billion book
51
CHAPTER FIFTY – ONE
Alice’s POV
As I stepped into the grand hall of my kingdom, Ull, I was dressed in my regal attire. I wore a long, flowing gown that was made of the finest silk, in a deep emerald green color that complimented my eyes.
The bodice was fitted and embellished with intricate beading and lace, while the full skirt was adorned with delicate embroidery.
My hair was styled in an up do, with strands of red locks cascading down my neck, held in place by a silver tiara that was passed down to me from my mother. I felt confident and beautiful as I entered the hall, ready to face the noblemen who had come to ask for my hand in marriage.
I got ready for the ceremony, my heart was pounding with anxiety. The previous night, I cried myself to sleep, thinking of Prince Edward and all that we had been through.
I felt the nerves in my stomach twist and turn as I stood in front of the court, ready to receive the next nobleman who would come forward to ask for my hand in marriage. I had promised myself not to think of Prince Edward during this ceremony, but try as I might, my mind kept wandering back to the time we had spent together.
Just as I was about to dismiss the next suitor, a figure stepped forward, his presence commanding and familiar. It was Edward. I couldn’t believe my eyes; I had not seen him in over a year.
My heart was racing and my mind was a blur. He was just as handsome as I remembered, but the look of shock on his face was priceless. He had no idea that I was the Queen of the neighboring kingdom.
I tried to compose myself, but I couldn’t take it. I stood up, not wanting to see him again. I stumbled out of my throne and ran out of the hall, tears streaming down my face.
Edward followed me, calling out my name, but I was too overwhelmed to listen. I finally stopped when I reached the garden, leaning against a tree as I tried to calm myself, taking deep breaths to slow my racing heart. I had run to the garden, trying to catch my breath, but I knew he would follow me. Sure enough, minutes later, Edward showed up, and I could see the determination in his eyes.
“Alice, please, hear me out,” he said as he approached me.
“Edward, I can’t do this. I don’t want to see you again,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Listen to me please.” He screamed at me.
“No, I do not want to hear anything. You lied to me and betrayed me, do you think sending Andrew to help me in my battle would cure the fact that your parents killed mine?” I shouted in return.
“Fuck, Alice why do you always make everything difficult for me.” He said as he stepped forward, I stepped back trying to put some space between us.
But Edward was not about to give up so easily. He stepped closer and reached for me, trying to kiss me. I fought him at first, he stayed as I tried to claw at him and pressed his lips firmly to mine. I tried resisting but the feelings that I had kept buried for so long came rushing back. I couldn’t resist any longer, and I kissed him back, letting all of my pent up emotions pour out.
We stood there for what seemed like an eternity, wrapped in each other’s embrace. It felt like coming home after a long and tiring journey. I finally pulled away, looking into Edward’s eyes, which were now filled with love and tenderness.
“I’ve missed you so much, Alice,” he whispered.
“I’ve missed you too, Edward,” I replied, tears streaming down my face.
As we sat in the garden, Edward finally spoke up. “Alice, I want to hear the full story,” he said, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity. “How did you become the Queen of Ull? And why did you run away from the court?”
I let out a sigh and turned to him, “I thought you were pretending not to know, but now I can see that you’re being sincere. I’ll tell you everything.”
I proceeded to tell Edward the entire story of how I came to be the Queen of Ull. I spoke of my time in captivity and how I was rescued by Andrew, and how I discovered the truth about my parents’ death. I told him about the battle for the kingdom and how I became the Queen.
Edward listened intently, nodding along as I spoke. “And that’s how I came to be the Queen of Ull,” I finished, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders from finally sharing the truth with someone.
Edward reached out and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for telling me the truth, Alice. I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through.”
We sat in silence for a few moments, taking in each other’s presence and the beautiful surroundings of the garden. The sun was setting and the sky was a mix of pinks and purples, casting a warm glow over us.
I finally spoke up, breaking the silence. “Edward, I need to know. Why did you come here today?”
Edward looked at me, his eyes filled with emotion. “Alice, I’ve missed you so much. I couldn’t stop thinking about you, and I knew I had to see you again. But today I was forced by my mother to come make a marriage alliance for the kingdom”
I stood up a bit angry “So it was because the lost kingdom became the Kingdom of Ull?” I said in spite.
Edward laughed, shaking his head, “It’s good to see that you have not changed something, Alice. And while it might be true that we had no idea that your kingdom grew this big, I waited for you when I heard from Andrew that you defeated your uncle. I’m still waiting for you Alice.” He said as he stood to look straight into my eyes, I could clearly see the emotions in his blue eyes.
I felt my heart skip a beat at his words and I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of hope in my chest. Could it be possible that Edward still cared for me after all this time?