Shocked Prince

A man forward from inside the building it was the prince's aide, Master Elson.

"I would like to see the prince," she told him when he came to stand in front of her.

"Unfortunately, I can't allow that. His Highness ordered that you can only come to see him when he calls for you. Lady Tanya, you know this," he said in a disappointed tone.

"Please tell him it's urgent," she pleaded with him.

The attendant gave her a knowing look. "You say that every that time you want to see him."

Tanya regretted that she had used up the prince's patience all those other times to get a chance to impress him. Now when she had come to see him with good reason she couldn't.

"His Highness is busy with Crown Princess Celeste he'll call for you when he needs you."

"Tell him I would like to leave the palace." Tanya informed him.

"For a trip?" He asked then sighed. "You don't have to tell His Highness that, you can just leave and return."

"No, I mean permanently," she corrected him. " I want to leave the palace permanently,"

Suddenly Edin stopped in his tracks taken aback by her response.

His eyes sceptically searched hers for a moment.

"Very well then, I will inform him," he finally relented.

He then went inside, and Tanya waited for what the response would be. After a brief period, he returned and told her the prince had accepted her request to see him.

Tanya went inside and was led to a lounge where he was seated on the seats with Celeste by his side. The two were caressing each other. As Tanya once again processed the scene before her she felt a pang in her heart, it never got easy to see this.

As soon as Malek laid his eyes on her, a look of anger appeared on his face. For a second it faltered as he realized Tanya was dressed normally.

"Tanya what did I tell you about coming to see me when I haven't called for you? You're getting outrageous with your sheer shamelessness and the lies you come up with just so you can see me. Don't think I let you in because I believed you!"

Malek was fuming, he didn't have time for Tanya's silly shenanigans, he was already upset about the situation with his father treating him like he was inferior.

"Is this a game you're playing? You must be at your wits ends if you think you can guilt me into feeling sorry for you and giving you attention if you threaten to leave the palace. I will actually send you away, don't think I won't do it," He angrily yelled at her. "So don't make threats you d

Tanya blinked in shock, surprised by the prince's anger. The realization hit once more that this man hated her. But at the very least she felt vindicated that the decision she had made was the right decision. Leave before his anger only worsens and she ends up getting seriously hurt, more than she had already been. She internally told herself.

"Now leave and return to your room before I punish you. If you ever do this again, honestly I wi…" he threatened.

"…But I do want to leave the palace," she interrupted him to explain herself.

"What?" he asked her in confusion.

Tanya mustered all her strength and courage as she did her best to keep level eye contact with him. "I would like to withdraw my position as your current lover and future concubine. I will leave the palace and return to my estate," Tanya told him in a clear loud voice.

Malek's mouth opened wide, and his eyebrows raised, he couldn't believe it. Celeste, who sat beside him, eye's widened in surprise. There was an awkward pause of silence before Malek answered.

"Y-you do realize that if I agree you won't be able to retract your words? You cannot return to the palace." He told her.

"Yes, I understand," Tanya quickly accepted his words.

His eyebrows furrowed even more, he couldn't believe Tanya was truly serious about leaving the palace. But she couldn't be. This woman had been nothing but obsessed with him and now she was simply leaving? It couldn't be this simple, there had to be more to it. Malek was convinced of this.

"What are your reasons for leaving?" he asked her.

Tanya's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why was he asking her this? Shouldn't he just be glad that she was leaving?

"I've realized you are right, Your Highness. I'm not nor was I ever a good candidate to be your consort. I'm not beautiful, fair skinned or innocent. I'm inadequate in so many ways." She just regurgitated everything he'd once said to her. "Perhaps it's time for me to pursue other avenues that are more suited for me."

Malek was shocked. She sounded so mature not at all like the irrational woman he knew who did anything everything to get his attention. What had made her change her mind like this? Had she been struck by lightning? It's like was another person altogether. He didn't respond as he found himself in deep thought unable to comprehend why Tanya wanted to leave.

As time passed whilst Tanya knelt on the floor waiting for his response, she was wondering what was taking so long. She was doing the best she could to control her emotions and keep steady eye contact as she spoke calmly with him. However, she could only maintain her composure for so long. This was a difficult decision for her to make and she was fighting not to revoke it at any second and bursting into tears.

Malek was dumbfounded as he continued to try to understand the situation. As he stared at Tanya who knelt before him, he couldn't believe her decision. Was she now finally upset and angry about demoting her? She seemed passive and fine and about it before why would she suddenly be upset now?

Then something dawned on him. Perhaps this was part of her plan to throw him off guard like this and make him question himself. She was a very crafty woman who had done various things in the past to get his attention. Perhaps she thinks I really won't allow her to leave. We'll see what she does when I actually accept.

"Very well, you may leave," he finally accepted.