Chapter 50: The Cost of a Name

Author's Note: I made some changes in Chapter 49 about the pirates going with Lady Primrose. It's just a little adjustment but still, you might want to check it out. Happy reading! ;)

The people of West Land made way as I wandered on the busy streets of the Sea Port City. Dorothy, Aiden, and a few servants were trailing behind me, ensuring that my needs would be provided. The West Castle guards maintained their distance but they made sure that I would be protected if anything turns out wrong. It was not how I imagined my visitation to the Sea Port City should be, but the West Castle, upon learning my wish to venture around the city, insisted that I must have companions while I was not behind the protective walls of their castle.

I could feel the warm wind that was coming from the sea. It was the familiar warmth I unconsciously seek; an adventure echoing through the wind. I turned my head to see Aiden in his training soldier's uniform watched the horizon dreamily, like it was where he preferred to be.

With an idea in mind, I decided to lead Argos away from the center and guide it to the sea side where I used to go whenever my family visits the castle in the past. They panicked and my sudden change of route and hurriedly followed me but relaxed when they realized that I just wanted to get near the sea.

Dorothy chuckled when she finally reached me. "Did you see how she suddenly rode Argos like an escaping thief? She looks awesome; like she's going to give these West Land people a heart attack."

Aiden who was just a few steps behind her, grinned and said, "You should see her in a pirate ship. She's like a goddess of the ocean who can tame the sea monsters. "

I smiled to myself as I listened to their playful bickering. Maybe this situation had taught them to be comfortable with each other's presence. Aiden was a playful pirate and Dorothy was a sassy wanderer, their differences had put a huge gap between them but somehow, they found this situation a common ground.

"Maybe she was happy to be in that place. The book I was reading told me that the best beauty regimen for women is to be happy," Dorothy concluded.

Alden snorted in a fake disagreement. "Happiness is a beauty tip for those who do not have good looks."

I decided to face them before the playful conversation turn into a bloody war. The servants were silently watching, amused at how the young girl could stand up in front of a pirate without fear. Dorothy was glaring at the smirking Aiden so it was clear who was taunting who.

"Do you think the pirate world misses us?" I asked; slipping my feet from the boots I preferred wearing and let the sea dampened my toes.

The smirk on Aiden's face faltered and his eyes focused on the horizon before us. His sadness and longing almost mirrored mine.

"The pirate world does not miss us. But rather, we are the ones yearning or it - craving for a taste of the adventure it gives," he answered pensively.

I planted my foot deeper into the sand, letting the coldness of the sea pierces my skin. "Right. Maybe the pain is not only inflicted to those who are left behind. Those who left might be hurting, too."

And I knew that it was evil of me to wish that the man who left me was suffering as much as I did. He probably did not have anything to do with the misery I was in at the moment, but still, I wanted to blame him. I could not help but focus my anger on those people who hurt me. That was until I felt anger towards myself - because I realized how I would be willing to give up everything just to stay with him during that time.

"Now that we're here in the West Land, I think you should know who Lord Threy Weston is."

"My Lady!" The servants gasped. Aiden was not able to reply for our attention was brought to them. They looked pale and seemed to be horrified at what I had just said.

"Why? Is it still prohibited to say his name in this land?"I sarcastically asked.

The servants fidgeted and were uncomfortable under my scrutinizing stare. They could not even meet me in the eyes and that's when I knew that they're hiding something from me.

"Spill it," I demanded.

They began looking at each other and then bowed their heads low as they were waiting for their master's punishment. I was getting impatient and I was not in the mood to wait any longer.

"Speak or I will tell the West Castle that you tried to poison me. And if you're unlucky enough, they can associate it to the murder of my father. The rulers will surely come after you and your family."

I felt that I was becoming a villain in their eyes. But if becoming bad is the only way I could get an answer, then I'm willing to be a monster.

"Saying the Lord's name could bring danger to us," one of the servants finally exclaimed.

We both looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean?" I asked. The other servants kept their heads low leaving her alone to answer my questions.

"When Lady Primrose arrived in the West Land after being captured by the pirates, and claimed that Lord - Lord Threy Weston was alive, people started talking about him. And those people began missing."

"What?" I looked at her disbelievingly. However, I saw the confirmation on the way the other servants flinched when they heard the name. They seemed to be scared about it.

"Then who is this evil person kidnapping people around?" I asked loudly. They were not able to answer this time. Ofcourse, they would not know! But I knew someone who hates hearing Threy Weston's name. I knew that person who decided that it's a sin to say his name in the land. Lord Magnus Weston.

With a decision to confront him, I rode Argos back to the West castle with my companions trailing behind me. It was like a soldier going to a battle unprepared. But I could not care at that moment; I just knew that I had to do something about it before it's too late.

The castle was busy with the preparation for the wedding. I thought we still had a month to wait for it to happen. But it seemed that they start everything fast. I frowned as some of the servants carried beautiful and delicate silk fabrics to the drawing room.

"The lady has finally joined us!" Lord Magnus was sitting with tea in his hand while facing some of the council members from the West Land. I just gave them a cold stare and walked towards their ruler.

"Lord Threy Weston," I spoke the name loudly and clearly like it was some kind of spell I could cast against him. Suddenly, the atmosphere beyond the room changed and the people with him became uncomfortable. The name must be really powerful and threatening to cause an effect like this to the people who govern the land.

Lord Magnus put his tea on the table calmly. "I'm afraid we do not have any time to spare for unnecessary things." He was clearly trying to dismiss me.

"The news about the missing people who talked about Lord Threy Weston has reached me. Do you have anything to do with that? "I asked boldly - with no restraint, no sarcasm. I was not in the mood for being subtle.

The people in the room were stunned by what I had just said. It was clearly an accusation in the form of a question. I knew that trouble is coming on my way the moment Lord Magnus turned to look at me. His expression was still full of confidence and authority - he looked at me like he was just facing a stubborn child.

"And why would I do that to my people?" He was dodging my accusation smoothly. What could I expect from a manipulative evil man like him?

"If you can be a monster towards your own son, then you can be worse towards the people who defy you." By the way the corner of his mouth twitched, I knew that he did not expect my retort. His calm demeanor was immediately replaced by a scowl as he glared at me.

"You can not go around here and give false accusation! Do not ever think that just because you are marrying my son, you can already do anything you want. You will not disrespect me in front of my subordinates! Not in the West Land! And definitely not in my own castle!"

He almost screamed his last words and it probably echoed through the West Castle. We only waited a little time before Lord Chester barged through the door and walked briskly towards us. He was already at my side when I turned to him.

"What happened?" He demanded. He was looking at us questioningly.

"I think Lady Primrose needs to be oriented with the rules in this castle!" Lord Magnus was still on edge.

"Father, please, whatever she did, I hope you inform me first before you decide to raise your voice towards my future wife." Lord Chester tensed; he was trying to hold his ground under his father's glare.

"Then prove to me that you can control this woman!" Lord Magnus' voice was like a thunder across the room. The council members bowed their heads low to avoid the ruler's wrath. I had to admit that I, too, was rattled but I had to stand my ground and face him.

"I am not an object to control -" I countered.

"Oh, you do not understand it at all, do you?" Lord Magnus cut me off. I looked at him in confusion. "You are just a pawn in a huge game and yes, young lady, you can be controlled."

I was not able to answer right away. The accusation was immediately gone in my head and all I could think of was how he thought I can be controlled. Was I really just a piece in their big game all this time? My hands were trembling and Lord Chester noticed it, so he put his hand at the small of my back gently to support me.

"That's enough!" Lord Chester shouted which surprised us. He was not going against his father, was he? "She's going to be my wife and I will not let you treat her like that, father."

"Chester Weston!" Lord Magnus growled but the young lord seemed to be not afraid at all.

"You hear me, father! If she did anything wrong, then let me be the one to talk to her first."

And with that, he ushered me out of the meeting room. I could not believe that he just stand for me against the ruler of the West Land. I thought that he was just a young lord with no back bones - one who only depends on the power of his title. Maybe, I was seeing him with a different light.

However, I collected myself when we finally reached his bedroom and he locked the door behind me. He regarded me with the same glare he gave his father.

"What have you done?" He confronted.

Ah! What was I thinking? Maybe a jerk would always be a jerk. "People are missing by just mentioning Lord Threy Weston's name. Do you think I would just be calm about that? "And maybe, he was also one of those people behind this kidnapping.

"And why are you still thinking about that bastard? You're going to be married soon and yet, you're thinking of another man?" He clenched his fists as he tried to control his anger.

I let out a sarcastic laugh at how he was turning the table against me now. He was clearly trying to make it as my fault. "Look at you; trying to act like a jealous lover when you are just faking it to be in power."

Suddenly, he was grabbing my arm and yanking me towards him. I landed hard against his chest. "And what if I'm really jealous? I think I have the right to punish an unfaithful wife!"

I tried to pull my arm harder but his grip just became tighter. "Let me go, Lord Chester!" I snapped at him.

But he did not let go and instead his other hand snaked around my waist and caged me. "I will not let go. You are mine now. You will not be with any man but me. You will not think of anyone so you better take my bastard of a brother out of your mind!"

He was taller and stronger than me, so fighting against him was futile. I stopped protesting and glared at him. "Do you know the difference between you and Threy Weston? You rule the West Land while he has the power over the pirate world. You're just a rude tyrant in your pretty little castle and he is a god in the vast ocean you fear the most."

I saw the rage in his eyes and that was when I knew that I just snapped the last thread of his control. I braced myself for an incoming attack - I was expecting that he would result to violence. But it did not come and instead, he let go of my arm and his hand landed at the back of my neck pulling me into a rough kiss. I was shocked and stunned that I was not able to move. He seemed to see it as consent to what he was doing because I felt his hand on my waist inched lower. I protested but his punishing kiss turned it into a muffled sound disguising as a moan. I realized that the more I fight, the longer he would take on kissing me. So with a cold expression, I let him devoured my lips. When he realized that I was not responding at all, he slowly let go of my body and looked at me with confusion in his eyes.

"You do not know how I've always wanted to do that," he muttered. I gritted my teeth as I returned his stare. Tears I was controlling all this time threatened to escape my eyes.

"You might be my husband but I'll never be your lover. This marriage is a curse we're both going to take, "I answered in shaky voice.

I thought I saw the look of pain in his eyes but it was immediately gone and he walked out of the room leaving the door slamming hard. Tears started making their way across my cheeks as I ran towards the large window and stare to the vastness of the ocean. It was a beautiful view and yet, it was also a painful one. Maybe, it was how the darkness looked at the sun - with envy and a wish that somehow, it would also be called light.