Queen of His Heart

"Take your clothes off" the huge scary man said eerily calm as he removed his own cloak. This huge man was the widely known and widely feared Darklord, Noble of the Tazin kingdoms. People barely referred to him using his name, it's always Darklord, the most feared of the Demondi, a race of the descendants of the demons that once walked among the humans.

"Take off your clothes" Darklord repeated, he definitely was not someone to repeat himself, his word is command. But today his subject wasn't just any subject, it's his newly wedded wife who, based on his reputation, is understandably unwilling on their first night.

***

Aseära stared wide eyed at the Darklord, her new husband. It was like a bad dream, a nightmare, come true. Here she was married to a man she didn't know, except by reputation, a man she had just met yesterday. She almost couldn't believe her father married her off to this highly feared man just to get a higher position in court. Almost. Her father, Edōr Sttorn of Birek bidge Town, had always been someone who cared so much about his standing in society and would do anything including trading off his daughters to increase his position in society. Now thanks to this unwanted union, the Edōr of Birek bidge currently holds a highly coveted position in court. Influence of the Darklord, of course.

Her father's ambitions never worried Aseära, well that is until it's become highly unfavorable to her. Always being the defiant last daughter of the five daughters and the dominantly stubborn one of the nine children of Edōr Sttorn, avoiding being used as a puppet or some pawn in her father's ambitions has never been an issue for Aseära. After all, her father only remembered her when her mischievous deeds reached his high ears.

"Do not make me lose my temper. You will do as I say." the Darklord said, an edge to his voice this time.

He was much intimidating as he was, Aseära most definitely didn't want to face an angry him.

"Y-yes, D... darklord" she shakily replied, her slim fingers frantically trying to undo the lace of her bodice.

"Don't call me that. Husband. To you, I'm your husband" he said, clearly losing his patience with her.

"Yes, my husband" she corrected herself trying to make her voice sound more steady this time.

A look she couldn't decipher passed his eyes at her last word, though fleeting, it was gone in a second. It was hard to read the man, someone who showed no emotions. Aseära tried looking into his eyes to see if just maybe she could read what he is thinking at the moment. Did he really want her? Or did he just want to follow due protocol by ensuring they share their first night together. Whatever his reasoning, Aseära was sure of one thing, she didn't want anything to do with this man for the sake of ceremony or whatever else.

"Why have you stopped? You are my wife and will do as I command!" He said lowly, obviously whatever seal he may have had on his emotions was no longer as tight now.

Aseära nearly shrunk back into the wall as he approached her, then she decided that she wasn't going to stand here cowering with fear unable to reply this man, she is not one to show fear in front of any man, even if that man is the dreaded Darklord.

"No." She voiced the first word that came to her mind without thinking.

"What?"

"No, I will not bend to your whim and do as you command. I am your wife and not your servant" she said looking him dead in the eye.

"And a wife is to do as her husband and Lord commands. Were you not taught this?" He asks sounding displeased with what she had said although, his facial features remained straight, eyes unreadable.

She scoffed at his question. "You had to go there didn't you" she crossed her arm and moved closer to him, her stance as though prepared for battle.

"Well, of course I was taught, not that women should mindlessly follow the commands of imposing husbands, no, but that the husbands should respect their wives and not push them around or try to dictate their every move!" She continued defiantly, the fire in her eyes alight.

"You dare raise your voice at me? Now you need to be punished, Aseära".

"I will not be punished like some slave." Aseära shook her head.

"Don't think I am scared of you, husband" she said the last word as though it were a curse. This stoked his anger even more.

"Don't try me!" His voice raised a bit with an edge to it. His features remained calm though, infuriating Aseära the more.

"What's the worse you can do, uh?" She said with her chin raised as she moved closer to him, they were now standing face to face. Well, in the sense of it as though she wasn't short, Darklord was very huge and she barely came up to his chest.

Just when it looked like his control was about to snap and the sudden confidence Aseära had was slipping away, they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Who is that?!" The Darklord was annoyed with the interloper. Aseära nearly sighed out in relief as his intense gaze shifted from her to whoever was at the door. Saved by a knock.

The bedroom door slowly opened to reveal Lathiok, his aged butler, who hesitantly peeked his head in.

"Good evening Lord, sorry for the intrusion"

"What is it Lathiok?" Darklord asked wanting to get it over with quickly. He seemed to be less annoyed as he noticed it was Lathiok at the door, Aseära noticed. Also Lathiok wasn't as frightful of him as his other subjects were.

"My Lord, I really do wish I didn't have to bother you. But sadly it can't wait"

"Lathiok, Speak the matter at once!"

"Your attention is needed in the main hall, my Lord" Lathiok said at once. Still unclear on what the matter was, the Darklord raised one thick dark brow at Lathiok's statement.

Lathiok looked between the newly wedded couple before saying, "Someone is here to see you. The Noble of the Thak kingdoms, Lord Dorsçh."

At the mention of the Noble of the Thak kingdoms, the Darklord turned to leave. As he was about to exit the bedroom, he looked back and said to her, "We are not done yet."

Grateful to be left alone Aseära let out a thankful sigh. Perhaps he will be occupied with work all night.

She finally undressed and got into bed, forcing herself to sleep as sleep was far from her eyes. Eventually, after hours had passed and her husband didn't return, she fell asleep.

Her last conscious thought was, 'What business could the Darklord possibly have with someone like Lord Dorsçh'.