Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 47

Flashback

The door of Xavier's room flew open and the loud bang of it caused his head to slam heavily. He tried peeling his lashes apart, but the much light in the room made him shut them back. "You good for nothing idiot!" Robb roared as he stormed into his room.

Xavier did not know what he did to deserve this name-calling. Could it be him getting drunk in the tavern until this morning, or being brought in by the guards? Or was it from taking a bag of gold from the treasure room? Or from spending over 600 talent on drinks for himself and his friends? Whichever it was, he had pissed his father off big time.

"Father!"

"Somehow you've dragged the Ainsworth's name through the mud with your careless acts! I am ashamed to call you my son."

"Then don't call me your son, call me, Xavier!" he slurred, staggering out of the bed and falling face-first on the floor. He groaned in pain and forced himself up to his feet, before leaning against the bed stand.

There were two phases to him: being drunk and being angry. Nothing good has ever come from the latter and so he always went with the former. His mother's dying wish was for him to control his rage and, despite hating her request, he didn't want to let her down. Drinking helped calm his rage, and he hoped she would be proud now.

"You're a disgrace. I highly doubt that you are my son! No, Ainsworth, behave the way you do!"

Xavier scoffed. He was not a stranger to that line anymore.

It was funny how Robb would accuse Queen Layla when she yet lived of being unfaithful. He'd move to claim that she had birthed another man's child in his house. Layla was faithful, and that always made her upset. Xavier had found his mother crying many nights because of his accusations, but it didn't stop Robb. He called him a bastard and the son of another, despite evidence showing Xavier shared too many similarities in looks and built to belong to another.

"I've got your hair colour, jawline, height, and annoying voice. That has to count for something, right?" he slurred.

Robb glared at him. "You're this closer to being disowned with this behaviour of yours. Get your f*****g self together." He said and stormed out of the room.

He didn't heed his father's warning. The old man couldn't control the affairs of his palace, much more him. This had been the only thing that gave him joy since the death of the Queen and he wanted to cleave to that joy until he found something else. He visited the bar just like he had every day and sat at the counter, ordering beer when someone occupied the seats next to him.

He turned to take notice of the person, but saw a fair maiden in a scarlet robe that did nothing to cover up her full cleavage. He feasted his eyes on there before moving it up to her face. Usually, the maidens of the kingdom feared him because he was not only crowned prince, he was also called dangerous and frightening many times. However, this woman, whoever she was, had f*****g ball. He liked that.

"Aye," he said, making the woman turn to look at him. Her mind-shattering blue eyes met his, and it cause the spark to travel down his spine.

From that moment, his mind set on her, forgetting about everyone else in the bar.

"Hello, prince Xavier."

His brows narrowed. "You know who I am?"

She nodded. "Yes, I know who you are. You're the crowned prince of the kingdom of Wahala. Your reputation precedes you."

This just got interesting. "And you're not scared?"

"I'm not the type of girl that believes in rumours, I like to see for myself and so far, one rumour has been disproven."

"What rumour is that?" he asked with squinted eyes.

A coy smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "That you kill any maiden that as much as talk to you."

He wanted to laugh, but she wasn't joking. He knew the people of this kingdom didn't like him, but he didn't know it would get to the extent of them spreading such false information about him. Yes, he'd gotten into a few fights... maybe more than a few fights, but he had never laid his hand on a maiden and if he did, it was a mistake.

"I didn't know about that rumour, but I'm glad you're exploring the answers on your own."

"Well, now you do. I am glad too. I'm Zara Michel." she stretched her hand to him.

He took it and placed a soft kiss on the back of it. "I am prince Xavier Ainsworth." Flashback ends***

Xavier returned to the Palace with his countenance fallen and quiet. He had left Zara's home and caused no harm to her or her lover. The thought of ripping her heart out or throwing her through the window seemed like a great idea, but he did none of that. His love for her had enabled his rage, and he had acted on that rage more than once before. He had also committed enough atrocities because of it in the past.

She would not make him lose himself anymore. He'd been the fool for way too long.

Zara never asked him to change when they met. He thought she was comfortable with who he was, despite his notorious reputation. This was one reason he fell for her and now he realise even that was a complete act. She was no better than everyone who had ever used him in life, only he loved her.

He went up against his father and brother many times. Seven years ago, he had angered Robb by coming late to the feast of conquering. This made his father place a curse on both of them that would activate if they ever were to unite. The Curse broke him, but still didn't stop his love for her or keep him away. He thought she was his life and the only woman for him, and listened to no one's warnings or advice.

Finding her cheating didn't hurt, he wasn't perfect either, but knowing she never loved him hurt.

Yet he left her alive, unharmed.

Because he needed to be a better man.

He almost threw up in his own mouth at what he just heard himself think.

Fuck, he didn't want to be a better man. That was stress and worry and disappointment. He felt all that growing up in the palace and didn't want to feel that way ever again.

Slowly, he cracked open the door to his room and stepped inside. He hated the silence that welcomed him today, and this was the first time. He wanted a little noise or something, anything, so he wouldn't feel so alone. For the first time, he wished Edward was here in the palace.

He could barely stand the bastard, but at least he never lied to him, not since they were younger. He had pushed Edward far away and sometimes beyond the point of no return, but somehow the little devil found his way back.

Things were not like that when they were little. Yes, he had always had his rage from earlier on because of how unfit he was in the eyes of his father. But he always clung to his younger brother's words for reassurance. Edward never failed to deliver, but their relationship changed after the death of their mother.

Robb had been cruel even before the death of Queen Layla.