Page 16 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Hope ignited in her eyes. "So it's not dead? That means… there’s a chance he can still get it back?"

The fourth ruler turned back to her and shook his head. "It's not dead, but there's no such hope. Only dark magic can bring it back, and even then, the cost is too great. To make such an exchange, one would have to give up something of immense value. Like a life."

He turned back to the window. "Then, there's the part whereHav'zie de Baahmight 'take' but never ‘give.’"

Aekeira's shoulders slumped. Her hope disappeared. She'd forgotten that crucialpart.

"So, the grand king… might die?" she asked.

"Hewilldie when the symptoms complete. Which is why we are here." The grand lord released a deep breath. "We need Emeriel close to him. We need her to save his life."

"Em saved it once before. And all she got in return was pain," Aekeira shot back. "More pain than anyone should bear. Hate from everyone around her. A heartbreak that almost killed her."

The three men averted their eyes, guilt written all over their faces.

Lord Ottai sighed, turning back to Aekeira. "I'm sorry for—"

"Save the apology, Your Majesty. It's not for me, but for Em," Aekeira cut him off. "The problem is, she will not be taking it. She does not wish to meet either of you, and she made me promise not to tell her anything discussed here."

Lord Ottai raked his hand through his hair.

"When Emeriel needed him, he was not there," Aekeira continued, years of suppressed anger rising. "My sister needed to be saved countless times, and the grand king was nowhere to be found. She cried for him, day and night. She almost went mad from illusions and daydreams. Was almost swallowed by the great mountains, and nearly died of starvation.Where was the grand king then!?" Aekeira screamed.

"Emeriel had to muddle through it allalone. Forced to survive being severed from her ownSoulbond. Em had to do it all alone, and itchangedher. She is not the girl she used to be. The person you're looking for, Lord Ottai. You can't find her, because she no longer exists," Aekeira's voice cracked. "Emeriel will not be saving your grand king this time, because Emeriel is the one who needs saving."

After that outburst came exhaustion. Aekeira struggled to calm herself as the tension hung around them.

At last, Lord Ottai broke the silence. "What about you, Aekeira? Do you also wish not to help Vladya?"

Aekeira remained quiet.

Lord Ottai closed the distance between them. "I know we have no right to ask this of you, of either of you. No right at all, after everything. You have no obligation towards us, you have no obligations to him. You are no longer a slave, subject to no one's will. You are a princess in your own kingdom now, free to live your life however you choose.” He took her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. “But I beg of you, Aekeira."

It would be so easy to stay.

They might not be wanted or loved here, but they were treated fairly, with respect. It would be so easy to turn away.

But…

Tears filled Aekeira's eyes. "There's this giant hole in my chest, filled with so much longing that some days… it’s hard to function," she whispered. "Over the years, I thought it would close, I thought it would heal. That maybe the pain would fade." She hung her head. "But the ache grew worse. The hole only wider… and wider. I miss him so much ithurts. I worry about him constantly. So much that I can barely live my own life.” Her eyes met Lord Ottai’s, vulnerable and raw. "I want it to stop. This pain, this longing, I wish it would all end."

The fourth ruler had the gentlest expression on his face. "What are you saying, Princess?"

"I will go back with you," she breathed, defeated.

Relief washed over Lord Ottai's face. He gave her a soft smile. "Thank you, Your Highness."

Aekeira blushed. "It's weird when you call me that."

"You better get used to it. To me, to all of us, you're a princess now, not a slave. When we get back to Urai, that does not change." His smile faltered slightly, turning sad. "You really think Emeriel will not come around?"

Aekeira remembered the clear agony in Emeriel's eyes when she'd heard the news. The fear, the pain, the anger, and beneath it all…the yearning.

Em might hide it well, but Aekeira knew she had never truly forgotten the grand king. Emeriel had pretended to live, going through the motions of life, but the truth was there.

Em wasn’t living. She was merely existing.

Aekeira knew, because that was exactly how she lived too.

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