"I didn’t come here for a crown. I came here for my love and to learn more about my mother. And now that I have learned much more than I had expected ... I’m done."

"Alina..."

Alina shook her head, cutting him off.

"When I came to Arcasedia, I thought if I was acknowledged as a princess, then I could stand beside the man I love without people treating me like I was beneath him. But...I’ve realized...if I associate myself with this kingdom...I will be insulting my mother’s memory."

She turned, and looked at the nobles who had watched her mother suffer but had chosen to stay silent.

"Maybe walking away like this is the wrong decision politically," she admitted. "But right now... it feels like the only right thing I would do since arriving here."

"I know you’re angry and feel wronged," King Lucien said. "But..."

Instead of answering or waiting him to finish his sentence, she turned and took Austin’s hand. And together, they walked out of the hall with Dorian following them.

The moment they stepped outside, Laura rushed forward and threw her arms around Alina so tightly that she nearly lost her balance.

"Oh, child..." Laura whispered with tears in her eyes. "If Isadora had seen you today..."

She pulled back slightly and cupped her cheeks.

"She would have been so proud of you. Because you chose yourself over this kingdom too. Just like she did."

Alina’s composure cracked. She buried her face in Laura’s shoulder, holding her tightly as tears fell from her eyes again.

When they returned to her chambers, exhaustion finally settled over all of them. Austin made Alina sit on the bed and knelt in front of her. He checked the injuries on her shoulder and ankle, then held her hands.

"I’m glad we came here," he said.

"Really?" Alina asked, a little surprised.

He nodded.

"If we hadn’t come, the truth about your mother would have never come out," he smiled. "Now everyone knows what actually happened to her. She finally got justice."

Dorian leaned lazily against the wall nearby.

"I think some of the credit goes to me as well...because I was technically the first person to tell Alina about Arcasedia," he said proudly.

Austin rolled his eyes at him.

"You did that to manipulate her," he replied.

Alina laughed at their surprisingly playful banter since most of the time they were at each other’s throats. Still, she couldn’t deny that Dorian had indeed helped them a lot despite his own motives. She stood up and walked towards him.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

Dorian blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting this.

"For helping us. And I’m sorry you can’t use me anymore now that I refused to become an Arcasedian princess."

Dorian stared at her for a moment, then laughed loudly.

"Alina, I may be manipulative but I still have some morals left," he shrugged. "And honestly? I’m glad you chose yourself over this rotten kingdom." He looked around the room with disgust. "Arcasedia is exhausting."

"I didn’t know you were this smart," Austin muttered.

"See? Even the terrifying Duke agrees with me now," he replied, pointing dramatically at Austin.

Austin finally smiled. The room felt lighter for the first time since they had arrived here.

Then, a sudden knock at the door interrupted the moment. Everyone looked at each other nervously. Austin immediately stood protectively in front of Alina, not sure what was waiting for them outside the door.

Dorian opened the door and found a royal servant standing there.

"His Majesty wishes to see Lady Alina privately," the servant said.

Austin’s expression darkened immediately.

"Absolutely not."

"Austin..."

"Why is he calling you alone?" He sounded suspicious. "He might have other motives."

Alina moved forward and held his hand.

"It’s over now," she whispered. "Valdren is gone."

"But still..."

"King Lucien looked genuinely guilty and ashamed. I doubt he is calling me to meet him alone with some ulterior motives after everything that has happened so far," she said, looking at him with pleading eyes.

Austin thought about it and eventually stepped aside.

"I’ll be close," he said.

Alina nodded and followed the servant through the corridors she hadn’t seen before until they reached an isolated wing. King Lucien was already standing outside a large wooden door. The servant bowed and left immediately.

Aware of Alina’s presence behind him, he slowly opened the door.

"Come with me," he said.

Alina stepped inside and coughed instantly, The room was covered with dust. It was an abandoned room. But when she looked around closely, she noticed how beautiful it was. Bookshelves lined one wall and faded blue curtains still hung beside windows. A vanity table sat near the corner with perfume bottles and accessories still there.

"This was Isadora’s room," King Lucien said softly.

Alina’s chest tightened. She put her hand on her chest to calm herself.

"We locked it the day she fled," he continued, his voice full of regret. "No one has opened it in decades."

Alina slowly walked further inside. She brushed her fingers over the desk covered in papers that had turned pale with time. She opened the wardrobe and touched the dresses that still hung inside. She could feel her mother’s presence and warmth here.

"I thought...," he said, still standing by the door. "I thought before you left, you deserved to see this."

He almost sobbed.

"I cannot undo what happened but I can aplogize. I’m sorry."

Alina turned around and saw him sobbing lowering his head. He didn’t have the courage to look into her eyes while asking for forgiveness. Alina didn’t respond.

Then, without saying anything else, he stepped outside. Leaving Alina standing alone in her mother’s room.

She then found a shawl still draped over a chair. The vanity table still had an open jewellery box. Books had notes in her beautiful handwriting. She smiled when she found a flower hidden between the pages of a romantic novel.

Tears streamed down her face as she packed some of her belongings into a bag to take them with her. Hours later, she finally returned to her chambers carrying the bag tightly against her chest.

Austin, who had been pacing nervously since she had left immediately stopped when he saw her. Although, Lucien had already informed them of her whereabouts, it didn’t make him less worried.

Austin smiled when he saw her holding the bag like a child clinging to her mother’s memories. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Are you ready to go back to Ravenmoor?" he asked.

Alina looked down at the bag in her hands and shook her head.

"There’s somewhere else I want to go first."