The war ceased and the villagers cried out in victory as their enemies ran away. The Vauldins never came back and the kingdom was once again at peace.
Many controversies had struck the two kingdoms when they had learned about Izzy being the princess and of their king’s death and their princess’ betrayal. The person who went through the hardest time was Maliki.
He had only come out of the safety of his room when he was notified of what had happened to his father and sister. He went back in his room devastated and did not come out for five days. Maliki could not mourn for his father’s death nor could he search for his sister.
Several times, Izzy had tried to reach out to Maliki, her true blood brother, but he had always asked to be alone. One day when Izzy tried again to see him, she had been informed that Maliki had left to see Elizabeth. Izzy quietly prayed that he was alright and that Elizabeth would know what to do.
It had been exactly a month since the victory over the kingdom and Izzy was getting ready for a big ball in preparation to show the public their new queen-to-be. Irene had been chosen to help Izzy and she could tell Irene’s smile from a mile away. According to Timothy, he had finally gotten the courage to court Irene. She was ecstatic.
Finally, with the help of Irene, in her dress, Izzy went out to the corridors to the guests who were waiting downstairs for her. While on her way down to the commotion, she met Treyton in the hallway.
“Good evening, your Highness,” he bowed with a suppressed smirk. Izzy rolled her eyes and hugged Treyton.
“How is your new job?” Izzy asked. There was rapid news about Treyton taking the place of Timothy. Timothy had finally stepped out of being the king’s right hand, saying that it was his time to go different directions. Alex, being the king-to-be, didn’t want his friend to leave the position but knew what Timothy’s ambition was. He was now a blacksmith who worked for the castle, of course. He still trained with the soldiers, assisting Treyton in a way. The two of them had gotten extremely close there was no competition between them.
“It’s been rough and tiring but I love it. Timothy is helping me tomorrow,” Treyton smiled, his heart feeling light and calm.
“Well congratulations,” Izzy said, curtsying to him with a huge smile. Treyton smiled, knowing that he still had feelings for Izzy but also knowing that it was not his place to do so. He thanked Izzy for one thing. For showing that there was love out there.
Elizabeth had always scolded him for not talking to girls. She had even once suspected that he fancied men. However, he had much to thank. He knew now that he could go on with life and he beckoned life to give it its hardest because he knew he would come out in triumph.
“Thank you,” Treyton bowed one last time before putting his arms out for her to hold. “I was told to accompany you downstairs.”
Izzy comfortably took his arm and let him lead her downstairs where everyone in her kingdom would fully see her. She was nervous and she wasn’t sure how everyone would take the news as. She knew much if not all of the villagers and were unsure of their reaction.
“You will be a great queen,” Treyton whispered as he led her down the stairs.
“Thank you,” Izzy whispered back as she looked straight ahead with her head held high.
She felt the weight of the stares she was receiving and tried to look and act graceful. She had a tutor who had stuck with her every day of the week, teaching her the proper ways. Izzy held her proudly and let every gawk at her beauty.
Slowly, she reached the end of the steps and there was a few sighs as the people closest to her looked at her in awe. The orchestra was playing the background and suddenly she was tugged away from Treyton.
“Thank you, Treyton,” Alex said, thanking his new right hand man. There was no tension between them and they too have become good friends.
Treyton simply bowed instead of nodding like he usually did so he could show the public his submission to his authority. Alex smiled back at Treyton and took Izzy in his arms, guiding her to the middle of the ball room.
Slowly they began to dance and the crowd began to dance with them, sharing the ball room.
“You look beautiful,” Alex said once the music grew louder and people stopped paying too much attention to them.
“Thank you,” Izzy blushed, still uncomfortable with getting used to his open comments in front of everyone. It was a lot to get used to and it still made her heart weak every time he said those things to her.
“Izzy,” he said, suddenly serious. “May I ask you something?” He looked worried and Izzy looked curiously at him, wondering what his question was.
“Yes, of course.”
“Do… Do you really love me? Or do you still have feelings for Treyton?” Alex said, looking away in embarrassment. He was a soon-to-be king and he still had insecurities.
Izzy laughed. Not because she didn’t like Treyton in that way at all anymore but because it was absurd for him to ask her in such a manner.
“What?” Alex asked, feeling extremely nervous about her slow response. Was she ridiculing him?
“How can you even think that?” Izzy asked, her face growing serious.
“Because you seemed convinced that you were stuck between us,” Alex said, feeling self-conscious again. He had never been so vulnerable before unless she was with Izzy. It was like she knew every bit of him and that he was completely open before her.
“At first I thought I should have been with Treyton because he was a military man like myself,” Izzy admitted, biting her lips. She wondered if this would end up in a fight but Alex nodded his head, willing her to go on. “We had more in common and I kept persuading myself that it was him that I wanted. He was kind to me…”
“So you still love him?” Alex said, his voice growing so broken and sad that Izzy had to kiss his nose to make him look back up. He looked at her grimly.
“But,” Izzy emphasized. “I realized that I was only convincing myself that I liked him. I was persuading myself and I realized that I only thought of him as a friend. As a companion. Whenever we spent time, we knew each other so well that there wasn’t much words needed. I felt comfortable with you, a different comfortable, and my heart would skip whenever you were near. It would kill me every time I saw you with Annie. I love you, Zander I do.”
“Do you really love me?” Alex questioned one last time. Even though he clearly knew the answer he wanted to hear it one last time.
“I love you,” Izzy whispered. Alex’s grin stretched across his face as he held her delicately in his arms.
“I love you more,” and he kissed her with everything he had.