295 Relationship: Truth or Lies

"I want to, but I do not know how."

"You can. Love yourself and forgive yourself for your mother's sake, she would not want you to be like this."

All these while, Owen was still tensed up, but after a few breaths, he relaxed in his father's hug and let the tears flow freely.

Cullen smiled to himself as he watched his father and son make things right.

"Owen, let it go. I know you're feeling sadness. I see it in your eyes. The pain is overwhelming when a loved one dies, but it is time for you to let go and set your heartache free. For there's a life that's waiting there for you.

If you can let love through. If you can give love, you will find your family. Though it may not be like it was before. And if you give love, you'll never lose love. It only grows more and more.

No need to build a wall up. For you can now be strong. The things that you've been searching for have been here all along. And though it hurts to miss her, her spirit's always near. So trust that she will always be with you and love someone new."

\u003cAUTHOR: CREDIT GOEST TO NETFLIX OVER THE MOON'S SONG, LOVE SOMEONE NEW.\u003e

Owen let himself go and let the tears flow freely, soaking his father's shirt as he did.

"Let it go," Cullen added once more as a small smile broke out on his lips.

He was more than happy to have witnessed this and was glad he could make Owen see reasons as to why things are what they are.

A few minutes passed and Owen finally pulled away from his father's embrace and turned his head to where Cullen was standing, watching them as though he was seeing a nice movie for the first time in his life.

"Thank you so much, Cullen."

"It is my pleasure to be of help. I am glad there is no bad blood between our king and crown prince."

"I see I was right in my decision in making him your trainer. Cullen has influenced you greatly and for that I am proud. You have my thanks, youngest general."

With a face full of smiles, Cullen bowed to the king. "It is my honour to serve his majesty. If your majesty and his highness would excuse me, I have other matters that need attending to."

"Why, yes. Please let us not delay you further," Bayard said, quickly dismissing him.

''Thank you, sire."

"Wait!" Owen was trying to see what was urgent that his friend needed to do but after thinking about it, he recalled what had made them leave on time.

He looked up and his eyes met with Cullen's. Even in the midst of the smiles he gave, Owen could see the pain etched deep in his eyes.

He had seen similar pains before but it was in his mother's eyes. Even though she tried covering it up with fake smiles whenever his father was around, if only Bayard had looked further, he would have noticed the pain hidden in them.

Judging from the experience with his parents, he would have preferred not to let Nova know so that she would not be heartbroken like his mother but knowing Cullen he knew he would tell her.

Owen returned his gaze back to his father and took his permission. "Father, I am coming. I need to talk to Cullen privately, please."

"Sure. Go ahead. When you are done, come let us discuss your journey." Bayard released him and went back to his seat.

Owen and Cullen took the opportunity and strolled out of the room.

As soon as they got out the door, Owen pulled Cullen to the side near the wall. 

"Hey, are you thinking of telling her?"

"Yes."

"What do you mean by yes? Do you want to hurt her?"

"No."

"Then why are you still going to tell her? Don't you see you are doing the exact opposite?" Owen could not believe how his friend was reasoning currently. 

He did not want to hurt her yet he was going to tell her something that would hurt her. 

Owen looked at his friend hopelessly. What was he going to do to this friend of his? 

Cullen who was vibrant a little while ago was now looking dull with his head lowered like a man with no more will to live. 

'So he was just putting up a bold front back in the room because of father. He is still hurting and blaming himself for what happened, huh!' Owen mentally noted. 

"But you were the one who told me to let it go and stop this guilt. Look at you doing the exact opposite of what you said."

Owen tried his best to lift his spirit so he could make him understand that there was no need to feel bad as he was hurting too much. 

"His is a different case, Owen."

"I refuse to agree. How is it any different? Telling her would hurt her, so why do you want to do so? She may even end up leaving you."

"If she does, then it is better as she deserves someone better than me. Someone who would treat her nicely and not cheat on her."

"Can you hear yourself right now?" Owen asked him and removed his hand from Cullen's shoulders. 

"You do not understand, Owen. Perhaps because you have never been in love before, but one thing you should know is that no relationship would last if it is built on a lie."

Owen shook his head at his friend's words. There was no way that made sense. "This is different. No, I refuse to agree with you."

"It is not different."

"Yes, it is. Don't you see, my parents marriage is an exact example of what would happen if the other party found out about what you did."

"Your parents did not lie."

"Duh, I would have preferred father had done that in secrecy so that mother and I wouldn't know."

"Is that what you think? A lady would be able to guess if her spouse cheated on her."

"How?"

���Call it ladies intuition. The sixth sense of a woman. Based on her you are with the ladies, I would have thought you had realized that by now."

"I do not keep them around too long to notice that. Anyways, that is not the point now."

"You kill a lady when you lie. For any love relationship to grow and hold strong, you need to build it based on trust and understanding and truth. If Nova would hate me for this, then so be it. I would know that down till the very last moment in our relationship I never lied."

"You would rather lose her than lie to keep her?"

"Yes, Owen. In time, you would get to understand when you meet the one your heart yearns for and then, I hope you won't cheat on her so you do not have to lie to her. But know this, be transparent with your spouse. Your parents lacked that and that was why both parties ended up hurting the other."

"I still refuse to agree with you but it seems your mind is already made up on telling her. What was her name again?"

"Nova."

"Wait, Nova, the most beautiful maid in the palace?"

"Yes, that is her."

"Boy you are lucky. No wonder she refused all of my advances. She already had the heart of the young general," Owen complimented.

Cullen could not believe this price right now. Was there any girl Owen had not made advances to at this rate? That was the thoughts running through Cullen's mind when Owen broke him from his thoughts with his next statement.

"She deserves the best, Cullen. Please still reconsider. I would hate to see her beauty marred with sadness from the heartache you are about to cause her."

"I wish there was another way that did not involve lying and getting her hurt but there is no other way. This is my decision and I would face it head-on. This is also for her. Ladies should be treated with more worth."

"I know. I wish there was or better still, there is. You just won't take it."

Cullen let out a deep sigh as he looked at this naughty prince that refused to let something so simple sink into his thick skull.

"Then you should understand why I must do this."

"No and yes." Cullen arched his brows at him as he looked at Owen. "Fine. I wish you luck. I just pray you do not come out of this looking more miserable than you already look," Owen stated.

"It is all good. If I do then I deserve it all. It would be my punishment for hurting such a damsel. I need to go now. His majesty is waiting, do not keep him long. Thanks."

"Good luck man, bye. Thanks as well."

They bade each other goodbye and both went their separate ways.

~~~~~~~~~

{Hello guys, thanks for sticking with author till this point. I am more than grateful to you guys for all the love and support you have shown me. 

Nevertheless, I would keep trying to give you daily updates.