Styles rolled the wheelchair to the residential area once again but he was confronted with the same guards who threw him in the servant's quarters earlier.
“You never learn, do you?” The first guard huffed.“I don't want trouble. I heard my wife is back, I just want to see her, please,” he pleaded.“Is that so? Well her Highness warned us not to let you step foot, I mean, step wheel in this hallway.”The other guards laughed even though the joke was anything but funny. Styles cursed the stupid accident for putting him in his current state.If his legs were still functional, he would have taken them all down. He was a black belt holder in martial arts. These clowns in uniform were no match for him even if he was armless and they had guns to his throat.“I don't intend to cause trouble. I only want to see my wife.”“Well, you leave us no choice…” the guard trailed off and Styles sensed danger. Just as he was about to turn the wheel around, they grabbed his wheelchair and pushed him down the stairs.While he gripped the arms of the chair in fright as it toppled down the stairs, the guards were behind, laughing and cheering.His racing heart slowed when it hit the bottom of the stairs, sliding with speed to the other end of the wall.Styles held on to the wall to stop the wheelchair from rolling further. He glanced back at the men laughing like they had just witnessed the most entertaining sight in history.He rolled back intending to return to his room but he met some of the servants who were gossiping earlier.“Where are you going?”“They wouldn't let me through the main entrance,” he said sullenly.“That is not a problem. Come with us, we go through the back.”Styles followed them, his heart slamming wildly against his rib cage as they got closer. Just as they said, the back entrance was open and free from security.He could hear Mona's giggles from outside and there was a familiar tightening in his chest.The servants went ahead to open the door and he rolled in. He froze when he saw the woman he loved more than life wrapped in the arms of another man.He was on top of her, peppering her face with kisses without a care about the servants strolling in and out of the room. Mona didn't seem to mind either.“Are you this shameless?” The words left his mouth before he could stop it and she gasped, pushing the man off her.Styles recognized him as the adviser's son. Even while he was still courting Mona, the man didn't hesitate to send in flowers and expensive gifts.Back then, Mona had assured him that he was just an admirer. Now, Styles’ wondered what she was going to say in her defense.“Styles?” Her voice was high-pitched with surprise then it was replaced with immediate disgust. “Who let you in here?”He was taken aback by the question.“Who let me in here? You brought a man into our room! You let him touch you! Right before me, he kissed you…” Styles was boiling with anger now.“Shut your mouth!” She snapped. “Who are you raising your voice at? Do you want me to order the guards to cut that tongue of yours?”“Who is he?” Her lover asked. “And why does he look so… irritating?”“I'm so sorry about him, sweetheart. My mother assured me that she took care of him,” Mona said to the man without caring about the effects of her words on Styles.“Is he your husband? You told me he died in the accident.”Styles couldn't believe his ears. Not only was she cheating on him, but she dared to declare him dead.“He is! Does this thing in any way look like the man I married? You were there on the wedding day, weren't you? Is this the man I wedded?” Mona went ahead to lie shamelessly.“You're right. I can't even imagine you being with someone like this. Ask the guards to throw him out, please. He is interrupting our time together.”Styles looked at Mona. She looked away from him and proceeded to call the guards.“Get him out of here and don't ever let him in this wing, again. Is that understood?” She ordered.“Yes, Your Highness.”Once again, he was thrown out. Styles could barely breathe as his heart thumped heavily against his chest at a heavy painful pace.A woman he dedicated two years of his life to, trampled on his love because of mere appearance?If someone told him three months ago that this would happen barely two months after their wedding, he would have disputed it.Now, here he was, suffering this cruel fate.Mona and he were heading for their honeymoon when a group of bandits attacked. Not only did these men rob them but they also wanted to have their way with his newlywed.He couldn't allow that so he decided to take them all down, granting her an opening to run. She escaped with one of their horses but there was no happy ending for him.He had no idea there were others so while he took on the three easily, the others got some sort of signal and attacked.They broke his legs and scarred half of his face as a warning not to play hero in his next life then abandoned him for death.By the time Mona returned with soldiers, the damage had already been done.Styles shook his head as a rave of self-pity settled over him. As if the misery wasn't enough, his in-laws barged into the room.By inlaws, he meant the duchess and her sons, accompanied by the very woman who just stabbed his heart with a knife.It seemed like her guest was long gone.“You had the temerity to harass my daughter's guest after I warned you to stay away from her?” Duchess Elena growled.“All I wanted to do was see my wife but there she was, giggling in the arms of another, sucking tongues with a man she isn't legally married to,” Styles bit back.“And who is this man she is legally married to? A vegetable parading himself on a wheelchair?” One of her brothers retorted.“You know about this? How can you be in support of her infidelity? If your wives…” a slap cut him short but it wasn't from any of the brothers as he expected. It was from Mona herself.“You will not speak to me that way when you are nothing but a useless man. When your legs have failed and half of your face is a nightmare, how do you expect to perform your duties to me?” Mona fired.“You know what? I don't even have the energy to argue this with you. I will put in a request for separation papers. Maybe then, you would leave me alone!”“You will have to kill me for that to happen! I will never sign those papers or go through any separation rite with you!” Styles spat.“Very well then, we will gladly grant your wish.”Before he knew what was happening, the brothers pushed him off the wheelchair and pounced on him.Styles woke up to a cold cloth placed over his head. He winced as the light penetrated his eyes triggering a light headache. “You're awake, thank goodness!” He heard a feminine voice. “You know your condition yet you still anger them. Do you have a death wish?”Styles forced his eyes open to see the owner of the voice. It was a young woman, probably around Mona's age or younger but unlike Mona, the girl was no incredible beauty.She had an average appearance. A cute nose, small lips, and soft brown eyes. Her hair was concealed in a bonnet. Taking a good look at her now, she was clad in a servant's uniform.He wasn't sure he'd seen her before.“W-Who are you?” He asked weakly.“Someone who found you half-dead in the hallway after your in-laws beat you to pulp,” she responded.Reality slapped him in the face once again and he became sullen. This wasn't the way he envisioned his marriage with Mona to be. The girl noticed his expression and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.“Hey
The Duke's family were hardly done with him. Styles assumed the separation rites were all that was left, but he was dead wrong.They wanted compensation. Not just any compensation but twenty bags of silver. “Mother, there is no need for all of this. He has signed the papers, all we need to do is perform the rites tomorrow and I'm a free woman. There is no need to drag this,” Mona reasoned with her mother.“I beg to differ. This useless man here wasted two years of your life. He made you lose suitors who would have been very valuable to us only to turn into this. He needs to pay for emotional support for bringing this disgrace upon us,” Duchess Elena argued.“Twenty bags of silver? Mother, are you forgetting that Styles is a deadbeat husband? He has nothing other than the clothes you see him on. Where do you expect him to get twenty bags of silver from? He can't even boast of ten, Mom.”Styles would have appreciated the words of defense if it weren't a direct insult. Their demands wer
Styles remained in his room, thinking about his life; every wrong decision he made, and how much it cost him. Was it worth it in the end? Definitely not. He stared at the finger that once held the most significant jewelry in his life. Now it was all gone, burnt to ashes with nothing left but heartache. He rolled out of the stuffy room. He wanted to take a stroll around the palace and enjoy the evening breeze. Once again, his happiness was short-lived. He barely made it outside when his brother-in-law stopped him.“What is it this time?” Styles asked, somewhat agitated. The brothers stared at him with amused expressions.“It seems you might have forgotten but we will do the pleasure of reminding you that you bragged about getting us our compensation at sunset,” Klein spoke first. Styles let out a sigh. Of course, they wouldn't let it slide. Speaking of sunset, he wondered if his letter got to the palace at all.The delay was unlike them. Unless it didn't get to the intended pers
For three days, Styles was kept in the dungeons with no food or water. His stomach was growling ferociously but there was nothing he could do.He was weak and hungry. His throat hurt from dryness caused by lack of water. His vision was blurry out slowly.With the way it was going, he was bound to pass out soon. “Hey,” he heard a soft whisper and opened his eyes. It was his hallway savior. He let out a weak smile.“Here to save me again?” “You bet!” She winked, passing him a plate through the bars. His eyes nearly bulged out at the sight of food.Even his stomach grumbled in excitement. He opened the plate quickly and started digging in. “Easy, tiger. Here, have some water. You must be thirsty.”He took the cup carefully and gulped down the water. It was so refreshing. Heaven on earth. “I don't know why you still stick around here with everything happening. Do you not have a place to run to?” She asked him. Styles stopped eating. The girl was surprised by the sudden pause and was
“You mean all these happened to you and you still insist we leave them be?” Ragi was raging now.A useless set of bandits had the temerity to attack the heir to the Black Empire? His so-called in-laws dared to maltreat him and even demand compensation?!“I can't believe you let this happen! We should be serving their fingers to them for breakfast!” Ragi fumed.“Calm down, Ragi. We can't have you unleashing more chaos. We are going to handle this my way,” Styles said calmly.Ragi was unhappy with the decision. This was a boy he had watched grow up. His father had charged him with the duty to protect him since he was ten years old.When the Prince left home four years ago, he left like a failure. He searched every possible place he could think of but his efforts had been futile.Only for the boy to return four years later with a disfigured face and broken limbs? The ancestors would turn in their graves if he let this happen.“Ragi,” Styles stroked his arm. “I know it hurts you to see ha
“I advise you to watch your tone when you speak to me. You do not command me,” Ragi warned with a deadly glare. Mona bowed her head. “I am sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect you but he is not supposed to be here and he is stealing from the Prince,” she said quietly, keeping her eyes on her toes while hiding her trembling fingers behind her. “I didn't steal, General. His Majesty gave me these. He said they no longer fit him,” Styles told Ragi.The man wanted to roll his eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation but Styles gave him a stern look.“You may leave now,” he said coldly and Styles rolled out. “You too!” Mona walked out of the room sullenly. The stupid cripple had ruined her chances of exploring her future room.Ragi shut the door behind her and led her back to her room.“I am not feeling sleepy. I can keep you company if you like,” she offered.“Goodnight,” he said coldly and headed out. He went in search of Styles and found him in the library.“I'm not sure I can stand
“Signed,” Ragi handed over the scroll to Styles. “All five signatures.”Styles went through the scroll to confirm the signatures. A smirk played on his lips. He had them right where he wanted them. “Thank you, Ragi,” he smiled. “I will have a word with the treasurer.”“Your Highness,” Ragi started skeptically, “are you really going to let them plan the wedding? Those people cannot be trusted.”“In this situation, I am the one they should be worried about. I want funds released to them, any amount they demand no matter how ridiculous it is. I do trust that they are going to make my wedding one of a kind,” Styles responded.Ragi was even more confused. From everything, he knew the Prince was not planning to wed that promiscuous woman.So who was the bride then?“If you don't mind me asking, who is this woman you are planning to wed? Is it another Duke's daughter?” Styles chuckled at the statement, “Not all women from royal families are like Mona. Just do as I asked and watch everythin
“Didn't I tell you? These people are bloody rich!” Klein exclaimed. “You've landed a good one, sister.”“I always knew you would elevate this family from the moment I pushed you out of me. Look at us now, you are indeed a blessing,” Duchess Elena praised.Mona sat proudly, feeling elevated as her family showered her with compliments. If only her useless husband was here to see her. She could imagine the wave of shame that would overwhelm him. He might even be pushed to take his life. “Do you know if he has a sister?” Joel asked. “Surely, in such a big kingdom, there must be a princess.” “You have a point. We should ask Ragi. If there is indeed a princess, we must do our best to woo. If she chooses one of us, it is a big win for the family too,” Klein agreed. In all of this, the Duke was silent. There was this feeling of uncertainty weighing heavily on him.He couldn't tell if it was the prospect of giving his daughter out or his instincts sensing something terrible coming.“Honey,