Chapter 84 - Peace Treaty?

"Yes, Sylvia, Lord Cedric is to marry Princess Alice Alexander of the North Continent"

"You're lying"

She scoffs. "Am I?". She chuckled slightly. "I'm married to a fat man who gets drunk and spills all their meetings like beans" she adds in disdain, eyeing Lord James from where he was laughing and drinking, she cringed before facing me back.

"This peace treaty was specially designed by the Emperor, today wasn't just about announcing Lord Cedric as the heir to the throne", she tilts her head to the side in amusement.

I swallowed hard, I didn't believe her, she had to be lying, if there was something like this then Cedric would have surely told me without hesitation.

"Still doubt me dearest Sylvia" she smirks while sipping her wine. Of course, I did, she was LYING.

"Do not worry you will find out soon", at her words the trumpets blew like a welcoming sound. "Hmm I think you will find out right now, speak of the devil" she drops her wine, placing her hand on my shoulders and turning me in a direction, I remain still, my body not flinching.

"Watch"

Everyone wondered why the trumpet was blown so suddenly. "People of my Empire" The Emperor began. "Today I have a special announcement"

Cedric beside him on the platform was still like a statue, his expression unreadable, was it true? No, it can't be, there's no way...

"Not only am I announcing Cedric as my heir but I would like to announce the undying treaty with the Northerners, after centuries of war we shall finally be at peace, why fight when we can unite our lands and become one Empire"

The crowd erupted with whispers and shocked expressions but then it became a loud applause, of claps.

I gasp, the shock getting to me as my lips go apart slightly. "You see Sylvia, I wasn't lying... Emperor Edric has limited time, he wants to unite the lands as one, that has been his dream since he took the throne from his father... you're but a foreigner Sylvia it's okay if you knew nothing of this" she whispered behind me, her words in a pity but I knew it was forged.

My eyes trembled only, my brain trying to process all that had been said. For a moment Cedric's eyes searched the crowd, and then it fell on me, not having the courage to look away, at that very moment the large golden door was spread open by the guards.

"People of the Empire, I give you Princess Alice Alexander of the Northern Continent".

The figure stepped forward and it revealed to be an astounding beauty, she had long red hair let down to fall at her waist, she gowns she wore, at the top resembled a fur jacket with a hood, a white color, I noticed it was also laced in blue designs that you could hardly notice, the down a long skirt that seemed furry also, her hands were pocket in neither sides of her jacket coat, which appeared to be fur too.

She slowly raised her head and I noticed her sapphire blue eyes. From the distance I was in I could see how bright it was, like it glowed. It highlighted her beauty, even more, her skin a pale white like the moon, her ears graced with silver dangling earrings. She began walking forward the two guards behind her dressed in white fur clothing, must be from her nation.

Her steps were graceful and silent, the crowd stared at her with either awe or admiration, almost like they were spelled by her beauty. I was still, my breath slow as I took in every moment and the realization that struck me hard.

She got to the platform where Cedric and the Emperor stood, she curtsied gracefully.

"Emperor Edric Eustace, it's an honor," she said, her voice smooth like silk, Edric smiled. Her blue eyes landed on Cedric her lips went apart, her blue eyes trembling, she didn't seem to have seen him before as I looks were in awe and I could see the glitter in her eyes, Cedric's godly looks must have enthralled her, I couldn't help the spike of jealousy that flowed through me, she looked at him like he was a rare star and it made my heart ached.

"F-Forgive me for staring" she quickly said as her cheeks heated, she bowed instantly.

"No need to be shy, Princess Alice... this shall be your husband... it's okay to be taken by his godly looks," Edric said in amusement.

Laughter ranged in the hall, everyone seemed happy, everyone seemed to have come in terms of the situation except me.

She blushed even further at Edric's words. "Pleased to meet you um" she bit her lip in confusion. She did not know his name?

Edric turned to Cedric who remain still and silent as a ghost, hoping for him to introduce himself, what was the feeling I couldn't tell, perhaps what he was thinking I couldn't decipher, it was just like the Cedric I knew the first time I met him, as still as the wind, as blank as the dark skies and unspoken.

"Ahem!" Edric cleared his throat still awaiting Cedric's reply. "Um Lord Cedric Logan Hartford... forgive him for he can be so silent sometimes," Edric said.

"I believe your people call him the Dark General"

Her eyes fell wide saucers, at the name, like in total bewilderment. "My people shook at the mere mention of the name, the man who ended the war just by his presence, the Hero of the Empire and a plague to the North," she said.

"Yes Princess Alice, but there is no need to be afraid for he's not a plague to your people anymore, it shall be peace from now on forth," Edric said.

"Yes that's what my people pray for," she said with a bow before bringing out something from her sleeves, a white scroll. "The last words of my Father, King

Reginald Alexander".

Edric took the scroll. "Yes I'm sorry for your loss Princess Alice," he said warm heartedly. Alice's eyes feel sad, the tears almost leaking from her eyes.

"An angel isn't she?" Camille whispered to me, my body flinched. "You know it pains me such is happening especially to Lord Cedric," she said in a sad tone. "I was meant to marry him and bore his children but the war took that away from me, and then you came along... and now watch as a Northern Princess takes him away from you and tell me how it feels"

My eyes shook, my view was clouded with tears wanting so badly to stream down my cheeks, the inner cloud of whatever... I couldn't explain it but I felt like drowning.

"All are in order... I shall honor peace just like King Reginald wanted... I will like to announce Cedric Logan Hartford as my new heir and Princess Alice Alexander as your future Empress"

That's it... I couldn't see anymore, the tears gushed out of control and I found myself already sauntering away before my brain could process anything, the sound of the applause claps faded from my ears and became distant, my breath was twisted for it was hard to breathe and hard to contain the pain that flooded through me, the cold salty tears I could even taste them but it wasn't as bitter as my pain, it wasn't as bitter as to how I felt.

'Whatever happens tonight... trust me' those were his words to me as he caress me, I thought it was but a small problem, I didn't put much thought into it, I didn't bother to because I trust him, I TRUSTED him and this is what I got in return, before my very eyes standing there like a fool not knowing what was about to happen, before my eyes my husband was to be married to another.

What more pain could be gut-wrenching than this what more could burn more than this, my chest was so heavy as I cried and sobbed like a helpless girl as I have always been, just stand and let the world whirl you to a point you feel suffocating, I felt like screaming and letting the world know my pain but I could only cry like a fool.

The halls were quiet, my footsteps echoing, I had not an ounce where I was going, I didn't even look, for my eyes were covered in a mist of tears that desperately flowed out without any control, I felt shattered and lost. The man I love was going to marry another woman, that was the thoughts that echoed in my brain like a needle being sown into my brain, how am I to escape this pain for I seemed like a silly girl crying for nothing, weeping for nothing, NO this wasn't for nothing because I just got my heart shattered, could I ever wake from this pain?

I was lost and dreary without realizing there were approaching footsteps behind him, fast and coming.. A hand took my arm and whirled me.