Chapter 60.

Nalani Pov.

"So, it is true" he whispered.

His voice was soft but I heard him loud and clear. I didn't know why I felt like my heart was breaking when I saw his dejected look. How long was he going to be in denial? Why was he so disappointed? Was he actually in love with me? He didn't say anything but spent the whole time staring at me, with a look of disbelief.

"Nalani, I want you to tell me the truth."

"Which part?" I asked arrogantly forgetting I was the one in the wrong.

My words were stuck in my throat when he glared at me.

"From the beginning"

What the hell! Should I, do it? What did I have to lose telling him the whole truth? Maybe this might help my father's case since so far, I have achieved nothing significant.

"I was born in Femah, the second largest district in the Kingdom. My father, Maximus was in charge of the district while Sir Carl his best friend was in charge of Florin. They were very close with the last king, your father. I had a normal childhood like any other girl born in a noble household. But everything changed when my father was suddenly accused of being involved in the late king's death. My father was arrested and after he was taken away Sir Carl came to see my mother. He said he wanted to access my father's office as he wanted to find evidence of his innocence. A day after he left, my father was beheaded in front of my sight" I paused to wipe the tears tumbling down my cheeks.

No one has ever asked me what happened. The King was the first person to ever ask. They all assumed my father was guilty and didn't care to find the actual culprit. My father was devoted to the late King. If the late King had asked him to kill himself, he would have done it without hesitation. So why was my poor father framed and killed?

What was the point of loyalty if you could end up dead at any time?

He made a move to stand up, but he changed his mind. He seemed conflicted but he stayed quiet. When I felt calm enough to speak, I continued.

"After my father's death, we lost our home, our belongings, and everything we had. People wanted to kill us. If it weren't for the knights, we would have died that day. My mum and I tried getting a house to rent but no one wanted to be associated with the traitor's family. We lived in the streets until Sir Carl reached out and helped us. My mother became deeply depressed by how our lives turned out. She died afterward from an unknown disease. I was left alone with no one else to depend on. I left Femah and came to Florin where no one knew my identity to start a new life.

I rented a small room and started selling fruits in the market, where I met Kellen. I was deep in debt and was almost forced to marry a nobleman until Sir Carl intervened again. He helped Kellen and I get a job at the castle as servants. And that is where I met you. The rest you already know."

"I was the one who ordered your father's beheading" he stated, " Don't you resent me?"

I knew this question was coming. I would think the same if I was in his shoes.

"I won't lie as you deserve the truth. Yes, I resented you and I wanted to get my revenge. That was the whole reason I came to the castle in the first place. I wanted to face the man who took my father from me and made him the most hated man in the kingdom. I wanted to see the man who didn't know what loyalty meant even when it slapped him in the face."

"If your father was so loyal to the late King, why did he start a revolt to dethrone him?"

"You still don't get it, do you? My father was not your enemy, he was your friend. A powerful friend at that. He was used as a scapegoat by someone sinister against you."

I can't believe he was convinced my father was the bad guy. He dined, slept, and spoke with his enemies every day. How didn't he know he was surrounded by foes?

"He was your father, after all, you would say anything to prove his innocence."

"Fine, I admit I may be biased towards him. But let me ask you an important question."

"Ask" he approved, his sharp eyes watching me as a hawk.

"If my father was your only enemy, why were you poisoned recently?"

Before he could answer I stopped him.

"Why is your court filled with vultures and people you don't trust?"

He jumped on his feet angrily and straddled towards me. I stood rooted to the ground and refused to move. He didn't scare me, and he should know it.

"Your father was the cause of all this" he growled.

"My dead father would turn in his grave at your stupidity..."

Before I could finish, he smacked me. My hand immediately went to my stinging cheek while I turned to look at him in disbelief. He slapped me. This was the first time he had ever been physical towards me.

"Watch your mouth, Nalani, remember who you are speaking to!"

My eyes filled with tears. For someone who claimed to love me, I saw what his love meant. Him loving me meant nothing at all. I went down on my knees for the first time since he asked me not to.

"I apologize for my arrogance" I spat.

"Just because I have feelings for you doesn't mean you can behave like this" he warned.

"You love throwing the word feelings around like it means something."

"Nalani" he warned.

"You have learned of my past; aren't you glad we aren't married? Huh!"

"Nalani!!"

"What! Are you going to hit me again? Go ahead!" I screamed.

Perhaps it was not the best course of action. He was already angry, and I was aggravating him further. He stopped in front of me and went down on one knee.

"You disgust me!" he spat.

My eyes widened and in a second, I was openly crying. My body was betraying me. I was heartbroken. The brown eyes that used to look at me with excitement now looked at me in disgust and anger.

"Ha!" I laughed even though I was crying.

"Nalani, come evening, you will leave my sight. I don't ever want to lay my eyes on you and if I do, I will kill you on the spot. You are hereby banished from the Kingdom of Vigor," he announced and left.