Chapter 5 5. Royal Rejection

"You can't force anyone to love you or lend you money." ~ Jewish Proverb.

-

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It was confirmed, Lucia was pregnant with the Prince's heir. Khris had taken her to his aunt a well experienced midwife, they told her all the symptoms she had been having. She then asked her to strip off her clothing and lay down so she could examine her. She laid her hands on either side of Lucia's belly, her sides were slowly curving into a little bumb. She was two months pregnant. A part of her felt happy, a part for her felt sad. A part of her couldn't wait to tell Alexius, a part of her was petrified to see his reaction. When they returned home, Khris told her it would be all okay, he would never abandon her. she had decided she would go to the royal palace and tell Alexius the news. She didn't expect him to marry her but that's what they would expect him to do. She just wanted to tell him that she was expecting, then she would leave-

Leave to God knows that was an idle plan.

Bidding goodbye to her neighbor and bestfriend Khris, she open the door only to stumble back with fear, her Aunt awaited her.

"Afternoon, Aunty." Lucia said trying not to panic.

"Where are you coming from ?" She said going straight to the point.

"Uhm- Khris and I had went for a swim by-by-by the river." She fiddled with her fingers becoming nervous.

"How many times have i told you that you and that boy aren't kids anymore. You are old enough to bed each other. These secret meetings need to stop." She sighed looking at her niece suspiciously. She had been vomiting lately, every morning or so as Kyra had told her. Something was definitely wrong with her... could it be that boy so called best friend had already taken her to bed.

"Is Khristian the father ?" Aunt Gloria questioned, leaving Lucia aghast. Her heart started beating fast, she felt her legs go weak, air running out as she tried to think. Her eyes wanted to water with tears, these hormones were already acting up.

"The father of ?" She replied earning a hard clap from her aunt. Tears escaped from each eye.

"Do you think I'm stupid ?" her aunt yelled.

"Aunty Gloria, I never said a word." Lucia sobbed.

"You are pregnant." Her Aunty said staring directly at her now bloodshot eyes. "Who is the father of that bastard child ?" She questioned.

"Aunty, I'm not pregna-" she was immediately cut off by a slap to her cheek, it left a mark. Her Aunt absolutely hated liars more than anything or she just needed a reason to treat Lucia badly.

"I'm sorry Aunty, I'm sorry for disappointing you... I'm sorry." She hiccupped, a wave of guilt had hit her.

"Your mother left you here with nothing, I clothe you, i give shelter, i give you everything necessary to be an admirable person and this is how you repay me, Lucia ?" Her aunt questioned.

"It's the Prince." She told her aunt, again her aunt slapped her for being a lying filth. It couldn't be, she could never have been in the Prince's presence looking like that, not even for a second would Prince Alexius Nikoloudis II spare her a glance.

"I do not apreaciate people who tell falsehood, especially from you." She gasped trying to get a grip of what her niece had said.

"It's the Prince, i swear Aunty... I wouldn't tell falsehood especially not to you Aunty." Lucia argued, tears flowing from hers eyes like Niagara Falls. Laughter filled the room as Gloria's daughter convulsed at the lies her cousin was telling.

"The Prince with you of all people, Lucia you dream too much." Kyra chortled.

-

Gloria dragged her niece to the palace, she didn't care if she was pregnant as she furiously hit her from time to time on their way there. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, she didn't know why this had been happening to her maybe meeting Alexius wasn't a blessing after all... Lucia thought as her aunt pushed her forward.

Her aunt explained their reason for visiting the palace. The guards lead them to the main entrance where the King was talking to the crowd of the people of Acamas. Gloria saw this as an opportunity to embarrass Lucia infront of all the commuters and as for her to gain attention. She had specifically choosen to take her niece to the palace on a Wednesday because she knew the King was holding a gathering with his people and the Prince would be present.

"Your highness, my niece claims the Prince made her pregnant." Gloria spoke out when the King had given her a chance to speak. The crowd gasped clearly shocked by the news. Prince Alexius Nikoloudis II was sitting right beside his father with his crown intact when he saw Lucia crying her eyes out. Although the King and Prince were on the Balcony, they could see the young lady and her Aunt infront of the crowd. A part of him broke, watching her cry in pain like that. She looked at him with hope that he would defend her and make it all end.

His father looked at him with disappointment. "Son is this true ?" the King questioned. Prince Alexius didn't want to disappoint his father so he said the unexpected.

"It's all false." Prince stared straight into his father's eyes.

"I have never laid my eyes on this girl in my entire existence, father." Prince added.

"Very well." The King said thoughtfully. "You have to be punished for having spread falsehood on my son's name but I do sympathize with you considering you are with child."

All the people of Acamas had been watching, as this had been done infront of all the people. Everyone was in stitches of laughter after the Prince had denied the allegations. Lucia knew right there and there that her life was doomed and above all she was a fool.

Fool.

Doomed.

Que sera sera.