Emmy

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Emerald was stunned. She felt like she couldn't speak, like the words had left her. She sat on the hard chair, gripping the seat tightly with both hands. She stared intently at Alex's tired eyes, trying to figure out why he wanted to break off their courtship.

"You heard me," Alex said, cold and unfeeling.

"Alex!" Emerald exclaimed, her words still failing her. "What ... what do you mean?"

Alex dropped his eye contact, instead choosing to look at his desk. "Emerald, I think we have both been leading each other on."

The news hit Emerald like a sword to the chest. "I haven't," she said gently, shock rippling through the few words she could get out.

"Well, I'm afraid I have," Alex said. He got up quickly and stood facing away from Emerald. His hands were behind his back and gripped tightly together, his knuckles as white as parchment. "I was biding my time with you while I waited for ... a better offer."

Emerald noticed the pain in his voice, as if his words hurt him as much as they hurt her. 'Is that why he won't look at me?'

"It was easy to talk to you and get to know you. I should never have let things progress to this stage we're at now. It was wrong of me. I knew I'd have to break it off and hurt you in the process, but here we are."

Alex's revelations continued to hit Emerald like small daggers. "So everything you've ever said to me is a lie?"

"I'm sorry, Emerald, but yes. I should never have let things continue after getting to know you, but I liked you, more than I cared to admit."

Emerald saw her chance to turn the situation around. "So why end things with me for someone else if you've liked our time together? It doesn't make sense Alex, can't you-"

"Because you're a middle class maiden and I am a Prince!" Alex roared, turning around to face Emerald, the sudden outburst startling her. "And don't forget I'm soon to be King over England. Am I expected to marry someone far beneath me because I've lead them on and it would be the 'right' thing to do? Or should I marry into a well established family from Europe that could uplift England's standing within the world?" 

Emerald sat there and took the full force of Alex's rage, stock-still and teary-eyed. Faced with the remains of their relationship thrown into the wind, Emerald let Alex's harsh words hit her like arrows and knock her down. She felt defeated, as if the last few months were for nothing. All her hopes and dreams of being with Alex forever were shattered in an instant. She thought back to their romantic walks in the garden, their secret meetings in the castle, and of her first official outing as his courter. Was that all a lie?

Alex broke her train of thought. "Look, Emerald, I'm sorry for how things have played out. It isn't fair on you. To make up for it I've arranged a marriage for you with a wealthy nobleman who would be grateful to be your husband. I hope this can make up for the terrible predicament I have caused you."

Not quite knowing what else to say, Emerald accepted her fate. Her happy memories turned quickly into sour moments. Her joyous feeling at seeing Alex had now dulled into melancholy. "That is fine," she heard herself say. She stared at Alex, straight into his dark eyes. "This has all been very wrong of you. I can't believe ... you have led me on, all this time." Her voice cracked and she looked at the floor, not wanting to let Alex see her cry.

Alex was silent, but his eyes were filled with a mix of emotions: sadness, anger, tiredness and regret. "I am sorry," was all he could muster, a lump forming in the back of his throat too. A short silence encapsulated the room.

"I suppose I am no longer needed then," Emerald said, her voice monotone.

"Uh, yes. I suppose," Alex replied.