Prince Regan looked ready to burst as he stared down at her with blazing cheeks.
Good, now he knows how it feels to be humiliated, although this is a little of what she would have done if she were given a proper chance.
The shame she felt was still unbearable, but she held in the scream lodged in her throat, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing her break, like the last time.
In Elora's past life, her silly little self had left this place dejected, writhing in agony as she took her own life, and slitting her wrists with the knife in her pocket at the moment.
Dying a painful death, while these people didn't care, they were only glad to get rid of a mere hindering bastard in the kingdom.
But she wouldn't follow that devastating script.
No, never again.
Elora didn't bother herself with the rest of the ceremony, nor did she regard the shocked faces watching her like she had gone mad.
Pulling the tulle of her long ball gown, she gave a shallow bow to the scum of a prince in front of her, and quickly made her way out of the ceremonial hall, head held high, a slight smirk curling up her lips.
She would deal with the fool and her stepsister later, for now, she would celebrate her victory with a glass of wine in her chambers.
Alone, and Alive!
As she walked off, her father's sharp eyes followed her gaze cold and calculating.
Butler Sven leans over to whisper to the king, "Would you like a word with the princess, your highness?"
King Haze waved his hand lightly, " It's fine, the engagement isn't entirely cancelled, we just exchanged the daughters. Dear Elora will be useful for something else anyway." He concluded, his untold plans brewing.
" I would like to be alone."
Elora calmly orders her maids, and they bow scrambling off without a word.
She made her way to the large bed in the center of the room,
The red light of dawn filtered into the cozy space through the sheer curtains.
Outside, she heard the faint voices of servants likely gossiping about the turning events of the night.
"It's okay Elora, you're safe now" she reminded herself, her chest heaving as she tried so hard to maintain her calm, fists tightening as unwanted memories flooded her head.
Since birth, Elora has always been hidden away in her small estate on the edge of the palace, Elora had never known anything but that home. The estate was a fancy cage, that was never hers to call home.
She was the shadow that lived in the corners, a presence that was meant to be neglected.
Elora's birth mother, Lady Irelia was once a lowly tea maid who had high ambitions, and she had dug her claws into the king's court. Using her beauty and wittiness she became the mistress of the king, she conceived a child with the king, named her Elora, and then sooner than anticipated she gave birth to a son and she grew in rank.
To Lady Irelia, Elora was nothing but an unwanted child that was only used to manipulate her way into the king's arms, she never showed maternal love or care towards Elora.
It didn't help that Elora was a meek, shy wallflower who kept to herself.
The only thing her mother had passed down was the gift of an otherworldly beauty." Elora's translucent pale skin sparkled like moonlight, Her raven-black hair flowed down her back, curling around her like a dark shroud. Her crystal-blue eyes were so endearing they appeared to reflect the ocean, but none of her beauty could earn her anyone's affection.
Because she was nothing but a bastard child.
And on this same night in her past life, her life had ended.
Past life
The wind howled as if in tune with her misery, and the sky rumbled with a promised heavy downpour.
Elora's sad blue eyes scanned the people gathered in front of her, as they watched her humiliation and disgrace like they were watching a scene from their favorite movie.
She looked to the side, to where her very supposed family stood, her mother, father, the queen, and her step siblings, and her heart clenched as they all stared back at her with a deadpan expression.
Like she actually deserved what she was going through at the moment.
But she wasn't surprised, they had always lacked interest in anything that had to do with her existence.
After all, she was just a bastard child who had ruined the perfect loving image of the king, the thorn they couldn't get rid of because she had the royal blood running through her veins even if in their words " she didn't deserve it ".
Elora became the forgotten one, slipped into the shadows of her Step-siblings' radiance.
All of her attempts to garner her parents' attention failed awfully, and as the years passed by, Elora found herself shrinking into herself further, becoming reclusive, colder, and burdened by the weight of her siblings' utmost perfection.
" I've decided that we're not meant for each other, and I want to call off our engagement." The familiar cold voice brought her back into the moment.
Her violet eyes trailed back to stare into hazel ones, eyes devoid of warmth as they stared back at her scornfully.
Prince Regan was the fourth in line to the throne of the kingdom of Eldora, a neighboring kingdom that shared borders with theirs. He had been chosen for her by her family a man she was betrothed to from birth, and she had spent all of her lifetime preparing to be a wife to him, ever since she could remember it had been drilled into her ears that she must live her life to please him, learn tapestry because he loves it, learn how to cook his favorite dishes, learn Eldora's customs and traditions so she would make a proper princess. And she put her all into impressing him, even foregoing the things that she loved and wanted to do.
Because she wanted a man to love, who would love her in return.
But as her luck would have it, the same man who was meant to love, cherish, and care for her, never had any regard for her all because of her status.
She had endured his passing spiteful words and jabs, hoping that she would win his heart with time, Each time they met, Prince Regan derived joy in draining her emotionally.
He never once hit her, nor did her cause her any physical harm, but his biting words and his daily reminder of how useless she was to this world did a lot more than physical damage.
It was a promised marriage devoid of warmth and happiness. But it seemed he'd had enough of the pretense.
And now, she stands in front of him heart aching in pain as he rejects her cruelly, she watches the cold glint in his eye, he doesn't seem to be affected by the tears brimming in her eyes as he spews the cruelest words in her direction, in front of all these people who had never wanted her around.
Elora felt like a thousand knives were being stabbed into her chest and forcefully pulling out her heart.
Her eyes found the floor in shame as the people watched her misery, some even managed to throw her a subtle look of pity, but others clearly sneered, happy that the prince was getting rid of the useless princess.
A sharp disbelieving cry tore at Elora's lips, she had lived her entire life trying to win his heart and please him, and what she got in return was a disgraceful rejection, what had she been expecting? She closed her eyes, her heart stilling as she whispered so low that only she could hear her own prayers.
" Make it all go away,—please", and with a weak flick of her wrist, the silver knife she had hidden in the pocket of her dress cut through her veins and blood immediately trickled down as a strong wave of pain shot through her.
Her eyes blurred, and she could hear the people at the banquet scream as chaos ensued.
When the knife had been handed to her by a maid just before they entered the ballroom, she had been very confused, and she hastily dipped it into her pocket before her name was called for introduction.
But now she knew its purpose.
Her blurry eyes turned towards Regan and she could see him glare at her in shock, annoyance, and something akin to disgust.
Even in the end, she didn't earn an ounce of sympathy from him. But that doesn't matter now, she could feel it all drain from her.
The feeling of loss, hopelessness, resentment, and pain, she could feel it all grow numb as her soul slowly, and quietly leaves her body.
A slow smile curled up her lips, finally, she was free from it all.
Free from the shackles of feeling unwanted.