Chapter 41

Chapter 41
|| CEDRIC'S POV ||
The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting golden patterns on the forest floor. I stretched, the stiffness in my muscles a reminder of the long night. As my eyes fluttered open, the first thought that crossed my mind was of her.

"Vanessa," I murmured, sitting up abruptly. My heart sank as I realized the space beside me was empty.

I pushed myself to my feet, scanning the surrounding area. There was no sign of her. My mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions clawing at me. Had she left to return to him? Had the pull of her mate bond with Diego become too strong to resist?

“No,” I muttered to myself, clenching my fists. “She wouldn’t.”

But doubt lingered like a shadow. I had no claim over her, no real reason to stop her if she had chosen to return to Diego. Yet, the thought of her with him—it was unbearable. I shook the thought from my mind and stalked back toward the castle. My steps were heavy, my mind clouded with worry and frustration.

When I reached the castle gates, one of the guards approached me. “My lord,” he said, bowing slightly. “Lady Vanessa returned to her quarters early this morning.”

I froze, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. “She’s… in her room?”

“Yes, my lord,” he confirmed. “She returned quietly, just before dawn.”

Relief washed over me, followed closely by confusion. Why had she left the forest without waking me? What was she thinking? I dismissed the guard with a nod and made my way inside, determined to speak with her later.

\---

The moment I stepped into the castle, my godmother, Lady Seraphina, was waiting for me in the grand hall. Her sharp gaze met mine, and I could see the disapproval etched into her every feature. She was a woman of poise and power, her presence commanding respect.

“Cedric” she began, her tone clipped. “Care to explain why you abandoned the engagement ceremony last night? You humiliated Tiara and shamed our family.”

I stopped in my tracks, folding my arms over my chest. “I had more important matters to attend to,” I said coolly.

“More important than your own engagement?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “The entire court was watching, Cedric. Do you have any idea what this has done to your reputation?”

“I don’t care about my reputation,” I snapped. “And I’m not sorry for leaving. That ceremony was a farce, and you know it.”

Seraphina’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You may not care now, but this will have consequences, Cedric. Tiara—”

“Tiara knew exactly what she was getting into,” I interrupted, my tone laced with irritation. “This isn’t about love or loyalty. It’s about alliances and power, and I’m tired of pretending otherwise.”

Her expression softened slightly, though the disapproval lingered. “You have responsibilities, Cedric. You can’t ignore them just because you’re frustrated.”

“I’m not ignoring anything,” I said firmly. “I’m handling things in my own way.”

Before she could respond, a commotion in the hallway drew our attention. A servant rushed in, her face pale and her breathing labored.

“My lord, my lady,” she stammered, bowing hastily. “It’s Lady Tiara. She… she’s attempted to take her own life.”

Time seemed to stand still as her words sank in. My stomach twisted, a surge of guilt and dread coursing through me.

“What?” Seraphina gasped, her hand flying to her chest. “Where is she?”

“She’s in her chambers,” the servant said, tears brimming in her eyes. “The healers are with her now.”

Seraphina turned to me, her expression a mixture of shock and accusation. “This is your doing, Gideon.”

I clenched my jaw, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders. “Don’t start with that,” I said, my voice low and strained. “I’ll handle it.”

Without another word, I strode toward Tiara’s chambers, my mind racing. The idea that she would go to such extremes—it wasn’t something I’d expected. Despite everything, I didn’t want harm to come to her. I wasn’t heartless, but I also couldn’t give her what she wanted.

\---

When I reached Tiara’s room, the atmosphere was suffocating. The scent of blood lingered faintly in the air, and the healers worked quickly to bandage her wrists. Tiara lay on the bed, her face pale and tear-streaked, her eyes glazed with despair.

I hesitated in the doorway, unsure of how to approach her. Finally, I stepped inside, my boots echoing softly against the stone floor.

“Tiara,” I said quietly.

Her eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of hope there. “Cedric,” she whispered, her voice weak. “You came.”

I nodded, moving closer to the bed. “Why would you do this?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. “Why would you hurt yourself like this?”

Tears welled up in her eyes again, spilling over onto her cheeks. “Because I can’t bear it anymore,” she said, her voice trembling. “You don’t love me, Cedric.You never have. And now… you’ve humiliated me in front of everyone.”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration and guilt warring within me. “Tiara, I never promised you love. You knew what this arrangement was.”

“I thought I could make you care,” she said, her voice breaking. “I thought if I tried hard enough, you’d see me. But all you care about is her.”

I froze, her words hitting a nerve. “This isn’t about Vanessa,” I said tightly.

“Yes, it is!” she cried, her voice rising. “You leave the ceremony to chase after her. You defend her, protect her, even when it’s me who’s supposed to be by your side. Don’t deny it, Cedric. You love her.”

Her words hung in the air, and I found myself unable to respond. Did I love Vanessa? The thought had crossed my mind before, but I had always pushed it aside, unwilling to confront the truth. Now, standing here in the aftermath of Tiara’s desperation, I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

“This isn’t about love, Tiara,” I said finally, my voice quiet but firm. “This is about choices—about what’s right and what’s wrong. I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not, and I won’t force myself to feel something that isn’t there.”

She looked away, her tears falling silently now. “Then why are you here?” she whispered. “Why do you even care?”

“Because I don’t want to see you hurt,” I said honestly. “Not like this. You deserve better than to waste your life on someone who can’t give you what you need.”

Her shoulders shook as she sobbed softly, and I sighed, my chest tight with conflicting emotions. I reached out, hesitating before resting a hand on her arm. “Tiara, I’ll make sure you’re cared for. But I can’t be the person you want me to be.”

She didn’t respond, and after a moment, I stood and left the room. The weight of the situation bore down on me as I walked back toward my chambers, my thoughts a chaotic mess.

\---

As I reached my room, Seraphina was waiting for me. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a quiet understanding in her eyes.

“She’ll be all right,” she said softly.

I nodded, though the knot in my chest remained. “Good.”

Seraphina studied me for a moment before speaking again. “You can’t keep running from this, Cedric. Sooner or later, you’ll have to decide where your heart truly lies.”

I looked away, her words striking a chord deep within me. “I already know,” I said quietly.

And for the first time, I admitted to myself what I had b
een avoiding all along. My heart belonged to Vanessa,and no amount of denial or duty could change that.