Rise of the Fallen Son-in-law

Chapter 6: The king's concubine

As they landed, she laid him down on the ground. He was still unconscious, but she could see that he was breathing. She let out a sigh of relief.

Nora rushed to her son's side, tears streaming down her face. The family doctor examined him, finding several deep cuts and bruises. He began to clean and bandage his wounds, working feverishly to save him.

As the doctor worked, Nora paced back and forth, unable to stop worrying. "Please, please, please," she whispered, over and over again. She had never felt so helpless.

After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor straightened up. "He's going to be okay," he said. Nora collapsed in relief, weeping tears of joy.

Markus opened his eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. He tried to sit up, but pain shot through his body. He let out a cry of anguish, and he heard someone rush to his side. It was Cedric, his face full of concern.

"Celeste!" Markus cried out, his voice hoarse. "Where is she?"

Cedric looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, my friend," he said. "Scales did her best, but she could not save Celeste."

Markus buried his head in his hands, consumed by grief.

Markus struggled to his feet, his anger and grief clouding his judgment. He stormed towards Scales, who was curled up in a corner, her tail wrapped around her body. He raised his fist, intent on striking her. But he was still too weak from his injuries, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.

He lay there, a wave of fever washing over him. He felt the heat searing his skin, and he cried out in pain. Through his tears, he saw Cedric, his face filled with worry.

Cedric knelt down next to him, placing a cool cloth on his forehead. "Markus, protecting you is all she knows, you mustn't blame her. You must rest," he said, his voice gentle. "You must not punish yourself. What happened was not your fault."

But Markus could not be consoled. "I should have listened to you," he said. "If I had, Celeste would still be here."

"We cannot change the past," said Cedric. "We can only learn from it."

...

The shouts of the angry mob filled the night air, and Markus shrank back from their fury. He felt like a failure, like he had let everyone down. And worst of all, he had let Celeste down.

"You are useless!" bellowed Lord Blackwood. "You could not even protect your own wife!"

"You are a disgrace," spat Lady Blackwood. "We should never have allowed you to marry our daughter!"

Markus felt the words like a knife in his heart. He had never felt so alone.

With a heavy heart, Markus watched as his in-laws spoke to the angry mob, their voices filled with venom. They called him useless, a failure, a disgrace. And the people nodded in agreement, their faces twisted with hate.

But one voice rose above the rest, clear and strong. "Stop!" it cried. "This is not the way!"

The crowd turned, and Markus's heart leapt. It was Cedric, standing before them, his fists clenched at his sides.

"I know you are angry," he said. "But this man is not to blame."

"Then who?"

"The true blame lies with the warriors from Bloodhaven, who sent their warriors to take Celeste and the others," said Cedric. "They are the ones who have caused this suffering, not Markus."

The crowd murmured, their anger beginning to dissipate. "We should not be fighting each other," said Cedric. "We should be working together to find Celeste and the rest of our people, to bring them home."

Slowly, the people began to nod, their faces softening. Cedric had given them a new focus, a new purpose. They turned their attention away from Markus, and began to plan their next move.

Markus offered Cedric a grateful smile, but he knew that his relationship with the Blackwoods had been damaged beyond repair. They would never forgive him, no matter what he did.

But he knew that he had to put that aside, to focus on finding Celeste. He had to be strong, to think clearly. And for the first time, he understood what Cedric had been trying to teach him. He had to control his emotions, to channel them into something useful.

He straightened his shoulders, his resolve firm. He would find his wife, no matter what it took.

And so, with a new sense of purpose, Markus set out to find Celeste. He traveled far and wide, asking every person he met if they had seen her. But each time, the answer was the same: no one had seen her, or knew where she was.

But still, he pressed on, driven by a deep, unshakeable resolve. He would not give up until he found her, until he brought her home.

...

As the warriors pillaged the city, taking everything of value, they dragged Celeste away. She fought with all her strength, but she was no match for their brute force. They threw her into a dark, damp cell, and left her there to rot.

King "Shadow" Rockwell visited her in her cell, and he looked at her with a lecherous gaze. "You're a beautiful woman," he said, his voice thick with desire. "I think I'll keep you as my own."

But Celeste would not give in. She would not be a toy for this evil man.

...

As he searched for Celeste, Markus encountered many other slaves who had been taken by the god killers. He helped them escape, giving them food, water, and clothing. He told them of a safe haven where they could find refuge, and he watched as they made their way there, their faces filled with hope.

He knew that he could not save everyone, but he could save some. And perhaps, by helping these people, he could begin to atone for his failure to protect Celeste.

...

"Celeste, my dear, I have a proposition for you," said the king, his voice smooth as silk. "If you will only agree to lay with me, I will protect you from harm. I will give you everything you could ever want."

Celeste looked at him, her eyes filled with disgust. "I would never betray my husband," she said, her voice firm. "And I would never give myself to you. I will never give in to your demands."

"You stubborn wench!" shouted the king, his face reddening with rage. "You will regret this!"

The other concubines circled Celeste like vultures, their eyes gleaming with malice. "You're nothing but a whore," sneered one. "A traitor to your own kind."

Celeste held her head high, refusing to be intimidated. "I am loyal to my husband," she said. "And to my own honor. I will not bow to your threats."

The concubines laughed, their laughter cruel and mocking. But Celeste stood her ground, refusing to break.

...

The concubines knew that their privileged status in the palace was dependent on Celeste. If she was no longer the king's favorite, their lavish lifestyle would come to an end. They might even be cast out of the palace, left to fend for themselves. As much as they resented Celeste, they couldn't afford to let that happen.

So, reluctantly, they played along with the king's charade, pretending to adore Celeste just as he did. But behind the scenes, they plotted and schemed, determined to find a way to get rid of her once and for all especially Queen Rowena, the king's first wife.

As the days passed, the concubines grew more and more frustrated with Celeste's defiance. They punished her in every way they could think of, but still she would not give in. And so, in a last-ditch effort to break her spirit, they brought her to the king's chambers.

The king lay on his bed, his eyes dark and his breath reeking of wine. He beckoned Celeste forward, and she stood before him, trembling with fear.

"I have given you every opportunity to join me willingly," he said, his voice a low growl.

"Now," he continued, "I will take you by force."

Celeste's heart pounded in her chest, her blood running cold. She knew that she had to do something, or she would be lost. In a sudden, desperate move, she seized a goblet from the table beside her and hurled it at the king. The goblet struck him in the face, cutting his cheek and causing him to cry out in pain.

The concubines gasped in shock, their eyes wide. But before they could move, Celeste had already fled from the room, racing down the hallways, her heart pounding in her chest.

She ran and ran, until she found herself in the castle's library, a vast, cavernous space filled with shelves of books. She ducked behind a tall bookshelf, hoping to catch her breath.

She heard footsteps approaching, and she held her breath, afraid to make a sound. She peered out from behind the bookshelf and saw one of the concubines enter the library. The woman looked around, a scowl on her face.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," she called, her voice echoing through the chamber.

The concubine's eyes fell on a pile of books, jumbled haphazardly on the floor. Then, with a smirk, she kicked the books aside, revealing Celeste, trembling and afraid.

"There you are," the concubine said. "I knew we'd find you." She reached out a hand, grabbing Celeste's arm.

King Rockwell's threat hung heavy in the air, as Celeste stood before him, trembling. The thought of being forced to submit to him made her feel sick to her stomach. But the thought of starving to death was even worse. She felt trapped, like there was no way out.

"Please, Your Majesty," she begged, her voice shaking. "I can't do this. Please don't make me."

The king's gaze was cold and unfeeling. "You have no choice," he said.