Chapter 246 - Who Would Be The Mistess

William pov.

"Your highness, his majesty is calling you." I have been waiting for this for a long time. I had thought that he would call me the moment he would hear the news but the whole night had passed yet I did not hear any summons.

Kirian and Lucas looked at me with worry while i just passed them an assuring smile, if worse comes to worse, I will attack him and seize the throne.

It was not like I couldn't do that. I was worried that it would be a golden chance for Gerard to mobilize the citizens against me by proving me as a tyrant who imprisoned his own father. They would not see that whatever I was doing was for the benefit of the empire only.

I walked towards the central palace with thousands of thoughts in my mind and with a heavy heart. 

"the crown prince have arrived, your majesty..'' The guard announced my arrival and soon the door was opened for me as the personal knights of the emperor came to escort me, which had happened for the first time.

"Hail to the glory of the empire, the sun of the empire, your majesty." I bowed my head as I greeted him but he did not command me to rise. Seconds turned into minutes yet there was deafening silence in the room.

I gritted my teeth as my hands clenched into a fist. I took a deep breath and stood up only to see him raising a brow.

"I could see that you have grown up enough to go against my decision, huh?" The voice was calm and patient, yet I could feel the pressure and threat behind it. His eyes were filled with the thirst of blood. Just the way it was filled when he went on a rampage and started the war.

"I do not dare to go against your majesty. If any of my action have made you felt so then i apologize sincerely.'' I bowed my head a bit but then stood up straight again.

"Do you take me as a fool now? Or do you think I am blind enough to not see your tricks?" he chuckled as he asked me again in a calmer tone. His voice was hollow creating goosebumps for everyone present in the room.

"No, your majesty. If you are talking about Abigail and me then I can explain." i added only to get mocking silence in return,

But if he did not deny, I would take it as acceptance so I bowed again.

"I loved the Abigail scene when we were young. If you remember, her mother was a good friend of mine.  And she often comes to the palace with her mother. 

We used to play together with Josephine and Carlisle. Since then I have always loved her. I have dreamt of marrying her since then." i took a deep breath and looked at him,

His expression cracked for the first time and I could see shock in them. I closed my eyes as I remembered those beautiful eyes.

"But then after the death of Carlise and her mother. Her father never brought her again. And once her father married, she confined herself in her chamber for years. She was not ready to go out and never took the initiative to meet me again.

In the beginning, I wrote letters for her. But when I did not get any reply for a long time, I even let that go as my every hope only met disappointment. 

To fill the gap she had created in my heart, I have met various women. Some have hair similar to her, some have similar eyes, some even have similar features or voice. I tried to find her in others. Hoping that it would fill the void of my heart but it only increased with time. I tried to forget her with every grain of my body yet it never happened. Her smile, her face and her action came to taunt me in dreams every night.

I thought that the distance would never end, but then I do not know how she came back. She had turned into a beautiful maiden and the moment I saw her, my heart skipped a beat. Since then I have been trying to control my emotions but it was extremely difficult when she was this close to me and stood by me day and night.

Yet I kept my mouth shut as she had forgotten the past. She did not remember the sweet childhood we had spent together, the time that had tormented me all my life never even existed for her.

Yet, I was happy to see her this close to me. To feel her presence around me. But then I came to know that a knight was trying to kill her due to jealousy.

So, I could not control myself and killed her in my anger. It was a case of self defense. If you do not trust me, you can always send the sword to the royal physician. He would check it and inform you of the result.

If you have any doubt about what I said, then I am sure you have the resources to even confirm it. 

I can swear at the name of my family that I have said only the truth. If you find a single lie in it. You can give me any kind of punishment. I am even ready for banishment or death penalty.'' Several gasps and whispers could be heard when I finished my statement. 

I looked around only to see Duke Essendson looking at me with complicated emotions. I could understand his dilemma. He was a loving father, who always protected his daughter.

Not even once has he let her suffer yet marrying her off to me would be very difficult for him. I was not even famous as the wastrel but also as a womanizer. Which father in his sane mind would want to marry his daughter to me!?

I took a deep breath and then I added, "if I get married to Abigail, I promise that I will mend my ways and will never look at another woman. I will even take an oath that I will not marry another woman. I will not have any mistress or lover or concubine. I will follow the rule of monogamy." This time the gasps and wipers reached another notch higher.

They all were looking at me with a shocked face and yet my eyes were stilled at the face of her father. To see if he was satisfied with my promise, but his expressions did not change at all. He continued to look at me with blank eyes and a cold face. Though I already knew it, it still broke my heart!

All I wanted was to have her by my side. I let her go many times. But each time, circumstances brought her closer and now I have passed the state of leaving her. I loved her with all my heart and soul and now that she has offered to be with me, I will not back out.

The wipers soon turned louder and I tried to see my father. Why was he not saying anything at all? Was he not convinced or did he not believe me? 

I was surprised to see his pale face as if he had suffered a strong blow. For the first time I felt that guilt passed his cold eyes.

"Your majesty, we have already decided that princess scarlet or lady Sophie would be the wife of William. We need a stronger ally to stand for the upcoming war and not to forget the increasing power of the northern duke." came the voice of the empress. I wonder how she kept her silence for this long.

I looked at her concerned face as if she was really worried about me or the empire.

"But i love Abigail, and i will only marry her.'' I added and she smiled and turned her face towards me. Her face was softening as she nodded.

"Of course, your words made us realize how much he loved that girl. I am not heartless enough to ask you to give up your love life just for the benefit of the empire. I will personally go and ask for her hand from the new duchess of Essendon's house.

Though she is not the real mother. I am sure she would understand your love for her.'' I frowned at her easy acceptance though she was still passing the comment about the Essendson she had accepted in front of everyone that she would personally ask for her hand.

"But I have a condition. You have to take back your oath of following monogamy and take Abigail as your concubine, so that you can marry princess Scarlet and lady Sophie. I am sure both are understanding enough to let her be your mistress, right, Duke Essendson?!"