𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝)

25. Pregnant

Arielle didn't sleep well that night. Her dreams were haunted by images of Aiore and Freya together, their faces etched with happiness while she stood on the sidelines, invisible and forgotten. When she woke up the next morning, she felt drained and hollow. It took all her strength just to rise from bed and dress herself. Her maids hovered around her, but she barely acknowledged them.

A knock sounded at her door just as she was finishing getting dressed. She barely glanced up when one of the maids entered, bowing slightly.

"Lady Arielle," the maid said softly, "Prince Aiore is anticipating your presence. He wishes to speak with you."

Without hesitation, Arielle's lips parted with a curt response, "Tell him I'm not available."

The maid's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised by the sudden coldness in her tone. But Arielle didn't care. She couldn't bear to see him-not after everything. After the maid left, she took a deep breath, trying to suppress the feelings that threatened to overwhelm her. There was no time to dwell on her emotions. She had her training as the future queen to attend, and that was all she could focus on.

When she arrived at the training hall, Madam Reeta, her stern and rigid instructor, greeted her with the same scrutinizing expression she always wore. But there was something different today. Madam Reeta studied Arielle's face for a long moment, her usual critical gaze softening ever so slightly.

"Let's begin," Madam Reeta said, her voice lacking its usual sharpness.

Arielle nodded. She wasn't in the mood for arguments or resistance today. Instead, she threw herself into her training with an intensity that surprised even her. The lessons felt automatic-curtseying, etiquette, learning the proper ways to address different noblemen and women. Her body moved on its own, her mind too preoccupied with the whirlwind of emotions inside her. She couldn't let her heartbreak show, not here, not in front of anyone.

To Madam Reeta's surprise, Arielle's performance was flawless that day. Every lesson, every instruction was followed with precision, and not once did Arielle falter or make a mistake. By the time they finished, Madam Reeta was visibly impressed, though she didn't voice it aloud.

"Good work today, Lady Arielle," she said with a nod of approval.

Arielle merely offered a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. As the other classes and lessons for the day came to an end, she found herself lingering in the training hall, sitting at one of the large tables. Her maids brought her lunch, and she ate slowly, silently, which was unlike her. Normally, she would take her meals in her own chambers or the royal dining hall, but today she remained in the study hall, her thoughts swirling as she picked at the food absentmindedly.

The afternoon slipped into evening, and finally, Arielle left the hall, stepping out into the palace corridors just as the sun began to set. The soft glow of the golden hour bathed the palace in a warm light, but Arielle couldn't feel its beauty. Her heart was still heavy, and her mind was consumed with thoughts of Freya, of Aiore, of how things had changed between them.

As she rounded the corner, she stopped abruptly. Standing at the end of the corridor, waiting for her, was Aiore. He looked tired, his expression tense, but his eyes softened slightly when he saw her.

"Arielle," he began, his voice low and filled with something that almost resembled regret. "I need to talk to you."

Arielle crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze hardening as she turned her head away, refusing to look at him directly. The sight of him made her chest ache all over again, and the last thing she wanted was to talk.

"We need to talk somewhere else," Aiore continued, glancing around the empty corridor. "This isn't the right place for this conversation."

"No," she said firmly, her voice cold. "I have nothing to say to you."

She turned on her heel, ready to walk away from him. But before she could take more than a few steps, Aldith appeared from around the corner, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he approached.

"What's going on here?" Aldith asked playfully, though there was a glint of something deeper in his eyes. He seemed aware of the tension between them, but he kept his tone light, almost teasing.

Arielle's expression brightened slightly when she saw Aldith. She wasn't in the mood to be near Aiore, but Aldith's presence gave her an easy escape. Grabbing Aldith's arm, she forced a smile.

"Oh, Aldith," she said, her voice falsely cheerful, "didn't you say you had something to tell me?"

Without waiting for an answer, she dragged Aldith along, eager to get away from Aiore. She could feel Aiore's gaze on her as she walked away with his brother, and the weight of his silent jealousy was palpable. He didn't say anything, but the way his jaw tightened and his fists clenched gave him away.

Aldith, sensing the tension, went along with Arielle, though his usual playfulness dimmed as he glanced at her face. "You don't seem quite yourself today," he remarked, trying to gauge her mood. "Would you like to see some of my new paintings? I think they might cheer you up."

Arielle forced a smile and nodded, though her heart wasn't in it. She followed him to his secret gallery, where Aldith eagerly showed her a few of his recent works. He talked about the colors, the inspirations, the brushstrokes, but Arielle's mind was somewhere else. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Aiore and Freya, and her heart ached all over again.

Eventually, Aldith noticed her distant expression and set the painting aside, sitting down beside her with a concerned look. "Arielle," he said gently, "what's wrong?"

Arielle hesitated, her eyes flicking away as she struggled to find the right words. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is Aiore... close to that girl?"

She didn't want to say Freya's name, but it slipped from her lips regardless, the syllables feeling like a stab to her heart. Aldith looked confused. He had no idea who Freya was. But he saw a girl in Aiore's study room once but didn't think much about it since they looked quite normal.

"Aah, yes," Aldith said, chuckling softly. Wanting to make her jealous, he added, "It seems they've been spending quite a bit of time together. She's beautiful, after all."

Arielle's heart shattered further. She turned to look at Aldith, her voice cracking with emotion. "Does he love her?"

Aldith felt guilty. He didn't plan to hurt her, and although he loved her, he couldn't bring himself to lie. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice gentle. "You should talk to him, though. He's the only one who can give you an answer."

Arielle clenched her fists, shaking her head. "No," she said firmly. "I can't. I won't."

Her mind raced with memories of Aiore's cold behavior the day before, of the way he had defended Freya. She couldn't face him again.

Meanwhile, the palace was abuzz with excitement. A big news had spread like wildfire: the queen was pregnant. But the news didn't stop there. It was said that a wizard had confirmed it would be a daughter-something the king had always longed for. He had only ever had two sons, and the thought of finally having a daughter filled him with joy.

In celebration, the king ordered a grand banquet to be held in the palace, inviting nobles from all across the land. Even the commoners were instructed to celebrate this momentous occasion. The halls of the palace were filled with preparations, and everywhere Arielle turned, she could hear the whispers of the queen's pregnancy. Yet, despite the joy around her, Arielle couldn't bring herself to feel anything but pain.