Deceive not my love-The prince and his maid II

Broken hearts

*Mirabella*

“Sweetie.. are you in here”. I hear the door open and my mother step inside, making me bury myself even deeper into the pillow. I don’t want to to see anyone or talk to anyone right now.

“Go away”. I mumble, trying to stop myself from sobbing again.

I feel the bed dip as she sits down on the edge. “Bella I am so sorry.. none of us had any idea… I mean he is only 16.. I know you hoped.. I am so sorry”.

“I don’t want to talk about it”. I groan. “I totally humiliate myself”.

When William had come towards us I had panicked and ran off, taking my brothers horse and riding back to the castle like the devil was on my tail. Since I have been here in my bed crying my eyes out.

What I didn’t tell my mother, or anyone else was what William has been writing in his letters. How he missed me and longed to come home to me.. how he felt his feelings grow with us being apart. I haven’t told anyone either that he kissed me the night before he left.. my first and only kiss..

I haven’t told anyone that I really thought he was my one and only, my soulmate.. that we were meant for each other .. like mom and dad.. like Uncle Finn and Isolde.. but.. apparently I was wrong.. and now he is married to someone else.

“You didn’t humiliate yourself.. actually Will was really..”.

I cut my mother off with a groan. “Please !! Don’t mention him.. I never want to see him.. or his wife again”.

“That is going to be difficult sweetie.. as they live here.. you won’t be able to avoid them forever”. She rubs my back gently.

“I’ll move.. I’ll become a priestess”. I shake my head into the pillow.. I can’t stand the idea of seeing him with her.

“Oh sweetie”. She sigh. “But becoming a priestess and swearing of men for all eternity is not the answer.. you are only 16.. other men will come along”.

I look up at her. “You weren’t much older when you met dad.. what would you have done if he had married Isolde ? And would you have felt different if you had been 16 instead of 18 ?”

She bites her lip. “I would probably have felt like you do right now.. and no I know I would have loved your father no matter when I had met him.. that’s just how it is when you meet your other half”.

“See.. that is how I feel about Will.. I.. I love him”. I start sobbing. “I have loved him for as long as I remember.. I always will.. but right now I kinda hate him too”.

She just pulls me up into her arms, rocking me softly back and forth. Telling me that it will get better and that it is okay to feel sad and hurt.. that it’s okay to cry. And I feel like a little kid rolled up in her arms, sobbing my heart out till I fall asleep.

*William*

“Sure dad”. I can’t really say no to my father and King, when he asks to talk to me alone.. not that I really want to, as I know I am in trouble. But I still follow him into his office. Leaving Perla to get to know my mother and siblings.

He closes the door behind us, but instead of walking over to his desk, he starts pacing the floor, hands folded on his back. “So.. married.. don’t you think it’s a little early, son ? And your bride.. How old is she ?”

“I.. Well yes it is.. but I had to.. my ..”. I struggle to find the words.

“Oh God.. you went and got her pregnant, so you had to marry her”. He looks unable to find the right crimace.

I nod. “I’m sorry dad.. I let myself get tempted and.. I have to pay the price.. I know you are disappointed in me.. but it’s my responsibility”.

“I have to say that I am a bit disappointed.. but only in the fact that you.. put yourself in a situation where you could get a Young woman you had no intention to marry pregnant.. but I am proud that you stand by your responsibility”. He says, looking at me. “And you forgot to answer.. Perla.. how old is she ?”

“She is 20, dad.. so.. a little older than me”. I look down. I know this isn’t normal and I wonder what people will say.

He nods. “Well at least she is an adult, but some people might question that she is older than you. But how do you feel son.. are you happy ? Do you.. love her ?”

I swallow, forcing away the lump in my throat. “I guess I am.. I.. Well she is nice and beautiful.. she is.. a good wife.. so.. I guess I am”.

There is a dull pain in my chest, and I breathe in slowly. I can’t cry in front of my father. But I can’t help remembering how Mirabella looked, standing there on the pier, the smile she had sent me. She looked as lovely as ever.. hell she looked more than that, she looked like beauty embodied.

I had been so excited to return, to see her again. She has always been my best friend, my heart and soul.. my everything. I have known since I was 9 that she was the girl I wanted to marry.. but one mistake.. one night.. and my whole life was turned upside down. I let my loneliness and my curiosity get the best of me.. my hormones I guess. I lost my head for a moment and.. now I have lost her forever.

My father looks sad, shaking his head. “Explain what happened on the dock .. with Mirabella ? What have you been promising her ?”

“I.. I guess I didn’t exactly promise her anything.. I haven’t like..proposed to her or anything like that”. I know I am starting to ramble. “I have been writing to her.. and well I have.. we were friends you know and I.. she is special..”.

“William !?” His eyes lock with mine, stopping my rambling. “I talked to Arion, she is crushed.. so she must have felt you made promises”.

I sigh, feeling a treacherous tear escape my eye. “We kissed.. the last evening before I left.. I .. I love her dad.. I wanted to marry her.. and now.. I ruined it.. I ruined everything”.

He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. There is no need to say anything. I made my bed, now I have to lie in it.. for the rest of my life.