Prince Marcus's P.O.V
I silently stood in front of the closed doors of the palace entrance as I looked at the young woman in front of me. On the outside, I showed nothing but on the inside, there was hope that Rebekah would give me a chance to explain everything to her and if possible start our new relationship with a fresh start.
I watched with a small amount of relief at the uncertain look on Rebekah's face as she examined the portraits on the wall with unfocused interest. Feeling relief over something as small as this was the oddest thing I've ever felt relief over, but the uncertainty written on her face meant there was a slight chance she would consider what I had said to her a few minutes ago. That she would give me the opportunity to answer all her unanswered questions.
"The others will be arriving soon, I suggest you get some rest before dinner tonight," I said as I raked my fingers through my hair as I watched her slowly turn her head in my direction. She pursed her lips into a thin line with slightly narrowed eyes as she carefully watched my every move.
I could tell from the way her body stiffened and the way she looked at me with the eyes of predator to its prey that she wasn't clear on what I meant and was wanted to figure out what I meant. At that moment I knew she was thinking we would be hosting an event on the day her sister was buried. It was clearly written on her face that she wanted to say something against it but wanted to wait until I was finished.
"I wasn't aware we would having guests today," Rebekah said in disgust as if the word left a bad taste in her mouth. But I couldn't blame her after everything that has happened lately, there was no way she wasn't affected by it all. There was just no telling when she would break down into a mess of shattered hopes and dreams.
An obvious break down that would start with me.
I turned my attention away from Rebekah to the portrait of my parents as I tiredly sighed, "We're not hosting an elaborate event tonight if that's what you're thinking." She relaxed a little as she furrowed her brows in confusion.
"Your parents and Scarlet will be joining us at dinner tonight and they'll be spending the next two days before our engagement ceremony, at the palace. But they're not only here for the ceremony, but they're also here in order to keep them safe until we find Lizzy's murder. We do not want another murder happening anytime soon." I finished as I glanced in Rebekah's direction. I could see the confused look on her face fade away as her lips trembled and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. I knew the topic of her sister was still a fresh wound to open but there was no way I could sugarcoat the truth. She knew as well as I did that this was the only solution. It was the only way to keep them safe and draw less attention to them as we try to uncover the truth about these unexpected events.
"I think you should go to your room and freshen up before getting some rest. You'll feel better," I said as Rebekah blinked her tears away and nodded her head in response, unable to say a word.
I watched in silence as she faded from my sight with each step she took. The need to comfort her, hold her and tell her it was all going to be alright was pushed to the far end of my mind as she disappeared from my sight.
I told myself I wouldn't be consumed by my hidden feelings and act out of line. When the time is right I will love and care for her as any man would for his wife. But for now, I had to patient.
For now, all I could do is watch as the woman I loved the moment I laid eyes on her 17 years ago walked away in heartbroken tears.
And no matter what anyone says or what Rebekah believes, seventeen years ago the newest addition to the Northwest family had stolen my heart. The newborn baby the Northwest family kept a secret was a beautiful little girl with sparkling blue eyes and the cutest little fingers I had ever seen...
At the age of five, a baby Rebekah with her toothless smile and adorable little laugh had managed to steal all my affection. And later through the years my heart.
The very girl I watched over as she learned to crawl, to talk and to walk on her own. The girl I spent hours admiring and secretly loving as the years went by...
The girl I wanted to marry and rule this kingdom by my side until I breathed my last breath.
And of course like every fairytale dream there must be a bad side to every story. Little did I know that I would have mine crushed and turned to dust. That at the age of fifteen I would be told the harsh truth, that I was betrothed to another. That I was betrothed to Rebekah's oldest sister. The sister I had little to no interest in regardless of her many shameless acts to get my attention.
The very sister I watched changed from a sweet innocent child to a girl who wanted nothing more than to be the best of the best. A girl who treated the poor as if they were dirt beneath her feet. A girl who was power hungry and fake to the very last fiber in her being.
Scarlet Northwest was the girl I was told I would marry regardless of my feelings or opinions. That she was the only person I could ever make the future Queen of Awa. But no matter how many times they told me it was my duty as the heir to the throne to wed a woman of noble blood, their words only felt like acid in my ear.
Hearing those words fall out of my father's mouth had been like a knife to my back, twisted and dragged across my body as he shattered all my hopes for the future. Tearing me apart on the inside.
But did I say anything? No...
Did I fight for my right to choose? No...
I bottled up my feelings and did as was expected of me, year after year steeling myself and crushing all hopes for the future I wanted. Instead, I traveled to the other kingdoms with Scarlet in tow, learning the different cultures of each kingdom and strengthening our alliances with them.
As the years went by I became the Prince everyone wanted. A prince with the knowledge to destroy an entire kingdom and a heart made of steel, choosing only to defend his own people. Protecting and choosing only what's best for Awa with a picture perfect queen by my side. A Prince I never wanted to be...
But that all changed when I returned to Awa after spending five years away and was confronted by the Head of the Northwest Manor, Lord Edward Allan Northwest. Scarlet and Rebekah's father. The man who found a loophole in an agreement I thought was unbreakable. A loophole so unbelievably simple no one would have ever thought possible.
The very loophole, my father, the king of the greatest kingdom that has ever been built, had failed to notice when he had agreed to the marriage to merge the two households.
The contract I thought had clearly stated it that it should be Scarlet- the eldest daughter I am to marry when we were both of age to be wed but I was never shown said contract. After all, the king's word is absolute. So, why would I have any reason to question his words?
Little did I know the written agreement between both families had only been agreed upon that one daughter of the Northwest Manor would be wed to the heir to the throne. Which meant it could have been either Scarlet, Lizzy or Rebekah. It was never stated which one of them would be my bride. Neither did it say which it was the eldest or the youngest daughter.
But like everyone else my father had simply assumed that the eldest children of both households would be counseled and trained for their roles as the future rulers of the kingdom. And later wed at the appropriate age for marriage.
Luckily for me, Lord Edward, in an attempt to stop his power-hungry daughter from throwing this kingdom into chaos, had suggested I marry his youngest daughter instead. The very daughter I spent years yearning to hold in my arms and call my own.
The daughter I wanted at any cost. Even if it meant ruining two lives in a single night...