Fated To Love • GeminiFourth

11. An Unwelcome Arrangement

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Fourth was awakened by a firm knock at his chamber door. Still groggy from sleep, he rubbed his eyes and called out, "Come in."

The door opened, revealing his mother, Empress Mix, with an expression that was both stern and resolute. "Fourth, we need to talk," she said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

"Mother, is everything alright?" Fourth asked, sensing the tension in her voice. His heart raced, a nagging feeling in his gut.

"It's about your future," she said, crossing her arms. "The court has been discussing your upcoming marriage."

Fourth's stomach dropped. "Marriage? But I-"

"You are a prince, Fourth. It is time for you to fulfill your duties," she interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Your father and I have arranged a marriage for you."

"Arranged? But... who is it?" Fourth's voice trembled, a mixture of fear and disbelief washing over him.

"Prince Phuwin from the neighboring kingdom," she replied. "He is of noble blood, and this union will strengthen our alliances. It's for the good of the realm, Fourth."

Anger and frustration bubbled up inside him. "But I don't love him! I don't even know him!" Fourth protested, feeling trapped. His thoughts immediately turned to Gemini, the one person who made him feel alive, and the thought of losing that connection was unbearable.

"Love will come with time. You cannot let your emotions cloud your judgment. Your responsibilities as a prince outweigh your personal desires," Empress Mix stated firmly.

As her words sank in, Fourth felt his heart shatter. The reality of his position was suffocating. "What if I refuse?" he challenged, his voice rising with desperation.

"Refuse?" His mother raised an eyebrow, her expression hardening. "You will not refuse. The Emperor has already agreed to the union, and the preparations will begin shortly. You are expected to present yourself at the court this evening to formally announce your engagement."

Fourth felt a wave of nausea wash over him. "This isn't fair! What about my happiness?"

"I understand that this is difficult for you, but you must think of the greater good. Your happiness is secondary to the kingdom's stability," she replied, her voice softening slightly. "You are a prince, Fourth. This is your duty."

As she turned to leave, Fourth's heart ached with helplessness. "What if I can't do it?" he whispered, barely audible.

"You will," she said without looking back, leaving him alone in his room with the crushing weight of his fate.

The days that followed were a blur of anxiety and heartache. Fourth struggled to keep the news from Gemini, wanting to protect him from the harsh reality of their situation. He found himself stealing glances at Gemini during their stolen moments, wishing he could freeze time and remain in that blissful bubble forever. Each secret meeting became more precious, but the tension weighed heavily on Fourth's heart.

He spent sleepless nights replaying his mother's words in his mind, grappling with the reality that soon he would be bound to another, his heart chained by duty. He often stared at the ceiling of his chamber, wishing he could find a way out. Each moment spent with Gemini felt like a countdown to the inevitable, and the thought of losing him was unbearable.

One evening, as the moonlight filtered through the ornate windows of the palace, Fourth could no longer bear the weight of his secret. He had invited Gemini to their hidden spot by the pond, the place that had witnessed the blossoming of their love. The air was thick with unspoken words as Fourth paced anxiously.

When Gemini arrived, his eyes lit up, but Fourth could only manage a weak smile. The contrast between their joy and his sorrow felt like a chasm between them.

"Fourth! You're here," Gemini exclaimed, running toward him. But the joy in his eyes faded as he noticed the distress on Fourth's face. "What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, Fourth looked into Gemini's concerned eyes, feeling the weight of his secret pressing down on him. "I have something to tell you," he said, his voice trembling.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me," Gemini urged, taking Fourth's hands in his. The warmth of Gemini's touch sent a shiver through him, but it only deepened his sense of dread.

"Gemini, I-" Fourth hesitated, his throat tightening. "My parents have arranged a marriage for me. I'm supposed to marry Prince Phuwin from the neighboring kingdom." The words felt like a dagger as they left his lips.

Gemini's eyes widened in shock. "What? Fourth, no. You can't be serious."

"I wish I weren't," Fourth replied, his voice breaking. "I've tried to find a way to avoid it, but my mother said it's already settled. I...I can't fight against it."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Gemini's voice was strained, a mixture of hurt and anger. "You've been hiding this from me?"

"I didn't want to ruin our time together. I thought I could figure something out," Fourth admitted, tears brimming in his eyes. "But now it feels like everything is falling apart."

Gemini stepped back, his expression shifting from shock to pain. "So what does this mean for us? Are we just supposed to pretend this never happened? All those moments we shared?"

"No! I don't want to lose you!" Fourth cried, desperation lacing his voice. "But the truth is, I don't know how I can continue like this. I'm going to be someone else's bride."

Gemini shook his head, stepping back further, as if creating distance could lessen the blow. "I can't just stand by and watch you marry someone else, Fourth. I love you."

Fourth's heart shattered at the admission. "I love you too, Gemini. But I have to think about my family, my duty. I can't bring shame to the royal family."

Tears streamed down Gemini's face, and Fourth felt a visceral pain in his chest. "So what? You're just going to throw everything away? We could figure this out together. We can escape. We can be free."

"Do you think it's that simple?" Fourth said, his voice rising. "You don't understand the consequences. I can't run away from my responsibilities. I can't be selfish."

Silence hung heavy between them, filled only by the sound of the water lapping at the edge of the pond.

"I can't believe this," Gemini whispered, his voice breaking. "You're choosing them over us. After everything we've shared, you're going to just give it all up?"

"It's not about choosing them over you," Fourth pleaded, stepping closer, but Gemini recoiled. "I have to do this. I have to protect you from the fallout."

Gemini turned away, his body trembling. "Maybe you should just go. If you're going to marry someone else, then maybe it's best if we just end this now."

"Gemini, please!" Fourth reached out, but Gemini pulled away, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I can't keep pretending everything will be okay when it won't. You deserve someone who can love you openly, without secrets and without shame."

"Don't say that. You're everything to me!" Fourth begged, but his heart sank as Gemini shook his head, stepping back from his reach.

"Maybe we were never meant to be," Gemini said, his voice barely above a whisper. With that, he turned and ran, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

Fourth stood there, feeling the emptiness in his chest swell to an unbearable ache. The weight of his decision pressed down on him like a mountain, and he sank to his knees beside the pond, tears streaming down his face.

He had lost the one person who made him feel alive, the one who saw him for who he truly was. As the moonlight shimmered on the water, he realized that he had traded his happiness for duty, and in doing so, had lost everything he truly cared about.

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(This a little short but I'll end this lifetime in the  chapter 12-13 👽😎)
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