Chapter 158: That bitch

It was a gory scene but something more terrifying was there to address at this moment. 

"You killed my monsters? You sure are human. I was right about you to not let you free. I guess I need to fight you by myself."

"Father…." Maverick objected.

"You can't fight him. What if something happens to you? The kingdom still needs you so let me fight you instead" Maverick pleaded.

Marquis was hesitant but after contemplating he allowed it. "Okay just don't be killed."

"Don't worry"

"Maverick…" Melanie called him. She was afraid. She was caught in the middle again. It was troublesome already but what more, now she had to witness a fight between her two closest friends. She cannot let anyone of them die. One was her love while the other was her husband. This helplessness was choking her. She was so tense and confused that nothing came out of her mouth.

Maverick stopped at once as he was called. He would never admit it, but he did have some expectations but even after waiting for so long, nothing came out of her mouth. 

"Save your breath Melanie" He went after saying.

Melanie's knees gave up and she ended up on the ground. Tears didn't stop coming from her eyes for once.

"That is what you get for playing with someone's heart Melanie." Desella taunted her.

"Ah! Is the Crown Prince going to fight with me? O I am honored" Severus bowed.

Maverick brought his sword out. "Cut the crap Severus and fight".

"Okay as you say so."

Soon they both got engaged in close combat with their swords.

Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Severus readjusted his grip on his sword. Holding it over his left shoulder, he waited for Maverick to make his move. In a traditional kendo stance, he quickly slides forward and cuts at my left arm; however, Severus' sword already intercepted his, allowing him to trap his blade on his and execute a stab. "One hit to the chest." Untangling their weapons, they backed away and assumed their neutral stance. Taking the offensive, Severus feint an overhead stab at his head, instead, ducking low, slashed his thigh. Taking two steps back, intentionally, drop my guard. Thinking that Severus had gotten too cocky, Maverick charged in, only to run into his longer reaching sword. With that, he throws in the towel and tensely walks off the ring. Starting with a single clap, the crowd cheers and hoists me into the air.

Severus and Maverick heaved.

"Why Severus? Why did you come back?" Maverick asked in between his heaves.

Ha!

"And here I thought you will be happy with our reunion." 

"No, I am not happy" Maverick struck while Severus dodged.

Severus smiled sadly "That so rude Maverick. I feel hurt." 

"Like I care. Just die once again and let me live happily."

Severus blocked his attack once again. "Tell me honestly whether you were happy after I died or not?"

Severus' question made Maverick speechless. It was true that he felt guilty but if he was given a chance again then he surely would have chosen to kill him, and this was the ultimate truth.

"Why Severus?"

Slash

Severus tried dodging but his chest got a scratch.

Severus stopped his moments while closing his eyes he started chatting. Soon black smoke started coming from his sword. The entire room was filled with black mist. It became a blur for everyone. Severus and Marquis were now dependent on their keen sense. Maverick turned vigilant in an instance but before he could land his attack he was grabbed by Severus from behind.

------

"Hey"

Severus covered Maverick's mouth using his hand. "We can fight all you want but before that, we need to address something far important. You and I both know that your father is hiding something from you. You might not know but I do have an idea. If you want to know the full truth, then you better cooperate with me."

Maverick flipped Severus and freed himself. "Why should I trust you?" He asked agitatedly.

Really?

"Are you suspecting me?" Severus laughed in self-deprecation.

"I guess it can't be helped then. I promise I will bring solid proof in front of you. Deal?"

Maverick didn't reply.

"We don't have much time. We need to fight or Marquis is going to suspect. "

"Okay," Maverick replied.

-----

Soon their fight started again but this time it was just minor scratches and dodges. Severus and Marquis attacked each other fatally but no one got injured. No one suspected them since both of them were elites of elites. Maverick, although was considered frail and weak but he was extremely meticulous with his strikes whereas Severus was the ex-general. His martial art surpasses even Marquis. An intense fight continued until a loud crash resounded in the air. 

Currently, most of the fog had already disappeared which made it easier for everyone to see what was going on.

Severus was standing heroically as his sword pierced Maverick's chest. Blood oozed out from his chest continuously. His face turned pale with low breathing. Severus changed the direction of his sword and finally pointed it on his slender neck. One slick move and Maverick would be done for. Melanie collapsed on the floor when she saw Maverick laying on the ground. His eyes were closed as if he was sleeping but she knew he wasn't sleeping. "Maverick!!!" She shouted with her all might. Instantly she stood on her feet and dashed towards Maverick but before she could touch Maverick, Severus blocked her. Swiftly he held her slender wrist and stopped her. 

"Try anything funny and I will slash his neck. I don't think you want to be a widow on the first day of your marriage. Perhaps you want to? Oh, Melanie!! You know what? After I left your room, I actually felt maybe I was wrong. After all, you are the only woman that I have ever loved. Marquise and Maverick, both are nothing but flies. From my birth, till death, they both treated me as slaves and even killed me once. If not for an old man, I would have been done for it, but you see, I am alive. So…"

Before Severus could say anymore Melanie harshly cut him off. "What the hell do you think you are doing? Maverick is your sworn brother for god's sake. How can you stab him? Severus, are you nuts? Why are you doing this? He will die if we don't give him medical care"? 

Hurt was written all over Severus' face. "Why Melanie? Didn't you drag me inside your room in the afternoon after I rejected meeting with you? You told me so many things so why are you hesitating now? I am doing what you wanted to, why are you resisting it?" 

[...]

"That bitch" Desella cursed.

Melanie who was suddenly exposed didn't know what to say. Her mind drifted between possibilities. For a moment she went blank but finally took control of her emotions. "I don't know what you are saying Severus". She declined his acquisitions. 

Although she declined it, nobody was foolish enough to believe her.

"I can ask your maid to testify for me and not only your maid but there were many people who witnessed you dragging me inside your room. If you want, we can ask them to testify for us. Oh, dear Melanie, why are you hesitating now? We both are already in love and I can easily subdue this fathers and son duo. You need not fear. Just accept my hand until death do us apart" Severus pleaded honestly.

[Boy is surprisingly good at acting]

Desella fist creased the hems of her dress as her long fingernails drugged in her palm. She just could not see it even if it was an act. It was too much for her. Severus saw that she was hesitating. He softly touched her and caught her in his embrace. With his one hand still holding the sword that was accurately pointing at Maverick's neck while his second hand securely hold Melanie in his embrace. Melanie got flustered when she was suddenly hugged. This was the first time they both were in close proximity. Her heart started fluttering while she did not feel his touch disgusting. The fact that now she was already a married woman flew above her head. "I… Severus…." Melanie stuttered. Timidly she started resisting but her small antic did not work for long. Severus saw that she was still not giving in. He tightened his hug and bowed his head down to inhale her scent. Sensually he whispered in her ear. "I am not taking no as an answer. I have loved you since I was a child and will only love you till eternity so what are you hesitating for? In what aspects am I lower than him?" When Severus asked this, he intentionally grazed the skin on Maverick's neck.

Maverick immediately grunted in pain.

Melanie, who was dazed with Severus' scent, instantly jolted back to reality when she heard Maverick. It was a tough decision for her. On one side was her best friend while on the other side was her love. She very casually forgot that now she was married to someone.