#and yeah even after everything with aiden happened azzy probably. still wouldn't have shown up or talked to alli

[fatestouch]

“Doesn’t she look pretty on King Aiden’s arm~?”

“He’s one smitten king, I would say.”

“One of many royals. I heard he was planning A. The back up plan was the crown prince of Greenhaven~”

Just the other night, Allisae was happily stargazing with him in the gardens. Now Azrael was forbidden from her chambers—from the East castle entirely. The princess wouldn’t even look him in the eye whenever she passed by wrapped in King Aiden’s arm. Avelan clammed up whenever he was asked for an explanation and made excuses to leave. The entire palace was suddenly giving him the cold shoulder as whispers and gossip flitted about— attacking Azrael’s pride and worthiness for marriage or outright pitying him, as though he’s been cheated in some way.

Everything changed in the span of a day. The last night they went stargazing, and Azrael preferred to watch Allisae's smile, rather than the night sky... he imagined the life they could have together. A life where Azrael--hopeless romantic that he was--could help her smile like this every day.

And then, in an instant... it was all over.

Allisae was now engaged to King Aiden. Azrael was forbidden from seeing her, even talking to her. It wasn't too long after Cecil and Avelan's engagement has been announced... and the alliance between Greenhaven and Vanystea was all but secured.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that Azrael had essentially been replaced, for a better option.

It was equal parts heartbreaking, infuriating, and humiliating. With the refusal of any sort of actual explanation, the sting of gossip behind his back...

The prince didn't want to be angry with her... he knew how the Emperor operated. But even so... Allisae refusing to even look at him burned. It burned to viciously and deeply that Azrael had no choice but to lock it away. If only to save his own pride.

King Aiden and Princess Allisae's wedding would be the last Vanystea would see Greenhaven's Crown Prince for a long, long time.