his heart. He gave you everything, the world, and anything else that you could possibly ask for. You took advantage of his kindness, you took him for a fool once again.
And the worst part is, he still loved you. You could stab him in the chest with a sword while daunting an ice cold expression, and he’d still adore you.
And the fact that the two of you planned to run away together made everything worse. The child that he was so excited to welcome and raise into the world with you, would be snatched away from him by his own best friend.
He doubted that even being murdered by you was worse than what he felt right now.
“What will you do?” Jade whispers.
Ten sighs, his eyes narrowing. He knew better than to lash out like some sort of maniac. So he decided to stay cool and calm, he was notorious for that. No matter how difficult a situation be for him, he always remained calm. He was feared by all for this very reason, his silence and unreadable smile made him nothing short scary.
“It seems..Lucas and I will need to have a talk.”
He hands her the paper. “Put this back where you found it, then wait for me in the room at the end of the hall.”
Jade nods quickly and takes the paper from him before turning around.
“And Jade...I have no patience today, if you’re not naked and on your knees in five minutes..I will have no choice but to punish you..again.”
“I understand, your majesty.”
————
[JUNE 1896]
Ten gives your cheek a light kiss as he leaves your side.
“I’ll be gone for a few days, sweetheart, try not to miss me too much.”
“You’re always gone, Ten. I stopped missing you a long time ago. Now, I’m just used to it.”
“Ahhh, darling, don’t be so harsh. You know how it is for the King.” Ten straightens his arms out as his servant cleans his uniform of lint.
“I have to be here, I have to be there..the kingdom needs me.”
“And what about me? I’m carrying your baby, some care would be nice, what if I need you?” You were irritated at Ten today and couldn’t control your emotions as the contractions kept you up all night.
“My baby?” Ten quickly caught himself. “Don’t you mean our baby?”
You roll your eyes and lay back down in the bed as Ten smirks.
“I’ll have Seulgi bring you some tea for the pain.” He says as he exits the bedroom.
————
[JULY 1896]
“You have another letter, your majesty.”
You quickly take the letter from Seulgi and wave her off. “Thank you, you are dismissed.”
It was the first letter that you received from him in about two weeks, so you were more than excited to read it.
Dear y/n,
I apologize for taking so long to follow up with you. I have successfully escaped the Park Estate. Do not be worried, my love, for I only ran away to get settled before the baby arrives. I have taken several trains to get to where I am right now. It is beautiful, perfect even. I cannot think of a more suiting place for our family to thrive. I look forward to taking you here and being with you all the time. I am far enough so that no one will recognize me. Please promise me one thing, if Princess Rosé sends for me, do not tell her or anyone else in the kingdom where I am or about the letters that I send you. You are the only one that knows of my location. My mother and brother do not know and likely will not be asked for me, but when you get here safely, I will, of course, inform them as well. I am beaming with excitement. I cannot wait to see you again.
Yours eternally,
Lucas
———————
[AUGUST 1896]
You’re resting in your chambers, a heat flash making you too dizzy to even comprehend what time it is. You wish you could see your mother and father, but Ten’s mother has kept them from entering the premises, claiming that they would only add stress for you.
Ten sent your parents away to a different district where they would be in charge of finances. You thought it was unnecessary for them to be hours away from you, but Ten deemed them the right and only fit for the job.
A servant enters the room and calls out to you.
“Your majesty..”
“Yes..” you say groggily, squinting as the sun flight hurts your eyes.
You rub your belly and wince. “What is it?”
“Princess Rosé has come to see you, she says it is urgent.” Seulgi states with a look of worry.
“Let her in, please.” you sit up straight, preparing yourself for what is about to ensue.
Rosé comes rushing into your room.
“Your majesty! I cannot find Lucas!”
You furrow your brows. “What?”
Rosé sobs. “No one has seen him in two months...I thought he was visiting another city, but it turns out he never showed up. Your majesty, what if something’s happened to him? I am so worried..I.”
“Shhh...please, sit on the bed. We will find him, I’m sure he’ll be back from whatever trip he has taken soon enough.”
It hurt you to lie to Rosé like this, but it’s what Lucas asked of you.
He made you promise not to tell anyone the truth.
“It’s just..he’s never done this before, he’s never left and not even written a letter to me..oh, your majesty, I miss him so much.” Rosé cries hard into her hands.
You lean forward and rub her back. “He’s okay, Rosé, perhaps he needed some time away.”
She looks up at you. “You’re right, I think I left him too often. What if he doubts my love for him? He’s been so sweet to me, what if I’ve broken his big heart?”
Your eyes tear up as you think of the man you and Rosé both knew. Lucas loved everyone so deeply, he was a tall glass of love ever flowing, brightening anything and anyone he came into contact with.
It was a pity that someone as nice as Rosé would have to be hurt by both your actions.
Ten struts into the room. “What’s the matter?”
“I can’t find Lucas, I think something has happened to him, it’s been two months!” Rosé cries harder.
“Oh no..oh dear.” Ten steps closer before locking eyes with you, as if to ask if you knew anything about Lucas’ whereabouts.
You shrug your shoulders and shake your head as you pat Rosé’s back.
“Lucas, my dear friend. I’m sure he is hiking somewhere, going on some grand adventure like usually does. But do not worry, I will send out any and all of my men in search of him. We will speak to the countrymen and ask if they’ve seen him so we can trace his steps. We will search far and wide, even outside of the kingdom, Rosé. We will find him.”
“Oh, your majesty, I am forever in your debt.” Rosé stands up and bows to Ten.
But Ten watches your eyes, anxious to see how you react to his words. You wipe your eye of a tear and mouth “thank you.”
—————
[SEPTEMBER 1896]
“Doctor Qian...I might just rip this baby out myself..he dances like his father, and my belly is blessed to be the dance floor.” You wince as another contraction sets in.
The doctor lifts the stethoscope and his head from your stomach.
“Well, your majesty, I’m afraid you don’t have just one dancer in there.”
Your eyes grow large.“W-what?”
“There are, in fact, two heartbeats coming from your belly.”
“Doctor..what are you saying?”
“It looks like you’re in a considerable amount of pain because you’re pregnant with twins.”
He gives you a big smile.
You gasp. “Oh..my God.”
Ten walks into the room, fixing his pants as he steps in.
You scan him up and down while he smooths his hair back and breathes heavily.
He never made it to your appointments on time..even if he was already in the very castle that they occurred in.
“I’m sorry I’m late, any news doctor?” He says as he walks to your side of the bed.
“Yes, I was just informing your wife of her pregnancy with twins, your majesty.”
“Twins?!” Ten gasps, he immediately smiles from ear to ear, new found hope flooding his head. Could you possibly be pregnant with his child also?
“Yes, that is why she is in so much pain.”
“Sweetheart, that’s amazing.” Ten bends down to give you a kiss, but you turn your head.
“Doctor, when is the delivery date?”
Ten’s smile falls and he stands ups straight before rolling his shoulders.
“Late October or Early November, your highness.” The doctor snaps his briefcase shut, turning to bid you and Ten a farewell.
When the room is empty, you turn to Ten.
“Where were you, Ten?”
“Doesn’t matter, darling. I’m here now.” Ten shimmies off his jacket and sits on the edge of the bed.
“It does matter, because while the doctor is informing me of my health and the health of our CHILD, you’re off doing God knows what!”
You grip the sheets to hold in your anger.
“I can smell that bitch on you!” Your voice raises.
Ten moved over to you quickly, grabbing you by the throat and squeezing it slightly. His eyes full of pure anger.
“You’ve got some nerve, woman! I’ve given you everything you ask for, yet you lay here on the most expensive bed in this continent and all I hear from you are complaints! Be grateful for once and I may just want to spend time with you!”
He releases his grip and stands up before smoothing his pants.
You stare at him in shock. You contemplate tearing him apart with words, but you calm yourself. You needed to rest and keep your heartbeat stable to ensure the safe delivery of your babies, the ones you would soon raise with Lucas.
Ten walks to the door.
“You should rest and make sure my children are healthy..”
He looks at you over his shoulder. “Because if they aren’t...I’ll have your head put on a stake.”
—
Later that week, you receive another letter from Lucas. He tells you once again that he is safe and doing well, and is longing to see you.
You reply with a letter.
My dearest Lucas,
The doctor has informed me that I am pregnant with twins! Oh, how excited I am for you to meet them. They will have your laugh, your smile, your warmth. I love you, I wish you were here to take care of me. Ten has been absent on most days, leaving me to endure this pregnancy alone, even on the most painful nights. I know that if you were here, you’d be beside me through it all. Nonetheless, I pray that you are prepared for the twins. I will do my best to ensure their safe arrival. I look forward to reuniting with you soon and running away from this dreadful place, you will relieve me of my ties to this insane man and bring me to a paradise filled with true unconditional love, and we will live happily forever. My love, I need you..more than ever. Please be safe.
Yours Truly,
Y/n
After sending your letter off to a post office Lucas had given you the address of in another letter, you decide to walk about the castle for a while. The doctor advised you to take walks every now and then, but to not pressure yourself.
You head to the planetarium that Ten had built in just for you about a year ago. Back when Ten was caring and genuinely sweet, he did things for you just to see you smile. He knew you loved to look into the sky when you rested under the cherry blossom tree together, so he’d decided to get you a room where you could gaze together and hold hands just like you did in the old days.
You sit there and gaze at the stars, silently praying for a safe delivery that both you and your children would survive.
When you’ve spent an hour or so in the room, you finally get up and walk back to your room. You stop just after you pass by one of the rooms in the hallway. A loud groan escapes the door.
You lean in close and hear the whimpers of a woman as well. Your brows furrow. Surely, your servants wouldn’t be fooling around in your house.
You slowly turn the handle of the door and peak into the room.
Your heart drops at the sight and sound.
Ten makes love to Jade on the bed, thrusting his dick into her as her head falls over the edge of the bed and her legs spread further
apart. He sucks her neck and moans while a male servant enters him from behind, holding him by the waist as he pushes deep into your husband’s ass.
The man doesn’t see you as he throws his head back and looks to be on the brink of his climax.
A hand flies over your mouth, falling open.
You don’t make a sound, but Ten feels a gust of wind when the door opens up a little more.
He looks up at you, locking his dark, lustful eyes with your teary ones as you stand there in shock. Their bodies are naked, sweaty. Their moans and groans flood your ears.
But unlike the first time you caught him, he doesn’t stop. He pushes into her harder, still keeping eye contact with you.
He grabs her neck and begins to choke her, however, you just can’t seem to stop watching it all happen.
Her face begins to turn red, her eyes fly open and when she gets the upside down image of you in the doorway, she only chuckles.
Her voice gets louder as she cums.
“Oh! Oh, yes! Your majesty! Yes!” Her body shaking on the bed. Ten cums soon after, choking her harder as he watches you and grunts. The man behind him slams into Ten one more time before releasing into him and gripping onto his waist with his fingernails.
The audacity of them all. You clenched your fists, then slammed the door shut.
You wiped your tears with one hand and held your belly with the other. You tried not to cry too hard, for you didn’t want to stress yourself out, but Ten really ruined you. He didn’t care for you or love you, he only lusted after you. He only wanted to possess you.
That night, you kept yourself from crying by re-reading Lucas’ letters and dreaming of your wonderful life with him.
Ten had the nerve to bring breakfast to you the next morning.
You took the tray and threw it on the ground.
“Do you really think I’d eat something from you? You’re a revolting liar!”
“Oh? Revolting? Nice. Haven’t heard that one from you yet.” Ten sits on the edge of the bed.
“Yeah..well you really brought out my creativity after what you did yesterday.”
“What’s wrong? Are you jealous? You looked like you liked it..did it remind you of the first night?”
Ten taps the blanket with his fingers, slowly pushing them into the apex of your legs. “the night when Lucas and I played with your body? Ah, yes, we took turns entering and filling it up with our seed? It’s a shame he’s not here for us to do it again..”
His voice is laced with lust as he gazes at your swollen breasts.
“Don’t TOUCH me!” You move your leg and brush him off.
“So what? You’ll never let me touch you again? You’re my wife, darling..I have to touch you..kiss you..fuck you.” Ten gives a sadistic smile that you wish you could erase from your memory forever.
“You will NEVER put your dick in me again.”
“Then what good are you as my queen? We have to create a family..even after this pregnancy, there should be more, no? That’s what the people want, my love.”
“And if I leave you?” You say through gritted teeth.
Ten chuckles loudly. “Leave me? The king? I guess our children will be motherless, how sad. ‘Til death do us part,’ sweetheart, did you forget?”
“Why do you keep me around? You have people that give you what you need, because clearly, I am not enough..why do you hurt me?” Tears start to fill your eyes, making his apparition blurry.
“They’ll never be you..I love you..I need you, you’re mine and I’ll die before I let you go.” Ten runs his finger down your neck as he whispers.
“It feels amazing..having you here..to myself.”
“You’re pretty when you cry.” He wipes a tear.
“I hate you, Ten.”
Ten takes your hand and kisses it, laying it on the side of his face as he pouts.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
————
[NOVEMBER 1896]
You hold Ten’s hand tightly, letting out another blood-curdling scream. Your hips feel like they will shatter at any moment as you deliver your children.
But after several hours of grueling contractions and labor, you deliver two beautiful girls. Ten let you choose the names so you chose Yīngtáo for Cherry and Kāihuā for Blossom as Lucas had suggested in a letter to you once.
Ten rocks one twin in his arms as he tears up. You rock the other in your arms and smile at her.
“Oh, y/n..they’re beautiful.” Ten sobs.
You smile. “I know..”
Your nurses take the babies away and into their care room, where they are bathed and fed. The doctor also checks their vitals to ensure that they are healthy.
It’s just you and Ten in the room after it’s been cleaned up.
Ten lays down beside you, pulling you into his arms. You’re too tired to push yourself away from him, so you welcome his embrace by relaxing your body.
Your head rests on his chest, rising up and down slowly and steadily.
“You did well, my love.” Ten says softly.
“Yeah..I guess I did, even after all the shit you put me through.”
Ten chuckles lightly then sighs. “That night of the Chinese festival..it was so long ago..and look at what has happened. We have been blessed with not one, but two healthy babies. How can we tell which is which?”
“Well, I’m sure it will be easier to differentiate between the two as they get older..”
“No, my love. How can we tell which child is mine..and which child is his?” Ten says slowly.
Your eyes open as you sit up straight and look at Ten.
“His? What are you talking about?”
Ten runs his fingers down your back and the look on his face makes your skin crawl, his eyes low as he daunts a proud smirk.
“I know about everything, my love. I know what you did last summer. I know that you had sex with Lucas several times...even on that same night that I lost you.”
Your mouth falls open, but Ten doesn’t give you a chance to speak, his hand still running up and down your back.
“And..I want you to know...I forgive you...whether or not they’re mine..I forgive you.” He kisses your cheek.
“I will raise them as my own, for you have just made me the happiest man on Earth.” He whispers into your ear.
“Ten..” your eyes still wide after the shock. Ten knew that you and Lucas were engaging in and affair, and he didn’t tell you until now. How was it that he was so calm? Why did he keep you alive after learning of your whereabouts that night?
“Everything is all right now. I love you, my darling. I love our children.” Ten nuzzles himself onto your neck and pulls you closer to him as he drifts off into sleep quietly.
Your eyes fill with tears, but you quickly wipe them away and remind yourself of the last letter Lucas sent you.
He said to meet him at the cherry tree next week at a specific time. That is when he will come to your rescue and take you and your kids away. You smile and close your eyes, dreaming once again of your love.
————
[One Week Later]
It is after midnight when you creep out of your chambers. Ten had once again disappeared but you didn’t care where he was. In fact, you are beyond thankful for his neglect tonight of all nights. This evening you and your babies would run away with Lucas.
The palace was basically dead. The servants were working downstairs on the first floor. Normally, you and Ten had the top floor to yourselves for the evening. If you ever needed to call for a servant, there was a bell that could be rung that could be heard across the residence.
It was the last thing you needed. You didn’t pack much into your small bag. You removed your sleepwear and put on a pair of pants and a loose-fitting shirt. You put a cloak over yourself and bundled your sleeping girls up in your arms. You prayed they stayed peacefully asleep. You ran away quickly, knowing it would be stupid to leave Ten a letter.
You run towards a servant’s exit to the gardens that were right outside of your bedroom. You knew that no one would cross paths with you up until this point. You let out a sigh of relief and looked down at the babies. They still slept peacefully. You smile down at them and exit through the gardens.
You enter past the schoolyard you once frequented, amazed and saddened at the sour turn your friendship with Ten and Lucas had taken. You spot the cherry blossom tree in the distance and see a man leaning against the back of it, a baby stroller right beside him. Lucas was already waiting for you and your heart swelled with happiness.
You say, “Lucas…”
As you get closer and closer, Lucas slowly turns over and you see…
Wait.
“Darling,” Ten starts with a wide smile on his face, “Fancy seeing you here of all places in the middle of the night. Quite careless of you to expose the girls to the elements so soon.”
You back away. What is he doing here? How did he know you were-
Ten clicks his tongue. “Were you expecting someone else?”
You are stunned to silence. You couldn’t think straight. Where was Lucas, you thought. Perhaps he was late. What if he was still on his way to the rendezvous point? And now that Ten was here, you wouldn’t be able to get away with Lucas. You hope Lucas is stealthy and he avoids detection. You could arrange another meeting time. Find another way to escape.
You try to make up an excuse. “I-”
Ten raises his arms. “Your arms must ache from carrying both of the girls. Allow me,” he says as he takes Yīngtáo.
He cradles her and continues, “What brings you here, y/n? You have one chance to answer honestly.”
His nurturing smile at his daughter fades as he looks at you. “Don’t test me.”
You sigh as you cradle Kāihuā. “I’m leaving, Ten.”
Ten laughs. “You are? Are you walking on foot with my daughters to the next town?”
You sigh. “Enough, Ten. I’m leaving. With Lucas. You have kept him and I apart for too long. This,” you say, “Is not a true marriage. If you loved me at all, you would let me go.”
He caresses your cheek. As quickly as you flinch, he removes his hand from you. “Oh, sweet, foolish y/n. How do you explain my presence in the cherry blossom tree? Exactly at midnight.”
“You must’ve followed me…” You start.
He smiles. “‘You will relieve me of my ties to this insane man and bring me to a paradise filled with true unconditional love, and we will live happily forever’.”
Your heart sinks as he reads the words you wrote to Lucas. Ten found one of your letters. Did that mean he got it before Lucas could receive it? But how, you wonder.
He pouts. “Insane? Me? Is that how you really think of me?”
You are tempted to snap at him but don’t want to alarm your babies. You take a deep breath and reply, “What would you call an unfaithful spouse who won’t let you go?”
He laughs. “You’re one to talk about infidelity.” He then coos as he looks at your daughter, “You are just as flawed as I am. That is why we are a perfect match, y/n.”
You scoff. “We are not meant to be, Ten. I’m leaving with Lucas. No matter what you say. Have us banished from the kingdom. Tell everyone you banished me. I’m sure your mother will be thrilled.”
Ten shakes his head. “Oh, no, no. That just won’t do. Where will you go?” He fakes concern in his voice.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” you say.
Ten continues to mock. “Well, it will be hard for you to go alone. Especially since Lucas won’t be joining you.”
Your stomach churns. “What are you talking about?”
He beams. “He will remain in the kingdom. In the most permanent sense, sweetheart.”
You frown in confusion and fear. “Ten, what-”
He continues, reveling in what he will share with you.
He recites, “‘Once the delivery is successful, I will pick you up and we will run away from this place together, raising our child in the sunniest place for the rest of our lives. We will finally be together, my love’.”
Ten also got a hold of Lucas’ letters to you. How long had he kept this hidden, you wondered. And your eyes widened at another realization.
Ten says, “Ah, y/n...y/n...You underestimate me. I must admit that hurts me deeply. Did you really think this charade would go unpunished?”
“Ten…What did you do?” You ask shakily.
————
[Flashback - JUNE 1896]
Lucas brushes Hazel’s mane at the Park Estate’s stables.
“Your Highness,” one of the servants calls to him.
He looks up at the servant and freezes up at the sight of Ten beside him.
“His Royal Majesty Ten Lee seeks an audience with Your Highness,” the servant says.
Lucas nods stiffly. “Thank you. You are dismissed.”
The servant departs and Ten stands there, an unreadable smile on his face.
“It’s been a long time...brother,” Ten begins.
Lucas steps away from Hazel and approaches his half-brother. “Your Majesty, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Ten replies, “I’ve missed our friendship.”
Lucas scoffs. “Have you now?”
Ten shakes his head. “Remember that I am your king, brother. I won’t tolerate you speaking down to me.” He nods his head over to his team of guards, which included the ever-hostile Hendery. Hendery flashes a condescending smile at Lucas.
Lucas was still nursing the cut under his chin that Hendery gave him from the first time he visited. Lucas chose not to mention anything to arouse suspicion from the Parks. When they inquired, he said that it was from a sparring incident and they all left it at that.
Ten continues, “Let’s go hunting.”
Lucas begrudgingly accepts and joins Ten and his men to go hunting in the nearby forest that Lucas was most familiar with. The two brothers take their bows and arrows to hunt for deer. It is a tense and quiet walk.
When they finally see targets, Lucas eases up and is thankful for the distraction.
Ten shoots at a deer in the distance but misses. The deer scurries off. He hisses.
Lucas can’t help a chuckle. Hunting was never Ten’s strong suit.
Ten turns to Lucas. “Something funny, Lucas?”
Lucas shakes his head, smiling. “You’re still terrible with a bow and arrow.”
Ten recalls the times he and Lucas went hunting when they were kids. He laughs. “I’m afraid so.”
Lucas had his reservations about Ten. He resented him for marrying you, cheating on you, neglecting you during your time of need, and keeping you away from him. But deep down, he still had affection for his best friend. That connection didn’t just go away, especially since they were actually bonded by blood. And part of him ached for Ten because soon, you and Lucas would leave and never see him again, your friendship permanently severed.
Lucas does his best to put on a good face. He and Ten regale about their adolescence and their shenanigans in the palace. Ten asks about Rosé and his time in the Park Estate. Lucas asks about the kingdom and how his reign is progressing. He even politely asks about you, acting like you two hadn’t spoken to each other since the festival. Ten replies that you are well and are expecting to deliver the baby sometime in October or November. Lucas pretends to not know this information.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. A royal heir,” Lucas starts as he aims his arrow in search of a target.
Ten only watches Lucas now. “Indeed, y/n has made me the happiest man. The baby is just the beginning for us, Lucas.”
Lucas evens out his expression so Ten doesn’t catch onto his irritation. However, Ten knew what he was doing.
Ten continues as he readies his bow and arrow. “I think I’ve found my first kill for the day, brother...” He turns to Lucas, whose back is to him. Ten positions his arrow against the bow.
“Oh?” Lucas asks, oblivious, focused on finding deer.
“Take a look,” Ten says quietly. He closes one eye shut and focuses his aim.
As Lucas turns to face Ten, Ten releases the arrow, striking Lucas.
Very near to the heart, as Ten anticipated.
Lucas groans as he falls down to his knees. “What have you done?!” He quickly falls on his knees, blood seeping out of his wound. Lucas loses even more energy and falls to the ground, face first.
Ten walks over to Lucas. Lucas slowly crawls away, attempting to evade his hunter. “You know, I had my doubts about today. Coming to see you, inviting you to the forest, and making you the prize of this hunt...But I can’t take any chances, Lucas. y/n belongs to me. It’s time for you to know that. Soon, she will see it, too.”
Lucas gasps heavily, “Help...me…”
Ten laughs. “Do you think anyone here is on your side, bastard?”
Lucas feels faint. He is about to lose consciousness, knowing that he is very near to his end. He was torn between wishing to be saved and ending his suffering. But through all of this, he could only think of you and his child. Tears fell from his eyes. He had to fight until the end. He continues to crawl but he is fading with each passing moment.
Ten barks, “Hendery, Doyoung, pick him up.”
Ten’s guards appear. Lucas can only see their shoes. Hendery and Doyoung pick Lucas up off of the ground. Hendery quickly pushes Lucas against the nearest tree. Lucas loses his breath at the harsh contact.
Hendery quickly pulls the arrow out of his chest and Lucas yells in agony. Hendery can’t help himself, pulling out a dagger and stabbing Lucas right in the heart, turning the dagger slowly and torturously.
Ten shakes his head. “You were supposed to wait for my order, Hendery.”
Hendery pulled his dagger out of Lucas’s bloody chest. He lets go of Lucas’s body. It falls to the ground like a chopped down tree, heavy but lifeless.
Hendery backs away and bows to Ten. “My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Ten nods. “Doyoung, prepare the crate. We’re going home, gentlemen.”
————
[Present - November 1896]
The twins slept in the carriage now.
“What did you do to him?” You whisper loudly, hot tears streaming down your face. You knew it in your gut that Ten got to Lucas.
“What had to be done, dearest,” Ten says.
“Where is he?” You ask, dreading his answer.
“Right underneath us,” Ten says as he looks down at the grass.
You slowly process his words. You look down to the ground and realize Lucas was buried right underneath the tree that started it all.
You stumble and fall to the ground. “No…”
Ten continues, “Lucas is dead, y/n.”
You shake your head. “Ten, you wouldn’t…”
He responds, “You were straying. I had to intervene.”
You refuse to listen. “You...are many things. You are not a killer.”
He finishes, “I would do anything for you, y/n.”
Images and memories of your true love flash into your mind. Lucas’s welcoming smile when he meets you the first time. The horseback riding. The first time you made love before Ten entered the room at the party. The days in Wanderlust. Your last night together at the festival. You sob, trying to control your volume. “No, no, no. Please, God, no...Ten, what-”
“I did it for us, angel,” Ten says as he bends down and raises your chin to look at him, adoring your gorgeous face as you weep.
You pull away. “You killed him...Ten, that’s an act of treason. You can’t get away with this.”
“I can. And I will, y/n.” He gets you up off of the ground. “Come along now. The girls will soon need to get fed again.”
You pull yourself away from Ten. “Don’t touch me. I will never let you touch me again.”
Ten laughs. “You would be smart to obey me, y/n. Or I will take the twins away from you.”
Tears staining your face, you grasp the stroller handle and your knuckles turn white. You want to lunge for your monstrous husband but know that regardless of your status as queen, Ten always had the last word. You knew he could take the girls away from you. He was as good (well as evil) as his word.
Ten leads you back to the palace. He offers to handle the stroller but you refuse to let go of your babies. They were your reason to continue living this never ending nightmare. It was up to you that they didn’t grow up to be like their “father”.
————
[DECEMBER 1896]
You silently mourn the death of Lucas, cursing at the heavens for taking away the most heavenly creature from you. The Park Estate and the Kingdom of Hearts have continued their search parties across the continent for Lucas. Ten, unironically, was at the forefront. He made sure they looked everywhere. The last place they would look was where Lucas’s remains laid: the cherry blossom tree.
The search teams were losing hope and Princess Rosé was inconsolable. Your heart ached for her as you knew the truth. So you did what you could and listened to her when she came to visit. You could not leave the palace under your concerned husband’s orders. You theorized that the pressure of becoming king overwhelmed him and he ran. That at the very least he was safe and starting a new life. You and Rosé knew that was a load of bullshit. Lucas would have at least sent a letter, apologizing. That was the kind of person he was.
You continue to nurse the babies. You channel all of your energy in taking care of them, checking in with Doctor Kun daily. You drink the best herbal teas. Your diet is consistent. You couldn’t starve yourself. Even if every bite of food was no longer savory, you continued to eat. You had to sustain yourself for the sake of your children. Ten is thrilled that you have invested all of your time as a mother, as you should’ve from the start.
If you allowed yourself to think about anything besides the well-being of your children, you knew your mind would wander to a dark place.
You are reading a book on motherhood in the library one day while the babies are napping. Seulgi comes to you.
“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived for you,” she says.
You shoot Seulgi a look as you take the letter. “Did His Majesty get a hand on this?”
Seulgi’s eyes widened at your hostility. “Your Majesty…”
You sigh. “I trusted in you, Seulgi...Ten got his hand on my personal letters. And I know he got to you.”
Seulgi panics. “I am so sorry, Your Majesty. I wanted to protect you but the king threatened the safety of my family.” Tears well up in her eyes. “If it were up to me, I would be fiercely loyal to you. Only you. But as long as the king reigns, I have no choice.”
You get up from your chair and put your hands on Seulgi’s forearms. “I know.”
Seulgi hiccups. “Your Majesty?”
You say, “I understand. You don’t have to worry. I know that you are a good person. You have always stood by me. You’ve taken a beating for me, for heaven’s sake. I still carry that with me to this day.”
Seulgi shakes her head. “I would do it again, Your Majesty. You have always been kind to me.” She had worked in the palace for over ten years, ever since she was a little girl. “Without you, the palace would be hell.”
You smile at Seulgi, “I appreciate that. And there’s no need to worry. The personal letters have ceased so if His Majesty inquires about the letters, you can hand them over…” You have given up on keeping secrets from Ten. He was right. You truly underestimated how vile he was.
Seulgi shakes her head. “His Majesty has not seen this letter, Your Majesty...And it’s better that he does not.” She bows.
You realize what she says and quickly dismiss her. You open the letter.
Dear y/n,
I am so sorry to write to you as you are still nursing your children. I congratulate you and your husband for the safe delivery of your daughters. I implore you: if you know anything that the palace has not admitted to the public about Prince Lucas’ whereabouts, please tell me. I fear that something terrible has happened. He wouldn’t have run away. He was committed to staying with the princess. He wouldn’t have disappeared without sending us a letter after the fact at the very least. I await your response.
Many blessings,
Kahei
Lucas’ mother and the rest of his family were also kept in the dark. Ten forbade you from reaching out to them again. It was a part of his threat to take the girls away from you. And even if you dared send them a letter, you feared for their safety and yours. You wondered just how long Ten would keep the charade up. He could easily have Lucas’s remains moved and found anywhere he commanded. Why keep everyone in the dark about his status? He was a sick man.
You complied with Ten’s orders but refused to lie in bed with him. You were thankful that the twins needed to be fed every few hours throughout the night, as well. Ten was displeased but he couldn’t deny you from protecting his daughters. For they were his daughters. Soon, they would be weaned and you two could get back on track, he thought. You needed time to forget Lucas and you would, he firmly believed.
Ten continued his affairs throughout the palace. It was a game to him: a game of where can I sleep with the help without my wife knowing. But he got sloppy sometimes as his lust overtook him more times than he could count. You caught him several times without detection and simply resumed your day. Ten fucked Miss Oral in the kitchen at 4 AM? Okay. Ten had an orgy with nine other servants in the garden? Ambitious. Ten kept that little tart Jade on after so many months? You were disappointed but not shocked.
It infuriated you but it wasn’t like you didn’t know the truth.
And then, the next blow was delivered.
————
[2 Weeks Later]
You finish eating dinner alone in your chambers. The twins are being bathed by the servants. Ten is away on another useless search party. It was like a pageant for him. The public would say, “The honorable king is unrelenting when it comes to searching for his lost childhood friend.” A touching story. You resisted the urge to punch a wall.
Seulgi hands you another letter. She bows and quickly leaves you to read in private.
My dear daughter,
I pray this letter finds you well. I don’t know if you have been receiving my letters as you have not responded. In case they have disappeared due to the distance, I should tell you that His Majesty has transferred us to the Western continent and we only just caught wind of your delivery. How we wish to meet our grandchildren. How your father wished it more than anything. y/n, I am so sorry to say this but your father has passed from tuberculosis. I miss him so much and I wish more than anything for us to be together to mourn him. We have buried him the day I write this to you. Please, if you receive this letter, send for me. Or come to me, if you can. I miss you and love you, always. Many blessings to you and my beautiful granddaughters.
Love,
Your Mother
You fall down to the floor and wail. Seulgi and Irene quickly run into the room, having been nearby cleaning the other rooms.
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?” Irene asks.
Seulgi rubs your back. “Your Majesty…”
“My f-father,” you say between sobs, “H-he’s gone.” You shake yourself off of the two women. You shake your head as you look down at the two women.. “Did you two know?!”
Irene shakes her head. And so does Seulgi.
“Seulgi...Did. You. Know?!” You demanded as you took the glass pitcher of water and threw it to the ground, the glass shattering all over the marble floor. You stand there, barefoot.
“Your Majesty, don’t walk over the-” Irene starts.
You don’t care. Nothing could hurt as much as the pain you feel inside. Not only did you lose the love of your life. Your freedom. Your happiness. You lost one of the only people in your corner who had been stripped from you because of the king and that crone’s orders. You walk over the glass, the shards piercing your feet.
Seulgi runs over to you. “Your Majesty, stop. Irene, get the first aid kit immediately!”
Irene runs off to get the kit. Seulgi tries to put her arms around you.
You shrug her off and say quietly, “My father was dying and you mean to tell me no one knew?”
Seulgi shakes her head. “King Ten was always there when I collected your mail and I could never deliver their letters to you. That is the truth. Please, Your Majesty, you have to believe me.” She cries again. “If I had known...I would’ve told you. I-”
“Of course,” you stop her, “Of course, my beloved husband knew. That witch of a mother of his also knew...Those two will really stop at nothing to strip every person I love away from me.”
More servants rushed to your chambers.
You yell. “Leave! Get out! Run along and tell the king his queen is acting up if you haven’t already. In fact, I demand his presence. So go get him up from whatever bed he lies in and yank his dick off of whatever pussy it resides in.”
A couple of servants run to get the king, astonished at your behavior.
Seulgi and Irene quickly disinfect and bandage your feet. “We will call Doctor Kun to tend to your wounds this evening,” Irene says.
Ten returns, his hair disheveled and bites apparent on his neck.
You look up at your husband, who stands at the door in shock at the sight of you.
“Husband! How nice to see you!” You said as you laid your bloody feet up on the bed.
Ten only looks at you in dismay. “What happened to your feet? Who is responsible for this? I will have them-”
“Oh, shut up,” you start, “I did it.”
Ten looks at you in shock. Your eyes looked so lifeless, so defeated. He almost didn’t recognize you. “Why?” He asks, pathetically.
You show him the letter. “I got this letter before anyone else could get to it. I wanted to see how my parents were doing. Since you and your mother have moved them away from me, I figured it was about time I got an update, no?”
Ten sees the letter in your hand and turns to Seulgi.
“Do not take this out on any of our servants. This is between you and me. Now, I’ve received news of my father’s passing. That’s interesting...Do you know why? Probably because I never got news of his sickness, much less that you transferred them to the fucking western continent.”
Ten pushes past the servants and his shoes crush the broken glass into tinier pieces. “y/n, I was going to tell you but I wanted to ensure your safe delivery first and-”
You raise your hand. “You took them away from me. My parents. And now my father’s dead. You just couldn’t be the only one fatherless, could you?!”
“y/n, I will not allow you to-”
You cut him off. “I’ve had enough of your games, husband. I have been so damn complacent. Meanwhile, you’ve probably fucked every maid in this room…”
The female servants, apart from Irene and Seulgi, couldn’t meet your eye, confirming your thoughts.
“Am I a joke to all of you?” You ask everyone in the room. “If it weren’t for me, you would all be rotting in the dungeon because of His Majesty’s intolerance for ONE miniscule mistake.” You grab the glass of water on your nightstand and break it. You hold one sharp piece of glass.
Ten tries to calm you down. “y/n, I-”
You hold the piece of glass in your hand, quivering. “You will send for my mother and for my father’s casket. We will give them a proper burial in the kingdom. It is the least you can do, Your Majesty.”
Ten relents, fearing you for the first time. You simply needed time to digest the news and he would give it to you. He would abide by your wishes and bring your family back to the kingdom.
————
[JANUARY 1897]
Ten gave you the distance you needed. You didn’t give a damn where he was so long as he left you alone. Your mother arrived, along with your father’s casket. Your father was given a proper royal burial. Your friends of the family attended. Ten stood beside you and your mother. The crocodile tears were provided by Ten’s mother.
You were able to see your mother more as she moved back into your childhood home. She helped you take care of the twins.
The time apart from Ten gave you more time to think.
Perhaps you weren’t as trapped as you thought.
Your animosity faded for you still had appearances to maintain. Ten believed you to forgive him for his indiscretion with your father. Like there was nothing else to be forgiven.
Ten continues lazing around with the servants but his favored servant remains to be Jade. Jade slowly gets it into her head that she can one day get rid of you and take your place. Ten never planned for that. You were number one in his heart.
Ten and Jade lie together in a bedroom in the first floor west wing of the palace.
“I love you, Your Majesty,” Jade whispers into his ear as she snuggles herself closer to him.
Ten only grunts, imagining you to say those words again. How he longed to hear your words of affection directed towards him again.
Suddenly, his heart and abdomen grow bigger. “J-Jade, I...I feel ill. Hand me a glass of water,” he starts.
Jade gives him a glass of water and he downs it. The pain he feels only worsens. It felt like he was being eaten from the inside out. All over his body. He starts roaming his hands all over his naked body, trying to feel for what is gnawing at him.
“Ahhh,” Ten yells out in pain. “Jade, there is something wrong with me.”
“Your Majesty!” Jade yells as she gets out of bed. “I will call the doctor.”
Jade runs out the door. Ten lies in bed, his body burning from the gnawing sensation he feels inside. What was wrong with him, he thought. An hour or so passes and Jade still has not returned.
“Jade!” Ten calls out. “Anyone!” His voice has fallen weak. He cannot move because the pain is too agonizing.
The door opens and you enter. “Why, hello Ten.”
You look absolutely radiant. Better than you have looked in months. You are beaming with a joy he had never seen you have. You wore a green ball gown, like you were ready to tend to visiting royals. You hadn’t dressed up this nicely since you conceived the twins.
“I ran into that little tramp of yours and she told me you were ill so I thought I would come tend to my poor, poor husband…” You coo, mimicking the way he patronized you for so long.
“Darling! Please help me, I am in pain. Get the doctor,” he grunts out word for word.
You sigh. “Now why would I do that?”
He looks at you with wide eyes. “Wh-”
You sit on the bed beside him, increasing his discomfort at the sudden movement of the bed. “Now if only Jade was around...She would’ve called the doctor for you. She would do nothing short of murder for you if you wished it. But...Jade is indisposed. In the most permanent sense, sweetheart.”
“y/n-” Ten starts.
“You two enjoyed rolling around in the hay so much...So I thought it fitting that she’d die the way she would enjoy most.”
Ten looks up at you in horror as you ruffle his hair.
You finish, “Consumed by the earth itself.”
Ten cries out. “y/n, help...me...Please…”
You quickly get off of the bed. “It hurts a lot, doesn’t it?” You ask.
Ten is furious but his pain overpowers any emotion. He only cries. He doesn’t have the words.
“Are you familiar with the Gu poison?” You ask, softly.
Ten’s eyes widen at the word “poison”.
You continue. “It is incredible how it’s created. You see, venomous snakes, scorpions, and centipedes are collected into a jar. They have to fight each other for survival and ultimately devour each other. The last creature standing holds a concentrated toxin. The toxin has no taste so someone can easily slip it into your supper and you would never know it was laced with poison. It takes up to ten days for it to act. And look now, on our dear old friend Lucas’ birthday, the poison has taken effect. It was meant to be this day.”
“You bitch-” Ten spurts out.
You check your nails and shut the curtains. “Do you really want our last moments together to be so full of hatred?”
You tie one of his silk ties around his mouth. He thrashes about but you overpower him. You take the other silk ties and tie them around his arms.
“You must want to know what it feels like to be tied up, don’t you? You certainly loved doing it to me,” you continue.
Ten continues to writhe in pain. He feels himself slowly fading. It was torture. He would much rather get stabbed in the heart. Any death must have been better than this feeling: he felt like he was being eaten alive. Tiny little creatures were gnawing at him from the inside. He wanted to rip his flesh open and take the critters out.
You sigh. “My father’s death was the final straw, Ten. I wanted to kill you the moment you told me Lucas was six feet under the cherry blossom tree but you had me under your thumb. I’m not going to take it anymore, dearest.”
Ten cries. “y/n, please...I will do anything...Please save me…”
You say, “You promised a lot of things to me. But you failed me. Time and time again. Fucking anything that moved. And I can’t take this anymore. I was ready to leave. You could have let me go and still laid with any woman you wanted. But no...You wanted to possess me...like some doll. And you killed Lucas, the true love of my life. You and your mother have pulled the strings of our lives for too long. This is the end.”
Ten manages to say, “y/n-“
“I have had it, Ten,” you say. “I know where the antidote is but I’m afraid it is impossible for me to get it now.”
Ten cries. “No…”
You sigh. “It’s buried with that harlot. Such a pity. She really left you in the lurch, didn’t she?”
That was how you planned to spin it. Jade, the jealous servant, who wanted to take your place, threw herself into a jealous rage and poisoned the king. You had her confession letter prepared very nicely. You wondered if you hired the same scribe who Ten hired to imitate Lucas’ handwriting. Either way, that scribe kept their mouth shut when they saw the fire in your eyes.
Ten cries loudly but his screams are muffled by the silk tie.
“Now, I would be with you during your final breaths but that wouldn’t look good for me, would it? You certainly wouldn’t want me to take the fall for a crime that the commendable Jade committed?”
Tears stream down your face now as you finally release your suppressed emotions. “You brought this on yourself, husband. All of this. You’ve brought me to this point with each betrayal. Now accept the consequences.” You walk out of the room, not a servant in sight.
Ten lies in bed and thrashes around, his eyes red and teary with angry veins as he screams loudly. Unfortunately, no one hears him because his rendezvous points with his multitude of lovers were always away from the majority of servants.
All he felt was agony. Surely, any death would’ve been better than this. His heartbeat dwindled and his last thought before he succumbed to his death was of you being taken by him the very first time at the graduation party.
————
[Three Days Later]
The Kingdom of Hearts was once again in mourning. The people mourn the death of King Ten. He was a strong presence, just like his father. The young King was destined to expand the kingdom and its wealth, but his life was cut short due to poisoning. Found by you, his dead body was found in the west wing, tied up. You found a letter from one of your servants, confessing to the crime. She was in love with His Majesty. She quickly disappeared with the night. Now, there was a bounty for her head and her family was under watch in case she returned or made contact with them.
His Royal Majesty is survived by you, his wife, the Queen, and your twin daughters, Princesses Yīngtáo and Kāihuā.
The funeral procession was beautiful. People from all over the continent gathered to pay their respects for the fallen king. Flowers from all over the continent were tossed over his casket. He was laid to rest in the Royal Cemetery beside his father.
Ten’s mother was inconsolable. She lost her husband and her son. You were also inconsolable. You wept and wept. Nothing was holding you back from mourning who you've lost.
You lost a lot in a matter of months. You lost Lucas. You lost your father. Hell, you lost Ten a long time ago. Nearly everything you once treasured vanished in the blink of an eye.
You could finally let it all out and it worked to your benefit. No one would dare suspect you of foul play. Not even former Queen Lee.
You had tea with her after the procession.
“y/n, you really loved my son,” she says between sniffles.
You sip your tea, feeling calmer now. It took her so long to realize that you weren’t the wretch she thought you to be. But maybe that was just her spiked tea speaking. She would probably return to hating you, tomorrow
Or would she?
You are the sole ruler of the kingdom now. Until you marry again. Then again, who said you had to marry again? There was no official law that mandated you to.
The queen was complacent now because you were in charge. It was in her best interest to be on your good graces.
But after years of enduring her insults and for her hand in omitting to tell you about your father's illness, you were afraid that that was no longer an option.
“Mother,” you begin, “You should know that the little slag Jade was not responsible for your son’s death.”
Ten’s mother nearly drops her cup of tea as she shakily puts it down.
She openly glares at you now. “What are you saying, y/n?”
“Do you really think Jade was smart enough to get the poison to put into Ten’s supper? There is only one thing she excelled at and it was fucking your son. He loved to fuck her like the little whore he was.”
The queen got up from the table and was about to grab you. “You take that back, you little wretch.”
You refused to cower away from this crone. Her baby boy was no longer there to shield her now. You had the power.
She is about to slap you but you grab her arm. She tries to wriggle out of your grasp.
“I poisoned your son, Mother. I exterminated that beast before he hurt me again. He fucked all of the servants behind my back. He killed Lucas. He lied about my father.”
“You’re the damned beast,” she says as she spits in your face. She bawls. “My baby...What have you done?!”
You don’t flinch. You take a napkin and wipe away the spit from your face. “It is not in your benefit to defy me, Mother…”
“Shut up, you insolent wench,” the Queen removes herself from your grasp and attempts to lunge for you. You trip her to the ground.
You continue, “I have to wonder...how much you knew…”
Ten’s mother opens her mouth and closes it immediately. It is all in her eyes.
“You hag,” you say, “I’ll take that as a confirmation of my suspicions.”
You place your foot over her back so she can’t get up. “Does the term Gu poison ring any bells?”
The queen’s eyes widen in shock as she looks up at you.
You add, “I believe you tried to poison Lucas’ mother that way once upon a time…”
“How did you know-“
“Surely, Ten brought you up to speed on my visits to Wanderlust. In fact, I’m sure you were the first person prepared to set the town ablaze so long as Kahei burned, didn’t you?”
“Don’t mention that whore’s name in my palace!” Ten’s mother pushed herself and yanked you by the leg so you stumble.
Seulgi runs in. “Your Majesty, are you alright?”
You regain your footing and you kick the woman’s legs away.
The former Queen barks at Seulgi. “You were outside this whole time, girl? The queen is at her wit’s end. Someone needs to detain her!”
Seulgi stands there, awaiting your orders.
Ten’s mom grabs Seulgi by the arm. “What are you doing, you worthless fool? This woman poisoned the king. She admitted it. Arrest her.”
Seulgi shakes herself off of her. “You must be hearing things, madam. It must be from your age.”
Ten’s mother was an irritable crone. One of her biggest triggers was any mention of her age.
“Girl,” Ten’s mom begins again about to yank Seulgi by the hair. She quickly backs up.
Seulgi speaks up, “I’ve served this household since I was thirteen years old. You have never called me by my name. You have beaten my mother more times than I count. You have paid my family insufficiently. Your abuse and condescension made you an unfitting Queen. Your son was the spitting image of you in terms of how he treated the staff. The minute news came of his passing, I breathed a sigh of relief. Because Queen y/n is now in charge. She cares about her people and her servants. Unlike. You.”
Ten’s mother yells, “Insolent vermin, you are!”
Seulgi bows. “I will be outside the door if you need anything, Your Majesty.” She leaves you with the Queen.
Ten’s mother grew more livid. “You have turned the help against me, have you not?”
You shrug. “A little kindness goes a long way, Mother. It’s unfortunate neither you or your son have possessed it.”
Ten’s mother is about to lunge at you again when she clams up and clutches her chest.
“y/n...my heart…” Ten’s mother falls over. You simply stand there.
After a few minutes, you tell Seulgi to alert the servants that the queen suddenly died of a heart attack. It was sudden and as you and Seulgi tried to get her up, it was too late.
————
[February 1897]
Ten and his parents were united in death. Now that they were out of the picture, it was time to announce the findings of Lucas’ remains. It just so happened that you found a letter in Ten’s study, confirming his instructions to bury Lucas under the cherry blossom tree.
It turned out the scribe you hired before had indeed worked with Ten. The scribe had also imitated Ten’s handwriting rather well.
Princess Rosé was beside you as the servants uncovered Lucas’ remains.
Lucas’ body was decomposed a long time ago. But specialists confirmed that his body was severed into many pieces, like he was a piece of meat.
You and Princess Rosé cried together. You felt some of your guilt leave your body. Now Rosé could move on, just as she rightfully deserved.
You two had dinner and then walked around the palace grounds together.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you, y/n,” she says as she sniffles.
You squeeze her hand as you walk together. “Thank you for everything, Rosé. You’ve been my rock throughout this whole process.”
It was true. Although you and Lucas had cheated, you never harbored any negative feelings toward Rosé. She didn’t know that you and Lucas were in love when he entered the arranged marriage with her. She was never malevolent. She trusted her husband and believed the best of him. She protected him at the festival when she knew he had run off God-knows-where. It was unfair to her.
You wished you could keep your distance from her because you didn’t want to keep living a lie with her.
“I know you and Lucas met the night of the festival, y/n…” She admits as you walk through the rose garden.
You stop in your tracks.
Rosé hasn’t let go of your hand, even after admitting this. “Originally, when he disappeared, I thought he’d run away to meet with you…”
You listen to her, afraid to say something that will anger her.
But Rosé, ethereal and gentle, looked at you, calm. There was sadness in her eyes. “I know he loved you.”
You cry, about to apologize like you wanted to for so long. “Rosé, I-“
She says solemnly, “I know…When I realized you never ran away to meet him, I realized that something was wrong. As much as you two hurt me, I...couldn’t stop loving Lucas. When we were together, he was so kind, y/n. He just pulls you in with those eyes and that smile. You know this more than anyone.”
You nod shyly. “I do.”
“I would’ve let you two run off. You would’ve had to evade my vengeful family for all of your days but at least, you would’ve been together.”
You weep, astonished at Rosé’s kindness. “You...I don’t deserve your kindness.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t. But you need it more than ever.”
You two hug and continue your walk. You make it to the weaponry room near the stables where you overhear some of the guards drinking.
“A toast to our fallen king,” a man begins.
“To our fallen king,” the other men continue.
“Now we are subject to the whims of His Majesty’s unhinged wife,” the first man continues.
The men matter and some laugh, making derogatory comments about you. How they would still bed you, regardless of how insane you were.
You and Rosé eye each other in confusion and quietly move closer. The men sit at a table with a box of spirits.
The first man you recognized as the head of the army, Hendery. “At least, the Queen cannot fuck that prince again. His Majesty saw to it.”
Your heart clenches as do your fists.
The guards clink their bottles together. “Hear, hear.”
Hendery continues, “And I ended him with that final blow, didn’t I?”
The guards cheer. As you hear this news, you carefully scan the room. You recognize all of the guards. None of them appeared to be shocked at the news. You wondered how many of these men were present the day of Lucas’ murder.
Rosé scares you then. Her complacent nature had completely shattered. She grips the wood of the room tightly as her knuckles whitened.
You still didn’t have the full details of what happened the day Lucas died. But it seemed the Lord had smiled down at you and decided to give you the truth.
Hendery commands the room, only stumbling every now and then from how inebriated he was. “His Majesty shot him like any deer in that forest. Very near to the heart. His Majesty had improved greatly in his archery skills. He was able to put it to practice, at the very least.”
He continues as the men’s cheers become all muttered and incoherent from the alcohol.
“And then Doyoung and I picked up his body and pushed him against a tree. And I stabbed him really neatly in the heart. And now, no more Lucas.” He laughed.
Rosé pulls you away now. “y/n, he must be punished.”
You open your mouth in disbelief. “What?”
Rosé retorts, “I know you had a hand in Ten’s death. So why should this be any different?”
“What?” You ask her. How the hell did she figure it out?
“Lucky guess.” She shrugs. “Your reaction was the confirmation I needed.”
Sweet Rosé was not to be underestimated you thought. She could be as cold and calculating as the next person.
“Come on,” she goaded, “You want to end his pathetic existence as much as I do.”
Of course you did. It was all you could think about the minute he admitted to fatally stabbing Lucas.
You shake your head. “You can be better than me, Rosé. I can do this on my own.”
Rosé takes your hand and leads you to the stables. “Your hands already have enough blood on them. Let me take some of that burden.”
You protest more but Rosé won’t have it. The gears in her head were moving a mile a minute and you had no idea what she had in store for Hendery.
A few hours passed and the men slowly left the weapons room. Hendery, to your and Rosé’s luck, remained behind.
A sad excuse of a human being, you thought. He was a bully in high school. Belittled the women around him. It blew your mind that he married and procreated.
You would see to it that his family is taken care of when he is gone.
Princess Rosé awaited him. “Commander,” she began.
Hendery stumbles and upon seeing Princess Rosé, he gives her a lewd smile. “Your Highness, what are you doing here alone so late at night? It’s dangerous for a princess to be unattended.”
She plays him. “I’ve never felt so safe, having the commander of the royal army with me.”
Hendery slides his arm around her, groping her bottom. Rosé flinches and hides her distaste.
Hendery replies, “Allow me to escort you back to the palace.”
Rosé shakes her head. “Actually, there is one place I wanted to go. With you.”
Hendery smiles wide, like he’d successfully gotten the biggest kill in a hunt
Rosé leads him to the stables, where you wait in the shadows.
You trip Hendery as he walks in. “Wha-“ He starts.
He groans in pain as you quickly tie rope tightly around his right leg.
“What are you-who is that?” Hendery asks, dazed.
“It’s His Majesty’s unhinged wife, of course,” you say, echoing his words back at him.
Hendery sobers up as you bring a lamp close to your face. “Y-your Majesty?!”
Rosé takes the other end of the rope to an occupied stable, where Lucas’ horse Hazel resides for her visit.
She greets Hazel quietly and Hazel nuzzles her, trusting her completely. It seemed Hazel had added Rosé into her circle of trust. Rosé ties the other end of the rope around Hazel’s left hind leg.
“Alright, girl,” she whispers, “We’re going to go for a ride.”
Hendery panics as he sobers up even more. “What are you doing?”
You swiftly bind him with rope so he can’t use his arms. “That’s for you to find out, commander.”
Hendery is about to speak up by you bind his mouth shut as well.
Rosé gets up on Hazel. “y/n, will you join us?”
You nod. “I’m ready.”
You get up on Hazel and sit behind Rosé. She spurred Hazel forward with her heels. Hazel starts off slowly, moving out of the stables.
Hendery feels his body move forward as the rope pulls him.
You and Rosé ignore Hendery’s protests. Rosé beckons for Hazel to run faster. You make it to the grassy field where the horses can ran freely. Hendery already suffers burns from the traction. Hazel has trampled him a couple of times now. He is losing consciousness.
Rosé pulls her last trick and pulls the reins back to stop Hazel and Hendery’s body slips right under and she steps right over him. Spooked, she tramples him even more.
“Well?” Rosé asks you.
You get off of Hazel and check on Hendery.
His body lied there, bruised, lifeless. His right leg was positioned awkwardly having broken a mile back, at the very least.
“He’s dead,” you confirm.
You and Rosé already planned to pin the murder on Doyoung, for he was just as responsible for Lucas’s death. Doyoung wanted to overthrow Hendery for a while and the guards confirmed it when questioned.
Doyoung was sentenced to death by decapitation.
Rosé returned to the Park Estate. You both continued your friendship, retiring from your murderous tendencies. As you have avenged the man you loved.
————
[June 1897]
Months have passed and the kingdom celebrated their beloved Queen’s birthday. You were still in mourning but everyone was relieved to see your enchanting smile again. The kingdom had a strong and capable leader in you.
As the citizens adored you, the palace staff grew to respect you. No whispers of “simpleton Queen” ever slipped from their mouths again. Most respected you. The skeptical ones feared you. No one dared to defy you now so long as they treated you with respect.
Seulgi had always been your most loyal servant so you elevated her position in the household. She and her family could live comfortably, as well. You made sure all of your trusted servants received fair payments.
You tracked down Miss Oral and the other servants who Ten fucked around with. Just as they themselves were loose, their lips were even looser. You dismissed them all from the palace. As for Jade’s family, you pardoned them for they didn’t sleep with your husband multiple times.
As for the guards who knew about Lucas’ murder, you had them dishonorably charged from the army. Most of them were slackers anyway, uncommitted to protecting the kingdom. They only cared about their titles. You needed to hire truly honorable men for the army and you knew just the right person to lead the new wave.
You welcomed Kahei and her family to move into the kingdom. They lived next to your mother and became friends. Only you and your mother knew of the actual identity of Lucas’s family. To everyone else, you claimed them to be distant relatives that you looked out for. Kahei and her family were also given the royal treatment. In a matter of time, you would let them join you in the palace, where they rightfully belonged. Beside you.
Yangyang was in the running to be the next commander of the royal army, outranking several of the other guards, much to their dismay. You knew it was a matter of time before he was given the official title.
Rosé visited you from time to time. You have become close friends, much to the shock of the public. It was believed that mourning the loss of your husbands brought you closer together.
If they only knew the true hell you both endured.
You had no plans to remarry. Your heart remained with Lucas. Even if there were only memories left. Lucas was buried, per his family’s wishes, in his summer home in Wanderlust. You told Rosé about Lucas’ true origins and instead of punishing you and his family, she befriended all of you. You, the twins, Rosé, and Lucas’ family went to visit Lucas’ grave and decorated it with flowers.
It was a bittersweet summer. You were in Wanderlust with Lucas, just not in the way either of you had hoped for. You knew he was with you in spirit and just like Kahei told you the first time you visited her, you two could meet again in the next life.
Hopefully, without the menacing presence that also lingered in your memories. Ten must have been an evil incubus that escaped hell, but you hoped that you sent him back to suffer, eternally.
Fin.
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