I breathed deeply, feeling like an idiot.
- What about the eye?
She breathed her breath up and went to the tub she was using to bathe in her room, so she started to move her hands inside.
- Aideen, could you answer me?
- It was an accident. - she said at last. - You woke up from fainting as soon as I started sewing up the wound, made a sudden movement and ended up hitting my eye.
She smiled at me when she saw my face scared and angry at the same time. I've never hit a woman before, not even by accident.
- Don't look at me like that. - she responded. - It was just an accident and I'm fine now.
- No, it was my fault! - said closing my eyes. - To begin with, you should never treat her so hostile.
I sighed by passing my hand over my face.
- At first, Rose was just a friend and we had a lot of fun together, but things changed and one night we ended up in the same bed. I got addicted to her body and ended up giving her a lot of freedom. - I took a break. - When I realized that she was aspiring to become a princess, I decided to make it clear that I would never marry her. Rose got angry and stopped talking to me. I wanted her one more time so...
- So you said you missed her and you seduced her. - Aideen declared sitting on the bed when I signaled her to do it.
- Yeah, but I'm not proud of it. - I answered with a whining voice. - She was not only my lover and in time, I discovered that she was sleeping with my brother and cousin too. That's why I wanted to put an end to everything. It was clear she wanted something none of us were willing to give. Alec was suffering from the death of Cora and Bruce... I doubt he'd ever want to get married. It's about to be born the woman who'll make you have that idea. His heart is shattered, just like mine.
I closed my eyes. I was about to tell the most painful part of my past that I never opened up to anyone.
- I had a sister...
- Cora, isn't it?
- Yeah. - I smiled. - She was beautiful, delicate, intelligent and very brave, just like you. He had an enviable sense of humor and a great heart. Bruce loved her so much, he closed himself off. I loved her so much, I almost went crazy. Alec loved her so much, she almost died.
- What happened to her? - Aideen asked in a cautious voice. - I know he died, but I never knew how. All I know is that it matches...
She paused by lowering her eyes, but remained silent. Even though it was strange, I ignored it and kept talking about Cora.
- Roy did not agree to my father's keeping on the throne and being expelled from the council because of his selfish ideals, so he promised revenge and the dissolution of the council when he became king.
- We know that. My mother was one of those who opposed the maintenance of the regime and Brice's crown.
- Yes, what nobody knows is that Roy ordered two of his men to attack and kill Cora before they left to seek support against my father. They shot an arrow in Alec's chest and raped Cora while he was bleeding. - I said with a voice embargoed. - When I arrived, Bruce was wounded, tied to a tree. Cora was dying because of her injuries and there was no time to help her, but I managed to save Alec. None of us have recovered to this day and we've sworn revenge on MacGregor.
- I'm so sorry! - Aideen said shaking my hand in a gesture of comfort.
- I never talk about Cora with anyone, because it's very painful, but you... There's something about you that bewitched me and I fell in love in that forest. - I paused to sigh. - I didn't lie when I said I missed you. I know I picked the wrong words, but I didn't lie. I swear I wasn't lying to seduce her.
Aideen sighed and, to my surprise and in a gentle gesture, she approached and kissed me. I returned the gentle kiss and took a deep breath when we broke up. I looked at her with surprise and took one hand to her chin. That's when I remembered the bandages.
- What happened to my hands?
- The water that Rose would throw at me was too hot. He ended up generating bubbles in his hands, so I put an ointment and bandaged to heal faster without leaving marks. - she made a face. - Thanks for standing next to me.
- You gave an order. Who am I to go against?
- I don't know! Maybe the prince?
I had a laugh.
- I don't usually trust people because they've already lied to me to trick me into taking advantage of me.
My heart went out with the way she was talking.
- Are you talking about the man you slept with before me? Did he seduce you? Did you promise marriage?
Aideen took a deep breath and then twisted her fingers even more. She seemed to want to summon up the courage to say something.
- You didn't promise me anything. - she took a deep breath. - He just attacked me and raped me.
My
