III. The Impact of Her

~ Twenty-One ~

"Go ahead, Robert. Tell her," Benjamin whispered to me.

My heart shattered even more as he begged for my help. His eyes were desperate as his chance was limited. His usual persuasion wasn't working on Laura.

At the same time, Laura's eyes pleaded with me to stop Benjamin. We never broke eye contact. But I still saw how Benjamin shifted his gaze between the two of us.

Truth be told, I wanted to be honest with Benjamin. Laura was the love of my life. I never wished to and I would never trade her for anything else. I would fight for her until the very end of the world.

However, Benjamin was my brother. I had known him for my whole life. I didn't want to destroy everything that we shared, all because we loved the same person.

On the other hand, Laura was the woman of my heart. In the short amount of time we spent together, we faced different challenges. And I never wanted to lose her again.

Unfortunately, I already knew the right choice for this situation. And as a future king, my emotions came second for the greater good of all.

With a heavy heart, I took a deep breath as I looked firmly at Laura. I started, "You deserve each other, Laura. Benjamin will take good care of you. He will be able to give your heart's true desires, maybe even more." Those words felt like bile as they escaped my lips. It pierced through my heart like a three-edged sword. And I knew that what I was about to say would become one of my biggest regrets.

I continued, "Whoever you have your heart set on, you must forget. It is best that you allow Benjamin to enter your heart as you have entered his."

Her jaw tensed as her eyes watered. She might have done a great job in holding back her tears. But her teasy gaze gave her away.

We lost eye contact as Benjamin grabbed onto her hand, settling the bouquet onto the ground. "Laura, to give me your heart will make me the happiest man in this lifetime and the other," he said as his frantic stare never left Laura. But she was unmoved as he gave her a blank stare. He continued, "Give me your all and you will have all of me. I will provide for you, everything that you can ever need. All you have to do is say yes."

As Benjamin caressed her hands with his thumbs, my insides crumbled. I should be the one holding her hands in mine. A part of me believed that her hands belonged to me and me alone. But I could never hate or cure Benjamin. My love for him as a brother has overpowered my affections for Laura.

And if my pain was the sacrifice for my brother's happiness... I was more than willing to let her go.

"Benjamin, I..." Laura struggled with her words. She fought to free herself from Benjamin as she continued, "This is not the right time for this. Shouldn't you give me some time to think about everything?"

"What is there to think about when it's true love?" Benjamin replied as his grasp on her tightened.

"But I do not feel the same way as you do," Laura protested as she raised her voice. She finally pulled her hands free as she added, "I care and respect you as a friend. But I cannot give you more than that."

Benjamin slowly stood up and towered over her. Laura stepped back as she got overwhelmed by his height. I wanted to shield her from him but I didn't want any conflict.

"I have said this before and I will say it again, Laura: I do not care for anything except you. Whether you love me or not, I made it a vow to myself that you will be mine," Benjamin answered as his face streamed with his tears. His walls were down. Benjamin's vulnerable side was brought out by Laura. He added, "But I need to hear the answer from you. Because I believe that in time, you will reciprocate my feelings for you."