Chapter 38
Lucian waited at the end of the corridor. The moment Aurora emerged from the throne room, he saw her.
Relief washed over him. Then anger returned just as quickly.
Anger.....Frustration......Jealousy.....Confusion.
All of it churned violently inside him.
He didn't understand what was happening to him anymore.
All he knew was that the thought of Aurora walking away left a hollow feeling in his chest.
And he hated it.
Aurora noticed him immediately.
Before she could change direction, Lucian strode forward.
"Aurora."
His voice was sharp, demanding.
Aurora frowned, "Your Highness—"
Without thinking, Lucian grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the nearest empty room.
The door closed behind them.
Aurora stumbled slightly, her eyes widened in shock, "What the hell are you doing?"
Outside the door, Emily called out., "My Lady!"
She rushed forward pushing the door opened., "My Lady, are you alright?"
Aurora took a steadying breath, "I'm fine, Emily."
Her eyes never left Lucian, "Wait outside."
Emily hesitated, very visibly. She looked at Lucian. Then at Aurora and then back at Lucian. Clearly debating whether she should fetch a knight.
"Aurora...", Emily warned.
"I'll be fine."
Emily reluctantly nodded, "If he annoys you, scream."
Lucian starred.
Aurora almost smiled.
The door closed. Silence filled the room.
For several moments neither spoke.
Lucian simply stared at her. Really starred.
The soft features he had somehow never noticed.
The determination in her eyes. The strength in her posture.
The woman standing before him felt completely different from the girl who had once followed him everywhere.
And for the first time, that frightened him. Because he realized he didn't understand her anymore.
"Aurora" , His voice was quieter now, "Why?"
Aurora folded her arms, "Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
A bitter laugh escaped her lips, "You'll have to be more specific."
Lucian clenched his jaw, "The engagement."
Aurora's expression hardened, "What about it?"
"You ended it........... Who is he?"
"Yes."
"Just like that?"
Aurora stared at him in disbelief, "Just like that?"
The hurt in her voice made him flinch, "You ignored me for years."
She took a step forward, "You loved someone else for years."
Another step, "You never once asked how I felt."
Another step, "You never once cared."
Lucian opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Because she wasn't wrong. That was the worst part.
The silence stretched painfully between them.
Finally, Aurora looked away.
"I'm giving you exactly what you've always wanted."
Lucian's chest tightened, "No."
Aurora laughed. The sound held no amusement. Only sadness.
"Really?....You and Bella can finally be together."
At Bella's name, Lucian frowned. For some reason, hearing Aurora say it irritated him.... A lot.
"Aurora—"
"No."
For the first time, genuine anger flashed across her face.
"No, Lucian."
The use of his name stunned him.
Gone was the formal distance. Gone were the titles.
Only hurt remained, "I spent years embarrassing myself."
Her voice trembled, "Do you know how humiliating that was?"
Lucian felt guilt twist inside him.
Aurora continued, "I wrote letters."
Silence.
"I bought gifts."
More silence.
"I waited for scraps of your attention."
Each word felt like a knife.
"And do you know what hurts most?"
Lucian couldn't answer.
Aurora smiled sadly.
"I knew."
His breath caught.
"I knew you loved Bella."
The confession struck harder than anything else.
Aurora looked away. Ashamed.
"I knew."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, "But I was selfish."
Her voice cracked.
"I thought if I tried harder, maybe one day you would look at me."
Lucian's heart sank.
Because he remembered.
The letters...The flowers...The invitations...The hopeful smiles.
And all the times he had walked away.
For the first time, he saw the damage he'd caused.
"Aurora...", His voice softened, "I'm sorry."
Aurora froze.
Those were the words she had once desperately wanted to hear, years ago, not now.
Now they only hurt, because they came too late...Far too late.
She shook her head, "It doesn't matter anymore."
"It does."
"No.", Aurora looked directly into his eyes. The sadness there nearly broke him, "It really doesn't."
The room fell silent.
Then Lucian asked the question that had been tormenting him since the night in the garden.
"Do you love him?"
Aurora blinked.
She knew exactly who he meant.
Dante.
The man Lucian would never understand.
The man she would never forget.
Pain squeezed her heart.
Lucian took a step closer, "Do you love him more than you ever loved me?"
The question sounded almost desperate.
Almost vulnerable. And for some reason, that made Aurora angry.
Because now he wanted answers.
Now he cared.
Now he was looking at her.
Where had this concern been before?
Where had this jealousy been when she was crying herself to sleep?
Where had this attention been when she had loved him?
Aurora lifted her chin.
Her voice was steady.
Certain.
Honest.
"Yes."
Lucian froze.
Aurora's eyes filled with tears, "Yes."
Her hand moved to her chest.
"I love him with every breath."
The words shattered something inside him.
"There will never be anyone else in my heart."
Silence...Heavy...Painful...Unbearable.
Lucian simply stared.
Shock written across his face.
For the first time in his life, he understood what rejection felt like.
And it hurt.
Far more than he expected.
Aurora took advantage of his stunned silence.
She shoved him backward. Not hard. Just enough. Lucian stumbled.
Aurora immediately moved toward the door but before leaving, she paused.
Without looking back, she spoke softly.
"You should go to Bella."
The words were gentle. But somehow, they hurt more than a slap.
Then she opened the door and left.
Lucian remained standing alone in the room.
Silent....Motionless...Staring at the closed door.
For the first time, fear settled into his heart. Not fear of losing the engagement. Not fear of disappointing his parents.
But fear that he had already lost Aurora.
And this time...
There might be no way to get her back.
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