THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 23

Hello there. I hope that you're all good. So far so good. I'm happy that we're in chapter 23 and we still have way more chapters ahead. Special thanks goes to Janeselyn, Diana Wambui and Rogue 493 for their active participation. I would really love to hear from you all. Do comment and vote because by doing so I get the motivation to write more. I would also like to hear what you have to say about the book and what you'd like to be done about the book as a whole.
Have a good day ❤️
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There was a meeting in the court when a messenger came running in and everyone kept quiet.
"I apologize to you sire and all you esteemed members of the court but here with me is a letter from Egypt," he said.
"Bring it," Anthony said as he stood up. No matter how fast he tried to open the letter,it wouldn't open because of the anxiety he had.
"Let me," Therese said as she took it from his hands and opened it before handing it back to him. He read it out loud to the courtiers.
To His Majesty, Anthony,King of Alkion
I Pharaoh Ramses, Lord of the Two Lands, received your letter and discussed it with my court. After many consultations, we have decided to accept your offer for an alliance between our nations. We have heard how you rejected the offer from the Greeks and we would be delighted to be your allies. Our only condition is to have your eldest granddaughter marry my second son, Prince Seti so as to cement the kingdom's relations. That is the only condition we have for you. Do get back to us after making a decision.
Pharaoh Ramses.

Beneath the words was a stamp from the Pharaoh's signet ring. Their demand was very much favourable. The court accepted the deal offered to them and they immediately wrote a letter back to Egypt telling them that they had agreed to everything stated in the letter they had sent earlier.
Astrid would be told of her new betrothal during dinner. Meanwhile she had gone to find Julian in his house. He was in the living room reading a book with tea in his hand. She stood at the door without saying anything and when he looked up, he saw her and placed the cup back on the saucer.
"What brings you here my betrothed ?" he asked as he walked to her and led her inside." Will you have some tea ? I'll have the maids make a cup for you."
"No thank you. I am fine."
"Just look at this house Astrid. It looks a bit plain,don't you think ? It needs a woman's touch to make it look better. Lucky for me, I have you. I plan on having our wedding in spring which is not far off. I will go visit your parents and grandfather to discuss this arrangement."
" I am here to discuss our betrothal actually."
" What about it ?" he asked as he wore a worried expression. Since she arrived, she had not smiled a bit or seem happy to be with him.
" I think we should break off our engagement," she said as she looked at him. He thought she was joking but the expression on her face told him that she wasn't.
" Why ? I thought you loved me and that we were going to fix everything."
" I thought so too Julian but after thinking deeply, much has changed over the past moons. I don't think that this is the right relationship for us. We rushed back into it and I'm not ready to have it. I am so sorry but I can't push through with it," she said. She had promised herself not to shed a tear as she was saying those words to him. When he had left her, something inside her changed. It was not a long time but it was enough for her to decide that that was not the relationship for her.
" Tell me something," he said as he rubbed his temple." Is it because you met someone else in my absence or what do I lack now that I came back ? I heard that there was an entourage from Greece and a prince asked for your hand. Is it that you despise me because I am a count ? Huh ?" he asked with fury laced in his voice." You now have set your eyes on the bigger prize. You're no different from your grandfather. You only want what is big for yourself."
He swang her swiftly and pressed her against the wall. This was his second time to mishandle her. It was not going to happen again and so she pushed him away with all her might.
" I won't stand here and listen to you insulting me. I made this decision alone because it's what is best."
" Best ? For whom ? You,me, us or your family ? Try and convince me that you haven't set your eyes on someone higher than me."
" I haven't set my eyes on someone else. I'm sorry that this ended this way but we have to end our engagement."
With that she took off the ring he had given to her and placed it on the table.
" Let's try this again Astrid," he said as he walked towards her." I will change for you and be a better man for you."
" No Julian. I don't think that I can love you as you want me to. I don't want to deceive you and make your life unbearable in the process. We should not meet for a while until everything settles down."
" Is there a chance for reconciliation in future ?"he said in a low tone.
" Only time and the events in our lives will tell," she said as she looked away.
With those words she left his manor and went home feeling lighter after unloading the heavy burden of guilt she felt by accepting the engagement when she shouldn't have.

Do tell me what you think about her breaking off her engaged to Julian in the comments section.