"Killing him should have been the easiest solution," Mara muttered, her voice laced with bitterness. "There's no other way out of this, is there? It's the only way to end this."
She couldn't understand her father's obsession with this boy. "How can he even think of overthrowing me for him? Just a boy!" she exclaimed, her anger bubbling over. "What does he see in him that I'm not capable of? And why is it that now, in my time, my father wants to change the rules? Why does he insist that only men should rule the kingdom?"
Mara's rage was palpable, her body trembling with suppressed fury. She stood on the veranda, overlooking the sprawling city below. The house, nestled against the imposing mountainside, seemed to mirror her own turmoil. The mountain, a silent, unwavering presence, watched over her, as if witnessing the storm brewing within her.
Her friend, standing beside her, remained silent, offering a comforting presence in the face of Mara's despair.
Mara and Jane had always been the closest of friends, confidantes who looked out for each other and offered unwavering support. Jane, in particular, was known for her honesty, always willing to speak the truth, even if it meant risking their friendship. She believed in guiding her friend towards what she considered the right path, no matter how difficult it might be.
Since Mara's anger over her father's decision had escalated, Jane had been trying her best to calm her friend down, hoping to prevent her from making choices she might later regret. But Mara was growing increasingly frustrated with Jane's attempts to reason with her.
Mara's frustration was palpable, her anger simmering like a cauldron on the verge of boiling over. "I understand your frustration, Mara," Jane said, her voice calm and measured, "but I think you're taking this too far. You're letting this consume you, and you're even thinking about killing your own brother. Remember, he's your blood!"
They had been best friends since childhood, always there for each other, offering advice and support. Jane was the kind of friend who wouldn't sugarcoat the truth, no matter how hard it might be to hear. She always spoke her mind, guiding Mara towards what she believed was the right path.
Since Mara's father, the King, had announced his decision, Jane had been trying to calm her friend down, fearing the consequences of Mara's rage. "Peter is also my blood," Mara retorted, her voice laced with venom. "What are you going to say about that?"
Mara was no longer receptive to Jane's attempts to reason with her. She was tired of her friend's constant attempts to steer her away from her path, no matter how dark it seemed. "Peter is your blood, I know," Jane replied, her voice steady. "But Dara is your blood too, and he's the special one. Your father is the King, and he wasn't foolish to name Dara the heir to the throne, especially with two older siblings."
Mara let out a sharp cry, her anger reaching a fever pitch. "There's nothing special about him! It's just my father favoring him because his mother was supposedly special!"
The bitterness in Mara's voice was evident. Dara, the King's only child from a different mother, had become the center of their family's turmoil. The rest of the siblings, including Mara and Peter, shared the same mother, who was still alive. Their father's late wife, Dara's mother, had been a source of envy and resentment, and now her son was being favored.
Despite Dara's mother not being King Genesis first wife, Dara's claim to the throne was a very big contentious issue, he has no claim to the throne at all and that made it look like the Dad was just personally favoring him in that case. Mara felt it was unjust, believing Dara didn't deserve the title. However, King Genesis saw something special in his son, a strength that he couldn't ignore. Dara's mother, before her passing, had told Genesis about Dara's unique abilities, claiming he was destined to save the kingdom from the looming chaos, you Genesis met the mum as a seer, a Witch craft to be cut short. The king knew this decision was risky, as it would undoubtedly create unrest and chaos.
And of course would remove peace out of his beautiful family, but he felt it was necessary to protect the kingdom's future, no matter what it was going to cost, what's the essence of keeping the family in peace just for a force from another place to come brew them all away?
The Kingdom of Genesis was surrounded by enemies, all eager to seize power if the king were to fall. Dara, however, possessed a strength and potential that only Genesis could see. This hidden power, growing within him, was the kingdom's only hope for survival. It was this belief that fueled Genesis's decision to name Dara his heir.
"It's simple," Mara yelled, her voice filled with frustration. "That boy should join his mother in the other world. If I can't be queen because I'm a girl, then Peter should be king! he deserves it! why naming a boy the heir?"
Jane's smile was anything but encouraging. It felt more like a mocking gesture, as if Mara's argument was utterly ridiculous. Mara, sensing the mockery, waited for Jane to speak, unsure if her friend would offer further insults or some unexpected words of encouragement.
"Mara," Jane injected, "you know that what you're saying is absurd. We both know that neither you nor your brother are fit for the throne. You've both broken the first code!"
Janes's words were sharp, cutting through the tension. The Kingdom of Genesis was founded on holiness, a kingdom of God. Any transgression against its strict laws was met with severe punishment. Mara and her brother had committed unspeakable acts, acts that would have resulted in their deaths if they had been discovered.
"You've been sleeping with your brother," James continued, her voice laced with disapproval. "If your father were to find out, neither of you would be considered for the throne. That would leave Dara as the only heir, the only one qualified to rule."
Mara was stunned. She couldn't believe that Jane would use such a personal and damning secret against her. She had confided in Jane, believing they were true friends, but now it seemed Jane was trying to manipulate her, to convince her to accept Dara's claim to the throne.
"Wait a minute, Jane," Mara said, her voice trembling with shock. "I thought we were friends. I've told you everything, and you're going to use it against me?" Mara's face was a mask of betrayal and disbelief. She had been so wrong about Jane.
Jane was simply trying to show Mara the reality of the situation. Dara's potential, the reasons behind his father's decision, and the consequences of their actions were all factors that Mara needed to consider.
"No, Mara," Jane insisted, "I'm not trying to use it against you. I'm just trying to help you see that your brother is innocent. It wasn't his fault that your father..."
Mara cut her off, her voice filled with rage. "Shut up! Get out of my sight! I never want to see your face again! Never!"
Mara's outburst surprised Jane. She had expected apologies, pleas for forgiveness, but instead, Jane was met with a torrent of anger. It was almost as if Mara was trying to convince herself that Jane was the enemy, that her betrayal was the reason for her anger.
"Wait a minute!" Mara yelled, stopping Jane as she turned to leave. "This is serious, Jane. I see why you've been advising me. You're siding with my brother. You think it'll benefit you somehow. But don't forget, you were nothing when you came here. I brought you up, I favored you. And now you're going to rub dirt in my face?"
Mara's voice was laced with bitterness, a reminder of her past and her current resentment.
"You can leave," Mara continued, her voice dripping with venom. "But I'll make sure you go back to where you were before. I'll see to it!"
Jane stood her ground, fear creeping into her heart. She knew Mara was capable of anything. Despite her fear, Jane refused to back down.
"My princess," Jane said calmly, "I've respected you, helped you in so many ways, but I can't support you in killing your brother. I won't be a part of it."
With that, Jane turned and left, leaving Mara alone with her anger and her dark plans. Mara watched her go, a flicker of a smile playing on her lips.
                          • Dungeon •
The dungeon appeared to be a busy place, yet it housed only one man at work. He was a well-built individual, his physique impressive, with an attractive abdomen. However, his face bore a dangerous look as he focused intently on his task—he was a sword maker, a skilled blacksmith.
As he worked, the princess, Mara, suddenly entered the dungeon. Without needing to look back, he recognized her immediately.
"Have you come to complete the payment?" he asked.
"Yes! But this is about someone else first, not my brother! It’s the girl—my serving girl! She’s now pointing a finger at me! I want Jane dead!" Mara exclaimed. The man turned to her in shock, realizing that Jane, once her best friend, was now the target of her wrath. How could she want her death all of a sudden?
"You get the job done and then you come back and I will pay you double off of what I have already paid you on Dara'shead, see you when the work is done"