"I can't believe you! Do you really want to cancel our wedding for a woman you just met? Why would you do something like that? We've known each other since we were kids. I spent eighteen years of my life, loving you. Why would you do this to me?", Kimorra angrily asked. Xander felt guilty as the angry tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Don't make this more difficult than it is already. You are causing a scene. I think you need some rest, we can talk about tomorrow", was his feeble attempt to control the situation.
Kimorra glared at him, her fists clenching harder by her sides at every surge of emotion.
"I'm causing a scene? You already sent everyone away, so who's watching, huh? Even if everyone's watching, who cares? Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I stayed up for days, wondering what this day would be like. I imagined laughter, fulfillment, happiness, and tears. Only that they were supposed to be tears of joy! How did you manage to turn something so beautiful into a nightmare? Why would you make me feel so insignificant on the day you were supposed to make me feel like the only woman you can see? Why did you choose to betray me this way?", She sniffled.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Kim…" Xander muttered.
"But you had a choice! You don't even know this woman, so why are you acting so helpless?" She snapped.
Xander ran his hands through his hair, stirring the styled hair.
"She is beautiful. She has such a commanding presence that is difficult to ignore. Just having her close to me, makes my heart race. If I proceeded with the marriage, I would have cheated on you," Xander said sullenly.
Kimorra let out a bitter laugh. "Cheat? When did you become so decent, Xander? You have been cheating on me for years. Did you think I was stupid enough not to notice the way you flirt around? Did I once complain or stop you from having fun? I dealt with the ache for years, you just had one job!" She screamed, throwing the flower vase at him.
Xander moved out of the way quickly. The vase hit the wall and shattered. He glared at her.
"Have you lost your mind? How hard is it to understand that I don't want to marry you anymore? I like this woman and I will go for her. I advise you to go home and sleep over it, picking a fight won't change anything", Xander fired.
Kimorra gripped tightly to her dress as she watched him walk away. She took a step forward, then turned around quickly, stopping herself from going after him. She choked out a sob. Everything felt like a cruel dream.
She let out a scream and pushed the table in front of her. She threw everything her hands could reach, hoping to stop the pain in her heart. The shattered room made her feel worse. She ended up ripping the wedding dress to shreds.
She fell to the floor, clutching tightly to the pieces of the dress as she cried her heart out.
Xander walked in on his parents after leaving Kimorra. The disappointment on their faces riled him up. He wasn't used to disappointing them. He was usually the son they were proud of.
"Your in-laws just left. We assured them we would handle the situation properly and talk some sense into you. Do you mind explaining that nonsense you displayed before your bride and people? Is this how you plan to lead the good people of Greake? Do you even know the extent of the damage you have caused? Before the rulers of the neighboring cities and your people, you humiliated our family! How could you be so irresponsible?" King Edwardo scolded. Xander glanced helplessly at his mother, pleading with his eyes for her to come to his rescue.
Queen Adora shook her head in disapproval. His shoulders slouched on seeing his mother's reaction.
"You saw what happened, Father. I didn't choose her, she chose me. How was I supposed to say no to such an enchanting woman? You would do the same if you were in my shoes, Father." Xander defended.
"Watch your tongue, Xander! No one would do something as foolish as leaving their bride for an unknown woman. Do you even know who this woman is? Her name? Where is she from? Her mission? Of course, I don't expect you to wonder why she decided to show up on your wedding day", Edwardo spoke furiously.
"She wants me, isn't that enough? She clearly said I have her heart, that should mean something, right? Besides, did you see the quality of her dress? Father, she wears a tiara made of the rarest gemstones", Xander tried to convince them.
"You're saying you left your bride because of gemstones?", Queen Adora huffed in disbelief.
"Mother, I'm trying to make you understand that there is a high chance she is from a city richer and more powerful than ours. Do you know what it means if I marry her? Father, this could be a life-changing opportunity for us" Xander explained.
His parents exchanged glances. King Edwardo's disappointed face slowly faded away. Adora frowned as she noticed her husband's greedy instincts kicking in.
"I see your point…" Edwardo trailed, and Xander instantly grinned. Adora stared at her husband in disbelief. Was he going to support Xander's foolishness because of the mere prospect of wealth?
"Edwardo…" She called in a deadly tone.
"Relax, honey. I am not supporting his decision, but I think we should have dinner with the girl to at least get every necessary information about her".
Adora didn't trust her husband's intentions, but she didn't argue. She was curious to know about the mystery woman. She had so many questions she needed answers to.
Xander was only too eager to supervise the dinner preparations. He made sure the best Greake dishes were prepared, along with mouth-watering desserts. He wanted to impress the woman who had stolen his heart at first sight.
Almira felt nothing but irritation when she saw him. Obviously, his pathetic bride had failed to get the job done. Xander, on the other hand, couldn't stop staring like a love-struck puppy.
The white dress from earlier was replaced with a purple one. It was plain and sleeveless, yet elegant in every way. At that point, Xander was sure she could wear rags and still look stunning. He pulled out a seat for her.
"I have functioning hands," Almira stated, pulling her own seat. Xander hid his embarrassment with a chuckle and sat next to her. Kitanna sat on the other side.
The King and Queen arrived minutes later. Almira greeted them politely. The maids proceeded to serve the first course.
"What is your name, dear?" Queen Adora asked.
"Princess Almira".
"That's beautiful", the Queen commented.
"I know" Almira shrugged. The Queen was taken aback by her response but smiled nonetheless.
"She's beautiful, isn't she, Mom?" Xander asked.
"She is, darling" Adora replied with a small smile. She couldn't stop thinking about Kimorra. The poor girl must be going through the darkest day of her life.
"So, when did you realize your feelings for my son?" King Edwardo asked. Almira's forced the crab into her mouth. Kitanna glanced worriedly at her. She could tell Almira was getting irritated with the questions.
"I don't remember confessing my feelings to your son" Almira replied flatly. She took another crab, enjoying the temporary silence.
"Hahaha… she's just joking, your highness" Kitanna tried to ease off the tension. "Where we come from, it is not ideal for a woman to chase a man", she lied.
They seemed to buy her explanations. Almira's fingers tightened on her fork. Kitanna quickly sent an apology through the mind link.
"Don't be shy. I like you too", Xander chuckled, and she gave him a grim look. "It's okay to approach the one you like. What is the name of your city?".
"The maids only mentioned dinner. I wasn't expecting interrogations as desert" Almira sighed, rendering them speechless once more.
"The princess is just surprised. She didn't expect you would pay so much attention to her. She assumed you would dismiss her", Kitanna briefly explained. Almira's eyes darkened.
"Speak for me again and you'll lose your tongue". Kitanna shivered as the warning resounded in her head. As much as she wanted to stay off, she was afraid the princess would get them in trouble with her curt responses.
"Why would you think that, honey? I would never dismiss you for any reason. You are important to me," Xander said, placing a hand on hers.
"You know, where I come from, silence is necessary while feeding else you might just choke", Almira remarked, moving her hand.
The table was silent after that. No one dared to speak for fear of embarrassment. Almira couldn't have been more pleased.
"Thank you for the meal, I'm full. I beg to leave now," Almira said, pushing her plate aside.
"Why? Don't you like it?", Xander asked. She arched a brow.
"Do I need an interpreter every time I speak to you? I do not have space for more food, is that plain enough?" She asked. He couldn't bring himself to respond.
Almira walked away and Kitanna quickly went after her. The girl was tempted to talk about Almira's rudeness, but she held it back. She knew the princess wasn't doing it because she disliked the prince. Almira had no filter. She would speak her thoughts without considering the effects of her words on others. Many found her sassy and rude, but it was one of the things Kitanna loved about the princess.
"Where do you have in mind?", Kitanna broke the silence at last.
"I just want to take a tour around the palace. You don't have to come with me," Almira replied.
"I want to come with you," Kitanna said, grabbing Almira's arm. She rested her head on it, pouting at the princess.
"You're going to give me nightmares", Almira frowned. Kitanna laughed heartily, releasing her. Almira stared at the girl with fond annoyance.
Until someone ran right into them. Kitanna staggered back, but Almira grabbed the culprit's sleeved arm, forcing them around.
She didn't realize how hard she pulled until he crashed into her. Her heart slammed against her chest, forcing her to shove him away. As soon as he hit the floor, she recognized him.
"You again?"
Dante swallowed thickly and lowered his head. Kitanna glanced in the direction he was running from. "Were you being chased?” Kitanna asked. Dante shook his head. "So you're just desperate for skin contact, then”, Almira concluded sharply. While Kitanna stared at the princess with shock, Dante stepped back slowly, feeling ashamed.He wasn't seeking skin contact. Guirello had sent him on an errand, and he needed to finish it quickly to get his meal. His stomach growled, as testimony. Dante didn't say that out, though. He has gotten accustomed to letting people have their way. Even if he denied it, she would still stick to what she believed. "Princess Mira '', they heard Xander's voice from a distance. Dante's eyes widened in panic. In a heartbeat, he fled, afraid to be seen by the prince.Kitanna glanced in the direction he ran. A part of her felt sorry for him. They treated him so badly that he was afraid of being seen. Back in the sea, besides the royal family, everyone else was
Dante leaned against the door and peeped into the kitchen. When he noticed no one was present, he stealthily entered the kitchen. He rushed to the bin containing leftovers and pulled out the plastic bag he had hidden underneath his clothes.His heart raced wildly as he packed as much as he needed. After breaking the plates and soiling the princess, Guirello denied him food. Dante stuffed his mouth as he packed the food. In case he got caught, he would at least have a full stomach. The food was a little stale, but it was better than the ones the servants threw at him once in a while. Besides, they were going to dump it because the king forbade them from feeding the dogs with stale leftovers. Dante chuckled at the thought. His father didn't mind his son eating stale food but would punish the maids severely if his dogs were given day-old leftovers "What do you think you're doing?", Dante froze on hearing the voice. He quickly pushed the bag under his shirt, gulping hard as the int
"Do you like it?” Kitanna asked. "You're not the one who made it, so why are you eager for a review?” Almira asked. Kitanna pouted. "It was just a question. You don't have to be mean about it”. "I don't like it. I prefer them fresh,” Almira answered. Kitanna opened her mouth to complain, but Almira threw her a look that made her shudder. Kitanna watched the Princess clear the plate and looked away as soon as Almira looked up. "More?” "You said you don't it,” Kitanna reminded her. "I don't like it, but I am hungry. Can I get some more?”. "You will have to come with me then. They have lots of frozen fish, so I can fry as many as you want. You can fry too if you want “, Kitanna said. “Smart mouth! You are the servant here, not me. I don't have to help with the cooking,” Almira stated, and Kitanna's excitement vanished. She picked up the plate, muttering incoherent words. Almira ignored her grumbling and stared ahead. "You're not coming?” Kitanna asked. "You're not going to st
Dante couldn't move from the spot. His whole body hurt, and his chest tightened with each breath. It was a struggle to even open his eyes. "You were lucky, today. Get your pathetic self out of here”, A soldier hissed, kicking him over. Dante let out a weak groan. Almira stopped in front of Kitanna. “Happy now, or do you want me to carry him too?”. “Thank you”, Kitanna smiled. Almira rolled her eyes and walked away. The maid quickly rushed to Dante when she noticed the soldiers ganging up to kick him around. "Enough!” She ordered. They moved away in shock, surprised that the two gorgeous women were going out of their way to save him. “You will harm him no further! Pick him up and follow me”. The soldiers exchanged glances. Her beautiful emerald eyes burned like a flame, challenging them to defy her. They cowered, pulling Dante by his hands off the floor. Kitanna wasn't sure where to take him. Bringing him to Almira's chambers would enrage the princess. She had to find a safe
Everyone was surprised to see Dante ok his feet. They expected he would at least take a week or two to recover. Even Dante couldn't explain the speedy recovery. Though his wounds were still fresh, they didn't hurt nearly as much as they should have. Most people consider speedy recovery a good thing until Dante was involved, then it became sorcery. He kept his eyes on the ground, walking briskly to the kitchen. "Ahhh! Here you are! I was almost sure you wouldn't survive yesterday's torture. Don't you get tired of proving us wrong?" Guirello asked with a sweet smile like his words were innocent.Dante lowered his gaze, willing the ache in his heart to disappear. He had existed in this misery for twenty-one years. One would think he would have gotten used to hurtful words. "Is there anything you want me to do today, sir?" He politely asked. Guirello took a look around the kitchen. "Mmm.. nothing for now. How about you help yourself with some leftovers?".Dante looked up,
Almira watched him intensely. Dante felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny and shifted in his seat several times. Kitanna noticed his movements and turned to Almira, who didn't even blink. "Are you sure you're full, princess? You've barely eaten anything, though you were scolding me for being twenty minutes late", Kitanna attempted to steal her attention away from Dante. "You talk too much", Almira replied without looking away from Dante. "Is my gaze making you uncomfortable?"Dante choked at the question. Kitanna quickly poured him a glass of water. Dante finished it in one gulp and dropped the glass. "So…. What exactly made you choke?" Almira smirked. He almost choked the second time. Deciding he couldn't handle further embarrassment, he opted to leave the table. "T-Thank Y-You for the meal. M-May… I leave now?" He asked, bowing his head. "No, you may not. Finish your breakfast, I'm leaving anyways". Almira stood and walked out of the kitchen after that. Da
There was chaos in the palace. Dante had gone wild, attacking everyone and destroying everything he came in contact with. The soldiers quickly sent words to the King, informing him of the situation. "Why do you have to inform me of everything the monster lets loose? Do I have to repeat the same instructions a thousand times over before it sticks in my memory? Throw him in the damn well and cover it up until he lets go of those demons!" King Edwardo snapped. The soldiers flinched and scurried away.Queen Adora held her chest with a gasp. "Throw him in the well?" "It's the only way he'll get back his senses. I don't know why I put up with that nuisance for this long. I give him food, and put a roof on his hideous head, what does he do in return? He injures my workers and destroys my property. How can he be any more worthless?" Edwardo bawled. "Do not speak of him like that, he is our son! He was unfortunate to be born that way. He didn't ask for it. I feel so ashamed of
"I was thinking of a tour around the kingdom," Kitanna said, gently massaging Almira's feet. "A tour around the kingdom, you are yet to finish touring the palace" Almira replied. Kitanna pouted. "Whose fault is it?" "Well, it isn't mine" Almira shrugged, then sighted Prince Xander from afar. When she let out a groan, Kitanna followed her line of sight. "Why does he have to be so clingy?" "You were the one who disrupted his wedding. There were better options than that. You gave him hope, now he wants to be by your side," Kitanna chuckled. Almira stared at the man approaching them. "I never promised him love or marriage. I told him plainly that he had something that belonged to me". "You said he couldn't get married while he has your heart. There are many interpretations to that sentence, princess". "Greetings, beautiful ladies," Xander said with his usual charm, bowing slightly. Almira rolled her eyes while Kitanna grinned. "How are you doing today, princess?