Jordan's P.O.V - earlier that night
She loves me. The woman I love with all my heart loves me. And I love her too. I love her so much my heart yearns for her and I would do anything and everything to protect her. She is my everything.
I took Olivia outside into the beautiful night. It was lit by small fairy lights and the occasional firefly. I knew it would be the perfect place to be alone together. Since it was a masquerade ball, I didn't have to worry about my father recognizing her and giving her a terrible punishment. I couldn't bear it if something happened to her.
The music was soft, but just loud enough that it was perfect for the moment. I took her hand and twirled her. I rested one of my hands on her hip and used the other one to hold one of her hands while her other hand was placed on my shoulder. I stared deeply into her eyes as she stared back. The only emotion I saw in them was love, and I'm positive that's all she saw too.
I began to spin her around, staring deeply in her captivatingly green eyes that seemed to put me under a spell. The soft light lit her face up in such a way that her natural beauty was enhanced even more. Her golden mask added to the effect by adding a soft glow that brought out her eyes. This was the happiest I had been in a long time.
Olivia makes me so happy. When we were younger, life was great. It was only when we stopped seeing each other that I found myself deprived of the same happiness I had felt with her in my life.
I spun her around slowly as we synced our steps. Her beautiful blue dress billowed with the gentle motion. She moved flawlessly despite her long dress and heels. Her pink lips curled into a large smile as we continued to dance and I felt mine doing the same.
The song was soon over, and with one final spin, I pecked her on the lips and took her small, soft hand. I led her to a bench underneath a willow tree. We sat down on the stone bench and I held her hand as she laid her head on my shoulder. I smiled to myself. I have the most beautiful girl sitting right next to me and we are in love. How could life get any better?
"How did I get so lucky?" I voiced my thoughts aloud.
"I could ask you the same," she replied.
My heart warmed at her words. I love this woman with all my heart. I smiled in content, wrapping my arms around her. I ran my hands through her hair and heard her sigh in content. A comfortable silence wrapped around us.
"Jordan?" she called out.
"Yeah?" I replied, curious about what she had to say.
"Why are you looking for a bride if you say you love me?" She asked.
I sighed and looked towards the ball. How do I explain to her that my parents are forcing me to marry well and that my father threatened her if I don't?
I made eye contact with my father who was in the ballroom. He was fuming. His rage told me he knew that I was out here with Olivia. I'm screwed. I have to find out a way to get Olivia out of the shithole that is my life before my father gets to her.
I took in a sharp breath and prepared myself to make the worst decision ever and fuck my life up even more. I turned back to the girl I would forever love with sadness towards what I was about to do and anger towards my cruel, heartless father.
I opened my mouth to speak the words I would forever regret.
"Because you are a servant and I am a prince. Face it, it's never going to happen. So just grow up already," I tried my best to snap at her.
As soon as I said that, I left so I wouldn't see her expression. Would she be sad and broken hearted like me? Would she loathe me for eternity? I hate myself for having to do that, but it's for her safety.
I sighed and re-entered the ball. I went back to my throne at the head of the room and sat down, hoping to receive some peace and quiet to writhe in self-loathing. My hopes didnt come true as my father came up to me almost as soon as I had sat down.
"Seeing as you can't follow a simple order, I have picked out your bride, and you will marry her if you want your precious little toy to keep her head. Am I understood?" He whispered harshly into my ear.
I rolled my eyes in response.
"I said am I understood?" He snapped.
"Yes father," I spat out in a mocking tone.
He sent me a threatening glare.
"You will meet Katerina early tomorrow morning and you will be there with your best smile even if you have to fake it," he demanded.
At that I grew even angrier. I stormed up out of my seat and to my room.
How dare he talk to me like that. How dare he force me into a marriage I don't want. And how dare he threaten Olivia, who was only my father's pawn in the matter.
I picked up my bedside lamp and hurled it across the room until the satisfying sound of glass shattering was heard. It felt good. I grabbed more items and hurled them at my wall with screams of rage. I became exhausted after awhile and somehow ended up on the floor, passed out among the heaps of wreckage I had caused.
Before my eyes closed fully and my brain shut down, I said the only thing that had been on my mind that evening.
"I love you Olivia, and I always will."
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