A Crowned Heart

{2}

The garden was in full bloom, a riot of colors and scents that filled the air with a sense of life and vitality. The roses were a deep red, almost as if they had absorbed the passion they symbolized. The lilies stood tall, their white petals pristine against the green of the leaves. Everywhere Y/N looked, there was beauty, but it was beauty she could no longer appreciate. Not when her heart was so heavy.

Davin walked beside her, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, guiding her through the winding paths of the garden. To any observer, they were the perfect couple—two figures moving in harmony through a paradise of flowers. But to Y/N, each step felt like she was walking further away from the life she truly desired.

They reached a secluded bench, partially hidden by a large willow tree that draped its branches over them like a protective curtain. Davin motioned for her to sit, and she did so, folding her hands neatly in her lap. He sat beside her, turning slightly so he could look at her more closely.

"You've been quiet today," Davin remarked, his voice soft but probing. "I know these meetings aren't easy for you, but I hope you know how much I care about you, Y/N."

Y/N's breath caught in her throat at the sound of her name. He rarely used it—it was always "Princess" or "My Lady." Hearing her name on his lips felt too personal, too intimate, and she wasn't sure how to respond. She turned her gaze to the ground, the jasmine flowers in her braid brushing against her neck as she moved.

"I know, Davin," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've always been kind to me."

"But that's not enough, is it?" Davin asked, his tone more serious now. "I can see it in your eyes. You're unhappy. I want to understand why."

Y/N bit her lip, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. How could she explain the emptiness she felt? How could she tell him that while he was everything a kingdom could want, he was not what she needed?

"It's not about you," she said, choosing her words carefully. "You've done nothing wrong, Davin. It's just... this life, this arrangement... it's not what I envisioned for myself."

Davin's expression softened, but there was a flicker of something else—perhaps frustration, or maybe even pain. "You were born into a world of duty, Y/N. We both were. But that doesn't mean you can't find happiness within it."

Y/N looked up at him then, her eyes searching his for some sign that he understood. "What if my happiness lies outside of this life? What if it's something I can never have?"

Davin reached for her hand, his touch warm and gentle. "Then I'll do everything I can to bring that happiness to you, even if it means giving up my own."

His words were sincere, and for a moment, Y/N felt a pang of guilt. Davin was not a cruel man. He was considerate, attentive, and genuinely cared for her. But that was the problem—she couldn't return those feelings, not in the way he wanted.

"You shouldn't have to sacrifice your happiness for mine," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "That's not fair to either of us."

Davin held her hand a little tighter, as if he feared letting go would mean losing her forever. "Life isn't fair, Y/N. We both know that. But we can make the best of what we've been given. I may not be the man you would have chosen, but I am the one who stands by your side. Doesn't that count for something?"

Y/N's heart ached at his words. He was right—he was always there, always dependable, always ready to support her. But love wasn't something that could be forced, no matter how much she wished it could be.

"It does count, Davin," she said softly, her gaze dropping to their joined hands. "But I can't give you what you want. I can't give you my heart."

For a long moment, Davin didn't speak. The silence between them was thick, heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost resigned.

"I've known that for some time," he admitted, a sad smile touching his lips. "I've always known your heart wasn't fully mine. But I hoped... I hoped that in time, it would change."

Y/N felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, not wanting him to see her weakness. "I wish I could change it, Davin. I really do. But some things are beyond our control."

Davin sighed, leaning back on the bench, his hand slipping away from hers. "And what about your duty? To your family? To the kingdom? Do you not feel any sense of obligation to them?"

"Of course I do," Y/N replied, her voice firmer now. "I've always put my duty first. But that doesn't mean I can ignore what's in my heart. I've tried, Davin. I've tried so hard to be the princess everyone expects me to be. But at what cost?"

Davin was silent, his gaze fixed on the ground. He looked as if he was wrestling with his own emotions, trying to find the right words. When he finally spoke, there was a note of determination in his voice.

"Then let's make a pact, Y/N," he said, turning to face her fully. "We'll fulfill our duties. We'll play our roles for the sake of the kingdom. But we won't pretend. We'll be honest with each other, even if it hurts. Can you promise me that?"

Y/N met his gaze, surprised by his proposal. It was unexpected, but it was also something she could agree to. Honesty was all she had left to offer him.

"I promise," she said, nodding. "No more pretending."

Davin's expression softened, and he reached out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "Thank you, Y/N. I don't want to lose you, even if it's not in the way I once hoped."

Y/N felt a mixture of relief and sadness at his words. It was a step forward, but it didn't erase the pain or the longing she felt for a life she could never have.

"I don't want to lose you either, Davin," she whispered. "I just wish things could have been different."

Davin nodded, a resigned smile on his lips. "So do I. But this is the path we've been given. We'll walk it together, for as long as we can."

Y/N couldn't help but smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "Together," she echoed, knowing that while they would walk side by side, their hearts would always be miles apart.

As they sat in the quiet of the garden, the flowers around them seemed to sway in time with the unspoken understanding they had reached. The future was uncertain, but at least now, they would face it with the truth between them, rather than the lies that had kept them apart.