Chapter 16: The Future Queen The distant sound of hooves clattering against the cobblestone path reached the ears of those within the palace walls. The princess of the Western Kingdom had finally arrived with her entourage that marked the beginning of a pivotal moment for King Lucian's realm. The majestic horses which were adorned in rich finery, pulled an ornate carriage towards the grand entrance of the palace. The crest of the Western Kingdom gleamed brightly on the carriage door. Nobles and servants alike gathered in anticipation with their faces evident of both curiosity and reverence. As the carriage came to a halt, footmen in resplendent livery swiftly moved to open the door. Princess Victoria Westford emerged, her regal bearing immediately commanding attention. She was dressed in a gown of deep emerald silk that accentuated her auburn hair and fair complexion. Every movement she made was a testament to her royal upbringing as King Lucian. King Lucian on the other hand, fl
Chapter 17: To the Garden You Confessed As their meal came to a close, Victoria's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to Lucian. "Your Majesty, would you be so kind as to give me a tour of your magnificent palace? I am simply dying to see more of it." Before Lucian could even consider rejecting the request, Victoria was already on her feet with her hand wrapped around his arm, pulling him up with her. "Come now, Your Majesty, there's no time to waste. I simply must see everything!" Lucian tried to protest, but Victoria's determination was relentless as she led him out of the dining hall and into the grand corridors of the palace. Despite his best efforts to remain composed, Lucian couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. Victoria's insistence on exploring every corner of the palace only served to exacerbate his discomfort, and he silently prayed for the tour to come to an end. But not until they wandered through the palace gardens wher
Chapter 18: Lie to me, My king Isabel and Lucian stood at a secluded spot in the palace grounds where they were hidden from prying eyes. The moonlight filtered through the leaves as Isabel's heart pounded in her chest. Although the king has reassured her not to worry about anything at all but Isabel's mind was racing with questions she dreaded to ask. "Your Majesty," she began tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are the rumors true? That you are to marry the princess of the West Kingdom?" Lucian's breath caught, and for a moment, he remained silent. The hesitation was enough to make Isabel's heart sink. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "The rumors are true." He couldn't bring himself to look at her. He knew what he would see—pain, betrayal, and heartbreak. Isabel's heart ached at his words, and as she decided to step closer, her eyes searched his face for any sign of deceit or hope. "Why won't you look at me?" she asked with trembling voic
Chapter 19: The food she makes The next day, Princess Victoria woke early with her mind set on a particular mission. She wanted to surprise King Lucian with a breakfast she had prepared herself, hoping to impress him and solidify their budding relationship. She was dressed in a simple gown and determined to show her domestic side. She then made her way to the palace kitchen with a few attendants following her. As she entered, the kitchen was quiet and seemed empty. She smiled, pleased that she would have the space to herself. But then she heard a soft clinking sound, like that of a spoon against a pot. It made her frown as she decided to follow the noise to its source, walking quietly through the large, ornate kitchen. When she turned a corner, she was startled to see a palace maid with an apron on, standing at one of the stoves and carefully stirring a pot. The maid had golden hair and a serene, focused expression. It was Isabel. "Excuse me," Victoria said, trying to keep her vo
Chapter 20: Stand on my groundVictoria watched closely as Lucian began eating the food she had brought. But to her dismay, he looked as though he had no appetite. He took small, unenthusiastic bites, his mind clearly elsewhere.The food, though delicious, seemed tasteless to Lucian. His thoughts were consumed by the memory of Isabel’s hands preparing it, her familiar touch on the food, and the ache in his heart knowing that she must have been thinking about him spending his time with Victoria and not her. Victoria watched with growing frustration as Lucian picked at his breakfast, barely making a dent in the meal she had worked so hard to prepare. She could see that his mind was far away, and it stung to realize that even in this intimate moment, he seemed distant and uninterested."Is the food not to your liking, Your Majesty?" she asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.Lucian looked up, startled out of his thoughts. "No, it’s not that," he said quickly. "The fo
Chapter 21: Embroider me to your heartAfter the tense meeting in the throne room, King Lucian retired to his royal study, hoping to find peace alone. As he delved into the documents spread out before him, there came a hesitant knock on the door."Enter," Lucian called out. The door creaked open, revealing the imposing figure of Head Minister Marlowe. His expression was unreadable, but there was a glint in his eyes that sent a shiver down Lucian's spine."Your Majesty," Marlowe began, his tone deceptively calm. "We need to talk."Lucian's eyes became that of someone on alert. "What is it, head minister Marlowe?" Lucian asked, trying to keep his voice steady."It seems you underestimate the consequences of your defiance, Your Majesty," Marlowe's voice dripped with menace as each word carried the shadow of a looming storm. "If you persist in your obstinance, the kingdom will suffer. And so will you."Lucian's heart thundered in his chest and a cold dread settling in the pit of his sto
Chapter 22: His choice Isabel's POVAs the news of the king's marriage reached me, I immediately headed to see him urgently. I couldn't quite understand what I was feeling at the moment, but one thing was for sure —I could feel the coldness of the coming winter, and the feeling in my heart was even colder.I rushed through the palace with my mind in a whirl of confusion and heartache. I searched every place where the king could be, my desperation growing with each empty room. Finally, as I rounded a corner, I came face to face with Princess Victoria, who was humming happily as she walked through the corridors on the way to the library where Lucian had once shown me.Before I could bump into her, I immediately stopped in my urgent steps and curtsied. "Your Highness," I weakly spoke with my ragged breath."Ah. It's you," Victoria replied flatly, her eyes narrowing with a hint of disdain. "What is the matter? You seem distressed."My voice trembled as I tried to steady myself. "I need t
Chapter 23: Matrimonial PreparationsFor the next few days, preparations for Lucian and Victoria's royal wedding became the kingdom's priority. The palace buzzed with activity as maids, servants, and courtiers worked tirelessly to ensure every detail was perfect for the grand event. The excitement was evident, and the air was filled with anticipation.But for Isabel, there was no joy in these preparations. The happiness that seemed to envelop everyone else only deepened the cold emptiness inside her. While everyone wished for the king and future queen's good health, Isabel's body, on the other hand, began to feel weak and fragile. Her once-rosy cheeks were now pale as if the very life was draining out of her. Yet, no one noticed her deteriorating condition. Everyone was too consumed with their tasks, too absorbed in the upcoming celebration.Lucian, meanwhile, was consumed by his own struggle. It had been weeks since the last time he saw Isabel, ever since he had turned his back on h