Persona: My Husband's Mute Brother

I was barely six years old when my father returned alone as a war hero.

He rode on horseback, the town drove into silence. That day, my father, who was the only survivor out of one hundred thousand men, returned with the head of the Vampire King and threw it at the feet of His Majesty, the Emperor.

That day changed everything.

The commoner with no impact was instantly known as the hero of the Empire. Everyone knew and sang the praises of Aaron Damanstus, children reciting lines from a street play about the great hero.

However, not everyone loved this commoner turned Hero.

As the fame of my father rose through the roof, the loyalty to the Emperor was shared, his glory outshone the Emperor and in time, he became envious.

After my father returned as a war hero, a lot of things changed. He was given an honourable title but not a noble one, a mansion, as well as borders. It was at that time that my father's greed grew.

To please the king, he kept companies that poisoned his heart, employed vicious and scheming workers, and began neglecting his family, and with time, our mother grew sick and died.

No one knew about that part of the story, all they knew after my mother's death was that 'the Damanstus we're a happy family and supported each other after their mother's death.

Stories about how Adeline, the youngest of the three, was showered with gifts and love because of her striking resemblance to their mother circulated, rather than the cold truth of how my father would abandon us to go to war, and it continued that way until my brothers were old enough to join him.

Things like this made me realize that maybe, just maybe, I was happy with the way things used to be before he became who he is today.

The more I grew the more I began to know the taste of reality and the consequences of having too much power.

Well, it was everything one could dream of, but then father made that one mistake, with just a slip of the tongue, that dreadful, careless speech.

"My daughter can dispel magic. She is like a protective barrier against magic I tell you. She can cancel and protect you from danger." That one careless statement changed my life forever.

The next day, I was brought before His Majesty the Emperor.

Although I had no idea of what was happening before me as I was unaware of my ability at that age, I was tested by the mages.

It was at that moment I realized I was indeed magic resistant and had protective magic.

It turned out that my mother was a fairy, who met my father and fell in love when they were still young and innocent.

Their joy knew no bounds after having two sons, finally, they had me. I was just nine when she died. It was also thanks to her powers that father was safe when he went to war but she died three years after he returned due to his negligence.

I didn't mind that, what I mind is that he used me as a stepping stone. How disgraceful.

Thanks to him I was promised to the third son of the Emperor, but I could promise you one thing, I was not going to sit on that throne any time soon.

Although the Emperor showed that he favoured us, everyone knew that he hated my father, only he was too blind to see that.

The Emperor was known to be a ruler with great ego, he had always hated people he found stronger than him, and my father was one of them.

The opportunity my father saw to gain favour, was a chance to put him in chains, as such I was promised to the third outcast prince.

"That man, how dare he disgrace my pride and honour, of all people he set my daughter up with a weakling. Did you see, he did not even dare allow the third prince to show his face." After we arrived at the palace, father started crashing stuff, he held my shoulders and shook them. "Adeline, listen to me, you will be Queen. I promise you, I'll team up with many people to make that happen, just you wait." I never wanted the throne, to be clear it was he who desired to be called 'Your Majesty', even my brothers knew this much.

A drunk power-hungry man. My father was never such a person until recently, greed had consumed him and if he did not end his terrible power-hungry act he would end up falling for that man's trap.

"The prince is not well at the moment, and so he cannot attend to visitors." They say that but it's already the tenth time I'm hearing the same excuse. It's been seven years since that day, and I am yet to see the face of my soon-to-be husband. I heard he was with a weak heart and doesn't see people that much so even when I requested we meet we never did.

"Don't you know who she is, she is Sir Aaron's daughter." My maid and closest friend, Diane explained. "This is already the tenth time, when do we get to see the prince." One was bound to get angry, but I was not. Seeing how nonchalant they were, even picking their noses in front of their guest, I could only assume that the prince himself was not getting better treatment. "Look here we even brought gifts."

"That's alright. Thank you for your time." I greeted the man and turned around heading for the carriage.

"What a bunch of jokes, dreaming to be a princess." The guards laughed. I've ignored them as much as I could but now I'm becoming fed up. I tolerate it because of what might happen to my family.

"Drive," I say to the coachman as I knock twice on the roof of the carriage and then after a little jiggle we start to move, but just then the weather frowned upon us as it started drizzling.

I began to wonder, are we cursed? it's not like father would believe me if I say we were anyway. Oh well, I'll leave that for destiny to decide.

Woah!!!

The carriage shook violently and I held on to the seat, wondering what went wrong.

I had just woken from my sleep after such a long ride and the reason for being awake was this occurrence. The coachman ran to my door looking panicked. "What is it?" I asked anxiously.

Drenched in the rain, the coachman pulled off his hat and squeezed it. I drew near the window and patiently waited for what he had to say, and then finally he opened his mouth.

"My Lady, it seems we ran into someone, and I think he's dead."

I opened the door and ran out of the carriage, stopping right before the scene of the night. There lies a man on the wet muddy ground and our carriage next to it. I close my eyes and look up to the heavens.

Dear God. What have we done?