This is my first attempt at writing a story as an adult. Sounds weird but to help myself fall asleep I make up stories in my mind that play out until I pass out, lol. Here is one of them brought to life. I do not have an editor or any formal experience writing stories so please be kind with feedback and suggestions.
This work is listed in the non-con category which should serve as a trigger warning on its own. There are also other dark themes in this story and while it does get spicy, the buildup may be slower than normal. This is not a hero story, but rather a villain story. The villain gets the girl, but not easily or without force. Be warned.
The kingdom of Haillion was a fortress situated between the vast mountainside of Glynn and the Golden Sea. Isolationists by topography, the bustling city was one of the wealthiest in the realm boasting mines full of gold and precious gems. Most citizens made their coin by trading across the Golden Sea with stones and silks in exchange for food, spices, other fabrics, livestock, and sometimes indentured servants. Because of the general wealth of the kingdom, it was an attractant for people of many cultures seeking a new life as well as royal visitors staying in the palace for a most adventurous holiday.
The royal family was beloved by all citizens with emphasis of this affection placed with the King's only child, Princess Emmaline LeGray. The day that she was born the entire kingdom had come together to celebrate the joyous occasion, naming her birthday the "Day of the Rose". Each year the kingdom came together as one in the town square to host a feast filled with music and games and laughter. The royal family would even participate in the annual Rose Parade the morning of the holiday, chartered around on a horse drawn carriage to greet their subjects with a warm smile and loving disposition. It was always a most wonderful celebration.
As the years passed, the King and Queen had tried for another child but were not blessed with one. The Queen had fallen pregnant when Emmaline was nine, only to lose the babe in the second trimester. Her next pregnancy went much the same with the babe being lost early in the second trimester. The King had sent ravens to other kingdoms they were friendly with to seek the most talented healer available. Several had come and most had gone, diagnosing the Queen with infertility. The King refused this notion as he had been gifted a precious daughter years earlier and was adamant that the Gods would will him another child.
The next pregnancy came when Emmaline was of ten and five. This one was the result of many tonics procured and created for the Queen by the royal family's healer named Ginny, who had come from a tropical place far away. Ginny brought new spices and remedies with her which the King had been skeptical of at first but once the Queen became pregnant and the baby had lived until the third trimester, he was grateful for her talents.
With the Queen's years of failure to produce a suitable heir to the throne, the princess had become a coveted prize by all suitors. Now that she was of age, each year on her birthday, gentleman from all over would travel to Haillion for a chance at courting the young girl. Over the years, Emmaline's beauty had become widely known. Her comeliness along with the great wealth of her family and prosperity and peace of her kingdom had made her the most eligible bachelorette in all of Glynn.
With the King preoccupied with fussing over the Queen in her pregnancy, the marriage of their daughter had been left to the King's brother, Emmline's Uncle Angor. Uncle Angor was a kind and elderly man who had resided in the castle since his wife's untimely death years before Emaline was born. With no children of his own, Angor had become another paternal figure in Emmaline's life often soliciting his advice to her when she would become frustrated with her station at times. At ten and five, Angor was of the impression that Emmaline was too young to be married off. He had also hoped that the Queen would birth a boy soon to alleviate some of the pressure he was under to not only find a suitable match for his niece, but a suitable ruler for the kingdom.
The day that the Queen began her labors, the entire kingdom was in celebration. The King was by her side the entire time with Emmaline left waiting with the other ladies of the castle in a sitting room. She had wanted to be with her mother, but Ginny had said that the pregnancy was not without difficulty as would be the birth. The King had thought it best that Emmaline not witness such a difficult birth. As hours passed and no baby had been born, worry began to settle in. The Queen's anguished cries could be heard throughout the palace causing Emma to cringe every time she heard the agonized sounds echoing in the halls. It wasn't until one of the midwifes came rushing out of her mother's chambers into the great hall bellowing out for the town surgeon that the castle began whispering their doubts and concerns.
Hours later, the Queen had bled heavily during the labor and succumbed to her wounds. The baby was stillborn. A male.
From that day on, the kingdom had become somber with grief. The castle now a quiet place without visitors and without suitors. The news of the Queen's cause of death had reached far and wide creating a less than appealing reputation for Emmaline as the daughter of a woman unable to produce heirs.
Despite the wealth of the kingdom, it seemed that no high-born man wanted a wife unable to have children, no matter how beautiful she was. The King, stricken with grief, had turned to his cups for solace and slowly became incapable of running the kingdom. Uncle Angor stepped up on the small council to assist the others with the operations. With no impending marriage contract looming over her head, the princess had taken to other hobbies such as gardening and horseback riding. She enjoyed being outdoors in the mostly warm climate of Haillion. Sometimes she would ride to the mountains and walk amongst the trees and other times she would visit the seashore looking for shells and other washed-up treasures.
The years passed by slowly. The King had fallen ill due to his tragic consumption of wine. Ginny the healer had reported to Angor that the King would live another year, if he was lucky. Emmaline spent her time within the castle walls. No longer did she venture out into the lands for a ride, nor did she join the Rose Parade even though it was in her honor. The kingdom would still have their holiday, but Emma did not celebrate with them. At twenty years old now, her time was spent doting over the care of her father.
Once he had become feeble and bed ridden, she had asked Uncle Angor to send the lords and ladies back to their homes indefinitely. With the castle now empty save for the royal family and the staff, Emma led a quiet life of solitude. The only person to keep her company was her sworn protector, Ser Benjin Strom, who had been at his station since his eighteenth birthday. Emmaline was ten when Benjin became her assigned knight. He had devoted his life to hers in every way and the two of them had become friendly over the years.
"Where are we off to today, your highness?" Benjin greeted Emmaline as she exited her chambers, dressed in a gown of green silk. She ignored his question and continued down the hallway. Benjin followed her in silence. As he trailed behind her, he could smell the sweet scent of her perfume and admired the way her chocolate brown hair swayed as the princess walked.
His jaw clenched as she abruptly stopped and turned to face him. Her green eyes met his brown ones, and she opened her mouth to speak, then quickly closed it as she thought better, peering down at the stone floor.
"Are you feeling well?" he inquired.
"I must visit my uncle on business today, Ser Strom. I am not in favor of the conversation."
His jaw clenched again at her admission. He knew that this day would arrive sooner rather than later.
"Yes, it is overdue I suppose."
Her brow raised at the look of disappointment in his eyes. He seemed almost... sad.
She gathered her skirts once more and began down the hallway. Benjin followed behind her quietly until they came to the small council chamber. Benjin stepped forward, placing the princess behind him protectively, and knocked twice on the large wooden door. It swiftly opened and Emma moved to walk in, placing her hand on Ben's arm as she passed him. "I will enter alone."
With a curt nod, he made his stance outside of the doors as they closed behind the princess. A sharp ear turned in the direction she had disappeared in.
As Emmaline entered the room, the five men around the table rose to greet her. Her uncle Angor smiled largely and opened his arms for a quick hug. "Niece! How lovely you look today!"
Emma blushed, returning his warm smile and affection. A chair was quickly brought to the table for her and a glass of wine poured as she sat down. "Uncle" she gazed at him from across the table as the other men took their seats again. "I came to discuss the future of Haillion."
Angor cleared his throat, eyes darting from one council member to the other quickly before he returned Emma's gaze and smiled sweetly at her. "A princess should not concern herself with the running of a kingdom" he reminded her gently. Emma had never inserted herself into politics but with her father on his deathbed, she felt compelled to speak her mind.
"I have concern over the future of Haillion once my father is no longer with us."
The other men nodded in agreement at her statement, grumbling with one another in response. Their voices were too low for her to hear what they were saying.
Angor raised his hand to silence them, "My sweet, the kingdom shall prosper as it always has even with your father gone."
He was tiptoeing around the issue she was referring to. Emma sipped her wine before speaking again. "Yes, but who is to be King?" she questioned. More low grumbling from the men around the table. Emma's eyes left her uncle to look the others over. None of them would meet her gaze.
"Well, my dear, with your father having no heir of his own, the crown is to be passed to the next in line, which would be myself."
Emma nodded in agreement. Her uncle had been running things since her mother's death years prior and in Emma's opinion, he had done a fine job at it. She loved her uncle and had no doubts that he would take good care of the citizens of Haillion.
