"Does it make any sense for you to fall in love with one of them? They are our enemy and being with her will bring shame to your family. How could you do this to your father who has a good reputation? You'll ruin your life if you truly care for her." Catherine didn't understand why things couldn't work out in her favor.
What about her did she need to change for him to love her? Had he never once seen her other than the little girl who used to chase after him? Was he being truthful with himself or was he lying because it wasn't right for him to have a relationship with a princess he was meant to be protecting?
"Whatever it is you are trying to come up with inside of your head, it is false. Whatever relationship I have with anyone is none of your concern. And I have no feelings for that woman," he lied. He knew it couldn't have been love as he had not known Artemis for that long but there was some sort of emotion there. Maybe it was love but the emotion was so foreign to him that he didn't recognize it.
Whatever it was, he did not feel it when he was around Catherine.
The more Catherine listened to his words, the more furious she became. She was never able to accept rejection which was why she was unable to take no for an answer from Alexander. She believed Alexander was bewitched. How could he think of loving a Goddess? He should flat-out deny the accusation so no one would get the wrong idea.
Now that her brother was dead Alexander had to listen to her. She's the princess and right now, there was no one else in the palace who carried more power. She'll get rid of all her brother's followers and place her own people in those positions. She no longer cared to beg Alexander to be with her. With what happened here today, she was in the position to force him to be with her.
"When my brother was alive, he saw it best that his sister and most trusted general be married to each other. To honor him-"
"How does that honor him in any shape or form?" Alexander interjected but was ignored by Catherine.
"I will continue with his plans for us to get married after Darius had been given a proper send-off. You cannot reject the wishes of a dead king and the order of a princess forever. As a guard and especially a knight, you must listen to our orders. You and I will be married," Catherine stated, full of confidence that right after her brother is buried they would marry.
She spent too many years longing after Alexander for him to be with someone else. A Goddess at that. Her brother started the plan for them to be married and she was most definitely going to complete it.
Alexander had enough of Catherine's so-called love for him. He had to deal with her brother for many years and was not going to do it with her for the rest of his life. "I was going to wait until everything settled but I can no longer do this. I am giving up my position of general and my duty to this palace."
Catherine gasped not expecting this outcome. Why would he give up everything he worked so hard to earn? "You cannot do that. I forbid you from leaving me. Am I that bad that you would give everything up?"
"Yes," Alexander honestly replied. "I do not wish to be around royalty who forces me to do things that I don't want to. My job has always been to protect royalty and defend the people of this kingdom. It is not to marry you so that you can satisfy your own desires. I will not be marrying you, Catherine. A marriage does nothing for the people and nothing for me."
"You…" Catherine was at a loss for words. Anyone else would have jumped at the chance to become king. She loved that Alexander was different but right now she hated it. Why couldn't he be selfish for once and just become her king?
"I will send a formal letter to the palace soon. I hope that you can grow up and take care of the people in your kingdom Catherine. You have the chance to correct some of the mistakes your family has made over the years. You wanted to be queen so badly, why don't you show everyone why you should be?" Alexander bowed before the princess probably for what might be the last time.
She plotted on her brother to become queen so if she really wants the position she has to prove it now or the son of a relative would be made king. Alexander wasn't upset with Catherine for killing the king and hiding it. Darius would have died either way but what he wanted to see was Catherine grow up and be better than her brother.
"I will be taking my leave now," he said, then walked past the princess.
"If you take one step out that door I will tell everyone the monster which killed my brother is in that forest and bring an army to that Goddess. You will regret denying me. Choose wisely, Alexander. Stay or the army will bring her down," Catherine listed his new options.