Chapter 195
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The cool evening air hit my skin sharply as kwrapped my arms tightly around myself, trying to hold together whatever pieces of me remained.
I hated this.
I hated her.
I hated him for looking at me like this and for looking at her the way that he did.
But worst of all. I hated how badly I still wanted him to come after me anyway. How I sat in the gardens waiting for someone I knew wouldn’t show up. Only then did I let the tears fall down my cheeks. I sat on one of the stone benches, burying my face in my hands, and sobbed for the first time all day.
I wiped the tears away angrily, hating myself for letting this get to me. He was with his mate… he should be with his mate. He should be taking care of her. He’s not doing anything wrong… so then why did I feel so betrayed?
“You look heartbroken.”
I startled slightly, turning to find Madam Isa standing nearby.
She wasn’t wearing her usual elegant silks; instead, she wore a traveling cloak draped over one arm while a servant stood behind her with packed bags. My heart sank at the sight, and I quickly stood, brushing off the imaginary dirt from the skirt of my dress.
“You’re leaving… “It wasn’t a question.
She smiled softly.
“I was never meant to stay,” she said, her voice low. “My work here is finished. It’s time for me to return home.”
I let out a breath; of course, I knew she wasn’t here to stay. Her only job was to get the concubines ready for the selection ceremony, and now that the ceremony was over, she was no longer needed. But still, I was sad to see her go. I had gotten used to her being around this past month, and it was going to be weird not having her in the palace.
Madam Isa studied my face for a moment before she turned to the servant behind her.
“Be a dear and take my things to the carriage.”
“Yes, Madam,” the servant said, bowing quickly before she hurried off with Madam Isa’s belongings. She then turned back to me, her gaze softening slightly as she motioned for the stone bench I was once sitting on. “Take a seat, Cecilia. There’s no need for formalities right now.”
I let out a breath as I slowly sat on the bench. Madam Isa joined me, folding her hands across her lap as she sat beside me.
“I’m glad I ran into you. I wanted to say goodbye before I left,” she surprised me by saying.
“I’m glad I got to see you before you left as well,” I tell her, my voice soft and controlled.
“You’ve been crying,” she pointed out; it wasn’t a question, but I bit my lower lip, feeling my cheeks burning with
embarrassment at the observation.
“Am I that obvious?”
“Not to all,” she tells me, her eyes never leaving my face. “But I know heartbreak when I see it.”
I looked away from her, unable to deal with the weight of her gaze.
The gardens were quieter tonight; most people were still gathered near the palace after Sophia’s little performance. I couldn’t
get the events out of my head; Sophia falling and crying… the look in Leopold’s eyes when he addressed me.
Chapter 195
+15 Bont
Chapter 195
The cool evening air hit my skin sharply as Iwrapped my arms tightly around myself, trying to hold together whatever pieces of
me remained.
I hated this.
I hated her.
I hated him for looking at me like this and for looking at her the way that he did.
But worst of all. I hated how badly I still wanted him to come after me anyway. How I sat in the gardens waiting for someone I knew wouldn’t show up. Only then did I let the tears fall down my cheeks. I sat on one of the stone benches, burying my face in my hands, and sobbed for the first time all day.
I wiped the tears away angrily, hating myself for letting this get to me. He was with his mate… he should be with his mate. He should be taking care of her. He’s not doing anything wrong… so then why did I feel so betrayed?
“You look heartbroken.”
I startled slightly, turning to find Madam Isa standing nearby.
She wasn’t wearing her usual elegant silks; instead, she wore a traveling cloak draped over one arm while a servant stood behind her with packed bags. My heart sank at the sight, and I quickly stood, brushing off the imaginary dirt from the skirt of my dress.
“You’re leaving… “It wasn’t a question.
She smiled softly.
“I was never meant to stay,” she said, her voice low. “My work here is finished. It’s time for me to return home.”
I let out a breath; of course, I knew she wasn’t here to stay. Her only job was to get the concubines ready for the selection
ceremony, and now that the ceremony was over, she was no longer needed. But still, I was sad to see her go. I had gotten used to her being around this past month, and it was going to be weird not having her in the palace.
Madam Isa studied my face for a moment before she turned to the servant behind her.
“Be a dear and take my things to the carriage.”
“Yes, Madam,” the servant said, bowing quickly before she hurried off with Madam Isa’s belongings. She then turned back to me, her gaze softening slightly as she motioned for the stone bench I was once sitting on. “Take a seat, Cecilia. There’s no need for formalities right now.”
I let out a breath as I slowly sat on the bench. Madam Isa joined me, folding her hands across her lap as she sat beside me.
“I’m glad I ran into you. I wanted to say goodbye before I left,” she surprised me by saying.
“I’m glad I got to see you before you leít as well,” I tell her, my voice soft and controlled.
“You’ve been crying,” she pointed out; it wasn’t a question, but I bit my lower lip, feeling my cheeks burning with embarrassment at the observation.
“Am I that obvious?”
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