Prince Zadkiel had been locked away all his life and had never been seen since the day he was born. That is, until he was whisked away to be wedded to his promised Princess Aria of Oryn.
With the once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience life and fre...
Tears flowed like a never ending river from Aria’s eyes as the carriage drove her farther away from the man she loved.
Her heart was heavy in grief , anger and uncertainty. Grief after what her father told her, that the love of her life had left in the break of the night, without a single kiss or hug goodbye. And it was there that her anger stemmed from too.
Though Andreas assured her that she would see him soon again once Heather is stopped, that could be weeks--months, even!
Heather had already proved how good she is at what she does. That scared Aria the most.
When her parents put her on this journey, it made her wonder. How do they even know that Heather isn’t already on their trail? Her dad was smart to send two carriages away from the castle. If Heather was indeed watching, which they were certain that she was, then she would’ve gone after the carriage that was ‘holding’ the ‘prince’. Hopefully, she’ll fall for the bait, and they’ll catch her once and for all.
But if she doesn’t fall for it, then that’s square one all over again.
However, what upset Aria the most, was that her father didn’t tell her where her prince was going. She would’ve felt better if she knew. The king claimed that ‘he didn’t know either’, and deep down Aria knew he wasn’t lying.
His decision to keep the Prince’s whereabouts a secret, even from him, was smart. Still, Aria couldn’t help but worry.
The questions and ‘what ifs’ just kept on playing in her head.
What if he didn’t even make it to the house he’ll be staying in? What if Heather found him first?
“Aria? Are you okay?” Tina’s voice pulled a gazing Aria from her thoughts, but even after coming back to reality, she still looked lost.
Tina chewed on her bottom lip, suddenly feeling guilty for asking such an obvious question.
“Right. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be,” Aria quickly assured her that it was okay. “We’ve all had a rough month haven’t we?”
Now it was Aria’s time to feel guilty, when Tina’s face fell in sadness again. She was missing Joshua, and everyone knew it. What made her feel even worse, was that even after learning the truth about him, she still missed him.
But that was barely her fault. Love does that to you.
“All but you, huh Lizzy?” Tina asked with a hint of humour, trying to lighten the mood. But Liziath didn’t find the humour in it.
“I’ve watched my two favourite human beings suffer all month because of a fantasy I had in my head of love.” Liziath’s voice was void of emotion and flat, something completely new for her.
It completely shocked her sisters.
“I’ve seen the prince mistreat you for a whole two weeks,” she added as she turned to Aria. “And then his second fleeing after working with a psychopath to push Aria’s lover down the stairs. Now, we’re being sent away so that they can find this crazy woman. But who’s to say she hasn't already killed both of them?”
“Liziath…” Aria warned softly as tears slipped down her cheeks. Liziath took a deep breath before directing her gaze outside.
“I apologize, my dear sisters. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I just thought love was beautiful, that’s all.”
Oh but it is. Aria wanted to tell both her sisters this. They had seemed to lose all faith in the wonderful force. Still, she couldn’t find the words to tell them. Because something in the far bed of her mind told her that Heather’s rage is fueled by love too. Or if it isn’t, it once was.
And so, with nothing more to say, Aria took a deep breath, blinked the tears from her eyes and stared outside at the quiet waves as they crashed onto the shore.
The thoughts never stopped, but Aria knew she couldn’t feed them. But if anything should happen to her dear lover, her heart would be broken forever.
***
“Here, drink this.” Dania placed a cup of boiling tea in her brother's hand as he shivered in front of the fireplace.
On his way home last night, the rain had started to pour mercilessly while Chad had just entered the village where he once called home before the castle.
The king wouldn’t know it, and nobody else, not even Heather would think he would come here. So, Chad thought it was smart. Dania thought it was smart too, and after everything Chad told her, she was trying to get him to stay and never return.
But Chad explained that if he did that and the real Zadkiel didn't return, they would come looking for him in fear that Heather got to him. When in reality, he simply couldn’t bear the thought, since his darling Aria was at that castle too.
He wouldn’t leave her. Not even for life itself.
“Thank you,” Chad mumbled as he took a sip of the tea. One day seemed a bit too long without Aria. By now they will be at the safe house that King Andreas sent his three daughters to. By now they’d know if Heather fell for the bait or not. But he wouldn’t know so quickly. It would take a few days.
A few days is what Chad couldn’t sacrifice. The end of the month is approaching so fast, and he has to tell Aria the truth before Zadkiel gets home.
He must.
Knowing there was nothing more he could do now, Chad simply drank his tea and watched the cackling fire. He hated feeling like a coward for running away, but he couldn’t help it. It was the smart and safe thing to do.
Any human being would’ve done the same thing. Besides, he wasn’t even doing it for himself. He was doing it for Aria.
“Chad, please talk to me. You’ve been distant.” Dania sighed deeply as she sat beside her younger brother. She had promised him that she wouldn’t return to England until all is well with her brother, and seeing him like this broke her.
He shook his head as he wiped a little snot from under his nose. “A lot has happened since you visited, Dania. A whole lot. I’ve learnt some things. I’ve…seen some things.” His eyes closed on instinct as he remembered the man’s head falling from his body.
“It’s not too late to--"
“No,” he cut her off by saying. Chad already knew what she was trying to propose. He wasn’t angry. At her for suggesting it. He knew she loved him and would do whatever it takes to keep him safe.
Love. It does a lot sometimes.
“I love her, Dania. I won't leave her.”
Dania simply nodded. She already knew who she was referring to. Though it killed her to know that the only blood relative she has left is willing to choose love even in the face of death, she was sort of happy for him.
In life, only a few feel that level of love. It is surely beautiful.
And so, without even so much of another word, she pulled him into her arms, and held him there. Because she knew that her baby brother needed it.
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