Once Upon a Vengeance 🔥 (an ILLICIT love)

Prologue

The lake’s entrance was covered by long branches. The sun somehow managed to reach Atoosa from between the leaves. When the wind blew, the lights breaching through the leaves moved too, and it seemed as if little fairies were dancing on the lake. It was mesmerizing to watch.

It had been a week since her mother’s funeral, and everything felt unreal.

Atoosa took her white clothes of grief off one by one while standing by the lake. A cold breeze made her shiver. She had never been naked outside of her bedchambers. It was strange but liberating at the same time.

Goosebumps formed all over her body as she entered the cold water. A gasp left her mouth, and she stopped to adjust her body to the cold temperature. Life had become much crueler than before. The grief consumed her.

She let go of her fear and entered the refreshing water completely to ease her mind. The coldness of the water made her gasp again. After getting used to the tempreture, she dived and stayed under the water for a few seconds. Everything was silent. There was a peace under water that nothing else could give her. She needed to breathe so her head emerged, and she inhaled for air. Things felt more real now. Her senses didn’t deceive her anymore. Her mother was really dead, and there was no point in denying it. She started swimming slowly, breathing in while she moved in the water. The breaching light sat on her naked body as she watched the trees. The view was breathtaking in the morning. It almost made her forget about the pain she felt.

The birds chirped, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the sound. She remembered the last time she traveled somewhere was when she went to India as a child. It was a beautiful country, and she would never forget about it.

Suddenly, Atoosa felt like someone was watching her. She opened her eyes and hid her body under the water as her head was still outside. “Who is there?” she asked, but no one spoke. The bushes by her rustled, scaring Atoosa.

A rabbit jumped out and stood there, watching its surroundings. Atoosa sighed in relief. It was only a lost rabbit.

Time was passing. Despite Atoosa’s wish to stay at the lake, she had to return before anyone found out she was missing. Her clothes were on the side of the lake on a tree. She stepped out of the lake and wore them.

A year passed since that day. Life had turned upside down since the death of the Empress. They held a ceremony for the anniversary of her passing away. It was grand and luxurious, but also tiresome. All of the royal family, including Atoosa, had to greet the nobles from the entire world while they grieved the loss of Empress.

After the exhausting ceremony, Atoosa headed toward the meeting room of the castle. The guards opened the door for her, and she entered, wearing all white. Only the King and his consultant were at the table, speaking loudly. When they saw Atoosa, they stopped talking and looked at her. The Emperor’s eyebrows furrowed.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as Atoosa sat by him. “This is a classified meeting. You must get out.”

Atoosa was grieving. She didn’t want to be there either. She looked at the Emperor. “Your consultant,” she said, “Farid Khan asked me to join you.”

The Emperor looked at Farid Khan, waiting for an explanation.

Farid Khan cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, Her Highness is a wise young woman. After the Queen’s Paidust (funeral), I think our people will trust her more than others.”

“Others, meaning me?” Emperor Shahrokh said with a frown. “Because they hate me. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Your Majesty. Our nation loves you.”

“Don’t patronize me!” The Emperor sipped from his glass. “Ugh. This wine is disgusting!” He waited for a servant to come and take it from him to change it.

Atoosa had her hands on her lap. “I wanted to join, Father,” she said. “I think it’s time for me to participate in your meetings.”

Farid Khan smiled gently, expecting Emperor Shahrokh to calm down. Emperor Shahrokh sighed but decided to let Atoosa stay. “Fine,” he said, turning his look to Farid Khan.

“Your majesty,” Farid Khan said. “About the borders—”

“Borders and borders!” Emperor Shahrokh said. “You can’t get enough of it! I’m tired of hearing it!”

“Your Majesty—” Farid Khan desperately tried to continue.

The Emperor sighed. “Go on!”

“The borders are safe for now. However—”

“Yes. There is always a ‘however.’”

“We won’t be able to protect our lands any longer. Our army has decayed. No one wants to join. Many men have already lost their lives, and most have joined the enemy’s army.”

The Emperor slammed his hand on the table, startling them. “That bastard, Rasteen,” he said. “It’s all his fault.”

Atoosa’s eyebrows furrowed. She wanted to speak, but Farid Khan continued. “Many lands are ruined. It has been almost five years since the war at our borders. We promised our people we would fix everything. But we didn’t keep our word. Now with the Empress’ death, no one trusts us any longer.”

“I beg your pardon,” Atoosa interrupted. “I’m barely keeping up with your speed. Rasteen, you said?”

“Yes,” Farid Khan said while Emperor Shahrokh ran his hand on his face.

“The civil war with Rasteen is happening?” Atoosa asked.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Farid Khan said.

“This is why we do not include her in our meetings,” Emperor Shahrokh said. “My wife has kept her in cotton. She knows nothing.”

“I know nothing, or you hid it from me?” Atoosa said. “You said the civil war was over.”

“The civil war was never over! My men join his army like I haven’t fed them and their families! Ungrateful pricks!”

“For how long did you want to hide this?” Atoosa asked.

Emperor Shahrokh ignored her. “They have waited this far,” he said, facing Farid Khan. “They can wait a little longer. We need time. We will fix everything as we promised. It’s not like the civil war or the war in our borders are our fault!”

Farid Khan shook his head. “I’m afraid they won’t wait any longer, your majesty.”

Emperor Shahrokh dropped his new glass of wine, and silence fell upon them.

“Your majesty,” Farid Khan said in a lower tone to calm him down. “We won’t be able to stop more of our men. Rasteen is getting stronger and wiser. We are short on money and men. Not to mention no one wants to lend us any more fortune than we already owe them.”

“What do you suggest I should do?” The Emperor sighed. “I have done everything in my power.”

“Perhaps there is a way you still haven’t thought of.”

“What are you implying?”

“We can ask for money in return for something you possess.”

“I have nothing to give.”

Farid Khan looked at Atoosa, and she gulped hard. Emperor Shahrokh looked at her too. His eyebrows furrowed, realizing what Farid Khan meant.

Farid Khan lowered his tone because he knew it was a delicate matter. “Princess will wed the crown prince of China—”

“You must be out of your damned mind!”