Chapter 37
The Queen entered the room with her usual grace and elegance. Even in a simple gown, she carried herself with the dignity of a ruler.
Aurora immediately bowed, "Your Majesty, it is good to see you."
A warm smile spread across the Queen's face.
"Lady Aurora, I've missed you, dear. It's been far too long since you've visited the palace my child."
Aurora returned the smile, "Please accept my sincere apologies, Your Majesty. The duchy has kept me rather busy."
The Queen's expression softened, "I heard about the attack on the Duchess. How is she recovering?"
"Mother is recovering well."
Relief flashed across the Queen's face, "And the Duke?"
Aurora's smile faded slightly, "He is stable, but it will be a long road to recovery."
A shadow crossed the Queen's eyes, "I am sorry, Aurora. You are so young and have to go through all of this "
The sincerity in her voice almost made Aurora's composure crack.
Almost.
Before the conversation could continue, the King cleared his throat loudly.
"My Queen, we have rather urgent matters to discuss."
The Queen blinked.
"Oh? My apologies, Your Majesty. I simply missed Lady Aurora. She has grown so much since I last saw her."
Lucian shifted uncomfortably.
His mother adored Aurora.
His father was fond of Aurora.
And yet he had spent years chasing Bella while taking Aurora's feelings for granted.
For the first time, guilt crept into his chest.
The King rubbed his temples, "My Queen, Lady Aurora has come to dissolve the engagement."
Silence...Complete silence.
The Queen slowly turned her head toward Lucian.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop and even the King suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.
Lucian felt a chill run down his spine.
Aurora almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
The Queen's smile remained. Which somehow made it even more terrifying.
"Lucian."
"Mother."
"Don't 'Mother' me."
The King coughed into his fist to hide a laugh.
The Queen shot him a look.
The King immediately became serious.
Aurora bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.
The Queen turned back toward her.
"Lady Aurora, may I ask the reason for this decision?"
Although her voice was calm, her eyes remained fixed on her son.
She already knew who was responsible.
Aurora took a slow breath.
"Your Majesty, I do not believe two people who do not love, respect, or care for one another should be forced into marriage."
The room grew quiet.
"The people deserve leaders who are united."
She looked down briefly.
"Unfortunately, Crown Prince Lucian and I are not even friends."
Lucian flinched.
Aurora continued.
"There is a significant age gap between us, and our views on many things are very different."
The Queen studied her carefully.
"Lady Aurora, you never seemed troubled by the age gap before."
Aurora gave a small, self-deprecating smile.
"I was rather foolish before."
The King nearly choked.
Lucian looked offended.
Aurora continued before either could speak.
"But I have matured. I now believe that a relationship should be built upon mutual love, trust, understanding, and respect."
Silence followed.
The words settled heavily over the room.
Even Lucian found himself reflecting on them. Because he couldn't deny it. They had never had those things....Not really.
The Queen finally spoke.
"Lady Aurora, are you certain about this decision?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And what do you intend to do now?"
"I intend to focus on managing the duchy."
The Queen nodded.
Then she asked softly,
"And what about marriage?"
Aurora blinked.
"What about it?"
The Queen smiled knowingly.
"Do you love someone?"
Lucian immediately looked up.
The sudden movement did not go unnoticed. Neither the King nor Queen missed it.
Aurora lowered her gaze. For a moment, sadness filled her eyes.
A sadness so deep that the Queen's heart ached.
When Aurora finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Love is a privilege I can no longer have."
The room fell silent.
The Queen saw the pain. The grief. The longing. She knew that look.
Every woman who had loved and lost carried it.
" He must have meant a great deal to you."
Aurora's fingers tightened around her skirts.
Memories surfaced... A warm smile....Strong arms.....A teasing voice.
Someone who had loved her unconditionally. Someone she would never see again.
" He was, he still is, and he always will be in my heart. Some loves are simply too profound to be forgotten."
The words were barely audible. Yet in the silence, everyone heard them.
Lucian froze. His chest tightened painfully.
Dante.
The name she had whispered in her sleep. The name that had haunted him ever since. For the first time, jealousy burned through him.
Hot.....Ugly.......Unwelcome and he hated it.
Because he had no right to feel jealous.
Not when Bella occupied his heart.
Not when Aurora had spent years loving him only to be ignored.
Yet the thought of another man holding Aurora's heart made something inside him twist.
The Queen slowly nodded.
Then she turned toward her son.
Her expression hardened.
"Lucian."
The Crown Prince straightened immediately.
"I warned you."
Each word was sharp.
Measured.
Dangerous.
"I warned you countless times that your actions would have consequences."
Lucian lowered his eyes.
For once, he had nothing to say.
The Queen's disappointment hurt far more than anger ever could.
"I am deeply ashamed of your behavior. Your greatest failure was not what you did, but what you refused to see. You mistook an unpolished stone for something worthless, while we recognized an uncut diamond. Had she been nurtured instead of neglected;
she would have shone with a brilliance beyond anything this world has ever seen "
The words struck like a blade.
Aurora almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
The King sighed heavily. The entire situation was a disaster. Yet there was no avoiding it.
"Lady Aurora.", He looked at her seriously.
"I will accept your request."
Relief immediately flooded Aurora's chest.
For the first time in years, she felt like she could breathe.
The King continued.
" By mutual agreement, the engagement between House Ambrose and the Crown Prince shall be dissolved. Yet, despite the end of this betrothal, my affection for you remains unchanged. I have always considered you a daughter,
and I sincerely hope this decision will not cause you to distance yourself from the Queen and me. Our doors—and our hearts—will always remain open to you."
"I do not agree!" , Lucian's voice echoed through the room.
Everyone turned toward him. The silence that followed was deafening.
Even Lucian seemed surprised he had spoken.
The King starred.
The Queen starred.
Aurora starred.
"What exactly do you not agree with?" the Queen asked dangerously.
Lucian opened his mouth, then closed it.
Because he honestly didn't know.
The engagement?
The decision?
The thought of Aurora leaving?
Or the fact that another man already occupied her heart?
The answer frightened him. So, he remained silent.
The King rubbed his forehead.
"I said the engagement will be dissolved."
His voice left no room for argument.
"However, Lady Aurora, I ask that you allow me time before making the announcement public."
Aurora bowed respectfully.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Lucian clenched his fists.
Anger...Frustration...Confusion...Jealousy.
Everything churned inside him.
Unable to remain any longer, he turned and stormed from the room.
The doors slammed shut behind him.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the Queen sighed.
The King sighed.
Aurora sighed.
The King pointed toward the door, "He's definitely your son."
The Queen groaned.
Aurora couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped her.
For the first time that morning, the tension eased.
Just slightly.
Aurora bowed once more, "Thank you, Your Majesties."
The Queen stepped forward and gently squeezed her hand.
"You are always welcome here, Aurora."
The kindness nearly brought tears to her eyes.
"Thank you."
As Aurora turned to leave, relief washed over her.
The engagement was over.
Finally.
Yet as she walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that the battle had only just begun.
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