Not Just A Pretense

Chapter 7 - The Dining Room Floor

Arielle's POV

"I ask you, Duchess Arielle," the prince looked at me with a serious expression, "what would you find a suitable punishment for Lord Denis?"

I felt my heart stop. My blood ran cold. I felt my chest constrict, and my breathing turned shallow. My worst fear came true. He knew what happened three years ago, and now, he was toying with me.

I tried to steady my racing heart by taking a few deep breaths. How should I answer? If I deny it and claim this incident was a misunderstanding, the prince will call me a liar. If I admit to the charge, he may insist it was my fault. I see no way to win in this situation. Louis is on the other side of the room, but other than that, we are alone. My only solution is to beg that his highness to keep this secret. If he doesn't, my reputation could be ruined.

I slowly rose from my chair, eyes downcast. The prince must have been too shocked to move, because I couldn't hear his chair move. My eyes were filling with unshed tears as I walked around the table until I was standing in front of Prince Edward. He turned in his chair as I came to him, but he did not rise. I fell to my knees before him, bowing my head.

"If I have found favor in your sight, my lord, then spare me the pain of reliving this dark stain of my past." Tears began falling down my cheeks. "I was at fault, and I beg your forgiveness. Please, your majesty, spare me." I couldn't look up at him, fearful he would only look coldly on the hot tears trailing down my face. My shaking hands rest on my knees, clenching my skirt in my hands. The tears blur my vision, but I'm sure my knuckles are turning white.

"My lady," he whispers so softly I may have imagined it. In the next moment, the sound of a chair being pushed across the floor was accompanied by the feeling of arms being wrapped around me. "It was not your fault," he whispers with conviction. "It was never your fault. It is not your shame to carry. You are not defined by this. You are not his mistake. It was never your fault." He pulled me into his chest as I cried. Unlike when other men reached for me, I didn't feel terrified of him. His touch soothed me, and I felt safe in his embrace.

I must have cried for an hour in his arms, but he never once let go. He simply held me close to him, stroking my hair as I listened to the beating of his heart. Every so often he would whisper "it's not your fault" and "it's okay" in my ear. I started to calm down after a while. When I stopped crying, I realized we were sitting on the floor of the dining hall. I'm certain my makeup has smeared down my face, and Prince Edward's shirt has tear stains from where I cried. If someone wanted to paint a more undignified scene, I'm not sure they could.

"Are you feeling better?" Prince Edward whispered.

"Yes, your majesty," I mumbled, looking down at my lap. After the scene I made, I just couldn't look him in the eye.

"Edward," he mumbled.

"What?" I looked up at him.

"You agreed to call me Edward." He smiled gently at me. "You agreed after our first date."

I nod slowly. I remember agreeing, but I didn't think he'd be so adamant about it. "I'm sorry, Prince Edward."

"Sorry? What ever for?"

"For...for what happened," I choke out.

He wraps me in his arms once more. "You need not be sorry, for you were not at fault." He kisses my temple before continuing. "He is at fault for treating you so; that is why I want him to suffer the consequences. No one should ever treat another person with such disrespect. I will not stand for it."

"I understand, but I cannot in clear conscience help you decide a proper punishment."

"Alright. Then I will simply strip him of his title. I do not want a man like him in court ever again." He pulls away to look at me. "Do you agree with this?"

"I cannot say. As a subject of your kingdom, however, I can say that any judgement you see fit is appropriate." I looked away from his violet eyes. "You have always been a fair-minded man."

"Arielle," he whispers to me as he caresses my cheek, willing me to look at him. "I will never hurt you. If it takes the rest of my life, I will show you how dear you are to me. You will never have to fear when you are with me." He took my hand in his. "With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. My arms will always be open for you. Your well-being is my concern. When you are happy, I will be happy. When you cry, I will dry your tears. When you are hurt, I will come to your aid. This I promise you."

My heart began to beat faster as he placed a kiss on my hand, eyes never breaking contact with my own. If I could pause time, I would. This moment fills me with warmth and tenderness, and I feel at home. For the first time in a long time, I feel...safe.

After a moment, he pulls away and stands up, pulling me with him. When we are both on our feet, he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Arielle," he says tenderly. "Will you continue seeing me?"

"Do you..." I hesitate for a moment, "do you want to continue seeing me?"

"Yes. I do." He smiles softly.

"Then, yes. I want to continue seeing you," I smile back. It hadn't occurred to me until now, but I was no longer afraid of him. I didn't fear his power, and I didn't think he would hurt me. Now I know. I'm falling in love with Prince Edward.

He smiles warmly as he sweeps me into an embrace, leaning closer to me. This is where healing begins. Somewhere between tears and smiles and the warmth of a prince's arms. Slowly, ever so slowly, our lips connect in the softest of kisses. This is where happiness starts.

Sorry for the slow update! It's going to be another week or so before I can start working on the next chapter. It'll probably be something about how Edward deals with Denis, but I don't know.

Let me know if you have any questions/comments/concerns!!! 

Much love,

T.K.