The General and the Princess

Chapter 34 || Alleyni

 Rain splattered on the glass panes that looked over the verdant plains now soaked by the storm. Alleyni's eyes were heavy from crying too much and from spending the last day curled up in her room. She could hardly process her feelings as they came. For brief moments, she could almost see clearly, she could almost stomach the betrayal, but despair continuously returned, lapping over her like the immutable tide. Sometimes she could hardly breathe as it erupted from inside of her. She hugged her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth. I love him. I love him. I love him.

The light flickering across his face as he kissed the unknown girl replayed over and over in her head. Every heart-wrenching detail had been etched indelibly on her heart. She had not realized—had not known—how deeply he had enraptured her. And now she had nothing.

Evyn had tried to give her solace, and she knew that she still needed to publicly break the engagement, stormy affair though it would be. Her father would be furious, her sister would be elated, and Kyald...well, Kyald was no longer her concern. Between the hurt and despair and brutal truth, horrible gusts of anger tore through her. Nothing seemed real except the pain and anger that were burning inside of her. I wasn't enough for him. I wasn't enough.

That afternoon, Alleyni managed to dress herself and dry her eyes. She needed to end the engagement, to stand up for herself before it was too late. Looking in the mirror, her eyes were dead with shadowed bags underlining them. She tucked her unruly hair behind her ears and adjusted her dress with as much care as she could muster. The door of the grand hall stood closed, and her heart began to tremble. She did not want to face Kyald. But something in her did...what if I imagined it? What if this isn't real, and he's still there, he's still mine? As the door swung open, she closed her eyes and counted to three before walking towards her father's throne.

Per usual, Ghael, Vinrys, and Luiz were in conversation as nobles milled about and servants came at their beck and call. Kyald was among the nobles, and Alleyni's eyes were drawn to him immediately. He was smiling at one of the lords, who was telling some grand story that sent them both into hysterics. Alleyni froze and stared at him, then up to her father. Ghael noticed her lurking at the doorway, and called out to her.

"Alleyni! Come here, daughter."

Alleyni stared at him, her jaw dropping as she tried to form words and every eye in the room turned to her. Evyn, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared at her side. He took her arm and pulled her forward, escorting her to the front of the room. Alleyni could hardly feel her feet move and felt her face go white.

"Al, it's going to be okay. Just make the announcement. We'll get you out of here, I swear," Evyn beckoned to Varyn, who lurked in the shadows and offered her a nod.

Alleyni looked from her best friend, to her father, and then again to Kyald. She finally walked forward until she stood before her father and Vinrys. Ghael's eyebrows were etched with worry as he eyed the unhappy couple.

"Alleyni, what's wrong? What have you done?"

"Father," she paused, and met his eyes with all the bravery she could muster, "I must end my engagement with Prince Kyald."

Although she had spoken the words tremulously, the entire room quieted. Before her father could protest or silence her, she turned and faced the hall.

"I am ending my engagement with Prince Kyald of Sari."

With her words, disillusionment rushed through the room in loud whispers and gasps. Ghael was on his feet and had her arm in his hand. Kyald had joined them and was staring at her with fear and regret.

"What have you done, child? How can you do this to me? What could ever possess you to end your engagement?"

Alleyni looked from the two kings to Kyald. As near as he was, his eyes were bluer than the sky and they pleaded with her. She wanted to betray him, to expose his infidelity and bring shame down upon him. But she could not betray him the way he had her.