War of the Roses

15. Coronation

Author's note:
I know, it took forever for the new update, I really wish I could update faster but life happens and I've been very busy, thank you for reading this story and waiting forever for the updates.

I wanted to dedicate this chapter to @AnnaAnna526 , thank you for your patience and your sweet comments.

Now without further due...

Enjoy!

Samira's heart hammered in her chest as she stood in front of Philip's study door, she closed her right hand into a fist but it stoped right before knocking, one last deep breath gave her the courage to actually knock.

"Enter." Philip's voice was immediately heard and she slowly opened the heavy door.

Seating behind his desk while reading a letter, didn't care to look forward, he knew who that was, he felt her without even having to look, her scent ran all over the room and he had to control the excitement that started to grow in him.

"Philip."

"Yes?" He tried to sound indifferent by keeping his eyes on the letter he was reading when in reality, all he wanted to do is run to her, hug her and tell her everything will be alright, he didn't know how but a part of him wanted to make things right for her.

"I- I came to offer you a deal, a deal that can fix all of our problems."

"Go ahead." Philip replied still looking at the letter, by now he wasn't reading it anymore just staring at it, pretending to be interested in its content.

"Now that you're king you have the power and the authority to annul our marriage, I'll go back to my father and you can marry lady Alice, you're king now, nobody can stand in your way."

Philip couldn't stop from moving his eyes to her, he did almost immediately. The idea of Samira walking away was giving him anxiety but he covered it all well by making a chuckle and tossing the letter on the desk. He looked at her for a few seconds making her even more nervous. Philip didn't say a word but walked around the table and then to her, his eyes fixed on the princes all the time. He was now face to face from her.

"No." He finally said.

"I - I don't understand, this is the only way you can have a life with the-" She gulped the knot that formed in the throat. "the woman you love."

"You and I both know is not that simple, not only that my kingdom can end in a political crisis because of that but I'll be dishonoring my last promise to my father." Philip walked towards the cage that held his pigeons and observed them with his hands in the back. He was having his own internal battle. Samira was right, he could let her go and marry Alice, isn't it what he always wanted?. And yes that wasn't a smart political move but he would do anything for Alice didn't he? Why was he denying his own freedom?

He was staring at his pigeons almost hoping to find the answers he desperately needed. They looked pure and innocent, reminding him of the good that still exists in the world, he was able to find in them the inner peace he needed, and he'll never let them go, just like he'll never let Samira go.

Samira felt tears in her eyes, a part of her hoped to hear Philip offering to try to make their marriage work but all he did is mention politics and his promise to his father.

"Why are you doing this to me? I'm miserable here." She asked using her last breath before tears started to wet her face.

"Some things are just better to be kept and guarded." He replied, his gaze remained on the pigeons.