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King Caesar

I watched River walk pass us, and I couldn't help but feel irritated. Glancing towards the Council, they all had smiles on their faces. Proud of whatever I'm sure they had done.

The last thing Victoria told me, before she left the palace, she cried to me asking me, why do I let them threaten and send her away? Why do I keep allowing this to happen? That I am King, I can do what I wanted.

I admit I was a coward, and deeply scared to disappoint my father. For years he trained me to be exactly like him, and that the being like him is the minimum I could ever reach.

I'm ashamed to say, I was worse than him. I treated my first wife like she was dirt under my feet. Disregarded her name. Wallowed in joy when she cried, and found joy when she begged me to stop.

I loved the fire she had, and it drives me to out it.

After that day, when I expected that I had finally broken her. She stood to my face, tears running down her face, and told me she would never let me break her.

Her strength shocked me. I've been told that women are weak. Naturally submissive.

Don't ever let her sit next to you. She is not of your rank.

But she had a strength I had never seen before.

Normally when sons are born, we remain close to our fathers. Our mother raise us until we are off breastfeeding and immediately we are taken into the care of our father.
Daughters went to their mothers and were trained to be obedient.

I knew deep in my heart I made a mistake that day, but I did nothing about it.

When I married Cole's mother, she was the complete opposite.

She was silent, did as she was told. Obeyed. Spoke when spoken to. Moved when told to.

Our wedding night, I overheard her father telling her to make sure and please me. While my father told me to impregnate her.

We did have sex that night.

She was so frightened, shaking underneath me. And what I once found pleasure in recoiled me.

Flashback

I hovered over her, watching as her eyes were shut tight. Her pale body shaking in fear.

What am I doing?

I get off her, sitting at the end of the bed. Passing my hand through my hair.

This isn't right.

"I'm sorry your majesty." She softly says, crying. I turn to look at her.

She was beautiful yes. But she shouldn't be treated like this. Victoria said no.

I have to do this. Just do it and get out.

I roughly push her back, a small yelp leaving her mouth.

Just do it!!

"Ahh!!!" I scream getting off her and going over to the chair sitting down.

She raises up again, watching me confused.
"A-are you okay your majesty?"

"Don't you know not to question me?" I coldly say and she looks down, whispering a sorry.

I sigh, standing to my feet, I grab my robe, putting it on and going over to her. I sit on the bed, facing her.
"What do you desire Lilly?" She looks at me surprised. I mean I'm surprised by my question as well.

"Whatever you-"

"No what do you want Lilly?"

"I-I-" Her doe eyes stared in mines. She looked terrified to answer.

"I don't want you to hurt me."

"You do know we cannot leave this room unless we have sex?" She nods, looking down.

"I do not want to hurt you." Her head snaps back up to look at me.

"But-" I raise my hand.

"I know what my father says. Victoria made me realize something before she left. She made me realize that I'm not as great as I think I am." She silently looks at me.

"I don't want to hurt you, and I honestly don't want to... be this monster my father wants me to be. My own mother, was treated like this and I wasn't even aware of it."

"Can you-can you teach me how to treat you right?"

End of Flashback

When my father died, I had a lot more freedom to change than just keeping it hidden within.

I still hadn't made open change, still afraid of being a disappointment so I just turned a blind eye, but how long can you really do that.

Cole is a menace. Everything my father wanted him to be. Trained by his grandfather and by my father. I tried to teach him the right ways, but his grandfather took him.

I let it go.

The amount of allegations against him honestly made me want to vomit. My father would be proud of him.

When I watched that young man, release his anger on him, knocking him unconscious. I felt relieved.

When I stayed at Radnor's cottage, and slept in Victoria's bed, I have never cried like a baby before. I wanted to make her proud, but I just didn't know how to do it.

I was going to hand it over to Radnor because at least he had the courage and the knowledge. He should be the change. But Lilly asked me, why do I keep hiding?

I am King.

The system and the council are under me. I have ultimate power.

Then why did I not take charge?

We left the field, after making notice of our new warriors. I walk into the throne room, sitting down.

Cole was off at medical, his grandfather with him. Lilly walks into the room, and I signal my guards to leave.

She walks up the stairs and I go to meet her. She wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me.

I held unto her tightly, my mind and heart feeling so heavy.

She pulls away, her small hand on my chest.
"My King." I cup her face, my thumb caressing her cheek.

"Am I a coward Lil?"

"Yes." I sigh.
"What are you going to do to change that?"

"Ehemm!!" We look behind us, to see her father and the council looking at us with displeased faces.

She pulls away from me quickly. Moving far away, and it angers me.

"You know your place." He coldly tells her. She looks to me and walks off. Her lady in waiting following after her.

"I will have her dealt with your majesty."

"You will do no such thing. I was having a conversation with my wife. A matter of pleasure if I am to say so myself." I say walking back to my throne. I hear their laughter behind me, Victor seeming pleased with my answer.
"I'll deal with her myself councilman. Now why are you all here?"

"That River Somet your majesty. She should be banished for what she has done." I look to them. The blind honestly leading the blind.

"Yes your majesty. She should be removed from here immediately. She is leading women in our Kingdom to do things that they are not authorized to do." Councilman Oscar says.

"She can start a rebellion. Challenge your rule!"

I mentally roll my eyes.
"You're right." They all smile.

"I will do it at the Ball." They all look at each other clapping. Victor stared at me, trying to calculate my sudden change in decision.

"Is there a problem Councilman Victor?"

"No of course not your majesty. It's just...pleasing to see you acknowledging our ways again." I nod.

"I was raised by my father to be greater than him. I guess it's time I do so. Instill the ways of the land once again." Big smiles come unto all of their faces and I smile as well.

--
After The Ball

I walk into Lilly's room, sitting down on her bed. She walks in after me closing the door.

"I can't believe you did that!" She says happily, coming to stand in front of me.
"You didn't tell me you were going to do that!" The beautiful smile on her face, makes me smile as well.

I pull her to me and she gasps.I hug her waist, my face hidden in her stomach.
"Your Majesty." She whispers, stroking my head.

"I feel as if a weight has lifted off my shoulders."

"I'm sure everyone feels the same your majesty." I look up to her.
"There's hope of a brighter future." She says cupping my cheek.

"You did well."

Over the years we grew close. She kept our distance when out in the open but we held each other when in close chambers.

She would never be Victoria, but she is my Lilly.

I stand to my feet, holding unto her waist.
"I love you my Queen." She covers her mouth with her hand, tears filling her beautiful green eyes.

"B-B-B-"

"It is okay if you don't feel the same. I haven't actually been a great husband-" She holds unto the back of my head, pulling me down to her. I was shocked at first, but begin to kiss her back.

She was gentle. Soft and outright breathtaking.

An amazing human being, and an even greater Queen.

I lift her up, turning and resting her unto the bed.

--

Six Months Later

"You're really going to invite the other Kingdoms to the wedding?" Councilman Fred asked me.

"We haven't actually been in good graces with them your majesty." Councilman David comments.

"And the stories of the Kingdom are not great either." Councilwoman Katelyn tells us.

She was a woman of courage, I'll tell you that.

When her father, forbid her from studying, her mom secretly allowed her. She was about to be married off to a horror as she called the man, but now she could fulfill her dream.

"We're not begging them to come." Radnor says from his position next to Gor. He told me he wanted to be crowned prince, the same time I make River a princess.

What a love.

"We're simply stating that The Northern Kingdom is turning a new leaf, striving to better ourselves. We're not going to open our borders immediately to the other Kingdoms either. We still have some pests in the dark to get rid of, things we still have to change. But our invite for them to our wedding will be a chance for them to see what we see. The new Northern Kingdom."

"If they come we will show them our kingdom. If they don't, we continue towards our great future."

--

The meeting had adjourned and it was just me and Radnor in the throne room.

"Do you think your mother would be pleased?" He chuckles.

"She would of thrown a ball to celebrate." I laugh at that. She really would of.

"Your relationship with Lilly has grown significantly." He states.
"The Kingdom is talking about it. They see a difference."

"Well she has my heart."

"Indeed she does." He replies.
"I should go meet mine."

I watch him as he walks down the stairs.
"Have you fully forgiven me?" He freezes mid step, not turning around to face me.

"The moment I do, I will acknowledge you as my father." He turns around, bowing and continuing out the room.

--
The wedding

King Oliver and Queen Catelyn of Adamas along with King Arnav and Queen Misu of Aguaria, were the only Kingdoms to accept our invitation.

I'm sure it was strange to receive a letter from us after so many years, but they showed up.

Greeting us with kindness and I really appreciated it. We showed them around the Kingdom, making sure to include the Northern waterfall. To say they were amazed is an understatement. Even I still marvel at the wonder of the North.

"May the King please come and place on the crowns." I remove my hand from Lilly's stomach going over to them.

I crown River and I couldn't feel happier to have her as family. Radnor kneels down before me and I place he crown on his head.

A feeling of pride filling me, when he stands back up.
"Well done son."

"Well done father." I felt everything around me cease to be.

He called me father. He acknowledged me.

He gives me a firm nod as if answering the question in my head.

He has fully forgiven me.

I tap his chest, wiping away the tear from my face, going back to my seat.
Lilly grabs hold of my hand and I bring hers to my lips, lightly kissing it.

--
One week later

I pause in front of Cole's cell. Watching as he sat in the dark corner. As much as I despised his deeds, he was my son.

I felt responsible for what he had become.

"Cole." His head viciously snaps up, causing my heart to skip a beat.
He rushes unto his feet running up to the bars of the cell.

I quickly move back, just as he reaches for me.

"Get me out of here father." His state was a mess. His eyes wild, blonde hair very dirty.

"Get-get me out of here. GET ME OUT OF HERE!!" He yells hitting the bars.

Two guards come up to us, their hands on their swords. I raise my hand and they lower their guard, but didn't remove their hand.

"Cole, you're not getting out of here."

"Why why why. Whhhyah ha hahahaha." He starts laughing like he's crazy.

"He's been like this for some time now your majesty." The guard tells me.
"Like he's gone mad."

"Soft soft skin. River is coming to check me soon. She promised. She said she loved me so much and that she would never be with Radnor."

"Those women liked what I did father. They were screaming in pleasure. Hahah! They liked it. THEY LIKED IT!!!" He hits the bar again.

"You're a worthless King. Grandfather would be disappointed. He wanted you to be great like me! But you're a weakling. An embarrassment!!" I stare into his eyes, watching as they softened, and he slowly sat on the ground.

"I'm sorry Papa." I turn away from him, my heart heavy. Tears falling from my eyes.

I could of prevented this. I could of saved him from becoming this.

"Caesar." I hear a soft voice say and I turn to my wife. She wipes away my tears.

"Mama!! Mama!! Hi mama!!"

"Hello baby. How are you?" She says going up to him. I go to stop her but I stop when I see how he seemed to be calm. Remaining by her side just in case.

"I'm fine Mama. I-I didn't mean to hurt them Mama. I'm so sorry Mama." He begins to cry.

"You promised you would be better didn't you." He nods, as she strokes his head.
"Good boy. Make sure you eat and take care of yourself okay? I'll see you again soon."

"Yes Mama." She walks back to me, and we look to him again.

"No Mama!! Stay away from him. He'll hurt you again!!" He shouts, stretching out the bar to her.
"He'll hurt you Mama!!"

I stare at him in shock.

"No he won't baby. Look." She says holding my hand, bringing it to her lips, kissing it.

He quiets down, watching us.
"He's not going to hurt me." He slowly nods, going back to the corner and sitting down.

"I did this too him."

"You are not responsible for his actions. He chose to do the things he did on his own accord. The ways of our forefathers has influenced many to do things that are not right. But you have changed that." She tells me.
"You have given our baby girl a future to look forward too."

I stare at her in shock. My eyes going to hold her stomach. Tears falling down my face.
"It-its a girl." She nods, crying herself.

"She'll read of our history Caesar, but I'm so happy she'll not have to experience it." I wrap my arms around her. She tightly holds unto me, crying unto my shoulder.

I look towards my son, his eyes on us. Tears falling from them.

I'll teach you the right way son.

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