🦋 ARIA 🦋
The King's words rang in my ears, and I didn't realise the prince had returned.
Clearing his throat to grasp my attention, I looked up and found him gawking at me. I still couldn't see his face because he was wearing a mask. Neither could I imagine what he looked like.
So I just stared back at his covered face and tempting hazel eyes I had an obsession with.
"Why did you go to my mother to cut off the marriage?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Because you don't want it," he calmly responded. He sounded so innocent that I just wanted to yank the mask off his face and study his expression. "I felt your fear and hatred last night."
"You are saying you went through all that trouble for me?" I muttered.
He looked me dead in the eye, emotionlessly, "I don't care if I'm married to you or not."
"So is the marriage still on?" I pressed, "Did my mother agree to cut off our marriage?"
He shook his head, "Your mother…"
I chuckled, "Figures, she won't let me leave this marriage, she's obsessed about keeping the family going."
"Listen to me, Aria," the prince softly interrupted, that he got my full attention right away. "Your mother is dead; she cut her own throat and bled to death right in front of me."
Words cannot express how I felt when those words left his lips
The news felt like a heavy blow. I couldn't breathe, and my heart felt broken. Tears streamed down my face as sadness overwhelmed me. It felt like a part of me was gone, and I didn't know how to move forward.
The pain was intense, and it felt like I'd never be okay again. The thought of living without my mother seemed unbearable. I just wanted the pain to stop.
Although I knew she was going to die, although the news wasn't unexpected, the pain was still worse to handle.
I beat my chest multiple times as I wept uncontrollably.
Crying for a long time, unable to stop. Tears poured down my face, and my body shook with each sob.
My mother had killed herself to escape the brutality of death itself, she took her own life before death came and took it for her.
The sadness still lingered, but the crying had helped me release some of the pain. I was left feeling empty and tired, but a little calmer.
And right there, I knew I definitely wouldn't be a wife or a mother to anyone, and I wouldn't experience this pain again.
And now, I understand even better how the prince must have felt all those years of losing those he loved, he lost 39 people in total and felt each pain, but I only lost one person, and I feel like I'm dying myself.
"I know you also never wanted this marriage," I said, sniffing, "I'll ask the maid to prepare a separate room for me."
"I'm not forcing you to leave," he responded coldly.
"My defences are up, because I don't want to fall in love with you either, if I do fall in love with you, I'll end up getting a heart attack," I stated.
"You won't fall in love with me, I can assure you," he retorted.
"The king demanded an heir to the throne," I blurted out. "I won't do it."
He calmly nodded with his eyes closed, and I immediately proceeded to leave the room.
"Wait," he voiced out, and I paused. "The king wouldn't let either of us be if we decide not to have children or be a normal couple, we will both get frustrated. he would do whatever it takes for an heir, even if it means casting a spell on us. We'll need to pretend in front of the King, and also, you can't have a separate room because of this."
I nodded in understanding. How come I never thought of this? The king would definitely not just sit and watch while we are the only hope of an heir for Golgotha. If we don't want him to pressure us, we'd have to pretend to be just perfect.
Out of the blue, the guards announced the presence of the King, "The king is coming in."
I froze, my heart racing with surprise. The sudden announcement that the king was around caught me off guard. I quickly scanned my surroundings, thinking of the perfect position to force him into thinking we were the perfect couple.
As I had very little time, I ran towards the prince without thinking and sat on his lap.