Chapter 53

"We have been engaged for four years" he admitted.

I felt a wave of nausea hit me. Oh my God! I was not religious but at this moment I don't know who to call. The King has been lying to me the entire time. All his promises to make me his queen were all lies. All this time he has been manipulating me. Telling me anything to make me feel unique only to sleep with me. I didn't know anyone could be so ruthless. I wished every day he was a good person. I fell for him believing he was a good person. However, I was wrong.

He used me until he got what he wanted. I examined him for the first time since he told me the truth. I could still see the man I was in love with, so why? Why did he lie to me? Why did he feel the need to lie in the first place? He had so many women fighting each other, trying to jump into his bed, so why did he put so much effort when it came to me? Was I merely an easy lay for him?

My heart broke, and my hands started trembling. I never thought the man who took my father from me could destroy my life even further. My eyes filled with tears but I refused to let them fall. I refused to give this woman the satisfaction of seeing me heartbroken. Kellen's mouth was agape. She didn't bother hiding how horrified she was.

"Ambrose, how about we take a walk around the garden after breakfast" she asked,her hand in his hair.

The king tried to look at me but I looked away.

"Excuse me...but who are you exactly?" Kellen asked in a harsh tone.

The woman flipped her hair and looked at Kellen disgustingly as if it was beneath her to answer the question.

"You two must be the only people who don't know me" she laughed "My name is Nedra, the future Queen of the kingdom of Vigor."

"What do you mean future Queen?" Kellen started to argue.

"Stop!" Sir Stanley spoke up.

This was the first time he had spoken in my presence since yesterday.

"Do not involve yourself in other people's affairs" he scolded Kellen.

" But..."

" We are leaving" he announced grabbing Kellen's hand and taking her with him.

I was still processing what just happened. The king who claimed to love me with all his heart had a fiancee. To make matters worse, he has had a fiancee for four years. Yet it somehow skipped his mind, when he supposedly fell for me.

"Nalani..." he began.

" Please don't talk," I said.

I woke up and tried walking away as fast as I could. Even though it meant dragging this heavy gown down the corridor. I didn't care if it would tear or get dirty. All I cared for was to leave the dining room and put as much distance between us as possible. Why did I have to go through this again? Haven't I gone through enough? Why was my life so difficult? Why was I getting hurt over and over again as if I was being punished? Did I do something terrible in another life and I was paying for it?

I went to my room and locked myself in but then I remembered I was staying in a room that didn't belong to me. I was simply a placeholder, keeping the bed warm and ready for the owner. I rushed to the only place I knew was hidden and deserted, the garden. I found myself sitting on the ground, tears flowing down my face as I wondered again and again how I got to this point. Why did he feel the need to lie to me? Didn't he trust me enough to tell the truth? Did I deserve this for hating him?

I get it now, he only wanted someone to sleep with and unfortunately, I was the closest to him. He probably wanted to sow a few oats before he got married. I had doubts whether I was good enough for him but turns out it didn't matter. He already had someone. I was a toy used for his amusement. I did wonder why he kept saying he loved me all of a sudden. I should have known. I should have listened to the voice in my head that kept saying this was too good to be true.

He was too good to be true.

A royal falling in love with a servant girl sounds like a fairytale. I should have been careful. Now I was seated on the ground crying over a man who didn't care for my feelings. I should have never come to the castle. I should have never wanted to seek revenge. I ended up getting hurt more than if I had stayed where I was. I should have been glad, my parents were no longer here, so they didn't have to suffer as I did.

While I sobbed on the ground, I decided on one thing. This relationship with the king had to end. I had to leave the castle and anything that had to do with the king behind. Only then will I find peace. Only then will I be able to live a simple life. With my decision made, I stood up, brushed the dust off my dress, wiped my tears with the back of my hand, and prepared to do what had to be done.

I strolled back into the castle, my steps more confident with a goal in mind. I felt calmer and more steady. I went to search for the king the reason behind my misery. None of the servants had seen him so I thought he might be hiding in his chambers like the coward he was. Outside his chambers were three knights who had not been there before. This only furthered my decision to come here.

" Is the king inside?" I asked loudly enough to hear.

"The king doesn't want to see anyone at the moment. Please go back" one of the knights said.

I was ready to fight my way in if I had to. I knew none of them could stop me from getting in if I wanted to.

" Let her in!" the king announced.

The knight opened the door and urged me to go in. This was it. After I get through this, I will be free to leave and start a new life away from everyone.