Chapter 132
The palace gardens were quiet.
The fountains murmured softly beneath the evening sky, while thousands of stars slowly emerged above the kingdom.
Lucian had been waiting for almost half an hour.
He stood beside the old stone gazebo, his hands clasped behind his back.
For the first time in years...
The King was nervous.
Not because of politics.
Not because of war.
Because of one woman.
Footsteps echoed softly along the pathway.
He turned.
Aurora walked toward him.
She wore a simple pale pink dress.
No jewels.
No elaborate hairstyle.
Just Aurora.
She stopped a few steps away.
For a long moment...
Neither spoke.
Finally...
Aurora smiled faintly, "You've become rather patient."
Lucian smiled back, "I've had to learn."
She nodded.
"I asked to see you because...", She drew a slow breath, "...there are things I need to say."
Lucian remained silent.
Giving her the space she needed.
Aurora looked toward the fountain.
"I was angry ", She laughed quietly, "No...I was more than angry. I was hurt."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't think you ever realised how much you hurt me."
Lucian lowered his eyes, "I know."
Aurora shook her head.
"No. You know now."
"But back then..." She looked at him" ....you never saw it."
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
"I wrote you letters."
Silence.
"I bought gifts."
Silence.
"I waited for hours hoping you would speak to me."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"You would walk straight past me."
Lucian closed his eyes.
Every word felt like another knife.
Aurora continued.
"I told myself you were busy."
"I told myself tomorrow would be different."
"I told myself if I tried harder......you would finally look at me."
She smiled bitterly.
"What a foolish girl."
Lucian stepped forward. Then stopped himself.
He had no right to comfort her yet.
Aurora looked away.
"Do you know what finally broke me?"
He whispered, "What?"
She laughed softly through her tears.
"I realised......I had become entertainment."
He frowned, "What do you mean?"
"The nobles laughed.........The ladies whispered."
"They watched me embarrass myself over and over again."
She wiped another tear away.
"I wasn't Lady Aurora anymore."
"I became...'The girl chasing the Crown Prince.'"
The words hung painfully between them.
"I was humiliated. My dignity disappeared."
"And the one man who should have noticed..."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"...never did."
Lucian felt his heart shatter, "I'm sorry."
Aurora smiled sadly.
"I know. And I believe you."
That surprised him.
She continued.
"You've changed."
"I've watched you."
"You carry supplies."
"You help strangers."
"You listen."
"You apologise."
"You've become kinder."
Her smile grew warmer.
"I think......one day......you'll become a very good king."
Lucian looked at her with quiet hope.
"But..."
Aurora whispered, "I need something."
"Anything."
She took another deep breath.
"I don't want a husband who only loves me."
"I want someone I can rely on."
"I want someone who will stand beside me when the world falls apart."
"I want someone who believes in my dreams......even when they sound impossible."
She laughed softly.
"I want someone who'll let me build schools."
"Argue with merchants."
"Invent ridiculous ideas."
"Drive Philip completely insane."
Lucian couldn't help smiling.
Aurora's smile faded again.
"I want someone......who will let me cry."
She looked down at her hands.
"I'm tired of pretending to be strong."
"I'm tired of carrying everything alone."
Her voice broke.
"I want someone who'll sit beside me......without trying to fix everything."
"Someone who'll simply hold my hand."
She swallowed hard.
"I want someone I can laugh with."
"Grow old with."
"Someone who'll give me the freedom to be..."
She smiled weakly, "...just Aurora."
Silence settled between them.
Lucian slowly stepped closer.
This time...
She didn't move away.
He spoke quietly, "I can be that man."
Aurora looked up.
"I can't erase the past."
"I can't give you back the years I wasted."
"I can't take away the tears I caused."
His own eyes had become red, "But I swear to you......I will spend the rest of my life making new memories."
"Better ones."
He smiled gently.
"I'll listen to every impossible idea."
"I'll build every school you dream of."
"I'll sit through every meeting with stubborn merchants."
"I'll even survive Philip's lectures."
Aurora laughed softly. A genuine laugh.
Lucian continued.
"When you cry......I'll be there."
"When you fail......I'll remind you to stand again."
"When you succeed......I'll be the loudest person applauding."
His voice softened.
"And when the burdens become too heavy......you'll never carry them alone again."
He slowly reached for her hand.
Only after seeing her small nod did he take it.
"I love you."
The words were simple.
Honest.
"I don't expect you to love me today."
"Or tomorrow...I'll wait. As long as it takes."
Aurora stared at their joined hands.
Tears quietly rolled down her cheeks, "I don't know if I'm ready to love again."
Lucian gently squeezed her hand, "I know."
"I still miss him."
"I know."
"There are days when I still hear his voice."
"I know."
She looked into his eyes, "And yet..."
A small smile appeared.
"When I imagine my future......I don't feel afraid anymore."
Lucian felt hope bloom inside his chest.
Aurora took one slow step closer.
"If you'll have me......I'll marry you."
His breath caught.
"I'll stand beside you."
"I'll help you build this kingdom."
"I'll do everything I can to protect its people."
She smiled through her tears.
"And..."
She laughed softly.
"I suppose we'll have to give the kingdom its heir."
Lucian laughed through tears of his own.
"I suppose we will."
Aurora looked at him with quiet honesty.
"I'm not promising you a heart that's already healed."
"I'm asking......if you'll help me heal it."
Lucian gently lifted her hand to his lips.
"It would be the greatest honour of my life."
Aurora closed the distance between them.
For the first time...
She wrapped her arms around him.
Not because she had forgotten Dante.
Not because the pain was gone.
But because...
For the first time since losing everything...
She had found someone willing to help her carry what remained.
Under the quiet evening sky...
Two broken hearts chose not perfection...
But hope.
And sometimes...
Hope was the beginning of love.
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