👑 The Prince's Heart ❤

☆Later That Day☆

(Izana's POV)

The sun had begun to sink behind the horizon, casting golden light through the large windows of the palace library. The shelves were lined with ancient books, their spines worn and full of history, but today the vast collection of knowledge failed to hold my attention.

Evelyn sat beside me, her nose buried in a small book of fables I had selected for her earlier. Her brow furrowed slightly as she read, a soft smile touching her lips when she came across a passage she enjoyed. She had always looked so serious when she read, as if the stories themselves were full of hidden truths she needed to unravel.

Despite her quiet concentration, I couldn't focus on my own book. The words blurred in front of me as my mind wandered elsewhere.

Ever since the day I had found her locked in that cold, damp basement, I hadn't been able to shake the thought of how she had suffered in that place. My heart ached to know more—about her life before we met, the time she had spent at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and stepsister. I knew there was so much more to her story, and though I hadn't asked her about it directly, the curiosity had been gnawing at me.

I closed my book quietly, my eyes drifting over to Evelyn once more. She hadn't noticed me staring, still lost in her world of words. But something inside me told me it was time to ask. I needed to know what she had been through, to understand the full weight of her past so I could be there for her in every way possible.

"Evelyn," I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

She glanced up, her eyes meeting mine with a questioning look. "Yes?" she asked, closing her book slowly as if sensing the change in the atmosphere.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you," I began, my voice quiet, but my gaze steady.

She placed the book on her lap, turning her full attention to me now. "What is it?"

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to bring up painful memories, but I needed to understand. "Your life at the cottage," I started gently. "Before... everything happened. What was it like for you? With your stepmother and Clara?"

Her expression shifted slightly—just a flicker of something, perhaps sadness or discomfort, but she quickly masked it with a neutral smile.

"You don't have to talk about it if it's too painful," I added quickly, not wanting to push her.

She shook her head softly, her smile small but genuine. "No, it's alright. I just... it's not something I've ever really talked about."

I nodded, giving her the space to gather her thoughts. I could tell this was difficult for her, and I didn't want to rush her.

Evelyn took a deep breath, her hands resting on the book in her lap as she began to speak. "It wasn't always terrible. Before my father died, things were... different. He was my protector, and even though Miss Mara had married him, she never showed her true colors while he was alive. She pretended to care for me, for the sake of appearances. And Clara—well, she was never kind, but she wasn't as cruel back then."

Her voice was soft, but there was a deep undercurrent of emotion. "But once my father passed away, everything changed. It was as if Miss Mara had been waiting for that moment, waiting for him to be gone so she could finally show who she really was."

I clenched my fists unconsciously, imagining the torment she must have faced. I had heard stories of cruel stepfamilies before, but hearing it from Evelyn, the woman I cared for more than anyone, made it feel unbearable.

"They took everything from me," she continued, her voice shaking slightly now. "My room, my clothes, even my father's things. They moved me to the basement, told me that I didn't deserve to live in the house my father had worked so hard to provide. Every day was a battle just to survive."

I could see the pain in her eyes as she spoke, and I reached out, gently placing my hand over hers in silent support. She glanced down at our hands, her fingers trembling slightly, but she didn't pull away.

"They never laid a hand on me," she said softly, "but the way they treated me... it was as if I wasn't a person to them. Just something to be used, an extra set of hands to do the work they didn't want to do themselves."

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. "How did you bear it for so long?"

She sighed, her gaze turning distant. "There were days when I thought I couldn't. But... I had Matthias. He was the one bright spot in my life. He would sneak by the cottage whenever he could, bringing me little things—bread, cheese, sometimes just company when I needed it most. If it weren't for him, I don't know what I would have done."

Hearing her speak about Matthias warmed my heart. The boy had risked so much for her, despite his young age. It only made me respect him more.

"I'm glad you had him," I said softly. "And I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Evelyn shook her head again, this time with more conviction. "You don't have to apologize, Izana. It wasn't your fault."

"I know," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "But I still wish I could have been there for you. To protect you."

She smiled, a faint blush touching her cheeks. "You did save me. That night... when you found me in the basement. I don't think I would have survived if you hadn't come."

Her words stirred something deep inside me, and I felt a surge of emotion welling up within. "I'll always be there for you now," I promised, my voice firmer than before. "No one will ever treat you like that again."

She met my gaze, her eyes shining with gratitude, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. It was just the two of us, here in this library, sharing a moment of understanding and connection that went beyond words.

Evelyn leaned back slightly, her expression softening as she continued, "It wasn't all bad, though. I remember nights when Matthias and I would talk about dreams—about leaving the village, going somewhere far away where no one could hurt us. He always believed that things would get better. That was what kept me going."

Her words made me think about the future, about what I could offer her. She had spent so long in that cottage, locked away from the world, living in fear and hardship. But I wanted to show her something different. A world where she could be free, happy, and loved.

"I want to give you that," I said quietly. "A life where you can be free from the past."

She blinked, her eyes widening slightly at my words. "Izana..."

"I mean it," I continued, my voice low but resolute. "You don't deserve to carry the weight of your past forever. I want to be there for you, in whatever way you need."

There was a long silence between us as she processed my words, her gaze never leaving mine. Finally, she smiled—a small, but genuine smile that made my heart swell with emotion.

"I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

"You deserve so much more than you've ever been given," I replied softly, my hand still resting over hers. "And I intend to prove that to you."

For a moment, we just sat there, the weight of the past slowly lifting as we shared a quiet understanding. Evelyn's story had given me insight into the depth of her strength, and I admired her even more for surviving everything she had endured.

As the evening light dimmed and the library grew quieter, I knew one thing for certain: Evelyn's past would no longer define her. Together, we would forge a new future—one built on love, trust, and the freedom she had so long been denied.

And I would stand by her side through it all.

(1406 Words)