Chapter 160: Death of Melanie

"Oh, dear stop this drama. I know you have long been suspicious about it. Didn't you? Now I even proved it Maverick. Come on praise me" Severus mocked Maverick.

Severus was not making any sense to Melanie, so she asked out "What do you mean?"

"Yesses…. still trying to act. Never mind, I will tell you the truth. So, you were assigned by our esteemed king Marquis to sow seeds of discord between us. You spent your entire childhood playing games. Although I do not believe but if you say so then according to you, you fell in love with me later to be engaged with Maverick. I knew you were far from my reach, so I never approached you however you were well aware about my feelings. You toyed with my heart, Melanie." Severus scoffed.

"You were the one who gave me ecetera poison when I was a child. You deliberately asked me to go on dangerous missions. You just wanted to be free from guilt. Despite knowing my importance for Maverick, you asked me to go on threatening missions. Nevertheless, I did. However, your strategy failed since I didn't die in those missions. Now you were not able to blame anyone, so you felt frustrated. Not only me but Maverick sensed it too. Didn't you?" Severus pushed the blade of his sword deeper into his neck.

Maverick felt insulted but there was nothing much he could do. "I agree. At that time, I thought Melanie started developing a crush on you. I was frustrated since I was in love with her. How can I bear to see the longing for another man in her eyes? To avoid troubles I asked my father to arrange an engagement ceremony. I was unaware that seeds of love had long been sown in her heart. Useless try you can say. I was happy since I was going to engage with the love of my life. In my life, I had always been sad. Not many people can understand that, maybe because of the curse and my frail health, I never truly enjoyed happiness. Since childhood, I was told I had pathetic health. I lived in constant fear of dying. People around me were always sympathetic to my face but behind my back, they used to mock me. They used to say all kinds of disgusting things they could for me, even cursing my mother. I never knew what motherly love and father was never actually cared for me. I know he gave me the best medical care that he could, but that was not what I wanted. I wanted him to spend some time with me. Play with me, sing for me, and what not but as I grew up, I understood that it was impossible. Severus was with me since I can remember. He was just like my little brother. He always cheered me and not once looked at me through his sympathetic eyes. He was the one who asked me to alter my destiny by becoming powerful. Since then, we both started training together. It was hard for me, but I tried coping up. I didn't know when, but our bond became inseparable and we turned into sworn brothers. Everything was going well. I no longer cared for all those peoples saying bad behind me until a cute little girl entered my heart. When I first saw Melanie, I was shocked. She was a cute little princess. The chubby little girl had black hair pinned above her head in a pony decorated with gems. Her little fair hands waved at me. Later we three spent our time together. We added Melanie to our group and had the best time of our life. As we crossed adolescence things started to change. I remember father giving me personal lessons." Maverick took a short pause and breathed heavily as if preparing himself.

"He told me about me being the crown prince. I had responsibilities and duties that only I could handle. He told me to secure my position and all the crap. Well yeah, I strived harder from that day. After sunset when Severus used to sleep, I used to practice. I did all I can so I can be called as capable. Hard Work paid me, and everything started running smooth, but the parasite of greed and jealousy had long been ingrown in my mind. No matter how hard I tried, I was always jealous of Severus. In all honesty, Severus' life was nothing to be jealous of. He was just a dog for me and Rivera. I admit he was brave, courageous, and heroic but in the end, it was all for nothing. Despite being jealous I tried my best to not severe our nomad until the day I saw Melanie in his embrace. I do not know what got in me, jealousy got the best of me and I attacked him but then also I wasn't the one who killed him. I remember stabbing him, but I was sure it wasn't a fatal attack so how could Severus die. Huh! How foolish I was. I failed to notice Melanie piercing Severus with her small dagger. She stabbed him on his back but till then Severus had lost his consciousness. Everything happened so fast that I couldn't comprehend it. Later father checked on him and told me that Severus was dead. King Marquis used assassination as drama to suppress the news. I was lost. For three days straight I locked myself in my room. Later under my father's persuasion, I came out. It was hard. It felt like something important was missing from me. Every day, every hour, every single minute, second, I felt terrified. It took me a great time to believe that I killed my sworn brother. Everything was shrouded in mystery. I thought after your death things would change but nothing like that happened. After your death, I started understanding the hideous crime I committed and that I was set up by someone. Since then, I started searching for the culprit as well as resolving the mystery, but I got nothing…...It was all nothing…" The whole incident was filled with sorrow. 

Severus noticed that Maverick did not say anything about maps. He concluded Maverick hiding it for later.

Severus gazed at Melanie "So Melanie. You want to say something in your favor?" 

"I knew you were up to no good sis. I disgust being called your sister. Just how malicious you can be? Playing and getting played by men like that. Don't you have any shame? I already investigated you and found out about your plan. You thought you were being smart but no, you were just a foolish girl. You thought you could kill Marquis and imprison Maverick? And then? Marry Severus?"

"Slut!!"

"Or were you planning to create your harem? Sounds cool and exactly what you would do." Selena laughed as she made fun of her sister.

"You were the reason Severus led such a brute life. I can never forgive you for this. Not only are you are responsible for Severus but you are the reason so many people died. With your twisted personality, you killed so many girls for your inhuman practices. I was aware that you are the one behind kidnapping all those women. You didn't even spare young girls' sis. Just die already and rot in hell"

As Selena was berating her, Melanie tried to explain but before she could open her mouth she plopped on the ground.

Thud!

She fell as blood started oozing from her chest.

A…. I…. wasn't.

Melanie stopped abruptly. 

She died cold there.

"She talks a lot,"

Marquis said casually.

Everyone got chills when they heard him. Marquis killed Melanie, his daughter in law, the girl he raised since she was small. Just how heartless and cold he can be to kill the girl so mercilessly. Severus understood what Melanie was going to tell but Marquis intervened before she could speak, to hide about his dark plans.

Severus backed off when he saw a lunatic expression on Maverick's face. He could resonate with Maverick. Although he was over Melanie, still some part of his heart felt pain when he saw Melanie lying there coldly. Her crimson dress was now adorned with her own blood. Pian was still evident in her eyes. The dagger that hit her accurately pierced her chest and stabbed her heart. It was not a fluke but a very accurate attack. Even Severus felt shocked. He was in an awkward position. He did not know what he should do. Neither he could console his brother, nor he could cry for his life. Although she died she deserves it. Didn't he too die? He wondered whether anyone felt sad for him but that was just a fleeting thought. this was not the time to think about such things.

Severus pitied Maverick.

Maverick tried waking Melanie up but to no avail. She was dead. He hugged her cold body as tears started coming out of his eyes. "Why? This would have never happened if you would have loved me instead of Severus. Why didn't you love me, Melanie?" Maverick sobbed his heart out. His heart-wrenching sobs broke Severus' heart. In an instant, he was hit by a realization. Maybe Maverick was the one who actually loved Melanie. He was always the one helping her out. His position as shadow knight didn't allow him to help her several times but Maverick did help her every time. Even if he has to bend his ways for her. He thought a lot but he just couldn't blame anyone after they were all played by Marquis. It was just all tragic.