Fifteen

KELILAH'S POV

“You’re speaking nonsense, Mom. Loveth would never do that,” I said, shaking my head as disbelief settled in.

“I’m serious, Kelilah. She even left a note,” Mom replied, pointing to a small slip of paper on the bed. 

Despite her insistence, I refused to look at it. Loveth wouldn’t just vanish like that. If she were planning something, she would have told me. I had even brought up the idea last night, but she hadn’t seemed interested. So why would she suddenly go through with it?

“No!” I cried, rushing out of the house with my phone in hand, dialing her number repeatedly. Each attempt met the same response—her phone wasn’t connecting. 

Frustration overwhelmed me as I stood outside her office building, hoping that in any second she’d appear. Hours slipped by, and the silence of my long wait grew heavy. Desperation took over, and I started calling her friends, voice shaky as I choked back tears. I was already a weeping mess.

"Hello. Tyra, how are you doing" I asked as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Fine honey. How are you?"

"Good. Please have you by any chance seen Loveth today?", I asked, trying to sound composed.

“Yeah, earlier this morning. She seemed to be in a rush, though. Why? Is something wrong?” Tyra’s concern only deepened my own dread.

Fuck!! No!!!

"Tyra. I..i think Loveth has ran away", I whispered, hearing my own broken tone as the phone slipped from my grasp. I sank to the ground, my body racked with sobs.

"What!!!", she screamed out into the phone.

“Hello!! Kelilah are you there!! Hello!! Kelilah, say something!!”, she kept yelling, her voice so loud that passerbys could hear with easy.

I sank to the ground, my body racked with sobs.

Mom kept calling, but I ignored her. Part of me blamed her and the family for this mess. By the time I returned home, it was well past midnight. The house was quiet, but Mom was waiting in the living room, visibly shaken as she hurried over to me.

“My goodness, Kelilah, where have you been?” she asked.

I didn’t respond, brushing past her and heading straight to Loveth’s room, feeling the dull ache of betrayal. How could she just leave without saying a word? 

"Do you really expect her to stay back and let them marry her off to king Korvus?”, My subconscious asked.

Right. She was running away from the problem. I suggested it to her anyways. But I never thought that she would run away after rejecting the idea.

I saw the note mom was showing me earlier,.so i finally picked it up.

"Dear Spare, by the time you find this letter I would have been gone already. It hurts me to do this, but I can't possibly sit silent and let our parents marry me off to king Korvus. You made me believe you would do something to help me out, but you failed in the end”, 

A tear escaped down my cheek as I read, but I made no attempt to wipe it away.. It was partly my fault. I failed to help her. I continued reading through the letters with blurry eyes.

"Remember the times you got in trouble and, I always had your back. I took the blame for you”, I smiled at that.

The note went on, reminding me of the countless times Loveth had taken the blame for me. I tried to smile through the tears, but it only deepened the ache inside.

“I can't help but be selfish now. It's time for me to put myself first. Our family must provide a mate, and with me gone, you my spare would be my substitute. Think of it as a payment for all the time I had your back. Love you, Spare. Loveth”,

I read her last words over and over again. Her words echoed, raw and relentless. The sting of her betrayal fresh in my heart. She’d left, thinking only of her own escape. I would have dropped everything to help her run, to keep her safe, but she’d gone without a single warning. She betrayed me. She betrayed our sisterhood. She has practically sold me out 

It hurt beyond words, and her final words twisted like a knife in my heart, and I don't think I would ever forgive her for this. And for the marriage, as far as I still remain the princess of Astral, I would never marry King Korvus. 

Resolute, I dried my tears and went to bed, shutting myself off from everyone.

The next morning, I didn't even bother to get out of bed. After I had told myself I'll not cry again, I still cried, because I found it hard to believe she would ever do something like that to me.

I finally forced myself up, making my way to the living room where the family was gathered. My father’s face was tight with tension, and when he motioned me to sit beside him, I chose a separate chair.

“It’s unfortunate, what Loveth has done,” he began. “But, Kelilah, our family was chosen, and we have a duty to fulfill. You’ll go in her place.”

I scoffed as a bitter laugh escaped me.

 “If you think I’ll just take Loveth’s place, then you don’t know me at all, father “, i deadpanned.

“Kelilah, listen to your father…” Mom started, but I cut her off.

“I’m engaged, remember?” I countered, clinging to that excuse as my only shield. “I’m not leaving Jackson. It’s best you tell Nathan the truth and deal with the consequences.”

Although I knew I was lying about still being In good terms with Jackson. But I didn't really mind this time. This was the only excuse I could use to protect myself. If I was to tell them my current state with Jackson, then that would put me on a higher possibility of being married out to Korvus.

Father’s face hardened. 

“Enough!!. This isn’t a matter of choice!!”, he yelled.

"I've watched the two of you spit rubbish from your mouth since the selection. It's unfortunate for our family to be selected, but there is nothing we can do. You think if there was a way out, I wouldn't have done something to save her?. The last time a family refused to send a bride, the bloodshed was catastrophic. We’ve been safe all these years because other families complied. It's our turn now and you want to risk the Safety of our kingdom and well as the other kingdoms"

I met his gaze.

"So what will you have me do then? Leave my fiancée and get married to the ruthless tyrant?. I am no savior dad", I yelled back at him.

"No, Kelilah. There's a month until the wedding. You’ll stand in for Loveth only while we search for her. Once she’s found, you can come back to your life.” mum chipped in.

“No. Never,” I said, standing and storming off to my room, ignoring their calls and the knocks that followed after I had locked them out my door.

Alone, I was still fuming when my phone rang. Glancing at the screen, I saw Betty’s name, but when I answered, it was my boss, Mateo.

“Hello Sir”

"Where the fuck are you?”, he barked 

“ I don't remember giving you another day off. And don't even think of giving me any fucking excuse. I've tolerated your lateness and toxic behavior for so long, but if you think you can start skipping work then..."

His voice grated on my already frayed nerves, and I held the phone at arm’s length to drown out his tirade. I’d had enough. I couldn’t deal I was having a bad day already and I didn't know what could become of me very soon. At this point, I couldn't stand an ounce of his self importance anymore, so I did something I should have done a long time ago.

“You know what, Mateo?” I snapped, cutting him off. “I quit.”

He scoffed, 

“Oh, you think anyone else will hire you? You’re nothing without me, you—”

"Enough, Mateo!!. Can you just shut the fuck up for a damn second. I've listened to you idiot for the last few years and I remained silent. You think you're all high and powerful right? You think your company is successful because of your stupid unyeilding ideas?. For your information Mateo, I. Am, Princess, Kelilah from the kingdom of Astral. And my sister is the owner of the Almighty Edwards company. You're nothing without us. Nothing without every single person who sits there and take your shit. I can't do that anymore and I wish every other person could realize just how stupid your company is . Get off my fucking line!!!".

With that, I hung up, feeling a rush of liberation I hadn’t expected.

After that long speech, I felt lighter as I heaved a breath. I had always wanted to stand up to him and say so much more to him. I wish I had done it while looking him in the eye. But I guess this will have to do for now. 

A new call buzzed in, and Jackson’s name flashed on the screen. I hit reject without a second thought, not ready to talk to him or anyone else. 

Finally calm, I quickly cleaned up and changed into a new dress. 

“Mom’s plan was never going to happen. I was going to make sure I find Loveth before the month runs out”, I vowed to myself.