𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕

CHAPTER 26

As you approach, they notice your presence, and your Father, King Cedric, waves you over. "There she is!" he says cheerfully, his eyes lighting up. "Come, come, we were just discussing the final preparations for the wedding."

You force a smile as you reach their thrones, the mention of the wedding sending a pang of anxiety through you. "Everything's going smoothly?" you ask, feigning nonchalance.

Your Mother, Queen Dalancy, nods, a pleased smile on her face. "Yes, everything is under control," she says. "The venue, the decorations, the catering, the guests...it all looks wonderful. You and Prince Eris will have a beautiful ceremony."

You nod, your mind wandering to Eris. You try to push away the doubts that Lucidia's words have planted in your head, but you can't help but feel a sense of unease. "Father, Mother...I think we should postpone the wedding..." you manage to say, your voice sounding strained.

Your parents exchange a confused glance at your words, their expressions flickering with surprise and worry. "What do you mean, darling?" your Mother asks gently, her eyes searching yours.

You take a deep breath, trying to collect your thoughts. "There...there are some things I need to figure out," you say slowly, choosing your words carefully. "Things that I'm not sure about concerning Eris. I don't think it's a good idea to go through with the wedding just yet."

Your Father frowns, a hint of irritation crossing his face. "But, my daughter, the wedding is in three days. Everything is already in place, the guests are coming from far and wide. We can't just call it off at the last minute."

You feel a pang of guilt at his words, knowing that your late decision is causing unnecessary hassle. But you remain resolute. "I know, Father, but I really need some time to sort things out. I can't marry Eris when there are still so many doubts in my mind."

Your Mother reaches out to take your hand, her eyes filled with concern. "Darling, what doubts are you talking about? What's troubling you so much that you'd want to delay the wedding?"

You hesitate for a moment, unsure of how much to share. "I...I've heard some things about Prince Eris," you say finally, your voice barely above a whisper. "Things that make me question if he's truly the person I thought he was."

Your Father's frown deepens, his expression turning stern. "What kind of things are you referring to?" he asks, his voice taking on a commanding tone.

You take a deep breath, not wanting to reveal too much. "Just...things that make me wonder if he's truly loyal and honest," you say, the lie bitter on your tongue. "Things that make me question if he really loves me or if he's just using me for political gain."

Your Father shakes his head, his irritation growing. "Nonsense," he says firmly. "Prince Eris came to us with the offer of marriage, he courted you properly, and he's been nothing but an honorable suitor. I doubt there's any truth to those rumors you've heard."

You feel a pang of frustration at his dismissal of your concerns, but you try to keep your voice level. "But what if there is truth to them? What if I've been blindsided by my own feelings and I've missed something important about Prince Eris?"

Your Mother chimes in, her voice gentle but firm. "Darling, your Father is right. Prince Eris has done everything by the book. He's been nothing but respectful and devoted to you. Are you sure it isn't just pre-wedding jitters making you doubt him?"

You hesitate, feeling torn. A part of you wants to believe them, to trust that Eris is the man you think he is. But another part can't shake off the doubts that have taken root in your mind. "I just...I need some time to think," you say weakly.

Your Father lets out a frustrated sigh, his patience wearing thin. "Darling, there isn't much time left," he says firmly. "The wedding is in three days, and we can't call it off now. You need to push these doubts aside and trust that Prince Eris is the man you think he is."

You swallow your words and nod, not wanting to cause further argument. "You're right, Father. I apologize. I should be focusing on the preparations instead of dwelling on unnecessary doubts. I need to go check on Lady Beatrice now, excuse me." You give a slight curtsy and quickly leave the throne room.

You exit the grand throne room and rush down the hallway to your chambers. You feel a mixture of relief and guilt at your excuse, knowing that you've managed to escape the situation for now but also feeling guilty for not being completely honest with your parents.

Once you reach your chambers, you take a deep breath to steady yourself. You know you can't delay this conversation forever, but for now, you need some time to think. You head to your vanity and look at yourself in the mirror, trying to make sense of the swirl of emotions inside you.

You run your fingers through your hair, your thoughts still muddled. Part of you wants to dismiss Lucidia's words as nothing but jealousy and spite. But a nagging feeling deep inside you can't help but wonder if there's some truth to what she said.

With a heavy sigh, you get up from the vanity and start pacing around the room. You can't help but second-guess your own feelings and thoughts, the seeds of doubt growing stronger the more you think about it.

As you continue pacing, lost in thought, the door creaks open and Beatrice enters the room, her cheerful expression faltering as she sees your troubled demeanor.

"Gen, is it about Prince Eris and Lady Lucidia?" Beatrice asks, concern etched on her face as she approaches you. "Maybe... you need time to think about this wedding."

You stop pacing and turn to face her, a mix of surprise and relief in your eyes. It's as if Beatrice has read your mind, her words echoing your own thoughts. "I...I don't know," you admit, your voice shaking slightly. "I keep going back and forth, doubting everything I thought I knew about Prince Eris."

Beatrice nods, her expression sympathetic. "I understand," she says gently. "It's a lot to think about, and I know you care about him."

You feel a pang of gratitude for her understanding. "But what if Lady Lucidia is right? What if Eris is only interested in me for political reasons?" you ask, the question that has been gnawing at you for days.

Beatrice considers for a moment before replying. "It's possible," she says slowly. "But it's also possible that Lady Lucidia is just trying to sow doubt in your mind because she's jealous. She did lose him to you after all, right?"

You nod, realizing that Beatrice could be correct. "Perhaps..." But deep down, you can't shake the feeling that there's more to it than just jealousy. "But... I can't marry him right now. I'm so confused and angry..."

Beatrice takes your hand and squeezes it gently. "It's okay to be confused and angry," she says soothingly. "You have every right to feel that way. But running away from the wedding won't solve anything. You need to talk to Prince Eris about this, confront him directly."

You know Beatrice is right, but the thought of confronting Eris feels daunting. "I know...but I don't think I can...Bea... can you come back later? I need time to myself."

Beatrice looks at you with concern, but she nods. "Okay, Gen. I'll give you some space. I'm here if you need me." She squeezes your hand again and heads toward the door. "I love you, and don't you forget that." Beatrice closes the door leaving you alone in silence.

As the door closes, you're left alone with your thoughts once again. Beatrice's words echo in your mind, her love and support providing a small comfort in the storm of emotions you're feeling. You sigh and sit down on the edge of your bed, your shoulders slumped in exhaustion.

The silence is deafening, but you don't know what else to do. You feel drained and overwhelmed, unsure of what to do or think next. Maybe Beatrice is right, and you do need to talk to Eris. But the thought of confronting him feels daunting. You lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, your mind still swirling with doubt and questions.

The thought of running away from it all has crossed your mind more than once, especially now when the wedding is so close, and the doubts are so loud. You fantasize about packing your bag, sneaking out, and just leaving all your problems behind.