“My lord, I have never fought before” Melisa called out.

“Really ?” Ivo asked as he signaled her to stop, he turned to face her, but she looked away, her eyes more focused on her feet.

“Melisa Giantsbane isn't that your name” ivo called out as she looked at him with surprise, before Ivo could say another word she was already on her knees begging.

“Listen Melisa, I know I haven't been the best lord to you, but I really need your help” ivo called out in his sour attempt of a speech.

“I would do anything for you my lord” Melisa pledged.

“I need your strength both literally and figuratively, I need your giant strength Melisa” Ivo begged.

“I have sworn never to use it, my lord, please forgive me.”

“How can I release you from your oath?”

“If you promise me that I will return to my people one day, that I may live among my kind, the Giants and desert dwellers of the east, only then can I lend you my strength.”

“I swear it, I swear it by whatever you believe, if you make me champion of the king's game, I will one day return the last living princess of the Giants” Ivo replied as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Then I offer you my strength” she replied now in a bow.

“Thank you, Melisa, come on now we have a lot of scheming and catching up to do” Ivo replied as he rolled his chair with Melisa behind it from behind.

Edric watched the water as it flowed and watered the black rose of the royal garden, he always loved the gardens, especially the flowers, the black rose with the red buds, but it wasn't just death rose that he liked but the memories as well.

It was here that he first met Catylen Ivo's beloved, and a fortnight after he took her under the string trees as the statues of the past kings watched.

He didn't care if anybody saw them, he would kill anyone who would try to tear them apart, she didn't belong to that halfwit bastard, she was his.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Isn't the strong always right? He thought to himself, why should he hide his love any longer? Every day that the fool got to live was mercy from him, mercy that was beginning to run short.

But he wasn't here to think about that, he had been summoned by his mother—the first queen.

He didn't quite fancy their mother-son relationship, but he could bear it for now, he knew she was going to rant off about him not being able to put an end to his rivals.

His eyes were focused on the large doorway when his mother walked through followed by her guard Edward Redvind, edric began to regret not taking his right hand and his guard with him.

His hand moved unconsciously to where his sword was, his cold eyes met with Edward who gave him a light nod. He could have sworn that he had never seen Edward smile, not once.

He didn't like Edward much, his mother had instructed the man to whip him as a child, and he was also one of the few that made sure he went through the brutality they called training, edric had made up his mind to thank him later after he put a dagger through his heart but for now, he was going to manage him a smile.

“Hello mother ” edric called out as he hugged her and kissed her on both cheeks.

“Oh, Edric how are you?” She replied and hugged him back.

“I'm fine, mother and how have your duties been?” He asked as he cupped her hand in his and led her deeper into the garden.

“It would have been better if my son had been doing his duties instead of chasing after his brother's betrothed”

“That bastard is no brother of mine” edric replied.

“Oh really, well, that bastard, as you say, is supposed to be in a golden coffin deep in the earth but just this morning you dined with him, so tell me how is that so?” She asked.

“The pest refused to die I believe” Edric replied.

“Oh, two drops of black rose poison, a drop to his death from the mud mountain isn't enough to kill him, then you might as well as give him the crown already ”she replied sarcastically

“Oh mother please you know I'm doing everything I can, I would rather not raise too much suspicion either”.

“Oh your father returns soon from whatever adventure he wandered off too, pray he doesn't return with another bastard or a new wife lest more competition because you are already losing.”

“MOTHER ”!

“Don't mother me! I expect you to stick a knife in the bastard's heart and be done with it, that's what I should have done sixteen years ago when your father bought the little thing to my castle.”

“Not too loud, mother or…”

“Or what? The royal force will come after me? Your father will hear me? He is halfway across the world sleeping with some red hair for all I care. Edric, do you want to be king or not? ” She asked

“Yes mother, I want to be king, the crown is mine by birthright.”

“Do you think your father cares about birthright? How do they crown a head that is so deep between a woman's thighs that he doesn't see how much of a threat his siblings are? I will give you just one advice as your mother and someone who has been in the castle for long time if you really want to become king, then you better start acting like one”.

She turned towards the ladies who await her at the garden room, pulling edric with her, the ladies face lit up as the prince approached them each trying to win his favour.

Edric's blood boiled with rage, he didn't know how long before he snapped, but he knew he had to get rid

of all of them…all of them.