𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 21

"On my day at the palace, where there was none of this trouble I'm having with my son. My father hosted a big ball exactly after I came of my age and all of the eligible women would came for their opportunity to the throne. None were really anything I fancied, but I knew that I could easily pick one that would bear me an heir and be done with it.

There was Princess Tiana, whose father was willing to pay a hefty dowry but her stutter was awfully irritating. And there was Princess Minji, who had the most delicate figure but also the most boyish manners. I could have even picked Lady Jihyun, who was not a princess at all, would have made an acceptable choice.

Eventually, as I sat idly by the wall, letting each of the girls come to me on their will. Why should I have moved when they would so willingly flock to their possible husband?

Well that is, until I saw her.

She was the only girl who hasn't approached me yet. The way she sat quietly at the other end of the room, sipping at her tea and occasionally scanning the crowd She seemed completely uninterested in the event, which made her all the more alluring.

It was the only time I had crossed the grand hall that evening. Girls seemed to scurry behind me like flies to rotting flesh, but truth to be told, there's only had one person in my sight. She barely even looked up at me when I sat down in the chair across from her.

'Your name?' I politely asked, trying to look at the eyes she was trying to hide.

'Aurel,' she said, her eyes still downcast.

'Lady Aurel?' but to my surprise, I was wrong.

'No, just Aurel,' she murmured, her hands placed firmly in her lap, 'My mother is a matchmaker.'

'You're not of noble blood?' I was quiet surprised, but she apparently did not seem to be.

'No, your highness, but my mother is a good friends with your family. She highly recommended I attend and your father approved,so here I am' she said to me.

'Well, Miss Aurel, would you like to join me in the garden for a walk, if you dont mind?' 

I'm not sure why did I ask her, but I was glad that she agreed. She was shy, almost like she had something to hide, but she never treated me like a prince. She treated me like a human. I was so drawn to her that every night after the ball, we would meet in the gardens for a walk, talking about life and anything we could imagine.

Slowly, I saw her personality shine through, and it was almost as beautiful as her face. She was soft spoken, but passionate about certain topics. Her smile could light up the entire night and she was always willing to make me laugh whenever I was feeling down or upset.

And from that moment, I knew she was the one for me.

A week later we were set to be engaged, and that was when everything began to spiral out of control.

'I really enjoy your company, and I'm sure in time, I would come to love you,' she said, and I remember everything clearly to this day, 'But I cannot let you marry me. I'm not who you think I am.'

'I'm already aware that you're not a noble,' I told her, taking her hands in mine, 'But my father has given his approval, so please what's the problem? Am I not good enough'