UNFIT Royal (Short Story)

18(28)

*Unedited*

Daniel's POV

It has been three weeks since I have became king and three weeks since I have last seen her.

My body craved for her. My thoughts were plagued with her. She was a like a siren and I am yearning to answer her sweet call.

We correspond through letters nearly every other day, but it's not enough. I need to feel her, hold her, and talk to her. I just miss her with my being and it's something I'm afraid of because I fear I may never love another the way I love her if it doesn't work out.

Yes, I knew she had doubts about our impending marriage since we have been back. I saw it on her face when we parted and it was evident in our correspondences.

Whenever I brought up plans for our wedding Ebonie either brushed past the topic or changed it completely. Once I became more adamant about the wedding her letters became shorter, so I have not really pushed the subject in about a week or so.

Malcolm came stalking in taking me from my thoughts.

I was sitting behind my desk when he threw himself down in the chair in front of me.

He huffed, "I'm not cut out for this."

I rolled my eyes already knowing what this conversation is about. We had this conversation at least twice a week for the past three weeks.

"No, I'm not doing this again. You are capable, don't let the pretentious court people get into your head." I leaned forward with my elbows on my desk rubbing my temples.

Malcolm rolled his eyes, "No, I mean with Claire. She keeps pushing for us to set a date but I don't think I am in love with her anymore."

I instantly straightened in my seat. I never expected to hear a confession as such coming from him, it always seemed he was infatuated with her.

"What has changed, Malcolm?" The intrigue was barely containable.

"I think I am in love with another. She plagues my mind daily." He appeared deep in thought.

"Who is she?" I inquired.

He gave me an remorseful look, which made something in me shiver.

"She resides in Fairmarsh and she is betrothed to another. I never expected such feels to arise again. We were mere kids when we fell in love the first time, and I fear she may never love me as she once did." He slouched even further into his seat.

I sighed, troubled by the topic. It had been years since he brought this mystery woman up and the love they may have shared is something that must have been epic. A love that nearly destroyed him, I wondered how the girl must've felt when he rejected her.  Probably just as much or even more so, I have to ask Ebonie about this girl in our next correspondence. Maybe she knows, even though she didn't the first time but maybe more detail will jog her memory.

"Go to Fairmarsh. Seek her out, find out if there's something still there and explore it if possible. It's better know now than to wonder in a loveless marriage." I acknowledged, as I thought about it. I wouldn't want to marry Ebonie or anyone else if they were in love with another.

Malcolm looked shocked at my comment. "I thought you would be against it seeing as you are engaged yourself. I didn't think you would condone me breaking up perfectly happy couples."

"I do not, but you both will hurt more people in the end if you are not sure about each other." I shrugged, "It's not like it's someone you care about that you will be hurting."

With that statement he visibly winced, and looked to the floor. A clue. It was someone he cared for that he would be hurting, if he pursued the possibility.

"I don't think I can hurt this person, they have done so much for me. They are like family to me." He stated looking guilty.

"They'll thank you in the long run. No one deserves to love someone who has given their heart to another. Spare a little pain now than farther down the line." I acknowledged.

He stayed silent for a little while, as if gaining the courage to say something. "Do you think the person I could hurt would want to know? Because the girl obviously hasn't told the male about our past relationship. Soo... I'm asking if it were you would you want to know?" He stated looking to gage my reaction.

I thought about it for a couple moments.

"Yes. That's the least that could be offered so that I could be prepared in the slightest."

Malcolm just looked at me with pain in his eyes, then it hit me.

"It's Ebonie." I whispered.

Malcolm said nothing yet it confirmed my suspicion.

It made a lot of sense as for how Ebonie acted as well around him. Her story about being abandoned by a former love and his story about how his self destructiveness tore him away from someone he loved dearly.

My heart lurched in my chest.

Betrayal? Is what I felt?

How could they not tell me? I look like a fool.

With a pained breath, "Go for it. I will not stand in your way." I whispered as my thoughts began running a mile a minute.

Malcolm opened his mouth a couple times, but closed it swiftly. But I could see the remorse he had on his face. I pointed to the door, he took the hint, and left quietly.

Ebonie's POV

I looked at the letter in my hands.

Dear Ebonie,

I was just made aware of your past relationship with Malcolm.

I have a lot of confusing emotions right now, but I feel betrayal and hurt the most.

I think it's best we not correspond for a while. I need time to figure out how I can possibly move past this.

Consider our engagement void.

Daniel
King of Winterstorm

The tears in my eyes, couldn't express how my heart breaks in this moment. But it explains why I haven't spoken to Daniel in two weeks.

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Hello,

I hope y'all liked it.

*SC