BIRTHRIGHT (complete #Wattys2016)

Chapter 7: The truth always hurts.

"Do you want me to come to your bed chambers again tonight, my prince?" Isabelle heard lady Vivienne's voice from the room. She was frozen in place, her mind going numb with the reality of the situation.

"No, Vivienne, I do not want you in my chambers," Alexander stated flatly.

"Why, what is the matter, my prince? You were rather adamant to have me in your chambers last night, and the night before that, and the one before that." She purred, causing Isabelle to grimace as she tightened the robe around herself.

"Vivienne. I told you, I am not in the mood for your games. Now leave my sight this instant." Alexander growled.

"Fine! Don't come to me when you get bored." Vivienne huffed followed by the closing of the doors.

Isabelle stood stunned for a moment, but her confusion was soon replaced by hurt and anger. She stepped out from the bathroom and found Alexander sitting on the foot of his bed, running a hand through his hair in agitation.

"Do you want me to come to your bed chambers again tonight, my prince?" Isabelle mocked with her arms crossed over her chest. Alexander looked up, seemingly realizing that she was still there. Instantly he stood from his place and advancing towards her as she moved away from him.

"Isabelle," He called out softly.

"How many times?" She hissed through gritted teeth with her eyes shut tight.

"What?"

"How many times was Vivienne in your chambers? In my presence?" She asked as the hurt seeped through her words. Alexander instantly closed his mouth and watched her in silence, his silence made her sick as she clutched her stomach. Suddenly Isabelle let out a humorless chuckle.

"You know. For a moment, just a moment, I thought that you changed, that I could spend the rest of my life with you, that you had started to prove yourself to me. But, you did prove yourself to me. You proved to me that this..." Isabelle exclaimed while pointing between her and Alexander.

"Whatever this is, is just tomfoolery to you. For all I know, once we get married and you are crowned king, you will throw me away like a used toy." She spoke as her voice cracked and went a pitch higher. Instantly Alexander shook his head 'no' and strode towards her.

"No, I don't think of our engagement like that." He spoke as he held both her shoulders.

"Don't touch me! Please don't me!" She cried as she backed away from him. She strode to the middle of the room when Alexander decided to speak up.

"What do you want from me?" Alexander questioned causing her to stop and turn towards him.

"I want you to be honest with me," She exclaimed.

"I just want you to tell me the truth! Is that too much to ask for? Once you start being honest with me, you automatically will have proven yourself to me, by showing me that you trust me with the honest truth!" She proclaimed.

"Prove myself to you. You have said that to me quite a lot." He said bitterly.

"You want me to be honest with you? Fine! Well here is the truth: I am not the only one who has to prove himself worthy of you. As a matter of fact, you have to prove yourself worthy of me as well. It is not a one-sided pursuit, it's two sided. And you are right, I am highly against this marriage, and you have figured out that you are nothing to me but a hurdle that is getting between me and my throne." He growled out as he stalked towards her.

He could see the wounded look in her eyes, but he didn't care as his mind was fogged up with anger. Anger at Vivienne for coming between them, anger at himself for courting the lady Vivienne, anger at Isabelle for demanding such things from him, anger at fate for toying with him.