𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝)

34. Secrets and Shadows

Aldith rushed to meet his brother, his heart pounding with urgency. The palace felt like a pressure cooker, every moment stretched by the weight of secrets he had been holding for far too long. He dreaded the confrontation but knew it was inevitable. Aiore would not be in a forgiving mood.

As Aldith approached, he found Aiore storming down the corridor. The moment Aiore caught sight of him, his expression turned feral. Without a second thought, Aiore closed the distance between them, grabbing Aldith roughly by the collar.

"What did you do to her?" Aiore growled, shaking his younger brother frantically, his eyes wild with fear and anger. Aldith's feet barely touched the floor as Aiore's grip tightened.

"I... I didn't do anything-" Aldith tried to speak but was cut off.

"Tell me! Did you bury her while I was asleep?!" Aiore's voice cracked with desperation. The weight of his unspoken grief bore down on Aldith like a tidal wave.

Aldith could feel Aiore's rage boiling over. It hadn't been long since Aldith suggested doing Arielle's funeral, thinking there was no hope left. Aiore had snapped at him then-severely. Days of silence had followed, with Aiore unable to even look at him, burning with fury that anyone would even consider the thought. Now Aiore seemed convinced that Aldith had gone behind his back.

"Calm down, brother," Aldith pleaded, trying to escape Aiore's vice-like grip.

"Calm down? You dare ask me to calm down when my Arielle-" Aiore's voice wavered, his breathing labored as if his very soul were unravelling. He looked shattered, his eyes searching Aldith's for an answer.

Aldith swallowed hard, struggling to keep his own composure. He had no choice but to make up a story. "A wizard took her body away to see if he could recover her. That's the only hope we have now."

Aiore's fury didn't wane, but confusion began to creep in. "Why did he take her away?" Aiore's voice was laced with suspicion, his eyes narrowing.

"To treat her in his house, of course. It's the easiest way. I sent a few guards to ensure her safety, so don't worry," Aldith explained, his voice trying to remain steady. He hoped that the mention of the guards would bring some peace to his brother's mind.

Aiore still seemed skeptical. "Where did they go?" he demanded. "I also want to go there."

"No, brother," Aldith said, feeling helpless as Aiore's eyes burned with intent. He had expected this reaction, but it was still overwhelming.

"Aiore, wait. I want you to do something for me-for this kingdom. I haven't asked you to do anything during these past three years but now I want you to do something for me.."

Aiore rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "I don't care about anything else. Arielle is all that matters to me."

Aldith sighed deeply, sensing that his brother was slipping further into his obsession. But there was still one card he could play, one that Aiore couldn't ignore.

"At least for your son."

Aiore paused. His eyes flickered with emotion at the mention of his child. Aldith, sensing he was finally listening, pressed forward, his voice softer but urgent.

"You're the king of this kingdom. The king needs a wife-a queen. It's fine if you don't want a wife, but at least do it for your son," Aldith said, his tone pleading.

Aiore glared at him, his jaw clenched. "I won't give my son a stepmother!" he declared, his words biting and final. "I won't let him suffer like I did."

Aldith winced at the weight of those words. He knew all too well the pain Aiore carried because of his own childhood, his father's remarriage, and the cruel stepmother who had made Aiore's life unbearable. His words carried scars that hadn't healed.

"Ayo, brother," Aldith whispered, his heart heavy with sympathy. "This time it's different. I've found the best mother for your son. She won't be like my mother, I promise. She'll take care of him as her own son. Just until Arielle recovers."

Aiore shook his head. "Nonsense!"

But Aldith wasn't giving up. "I know you won't love her, but she'll be there for him. Once Arielle recovers, you can divorce her and marry Arielle instead."

Aiore's refusal was immediate. "No."

Even as he rejected the idea, Aldith could sense the cracks forming in Aiore's resolve. His brother might not admit it, but the weight of his responsibilities was starting to gnaw at him. His silence was telling.

Aiore eventually agreed to stay in the palace, at least until Arielle recovered. But his mind remained restless, and Aldith could see that he was barely holding himself together.

Over the next week, something strange began to happen. Arielle, disguised as the "White Lady," secretly visited her son each day, playing with him in the hidden corners of the palace. The boy quickly grew attached to her, laughing in her presence and holding her hand with the trust only a child could offer.

The palace staff whispered about her, calling her the "Secret White Lady," a ghostlike figure always dressed in flowing white dresses, disappearing into the shadows after each visit.

Aiore too heard the rumors of the mysterious woman playing with his son. His immediate suspicion fell on Aldith. He thought it was yet another attempt to manipulate him into accepting a new wife. Frustrated, he stormed into Aldith's chambers one evening, his patience worn thin.

"I know what you're trying to do," Aiore snapped as soon as he entered the room. "You want me to marry this woman, this 'White Lady' you've been hiding. But no matter how much you try, I won't-"

Before he could finish, his son's cries interrupted him. The boy, clutching a small toy, ran to Aiore, his face wet with tears.

"I want Mommy," the child sobbed, looking up at his father.

Aiore's gaze softened, and he knelt beside his son. "She'll be back soon," he murmured, brushing the boy's hair from his face.

But his son shook his head stubbornly. "Not her. White Lady is my mommy. Not the sleeping beauty."

Aiore's eyes darkened with frustration, and he snapped, "Shut up!" His son flinched as his lips quivered, and he sniffled, trying not to cry.

"Brother, don't scare my baby," Aldith said, stepping in. He continued with a sigh, "You have to trust me. She's the best for little Whatever, okay? It's only temporary. You don't have to be with her forever. She'll be just a caretaker, a mother for your son and a nominal wife for you."

Aiore stood silent, his fists clenched. It wasn't that he didn't care about his child-he just couldn't stand the thought of replacing Arielle. But, at last, with heavy reluctance, Aiore was forced to agree to marry the White Lady. He convinced himself it was for his son's sake.

Aldith wasted no time arranging the wedding during that week. All Aiore had to do was show up. But as Aiore stood at the altar, watching his bride approach with Duke Rosemountain-Arielle's father-he frowned.

Duke Rosemountain was walking her down the aisle, his face filled with pride. But how could he be proud? This was his daughter's future husband marrying another woman. Aiore's mind spun in disbelief.

Was this woman a witch? Had she bewitched Aldith, his son, and now even Arielle's entire family?

Her whole family came to his wedding!

Is everyone insane?