Tyranny of Steel

Within the capital of the German Empire Linde and Adela, the two empresses were sitting in a room, having a civil discussion. It had been some time since the dynamic duo had been on their honeymoon. Yet Adela could remember that last night as clear as day. Her hands trembled as she recalled the lustful stare that the filthy savage had as he held her hostage. If not for Berengar, she likely would have suffered a fate worse than death.

Linde, on the other hand, was much more relaxed as she took a sip from her coffee. She had much life and death encounters in her life, even before she hooked up with Berengar. She was a tool of intrigue for her father, and had risked her safety time and again to spy on Lothar's enemies. Thus, the experience was not as terrifying for her as it was for Adela.

Noticing the chaotic expression on Adela's face as the two sat together and discussed the event, Linde reached out and grabbed the girl's dainty hand with her own. She wore a pretty smile as she assured Adela that everything was going to be okay.

"Adela, you're shaking. Was the event really so traumatic that you can't get over it?"

Adela gazed out the window, unwilling to meet Linde's gaze. The relationship between the two of them was extremely complicated. For so many years, they had been bitter rivals, yet recently they had become intimate with one another. With Linde being the more dominant personality of the two. If anything, something akin to a friendship was beginning to form between them. It was because of this that Adela thought perhaps she could trust Linde with her feelings, and had thus decided to meet with her in private.

"It was not the first time I'd seen such a bloody scene. While I was in Granada with Berengar many years ago, we came close to death. Yet, he was as calm as could be. He was even eating his food as a slaughter took place around us, as if nothing was out of his control.

However, the look on his face when he saw that savage warrior holding me hostage, I have never seen him so furious before. Except maybe once... I think that terrifying expression is what haunts me the most. Does Berengar really have such hatred contained deep in his heart? It was as if he was more concerned about killing the savage than he was saving me..."

Linde merely scoffed when she heard Adela's complaints before giving the girl some genuine advice.

"Berengar is a bloodthirsty tyrant. I thought you knew this when you married him? It's exactly what makes me so in love with him. His willingness to challenge the world and exert his authority at all times, his overbearing nature. I can't get enough of it.

I wonder if God himself could compel Berengar to kneel before him. Then again, I suppose if he couldn't, he wouldn't be omnipotent now, would he? As far as your concerns go, Berengar would never harm a hair on your head. He cares for you, but I think your arrogant attitude vexed him, and that is what drove him to be a bit cruel towards you."

Adela sighed and nodded her head as she drank from her coffee. The young empress realized she may have been a bit of a prude, and even worse and arrogant bitch for the first few years of her marriage. She realized now that her pious attitude had driven a wedge between her and Berengar and had actively sought to remedy in recent years. Adela gritted her hands in envy as she revealed her inner feelings to her oldest rival.

"I despised you... you know that, right?'

When Linde heard this, her brow raised slightly before she nodded her head.

"I am aware..."

In response to this answer, Adela placed her cup of coffee down on the table before asking a question.

"Do you know why?'

A smug smile etched itself upon Linde's pretty lips as she nodded her head before responding in a haughty tone.

"You were jealous. It was quite obvious..."

Adela's cheeks immediately flushed red when she realized she had been seen through. She sighed heavily, releasing the stress in her fingers as she revealed the dark feelings she had towards Linde all these years.

"Yes, I was envious. You and Berengar had such a great relationship, and he clearly cared more about you than he did me. Even though he made me his first wife, you were always the woman he went to when he wanted companionship. Even Honoria knows this.

I felt like you had stolen his heart from me, but the truth was, it never lied to me to begin with. You were always his favorite, and always will be. I had even thought of having you killed a few times, but I knew that would only drive Berengar mad, and he would probably have me executed if I somehow succeeded."

Linde's brow raised once more in curiosity. She knew most of this, but was surprised to hear just how much Adela had hated her over the years. She could not help but ask the question on her mind.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Adela sighed before taking another sip of her coffee. It was only after she had finished the drink that she worked up the courage to tell Linde the truth.

"Because I want you to know that I have come to accept it... I will never be Berengar's favorite, but I can at least find joy being by his side, the same way Honoria and Yasmin do. However, it is because of this that I want you to do me a favor..."

Linde was now exceptionally curious about what it was that Adela had planned to ask of her and thus nodded her head in silence, signalling to the girl that she should continue. With a firm tone, Adela met Linde's gaze and professed her greatest hope.

"I want you to give me some alone time with Berengar so I can try to rekindle the relationship we had in the past. I know right now he views me as his least favorable wife, and though your erm.. training... has helped him increase his fondness for me, I am still lagging behind the other girls. When he returns from his war in the New World, all I ask is you let me get a head start."

Linde was stunned when she heard this. After all, she had always monopolized Berengar's attention when he first came home from his many campaigns. She struggled to endure the months without him, which is one of the reasons she had turned to Honoria to satisfy her growing lust in Berengar's absence.

If she could not be the first to embrace the man she loved, then she would go mad. However, she could tell that Adela was serious about fixing things between her and Berengar, and knew the only way that would happen was if they got some alone time together. Thus, the redheaded beauty could only sigh as she nodded her head in agreement with Adela's request.

"Just this once... I will allow it. After all, it would not be good for our household to continue the way it has been for some time. If Berengar can not get over his bitterness towards you, it will only lead to future issues among his other wives.

I will warn you though, when he returns from the new world, you will see our husband when he is at his worst. He will be rough, more than your tender ass can handle. He's just spent the last through months killing his way to victory, and witnessing the deaths of his comrades, that doesn't just magically go away when he comes home. I have always used my special touch to calm his fury."

It was Adela's turn to raise her brow in curiosity. She had no idea what Linde meant by what she had said and was quick to ask about it.

"Is it possible to learn this ability?"

A cruel smirk appeared on Linde's lips as she questioned what the girl was asking of her.

"You want me to teach you how to become a slutty, masochistic pig who solely exists for her husband to vent his emotions onto?"

Adela's jaw dropped when she heard exactly what it was that Linde did whenever Berengar returned home from his campaigns. She instantly had decided it was best to wait until he was in a better mood before getting some proper alone time with the man.

"You know what? I think I have changed my mind. I can barely handle what you put me through. If I had to endure Berengar's wrath, I think that I might really break into pieces. You can have him when he gets home. I will find some other time to mend our relationship."

Linde could only nod her head slightly. She knew the moment Adela heard what she really went through, the girl would back off. Thus she wore a pretty smile as she gave the young empress some comforting words.

"I'll make sure he's loving and kind by the time I hand him off to you. I know you love that romantic aspect of his, so you can have it this time around."

Thus, the two empresses had come to an agreement on the best way to help repair the shattered bond that existed between Adela and Berengar.