Chapter 73
It had been almost a year since Aurora had left for the Eastern Empire.
Not a single day passed without Lucian thinking of her.
Occasionally, his mother shared the letters Aurora sent to the royal family. She spoke of the bustling markets, her studies, the school she hoped to build one day, and the people she had met.
Every letter was filled with excitement.
Every letter...
Except one.
Aurora had never written to him.
Not once.
He had written several letters during the first few months, but none had received a reply. Eventually, he stopped sending them.
Perhaps...She truly wished to leave him in the past.
His father had stepped down several months earlier, entrusting the throne to him.
Lucian was now King.
With the crown came endless responsibilities, council meetings, and political pressure.
Unfortunately, it also brought rumours.
The nobles had begun whispering that he and Lady Bella Palsen would soon be married.
He did not know who had started the gossip, but he intended to end it today.
He had invited Bella for tea.
As he entered the palace garden, Bella rose gracefully and offered a curtsy.
"Your Majesty."
Lucian smiled politely, "Bella... please sit."
Servants quietly poured tea before withdrawing, leaving them alone beneath the flowering trees.
Bella offered him a warm smile.
"I was surprised by your invitation."
Lucia looked, into his teacup before speaking, "I've heard unsettling rumours."
Bella's fingers tightened ever so slightly around her cup, though she quickly hid it behind a pleasant smile.
"What sort of rumours?"
"People believe you and I are in a romantic relationship."
Bella remained silent.
"I have also heard they believe we intend to marry."
She forced a small laugh.
"People do enjoy gossip."
"They do."
Lucian met her eyes.
"But gossip often begins somewhere."
Bella lowered her gaze, "I may have... allowed people to assume certain things."
Lucian sighed quietly, "Bella... I need those rumours to end."
Her heart skipped, "What do you mean?"
"I've made it clear before that we would not marry."
She looked at him in disbelief, "You don't mean that."
"I do."
Her smile slowly disappeared, "Lucian..."
"No.", His voice remained calm, but firm, "I owe you honesty."
Bella searched his face desperately, "You love me."
Lucian closed his eyes briefly, "For many years... I believed I did."
"But now?" , He shook his head, "I've realized that what I felt wasn't love."
Bella stared at him.
"It was comfort. We grew up together. You were my closest friend. I mistook familiarity for love."
Tears gathered in Bella's eyes, "So,... after all these years...We were only friends?"
"I believe so."
She laughed bitterly, "Is this because I'm the daughter of a mistress?"
Lucian frowned, "No. I have never cared about your birth. If I had, we would never have remained friends all these years."
"Then why?" , Her voice trembled, "Why now?"
Bella already knew the answer. She simply wanted to hear him deny it.
"...Is it Aurora?"
Silence.
Lucian looked toward the roses blooming beside the garden path.
Finally, he spoke, "This isn't Lady Aurora's fault."
Bella smiled sadly, "But it is because of her."
Lucian didn't answer.
She understood.
His silence was answer enough.
Bella felt her heart shatter.
"I watched you ignore her for years. I watched her cry because of you. I comforted you whenever you complained about her.... and now..."
A tear escaped despite her efforts.
"...now you tell me she's the woman you truly want?"
Lucian looked genuinely remorseful.
"I don't deserve her forgiveness."
"No."
Bella laughed through her tears.
"You certainly don't."
"I only wish to earn the chance to apologize."
Bella slowly stood, "So...After all these years...I lose."
"You never had to compete with anyone."
She looked at him with quiet bitterness.
"That's easy for you to say.... You've gained everything. The throne, the admiration of the people and now...the woman who once loved you."
Lucian lowered his eyes.
"I don't even know if she could ever love me again."
Bella's expression hardened. For a moment, genuine pain flashed across her face.
Then it disappeared. Replacing it......was pride.
"If Aurora returns your feelings..."
She forced a graceful smile.
"I hope she makes you work for every single one of them."
Lucian couldn't help smiling faintly.
"I think she already has."
Bella gave one final curtsy.
"Then, Your Majesty...I wish you happiness."
She turned and walked away with perfect elegance.
Only after she disappeared behind the hedges did the smile vanish from her face.
Her nails dug painfully into her palms.
"So...", She whispered bitterly, "In the end...I still lost to Aurora."
Hatred slowly settled into her heart.
She could accept losing Lucian.
But she could never forgive Aurora.
Far away in the Eastern Empire...
Aurora continued chasing her dreams, completely unaware that another chapter of her past had quietly come to an end.
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