Disclaimer: I own nothing apart from the plot.

Prologue

In a murk night of a dark moon, two men arrived in the door of an almost derelict house. Then, an old wizened woman haughtily dashed them in.

The house which had a small red lamp in its front window was well known to all the kingdom as a place of horridness and vice, whether these men were known for their virtues and gallantry.

Τhe question, then, is what were these men doing there?

Well, they had a purpose. A lethal purpose.

Chapter 1

"Thank you gentleman, the royal meeting has come to an end'' and with that phrase of him, the royal consultants and the higher of knights left the throne room. Only his first in hierarchy consultant stayed along with his childhood friends.

The king feeling comfortable among these faces, left a sight of anxiety and sorrow, he so long held, in order not to disappoint his subjects.

"Ohh Alec, why are my citizens turning against me? Am I not doing everything to cater for their needs? I do not understand." the king said in desperation, covering his face with his hands.

"Jace, my friend" the knight Alec rushed to answer ''do not be harsh on you. It is true that you do everything for your people. Since the death of your father, you work relentlessly to cover the needs of your kingdom. But you have to understand; Your father was greatly loved by the people and it is hard for them to get used to you being your king. You were so many years away that they have now lost their trust and faith in their prince. Give them sometime, you have been ruling for hardly a year. Please.''

''You may be right Alec'' Jace said and rose from his throne. ''But some of my people have already started protesting. They may not be a lot and they may be trying to exploit the death of my parent to take the power from me, however soon more people will be carried away by them and sooner it will be when all my people will start rioting. Something has to become. The question, however, is what?"

"Hmm, if I am to interrupt you, your majesty" the king's consultant said hesitatingly. "I have a solution to your problem to suggest."

"I am all ears, Valentine" Jace said with renew interest.

''Well, I believe that a young beautiful queen will be the solution'' Valentine said avoiding eye-contact with his king. The king's love for women was well known to everyone living in the palace and spending his whole life with one was equal to death for him.

''Very funny, father'' Jonathan, the other closest friend of the king said, before almost falling to the ground from the laughter. Both him and the king were extremely womanisers.

Even the king grinned, despite his sadness.

''Well, Valentine that is a... idea'' Jace said rejecting the suggestion at once. He has given up everything for his people; he wouldn't give up his freedom as well. After his father death, he had to come back to rule the kingdom, leaving the life he had built and loved behind. Jonathan, Alec and Jace were knights in the army of an allied kingdom, which was in the other side of the world. It was her mother's kingdom. Jace as a prince was the commander of the army, and really he couldn't ask for a better life. He didn't expect to become king so soon, just at his eighteen years. He loved his people, but sometimes he felt that they were stealing his life away.

"No, my king," Valentine quickly said, preventing Jace from denying" you did not understand what I was exactly suggesting. You can marry a girl, any girl from our city and make her your queen, pleasing this way your people, but she doesn't has to actually become your wife. It will be a white marriage."

"And who girl will accept that?" Alec asked with contempt.

"All. Because they will not know that this was his plan from the start. He is the king and she can not demand from him to sleep with her or not to have mistresses." the king's consultant said arrogantly. "She will think that it her fault the king does not want her."

"That is disgusting" Alec said.

''No, Alec this is perfect" Jonathan said finally rising to his feet. "Think, he will have a sure woman in his bed every knight and in the same time he can have as many other women she likes. Just great, my friend, just great.

"Sorry Jonathan, I was wrong'' Alec said supposedly regretful."It is not the idea that is disgusting, you are."

"Boys, please stop" Valentine, interrupted the relentless fight of the king's childhood friends, who despite the years they had spent in the company of each other, they had not managed to become friends yet.΄'Your majesty, I would love to hear your opinion as well"

Jace, who had been silent since hearing his consultant's suggestion, raised his eyes to meet his. It would be a lie to say that he was not tempted by his proposition. However he knew that it would immoral to accept it. He didn't like to hurt other people, especially pretty naive girls. But what if this was the only solution to his and his people's problems?

"Yes"

So...what do you think? I cannot wait to read your views.

xoxo,

edwartforever