Page 5
Story: The Rejected Princess
Slap!
Jalen slapped me hard. “That’s it. Do not treat me like I am stupid!”
My cheek stung from the pain, and I was stunned.
“Come on,” he said, holding Celina in one hand and Nyra’s in the other. He turned away from me, and his expression softened. Let’s go shopping. I’m purchasing the best pony in the pack for Celina.”
“Yay! I also want a bright and shiny Moonlight bracelet!”
“Okay.”
They all laughed happily as they walked out the door.
I closed my eyes painfully, and when I opened them again, I refused to give myself any room for futile hope, blurting out the words that had been on my mind all night.
“Let’s break our engagement, Jalen.”
“Stop with your pitiful, little tricks, Helen.”
Jalen turned back and gave me his familiar taunting smile.
“My patience is limited. Do not put me to the test by threatening me. I’m the one who has tolerated this relationship.
I clenched my fists, “I’m serious.”
“As you wish.”
He walked out the door, not bothering to look back.
Nyra smiled but quickly hid it, then gracefully turned around to apologise to me.
“I’m very sorry, Princess Helen. It was my fault for bringing Celina back and relying on Jalen for everything. I’ve caused a lot of problems between you, but don’t worry. There is nothing between us. We have an innocent relationship. We are just good friends…
Nyra might be apologising to me, but her expression says otherwise. She was showing off her good fortune. She even had the audacity to offer to buy Desmond a new wooden sword as compensation.
Jalen held Celina in his arms and called out with tenderness that I had never seen from him before. “Let’s go, Nyra.”
“Coming!”
Nyra chased him like a little butterfly. Her voice was coquettish: “You have to show more patience to Princess Helen, Jalen. She just wants you to cajole her. She’s not serious about leaving you.”
“I know that, which makes it more important that I shouldn’t let her get her way. She needs to reflect on her behaviour.”
“When she trapped me back then by forcing me to marry her with dirty tricks, she should have expected such a day to come.”
They leaned in close. That wonderful sight stood out like a sore thumb for me.
I lowered my head, bitterly.
When I was younger, I believed that my sacrifices would be rewarded. I even went so far as to spend half of my life pursuing my goals.
In the end, all I received in return was hurt and pain.
When Jalen left for three years, I waited for him with hope, but now everything had turned to despair.
I wanted to leave Jalen and take Desmond with me.
Jalen did not return that night, even though Desmond had fallen asleep.
Desmond had quietly hidden a picture of Jalen under his covers, mumbling in hushed tones.
“You made me mad today, Daddy. You’re a bad person! But I’ll forgive you if you take me horseback riding tomorrow.” “Goodnight, Daddy…”
The next morning, the steward handed me an exquisite gift box. He informed me that the jewellery was from Jalen.
Jalen slapped me hard. “That’s it. Do not treat me like I am stupid!”
My cheek stung from the pain, and I was stunned.
“Come on,” he said, holding Celina in one hand and Nyra’s in the other. He turned away from me, and his expression softened. Let’s go shopping. I’m purchasing the best pony in the pack for Celina.”
“Yay! I also want a bright and shiny Moonlight bracelet!”
“Okay.”
They all laughed happily as they walked out the door.
I closed my eyes painfully, and when I opened them again, I refused to give myself any room for futile hope, blurting out the words that had been on my mind all night.
“Let’s break our engagement, Jalen.”
“Stop with your pitiful, little tricks, Helen.”
Jalen turned back and gave me his familiar taunting smile.
“My patience is limited. Do not put me to the test by threatening me. I’m the one who has tolerated this relationship.
I clenched my fists, “I’m serious.”
“As you wish.”
He walked out the door, not bothering to look back.
Nyra smiled but quickly hid it, then gracefully turned around to apologise to me.
“I’m very sorry, Princess Helen. It was my fault for bringing Celina back and relying on Jalen for everything. I’ve caused a lot of problems between you, but don’t worry. There is nothing between us. We have an innocent relationship. We are just good friends…
Nyra might be apologising to me, but her expression says otherwise. She was showing off her good fortune. She even had the audacity to offer to buy Desmond a new wooden sword as compensation.
Jalen held Celina in his arms and called out with tenderness that I had never seen from him before. “Let’s go, Nyra.”
“Coming!”
Nyra chased him like a little butterfly. Her voice was coquettish: “You have to show more patience to Princess Helen, Jalen. She just wants you to cajole her. She’s not serious about leaving you.”
“I know that, which makes it more important that I shouldn’t let her get her way. She needs to reflect on her behaviour.”
“When she trapped me back then by forcing me to marry her with dirty tricks, she should have expected such a day to come.”
They leaned in close. That wonderful sight stood out like a sore thumb for me.
I lowered my head, bitterly.
When I was younger, I believed that my sacrifices would be rewarded. I even went so far as to spend half of my life pursuing my goals.
In the end, all I received in return was hurt and pain.
When Jalen left for three years, I waited for him with hope, but now everything had turned to despair.
I wanted to leave Jalen and take Desmond with me.
Jalen did not return that night, even though Desmond had fallen asleep.
Desmond had quietly hidden a picture of Jalen under his covers, mumbling in hushed tones.
“You made me mad today, Daddy. You’re a bad person! But I’ll forgive you if you take me horseback riding tomorrow.” “Goodnight, Daddy…”
The next morning, the steward handed me an exquisite gift box. He informed me that the jewellery was from Jalen.