𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝)

28. The Aftermath

The grand hall, once filled with the weight of accusations and tension, now fell into a heavy silence. The Queen's departure left a lingering sense of shock among the nobles, who exchanged hushed whispers. The King sat on his throne, looking like a man who had just witnessed the crumbling of his own world. His head hung low as if the weight of his crown had become unbearable.

Arielle stood in the center of it all, her heart pounding in her chest, her hand still firmly held by Aiore. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, unable to move, unable to breathe. Everything had changed in a single moment.

The King, his voice gravelly and hoarse, finally spoke, "Aiore... You... You should have told me sooner."

Aiore's eyes flickered, his expression unreadable. "Would you have believed me if I had, Father? You were blinded by your love for her."

The King clenched his fists, guilt and regret coursing through his veins. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead, he simply looked at his eldest son, the son he had wronged so deeply over the years. Aiore had been nothing but loyal, enduring the Queen's cruelty in silence, while he, the King, had been too blind to see it.

Aldith, who had remained quiet during the revelation, stepped forward. His face was pale, his eyes troubled. He looked at Aiore, then at Arielle, a mixture of emotions swirling in his gaze.

"Brother..." Aldith began, his voice soft but steady, "I had no idea. I didn't know Mother was... that way. I didn't know what you were going through all these years."

Aiore's expression softened as he regarded his younger brother. For the first time, there was no distance between them, no tension. "It wasn't your fault, Aldith. You were as much a victim of her manipulation as I was."

Aldith lowered his head, guilt flashing across his face. "Still... I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have abandoned you when we were kids. I should have looked after you."

Arielle, sensing the unspoken bond between the two brothers, felt her own heart ache. She had seen the tension between them, but now she understood the root of it all. The Queen had poisoned everything, even the relationship between Aiore and Aldith.

Aldith's gaze shifted to Arielle, and his expression softened into something that resembled both sadness and understanding. "Arielle," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I... I'm sorry. I see now that you were never meant to be with me. I was selfish to try and hold onto you when your heart clearly belonged to my brother."

Arielle felt a lump form in her throat. "Aldith, I never wanted to hurt you. I..." Her words trailed off.

Aldith nodded understandingly, a small, bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I know. I knew you have always loved my brother, even before you figured it out yourself." He stepped closer and gently placed his hand on her head, ruffling her hair in a brotherly gesture. "You were always meant to be with him. I give you my blessing, Arielle."

Tears welled up in Arielle's eyes as she looked at Aldith, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Aldith stepped back, his eyes lingering on the two of them. "Brother," he said, turning to Aiore, "take care of her. She deserves nothing less than your love."

Aiore, who had been silently watching the exchange, finally spoke, his voice low but filled with emotion. "I will. I swear it."

Aldith gave a final nod, his shoulders sagging as the weight of everything finally settled on him. He had lost his mother, his claim to the throne, and the woman he had wanted to marry-but in losing these things, he had also gained something far more important: the truth. And with that truth came freedom, a freedom he hadn't realized he needed.

The King, watching the exchange between his two sons, felt a pang of regret in his heart. He had failed them both in so many ways. Rising from his throne, he stepped down, the royal façade crumbling as he approached Aiore.

"Aiore," the King began, his voice thick with emotion, "I... I have wronged you. I should have seen what was happening. I should have protected you from her. But I didn't. I let my own blindness and pride keep me from being the father you deserved."

Aiore, still holding Arielle's hand, turned to face his father. The coldness in his eyes had thawed, replaced with something softer, more vulnerable. "Father, I don't blame you entirely. You were deceived. But I hope you understand now... things cannot continue the way they have been."

The King nodded slowly, his face heavy with the weight of his failures. "I do understand. And I will do everything in my power to make it right."

There was a brief moment of silence before the King spoke again, his voice trembling with emotion. "I should have been a better father to you, Aiore. I... I am sorry."

Aiore lowered his eyes to the floor, silently acknowledging his apology. Aldith, standing a few steps away, felt tears prick the corners of his eyes. His father had always been a distant figure, more a king than a parent. But now, in this moment, he saw the man beneath the crown-the man who had his own regrets and sorrows.

The King's gaze moved to Arielle, his expression softening as he addressed her. "And you, Arielle... I owe you an apology as well. I should have trusted you, believed in your character, instead of jumping to conclusions."

Arielle shook her head, her voice soft. "Your Majesty, there's no need to apologize. I understand. You were only trying to protect your son."

The King offered her a small, sad smile. "Even so, I failed you. But I will not fail again." He took a deep breath before making the announcement that would change everything. "There will be no wedding between Lady Arielle and Prince Aldith. And there will be no crown prince ceremony for Aldith either."

Gasps echoed through the hall as the nobles reacted to the sudden decision, but the King raised his hand to silence them. "This has been a long time coming," he continued, "and it is time I made amends. Aiore will resume his rightful place as crown prince, and he will marry Lady Arielle."

The hall erupted into murmurs, but the King's decision was final. He looked at Aiore with pride in his eyes. "You have proven yourself more than worthy, my son. You will make a great king."

Aiore, though surprised by his father's declaration, remained composed. He simply nodded, his grip on Arielle's hand tightening slightly as he turned to her. "Lady Arielle," he whispered, his voice tender, "are you ready to be by my side? As my queen?"

Arielle's heart swelled with love as she looked up at Aiore. Her journey had been long, filled with uncertainty and heartache, but in that moment, everything felt right. She smiled, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness. "Yes," she whispered, "I am."