When the King proclaimed the name "King of Traitors " Arthur couldn't clearly process the fact.
"King of Traitors, I do not understand father" questioned Arthur asking for clarification. The King answered his question " Our kingdom has many secrets only known to the King, but one of the two most closely guarded secret.
" Only the two of us are loyal to the kingdom, rest all of them are traitors. Your mother, fiance, your right hand anyone you have met are all traitors".
Arthur tried to deny the stetements as he thought that his father was making this statement out of spite or being ill.
"Mother had been devoted her entire life to you, how can you speak such cruel things to her. And I trust my fiance with my life".
The King did not defend his statements at all. "It's true as they say Like father like son, like you I didn't accept thr truth either"
" I can't convince you to believe me otherwise. But just ask your fiancé one simple question and if she reacts differently you'll finally heed what is coming for you".
The King said the question and Arthur noted it in his mind. But Arthur questioned himself as if it was something he didn't want to know. For if it was true then his entire world wpild surely collapse. But no matter what he had to find out.
Arthur asked for permission to leave and he was easily granted as the King bore a heavy and sad smile knowing the result beforehand.
"I shall be awaiting your return right here in this place."
Arthur ran to the stables where his trusty steed Torrent was sleeping. He unfortunately had to wake him up. And control him, he sat hurriedly on the horse and departed for his fiances mansion.
She was the child of the duke. Who's future had been secured but now it was very shaky as Arthur wanted to confirm his doubt his heart wavered and his emotions awry.
He questioned his father's words. But at the back of his mind they were calculating the reality 'What if it's all true'.
He breezed past the forest and the with the cool winds of the night running alongside him. The moonlight guiding him to his destination. His steed galloping towards its destinations through the rough terrain of the forest and hills. While his master was gently holding his reins.
Finally they found themselves before a grand mansion befitting a duke. The mansion was built with European architecture. With huge beautiful gardens covered with flowers which only bloom at midnight and their buds close when it is dawn. Walls built with strong baked stone to ward off intruders.
The guard immediately spotted a silhouette in the diatnce which was galloping towards the mansion and altered others. But when light were flashed on the silhouette it revealed the prince.
The guard was at first didn't recognize but then suddenly his image flashed as he often came to meet his fiance.
The guard ordered the other guard to send the message of the prince's arrival. And it quickly travelled to the duke's ears. But the duke decided to remain in his mansion and they sent Roselina to meet the prince.
Roselina hastily has to tidy herself as she was deep in her sleep and was waring night clothes. Thus she grabbed whatever she could and wore them. The maid were there for her assistence but she declined any help. And rushed to meet her prince.
She rushed through the hallways wearing light clothes that would not halt her movement. And she met the waiting prince. She questioned Arthur's sudden presence before his coronation. She thought that it was something very serious.
"Arthur why have you come this late in the night" asked Roselina and Arthur replied with a heavy heart "I wanted to talk with you, can you come with me".
Roselina saw Arthur's face and reluctantly agreed.
Both of them sat on the horse and the horse ran deep into the woods.
And they stopped midway near a lake where they used to spend most of their time. As the beautiful moon shone over the water and it's reflection could be seen over the still water.
Arthur asked " Do you remember, the first time we came here". Roselina was already filled with anger so she immediately asked for the reason that they were here.
"Arthur it's very late, why have you bought me here". Roselina avoided the question instead of answering.
Arthur still kept his calm and asked further.
"Roselina, do you still love me". Roselina in a fit repeated over " You know my heart will always belong to you even if we are apart".
Arthur smiled as he asked his final question.
"Roselina if I have to be honest, I don't have what it takes to be a king. I have rejected my succession. I have realized what I have really wanted from the beginning, you"
" We should leave everything, our identity, status and settle in n another kingdom. A few days will be tough but I'm sure I would be able to provide for you and our child".
Roselina was scared of the dangerous thoughts which were being stirred in Arthur's mind. She thought over it and declined Arthur's offer.
Arthur persuaded her " I want to give up all of the time in the world just for you, please try to understand". And this time she reluctantly agreed and the both sat on the back of the steed as it started running towards a kingdom far away.
Deep in the woods Roselina had tightly clutched Arthur as Torrent carried them where their hearts desired. But when they were the most isolated Roselina grabbed a knife in her left hand using a reverse hand grip and landed a blow stabbing Arthur's left shoulder. Arthur pulled the reins of the horse and the horse stood on his two legs as he lifted his legs up. It caused Roselina who no longer held Arthur to take a fall from grace. And land on the hard soil below. Her face was facing the soil and when she faced up she found a sword besides her neck.
Just a slight moment and her existence would vanish like the candle fluttering in the harsh winds.
The knife was still hanging on Arthur's back. He used his left arm to remove the knife injuring himself in the process as the blood began to pour out from his body and soil the clothes as well as dying them in blood red colour. Arthur could feel the pain.
He looked down upon Roselina who had gritted her teeth and was seething with anger and clutching the grass.
"It's over Roselina, I have lost".
"You were the one I had believed in the most and you were the first to backstab me right in my heart"
" I could have worn chain mail and your attack would never hurt me. But I wanted to challenge fate itself. But now I understand it was destiny all along".
Roselina knew that the moment she had raised her knife she had lost any chance to talk back or make any excuses or sway with her words.
Arthur's sword tightly clutched the sword so much that the handle itself started to hurt him. Roselina saw that Arthur was wavering in what to do next. So she took the next step she grabbed his sword using her hands and moved it towards her heart. She makes a desperate attempt.
" Yes, Arthur I have lied to you from the beginning. Once I Became the queen I wanted to manipulate the kingdom according to my own whims, but since that is no longer possible. I want you to end my life"
"Drive this sword into my heart and let me die with honor".
She made the final request but Roselina was devious under the pretext she tried to defend herself by pulling the sword with her hands trying to catch Arthur off guard. But, Arthur wasn't just called a prodigy for nothing. He let her take the sword but instead directly kicked her down.
Roselina rolled and stood up with the sword in her hand.
Arthur looked at her with sorrowful eyes but her expressions didn't change. With a stone in his heart he took no stance as Roselina charged towards Arthur with his own sword in hand. She lifted the sword over her head in an attempt to cut down Arthur. But Arthur dodged her attack by hopping to the side. Arthur couldn't concentrate as his mind was replaying his precious moment that he had spent with Roselina.
"Roselina, did you ever truly love me?". Arthur asked this question as a last resort towards everything he had clinging towards her. And she answered the question by swinging his sword at Arthur. "Love you say, everything I did was nothing more than a politics. It was for my father, family and myself."
When heard politics it was as if a switch was flipped within him. In an instant he realized something that might create a scene.
"Roselina let's head back, I don't want to create a scene"
Arthur in that moment realized that there were many eyes which had seen him with Roselina. If she would have ended up dead. Everything would go out of hand.
" And just for less commotion give me your ring. We are breaking our engagement".
Roselina removed the ring and tossed it in the lake. It was a ring made of the shiny crystal stellarium since the supply is very controlled it's value in the market has skyrocketed. Just one small crystal of stellarium costs around 4 large houses in the most contested and inflated valued area combined. The base was pure gold and had a rose like engraving on the gold with vines extending both front and back.
" For attacking me, I can bury your entire family in the ground. It would be better for you to stand down".
For Arthur did everything just for Roselina. For despite politics the entire kingdom can punish the dukes entire family.
Roselina threw the sword aside and still continued to stare at Arthur and his convuluted emotions. She started walking back to the mansion.
" I hope that we never meet again" with these words Roselina parted ways with Arthur and left the woods.
Arthur also returned to the palace where the security was lax for the night. And once again with heavy steps he entered the basement to see his father still waiting on him.
"I hope you believe my words now"