𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 ━━━━━ 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒕

• XIV

The faint rattle of a doorknob and the creaking of hinges brought Dahlia out of her trance. She turned from her spot on the balcony and looked inside her room. Timothée stood there with a look of worry on his face. Dahlia didn't have the courage to face him with her tear stricken face and turned around.

"All this suffering and hardship has led us here, to the end," Dahlia exhaled slowly, her shaking hands tracing the stone railings, "Why do I still feel that nothing has changed?" Timothée walked towards her, his hand placed at the bottom of her back.

"Dahlia, everything has changed. The people are free. The country is at peace. We're..." Timothée trailed off, "We're together." His voice lowered to a whisper. His thumb rubbed small circles on her back.

"There's no difference." Dahlia moved to the side, shunning from Timothée's embrace.

"Are you saying you don't want to marry me?" His voice was hoarse and his eyes brimmed with tears. He didn't want to cry, but if Dahlia rejected him, it would break his heart.

"Of course I want to marry you, Timothée," She crossed her arms, "Nothing will change, not truly. There will still be a ruler with Myrila blood."

"And does that matter?" Timothée stepped forward. Her back was still facing him and he hesitated. He wanted to reach out and comfort her.

"Does it matter?" She turned around, her glossy eyes meeting his. "Of course it matters. You witnessed it yourself! You saw my rage. I couldn't control it." With each sentence, Dahlia got closer. "Who's to say I won't lash out? What if, in the future, I turn out like my father?" She looked away, tears threatening to spill over. Timothée stood inches before her, his hands reaching up and cupping her face.

"Believe me when I say this but you are not your father. Far from it." He moved a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I lashed out and killed him in front of everyone. I showed my wrath, my ability to be bad." Dahlia was worried that the people no longer trusted her. She was terrified that they'd not want her as their queen.

"So one wrong deed dictates your entire life?" Timothée raised his voice to try and get his point across. Dahlia knew he was right, but her conflicting feelings rivalled that.

"You don't understand. I'm not happy with what I did-"

"And that's exactly why you're better than him." Timothée interrupted.

"But a part of me enjoyed it, " Dahlia paused. Timothée was unsettled with her declaration. "I just... couldn't stand the thought of him living any longer. It was a stain to Adrian's soul." Timothée knew that the two were close. Blood or not, Dahlia and Adrian were brother and sister.

"Dahlia," He pulled her close to him, his hands now resting on her hips, "Edward deserved it. You did the right thing."

They stood there in silence. Their foreheads rested against one another as they closed their eyes. The music and hollers of people celebrating sounded through the night. The people have been rejoicing for hours with no sign of stopping.