Chapter 17 #2
That scene pierced my eyes. She relied on him. She trusted him. In front of him, she looked so fragile. So desperate for protection.
But she should have been relying on me. She should have been holding onto my sleeve. Not his.
Yet I understood. All of this was my fault. I was the one who pushed her away with my own hands. I wanted to move closer. I wanted to tell her I would never hurt her. I only wanted to know that she was okay. I only wanted to hold her and feel her warmth again.
"Don't come closer!" She suddenly screamed. Her eyes were filled with fear and hatred. "Weren't you going to kill me? Why are you here? Are you going to try to kill me again? Get out! Get out! I don't want to see you!"
My footsteps stopped. I stood frozen in place. Pain surged through me like a storm. It felt as if my soul shattered in that instant. The air was forced out of my lungs. Even breathing became difficult.
"Alice..." My voice was hoarse. "Please don't be afraid of me. Just listen to me, okay?"
I sounded almost like I was begging. "That day, I went to find you.
I really did. When I heard you calling for me, I immediately went after you.
But those white witches trapped me with magic.
They used a formation to cut off the bond between us.
I heard you calling for help. I answered you.
I told you to wait for me. But they held me back... "
"Even if that's true..." She interrupted me. Her voice trembled. "But what does it change? Cedric... Even if that time was a misunderstanding, what about everything before that? You never chose me."
Alice's voice tightened, carrying both accusation and pain. "Not once. Every single time, you chose Victoria. You never even truly believed me."
"I'm sorry..." I fell to my knees beside her bed. I looked at her with desperate pleading in my eyes. The tears I had been holding back finally broke free, falling uncontrollably down my face.
"Alice... this was all my fault. I shouldn't have doubted you. I shouldn't have let you suffer through all of that. I'll make it up to you. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it... Even if you want my life."
"Does an apology actually change anything?" She looked down at me coldly. "Cedric, what can your apology bring back? Can it erase all the pain I suffered? Can it bring back the life that our baby and I almost lost?"
My voice trembled uncontrollably. Fear completely consumed me. I couldn't describe the pain in my heart. But it was more terrifying than standing on a battlefield and nearly dying.
"Please... Please give me another chance, Alice. I'm so sorry. I understand now. I was wrong before."
"I don't need it." Her eyes turned cold. "Cedric, I don't need your compensation. I don't need your chance."
She took a deep breath. "Get out. I don't want to see you."
"Alice—"
"Are you deaf?" Adrian shoved me away. "She said she doesn't want to see you! Can't you understand simple words?"
I staggered backward. I looked at Adrian standing protectively in front of her. I looked at Alice hiding behind him. The rejection in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Please..." My voice was barely above a whisper. "Alice, don't be this cruel to me. At least let me take care of you until you recover."
"No need." Her voice was cold and distant. "Cedric, I don't need you anymore."
I stared at her. I wanted to say something. I wanted to explain. I wanted to beg.
But Alice no longer looked at me. Every movement she made showed nothing but rejection.
In the end, I turned around and walked out of the room myself.
The door slammed shut behind me. I leaned against the wall, both hands pressing against it as I breathed heavily. Her words kept echoing inside my mind.
"You never chose me."
"I don't need your compensation."
"I don't want to see you."
Yes. I had never chosen her. Every single time, I chose Victoria instead. I was the one who hurt her.
But I would never let her go again. The two months without her...
The pain.
The despair.
The feeling of wanting to die every single second...
I never wanted to experience that again.
"King Cedric." A deep voice suddenly came from the end of the corridor.
I opened my eyes. King Rhine was standing there. Those amber eyes looked at me coldly.
"What are you doing here?" His voice carried a warning.
I took a deep breath and straightened myself. My tone rose unconsciously.
"King Rhine, you knew the person I was searching for was your daughter. But you chose to hide the truth from me. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Is this how you ask someone for help?" King Rhine let out a cold laugh. "Cedric, who do you think you are? What right do you have to speak to me in that tone?"
I clenched my teeth. My fists tightened until my knuckles cracked. Calm. I had to stay calm.
I took a deep breath and forced down all my anger. "I apologize."
I lowered my head. "I was disrespectful just now."
King Rhine looked at me. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
"Now that I have found her, I'm taking her back to my kingdom." My voice became calmer, but my determination remained firm. "She is my mate. She should return with me."
Whether he agreed or not, I would take Alice back. She was my mate. Even though she rejected me now, I would make up for everything. I would wait. I would wait until the day she forgave me.
"You're dreaming." King Rhine walked toward me. The overwhelming pressure of an Alpha instantly descended. "My daughter. Do you think you can take her away just because you want to?"
I met his pressure head-on. I didn't retreat. "Then what do you want?" I gritted my teeth. "You can name any condition. As long as it allows me to take her away."
King Rhine stared at me deeply. His expression became thoughtful.
"If you want to pursue my daughter..." He spoke slowly. "You must follow the rules of our kingdom."
"What rules?"
"Warrior's Trial." King Rhine's voice was cold. "Only a true warrior who wins in the trial will have the qualification to marry the princess."
He stepped forward. His voice became even colder. "Of course, there is one more condition. You must have Alice's own consent. If she does not wish to go with you, then even if you win, you still cannot take her away."
"Good." I clenched my jaw. "I accept."
"Very well." King Rhine turned and walked away. "I will arrange the trial. And I will invite warriors from across the kingdom to participate."
He stopped and glanced back at me. "Prepare yourself, Cedric. I will make you understand that winning my daughter's hand will not be easy."
I watched his retreating figure and took a deep breath.
I would win that trial. And then, I would do everything in my power to make her forgive me. To make her accept me again.
No matter how long it took.
No matter what price I had to pay, I would never let go again.
Never.