*Cheers**Cheers*As the trucks carrying the victorious Persian soldiers moved them towards the empire, they sang their victory song at the top of their voices and from the depth of their hearts. Their faces were lit up in admiration and wide grins, with their hearts swelling with pride. And as the trucks tumbled through their border, their engines roared like the hearts of the triumphant men and women.As the trucks drove in deeper from the border, the soldiers realized that the people of the empire had lined up at both the right and left sides of the empire. These people screamed at the top of their voices, clapping, waving banners and the empire flags, and cheering as the trucks drove deeper and deeper into the empire. Children threw flowers and stood on their tiptoes, waving excitedly while the adults cheered and shouted praises and gratitude to the soldiers whose lips were spread into wide grins. When the soldiers caught sight of them, the gesture of the people warmed their h
‘Could you have really betrayed me?’ Dario asked Aisha in his mind as he stared down at her, his eyes filled with pain and growing resentment. “What’s wrong,” she asked, a smile still spread across her face and her eyebrows playfully raised. But Dario remained silent. “Are… you good?” she asked again. Now, her smile was beginning to fade as she realized that all along, Dario had actually been silent and had not smiled back even once. She playfully nudged him and asked again, “Did something happen to you during the battle?” But Dario remained silent. Her brows slowly furrowed deeper with each passing silent second. “You’re scaring me, Dario. Is something wrong?”Dario stared at her, his mind racing with several questions. Though he could hear her, he didn’t know what exactly to say first, as he had a hundred questions that needed answers. He also knew he could just read her mind, but the fear of the possibility of what could be there was holding him back. Aisha’s resolve was to
As Dario spoke, he did his best to maintain his composure even if he was hurt deep to the core by Aisha’s memories. Her hands began to visibly shake. ‘What’s going on?’ she said to herself inwardly. ‘Did someone out me?’ “Dario- “ Dario’s eyes shut close when he heard her call him by his name, but he tried to suppress his anger. “Refer to me as Your Majesty, moving forward,” he said through gritted teeth, taking his time to say each word. Aisha couldn't stop her body from trembling as her heart pounded very hard in her chest. She knew for a fact that she was in deep shit right now. “Now, answer me. And do not dare lie to me!” His voice was low and dangerous, and it terrified Aisha more. She would have preferred it if he shouted at her. His calmness made her wish she could get swallowed by the ground that moment. “Did you visit the camp in the Ashton Kingdom last month under the guise of visiting your family?” He asked another question without waiting for her to answe
She looked up and met his gaze. Even if he appeared very furious, she could see the pain and disappointment in his face. She could feel how heartbroken he was. “It all started from when I was brought here for your hand in marriage by my kingdom. They hoped you would pick me and I would become an internal spy for them. It is true that they hold a hidden grudge against the Persian empire for decades…” She wiped away the tears blurring her vision so she could see Dario’s face clearly as she spoke. “I was just unfortunate to have been chosen and I didn’t have a choice but to accept.” She then swallowed hard, knowing Dario wouldn’t believe what she wanted to say next. “I didn’t mind it at first until I met you and fell in love with you,” she said, searching Dario’s eyes for any sign of understanding. “I never wanted to keep hurting you but I didn’t have control over it anymore.” Dario shook his head in disapproval as he stared at her. ‘There’s no way I’m falling for your lies an
TWO YEARS LATER…The walls of Dario’s mansion echoed with the laughter and giggles of his toddlers running around with their tiny feet.The twins were now two years old, and over the past two years, they had filled the mansion with a new kind of joy and life. They always chased each other through the corridors with their giggles echoing, a beautiful contrast to the serious discussions and decisions that often took place within those walls.Two solid years had passed since the chaotic events that nearly brought the Persian empire down. During these two years, Dario had made the best memories with his children amidst the lingering hurt. In the throne room, Dario had just concluded a meeting there when his thoughts shifted to the sound of tiny footsteps approaching. His face softened as Ethan and Evan entered the throne room and ran to him, their eyes lit with excitement. “My little warriors,” he murmured under his breath, his voice thick with emotion. He got up and scooped them up,
Evan and Ethan were playing in the playground when they spotted Natalie approaching. And instantly, their faces lit up and broke into a bright smile. They hopped off the swings and ran towards her, shouting, “mama!”“Aw,” Natalie gushed. Every time she heard their tiny voices calling her ‘mama’, it melted her heart every single time. She knelt down and opened her arms wide, her eyes lit with love for them as she anticipated their hug. “Don’t get injured babies,” their nanny shouted from across the playground and broke into a laugh. “These boys,” she whispered under her breath and shook her head, her lips spread into a smile. In no time, they both crashed into Natalie for a hug and she enveloped them warmly, her heart swelling with love and affection. She heaved a happy sigh and squeezed them tight in her arms. “I missed you both so much!!” she said, her voice as low as a whisper. She then gently released them. “How are you, my loves?” she asked, ruffling their hair which made th
Days later, Blake sat in a room across Elizabeth and the air was thick with tension. They made sure no one saw them meet because, to any outsider, the sight would be very shocking. Blake who was Dario’s corporate right hand man conversing with Elizabeth who was Dario’s evil aunt? It would seem unreal. Their secret meetings had become a routine over the last year even though the stakes had never been higher. Especially for Blake. Elizabeth leaned forward, her face etched with disappointment. “Blake, even if you’re just his corporate right hand man, I still believe that you should know something.”She buried her face in her hand and shook it, “you keep disappointing me every single time! I’m beginning to see that you’re no longer of any use to me.”Blake sighed and rubbed his throbbing forehead. “I honestly wish I did, but-“ he began but got interrupted.“You never have something helpful! You have never. Or are you trying to trick me and protect your Master??” Elizabeth sneered in di
“Your Majesty, you have to see this!” Bruce exclaimed as he hurried into the throne room where Dario was sitting and reading some of his father’s books; historical books and books on leadership.Dario looked up at Bruce and seeing the urgency in his demeanor, he quickly asked, “what’s the problem?”Without answering, Bruce hurried to the newly installed television in the throne room and turned it on. “Uhm channel 6,” he murmured under his breath as he searched for the channel number on the remote control.The channel came on and Dario’s eyes squinted when he saw a familiar face on the screen. It was King Nathan. And it seemed like he was giving an announcement. King Nathan’s voice echoed through the throne room as Dario and Bruce watched attentively. “…If he wins, I will bow to him and surrender all that I possess. And if I win,” King Nathan paused for a moment to relish in his future victory. He continued, “If I win, which is definitely going to happen, he shall do the same!”Con