Damion's POV
As I arrived at the Palace, I wanted to go to my chambers and change my clothes to meet Rahua. The Palace seemed strangely quiet, I pushed my worries aside, Loyd comes to meet me at the entrance of the Palace,his face a little flustered, he must have ran to meet me at the front door. "Your Highness, I wasn't expecting you so soon, but I am glad, that's the case."
I kept walking my pace fast, so I can soon see Rahua. "Your Highness you see today we had a lot of visitors, your father... , " he kept talking as I entered my chambers, I step on a piece of paper.
I squat down to catch it. It was a letter, as I read, Loyd kept talking. " He and the other Lords decided to hold an audience, for Miss Rahua..."
I could feel my face hot. I felt anger surge within me. "Where is she? Did she leave?" I crumpled the letter in my hand.
"Your Highness, she.. " before he could answer I left, I ran to her chambers, hoping that I was not too late, that she didn't left, that my father and his advisors didn't do anything to harm her.
My heart was pounding fast, her chambers felt so distant.
Finally I was in front of her door, Loyd was behind me, I couldn't see his face but he was also worried.
I open the door, she was there sitting on the table, drinking tea. Suddenly I could hear a cough inside, I open the door completely, my surprise was to see my Father there also sitting on the other side of the table drinking tea with her.
Her happy face seeing me, brought me relief. However I couldn't help to wonder, why was my father there?
"Damion, you are back!" She smiled brightly, my heart skipped a beat. I nodded. She kept looking between me and my father who hadn't said a word.
I walked over to Rahua and took a seat next to her, unable to hide the confusion and unease in my expression. "What is going on, Father? Why are you here?" I asked, my tone filled with suspicion.
My father looked at me with a stern expression before taking a sip of his tea. "I have come to discuss the future of our kingdom with Miss Rahua," he replied calmly.
I glanced at Rahua, searching for answers in her eyes. What does he mean? What future?
Does he intended to make Rahua give up on being with me, for the sake of his own idea of future? I questioned myself. I try to stay composed, but I was feeling the anger and frustration building within me.
Rahua's smile faltered slightly as she looked at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty.
As I was about to voice my questions, I could hear my father laugh, it was a sound, I never came to know. Not like this.
"You were right, he is so serious, is nothing to worry about, Damion." His voice sounded soft and composed, in opposition to his angered tone that always attacked me ."I am just listening to Miss Rahua ideas about life, and the Kingdom she has some interesting points of views." I was confused, but it worried me more, because I knew Rahua ideas could be a little out of the pocket and could be perceived as treasonous if the right person would want to take it that way.
My concerned face must have been very evident. She reached out to touch my hand, her expression comforting. "Damion, I haven't said anything strange." She smiled. Sometimes I feel that the definition of strange between me and her are very different. But I just nodded. Holding her hand tightly gave me comfort.
"And the letter about you leaving?" I asked. Her eyes widened and quickly turned soft again.
"Do you intend to leave us, Miss Rahua?" Said my father. Us? What does he mean us? Before I could react, Rahua answered.
"I have my family, they certainly need me I can't sit here all day. And since I am better, I should return." I didn't know what to think.
I was still nonetheless confused by my father's presence here in her chambers, he was not the kind to be that sociable, not with me.
My father cleared his throat, interrupting my thoughts. "I understand, I find Miss Rahua interesting, you have a fresh view on things, and has always a story to back up her views. Is fascinating." His face was of a child had just discovered something incredible.
I should be happy, that he finally accepted Rahua that he was excited about her, but somehow I felt angered, that he never showed me such interest, nor did he showed a wish to spend a moment with me.
I stood up abruptly, unable to contain my anger any longer. "I... I must go to my chambers." I declared, my voice resolute.
Rahua stood up as well, concern present in her face. "Damion wait, I really must go, to my family, I stay..." I couldn't hear anything anymore, I just wanted to leave the room, my anger was about to burst. And I didn't want her to see me like this.
As I leave the room I kept walking, walking and walking, I was angry frustrated, was I ever loved by that man? Was I just a burden, to him, that he always preferred someone else over me?
As I walked aimlessly through the corridors of the palace, my thoughts swirled with confusion and hurt.
I continued down the hallway, my anger fueling my steps. Thoughts of betrayal and abandonment consumed my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loneliness. I had always longed for my father's approval and affection, but it seemed that I would forever be overshadowed by others, even by the woman I loved.
Lost in my thoughts, I found myself in the garden, the calm and tranquility of this place, couldn't ease the storm raging within me. I collapsed onto a bench and buried my face in my hands, tears of frustration and sadness flowing freely.
Suddenly, I felt a gentle hand on my back, and looked up to see Rahua standing in front of me, her expression filled with concern. "Damion, what's wrong? Why did you run off like that?" she asked softly.
I took a deep breath, struggling to find the words to express my turmoil. "I... I don't understand, Rahua. My father... he... he's never shown interest in me like that before. And now... now he's praising you, spending time with you. It feels like I'm just... I'm just a disappointment to him," I confessed, my voice trembling with vulnerability.
Rahua was silent, but her sudden embrace brought me comfort. After a while of silence she finally speaks "Damion, your worth is not defined by your father's approval. You are a kind, compassionate, and remarkable person, and I love you for who you are," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.
Her words brought me a small measure of solace, and I looked at her, my heart filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Rahua. I... I needed to hear that," I replied, my voice filled with emotion. Our eyes met in between our embrace, her forehead on mine. "I love you Rahua." The words slipped out of my lips.
Her smile went from soft and gentle to wide and bright, " I love you Damion. " She wiped away my tears. "You are not alone, Damion. We are in this together, and no matter what happens, I will always be by your side," she said, her eyes filled with unwavering support.
In that moment, I didn't care about anything anymore, just having her beside me was more than enough. I closed my eyes trying to immerse in her lips, and scent, but a coughing sound interrupted us. She immediately pushed me away, her breathing was fast.
"Yo.. your Majesty!" She said between breaths. Why was he here?
"Miss Rahua, would please leave us for a moment, I need to talk with my son." I held Rahua's hand I didn't want to part with her, just like a scared child that was about to be scolded.
"It's okay, Damion, talk with your father." She then whispers. "Now is your chance to tell him all the things that you kept bottled up in all of those years." Before I could react she kissed me on the end of my nose. And just like that she left, I couldn't help but to blush.
Father takes a seat next to me on the bench, and a heavy silence hung in the air between us.
Finally, my father spoke, his tone unusually gentle. "Damion, I want you to know that I am proud of you. I may not have shown it before, but you have been a strong and capable prince. I never intended to make you feel like a disappointment."
I looked at him, a mixture of surprise and disbelief coursing through me. "Then why... why did you always seem to favor others over me?" I asked, unable to hide the hurt in my voice.
He sighted, "I wasn't very a good father, nor was I trying to be, I thought you would be better if someone else took care of you. I thought, I would never be able to be good enough father to you, so I thought I would never fail at being a father if I never tried. I was so afraid to fail that ended up failing at everything, being a king being and a father. I am sorry Damion."
My anger was starting to subside, but then I remembered what Rahua said I can't let this chance go to tell him everything I had saved up inside.
" It's no excuse, you left me at mercy of a person who took advantage of the power he had over me, he would starve me by putting inedible things on my plate, he would tell you lies so you would scold me, I had noone I could ask for support or help except for Loyd."
My bottled anger burst I told him everything the things Dipper had done to me all over the years, how close I was to dying, and he would never notice. I could see his eyes turning sad, and then dark. I could see anger arise within him, but this time it was not the same. The anger was not directed at me.
He clenched his fists, his face contorted in a mixture of regret and fury. "I... I had no idea, Damion. I never knew what you were going through. I failed you as a father, and for that, I am truly sorry," he said, his voice filled with genuine remorse.
I could feel my own anger dissipating, replaced by a sense of relief. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, knowing that my father finally knew all that I had been feeling.
"But that doesn't excuse my actions or lack thereof," he continued. "I should have been there for you, protected you from harm. I failed as a king and as a father. I should have been a father, and for that I will never forgive myself."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to his heartfelt words. "Father," I began, my voice choked with emotion.
"Damion, I am sorry, I am truly sorry. But I can't change the past, I can't change what I have done, but I hope you give me a chance to try to be a father to you, and support you with all my might."
His words touched my heart, and I reached out to grasp his hand. "I... I want that, Father. I want us to have a real relationship, to be a family."
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, "Then let's start fresh, Damion. I promise never forget what I have done, and do better, for your sake, for the sake of your children."
And in that moment, as we sat in the garden, hand in hand, I felt a sense of healing and forgiveness, a renewed bond between a father and son. It would take time and effort, but I was willing to give it a chance. "I think children is already too early to think about that." I say smiling.
"I am getting old, Damion, is your turn to take the seat, and the crown. Soon it will be children, once you marry the with woman you chose."
I couldn't help but to smile at the thought of being with Rahua forever, with little smaller versions of her.