Chapter 13: The Betrayal Unfolds

Rian went on like nothing happened though he was so ashamed of himself and, for some reason unknown to Alina, he became nicer, more like he was trying to make up for something. Rian was no longer composed around her, and they hardly made love anymore. Even though he showered her with gifts, she felt a distance between them and whenever she tried to ask him, he came up with excuses to dismiss her.

Weeks passed, and it brought with it a new reality. One morning during breakfast, the table was loaded with sumptuous meals, yet an air of tension saturated the room. Alina sat quietly, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken fears. Rian, across from her, still seemed distant, his eyes clouded with mixed emotions.

Then, Elara and Mirabelle entered with Genevieve, whose presence was now a constant reminder of the kingdom's shifting dynamics. As they took their seats, a hushed anticipation filled the air. They ate quietly until Genevieve cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"I have an announcement to make," she said, her voice carrying a triumphant edge. She glanced at everyone's faces, and then she announced, "I'm pregnant."

The room fell into stunned silence. Alina felt the world tilt beneath her feet. It felt like she was being swallowed by the ground. She turned to Rian, her eyes searching his face for any sign of regret or guilt. His expression was a turbulent blend of confusion and sorrow. The betrayal hit her like a physical blow, and she rose abruptly, unable to contain the storm of emotions within her.

"Alina, wait—" Rian began, but Alina was already walking out, her heartbreaking with each step.

The day he feared had come. How would he face Alina again? Rian stared at Genevieve, lost for words or action.

Elara and Mirabelle exchanged gleeful glances, their plan unfolding perfectly. They were delighted, their vain satisfaction obvious as they turned their attention to Rian.

"Isn't it wonderful news, brother? Why don't you seem excited? You should be excited." Elara said, her tone deceptively sweet. "Finally, a child."

Rian forced a smile, but his feelings were conflicted. The joy of impending fatherhood was stained by the knowledge of his betrayal. He loved Alina, but he had failed her in the worst possible way.

As Alina rushed off to her chambers, she couldn't stop thinking about how Rian had betrayed her. She knew he had been driven by despair and manipulated by Genevieve, but that awareness didn't make the pain less bearable.

Alina opened the door, Lyra turned to see who it was and immediately, Alina ran to her and fell into her tender arms crying. Lyra was taken aback, but she held her sister tight and comforted her. Lyra held her until it seemed like she had cried to her fill. Then she led Alina to the bed and gave her a handkerchief to wipe her face.

Lyra knelt in front of Alina, her voice filled with concern, "Alina, what happened? Who did this to you?"

"Lyra, my world has crumbled around me. The weight of my failure has pressed down on me with unbearable force." Alina sobbed.

"What are you talking about? Talk to me, Alina." Lyra almost moved to tears. Her heart broke seeing her sister like that.

Amidst sobbing, "I don't even know who to blame." Alina took a deep breath and stared at Lyra's face, tears dripped down her face. "Genevieve is pregnant for the prince."

Lyra gasped in shock, she immediately stood up and wrapped her arms around Alina.

With a muffled and shaky voice, "I know that Elara and Mirabelle orchestrated this, and now, with Genevieve carrying Rian's child, my place in this palace is more shaky than ever. What do I do, Lyra? What do I do?" Alina expressed as she quivered.

Lyra shushed and patted her sister with all the love and care she could offer. She didn't understand how Alina was feeling but what she knew was that she wouldn't watch her sister go through this process alone. She would be there for her, every step of the way.

In the days that followed, Alina withdrew, and her heart shattered. Rian, filled with guilt, tried to reach out to her, but the damage was done. The seeds of despair had taken root, and the once strong bond between them was now fragile and strained.

Alina knew that her journey was far from over. The challenges ahead would test her strength like never before. But deep within her, a spark of determination remained. She would not be defeated, not by Genevieve, Elara, Mirabelle, or anyone who sought to undermine her.

But Elara and Mirabelle intensified their efforts to sabotage Alina over the next few days. They began to whisper lies to Rian, planting seeds of doubt in his mind.

"I saw Alina speaking harshly to Genevieve," Mirabelle claimed one evening when they were having tea with Rian, her eyes wide with feigned concern. "She seemed... disgruntled."

Elara nodded in agreement. "That's true. We've been telling you this since. We don't want it to be too late before you do something about it. She's been acting strangely ever since the announcement. I'm worried about Genevieve and the baby. I wouldn't want any harm to come near my niece."

"Or nephew," Mirabelle added. She exchanged glances with Elara. They knew their plan was working.

Rian frowned, his heart torn. He knew Alina was hurting, but he couldn't ignore the possibility that her pain might manifest in harmful ways. The doubt chewed at him, fueled by his sisters' relentless insinuations.

Genevieve played her part well, feigning vulnerability and fear. "I just want to be safe," she told Rian one night in his chambers, tears glistening in her eyes. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to our baby."

Rian held her hand, his guilt deepening. "I'll make sure you're both protected."

Immediately, Genevieve lay on his body, Rian comforting her.

Alina who wanted to speak with Rian about a matter concerning the kingdom, stood at the door. She had been listening to them, but she could no longer hear Genevieve whining, and so she assumed they were at it again. She didn't even wait to confirm before running away in tears.

In the midst of this, Lyra remained Alina's supporter. She saw through the sisters' manipulations and stood by her sister unwaveringly.

"Don't let them get to you, Alina," Lyra urged. "They're trying to break you down."

Alina nodded, though her strength was weakening. "I know, Lyra. But it's so hard when Rian seems to believe them and is no longer avoiding Genevieve."

"Well, the seed has already been planted. He cannot possibly avoid the mother of the potential heir to the throne."

Alina looked at Lyra with so much sadness in her eyes. Her heart was broken in pieces and Lyra couldn't bear it.

Cedric watched the unfolding drama with despair. He saw the toll it was taking on his friend, the helpless prince trapped in a web of lies and deceit. He and Lyra were just as helpless as the prince and Alina.

The situation reached a breaking point one evening. Elara and Mirabelle conceived a plan to frame Alina for mistreating Genevieve. They staged a scene where Genevieve approached Alina who sat gracefully at a white wrought-iron table adorned with delicate lace and fine china, quietly having tea while savoring the moment of tranquility amidst nature's splendor.

As Alina brought the teacup to her lips, Genevieve came from nowhere, snatched the cup, and poured it on her belly. Alina out of shock, stood up.

"What is wrong with you? Why did you do that?" Alina questioned her and immediately Genevieve fell to the floor and started screaming. Alina was shocked at what was being displayed in front of her.

Immediately, Elara and Mirabelle jumped in, making the scene appear worse than it was already. The screams reached Rian and soon almost everyone in the palace had surrounded the scene. Rian came in and saw Genevieve on the floor.

"What is going on here?" he asked as he saw Genevieve on the ground crying.

"Well, your wife poured tea on Genevieve's belly and proceeded to push her to the ground. She wants to murder your child."

"That's not true, Your Highness. She's lying. She poured the tea on herself. Why would I do a thing like that?" Alina defended herself.

"Because you're jealous, I was able to give the prince what you couldn't give him in four years." Genevieve retorted.

Mirabelle snorted, "exactly."

Alina blinked in surprise, "wait, what?"

Rian glanced at Alina. He was conflicted with emotions. Alina's eyes begged him to believe her.

Genevieve tried to stand up, a guard proceeded to help her and when she was on her feet, she jerked her hand off his grip.

"I only came here to reason with her, and she started saying terrible things to me," Genevieve sobbed, her performance flawless. "She threatened me and said she wished harm upon me and the baby." She rubbed her belly.

Rian's face darkened with anger and hurt. "Enough! Alina would never—"

Elara cut him off. "Don't be too quick to defend her, Rian. She's been under a lot of stress. Perhaps it's affecting her judgment."

Mirabelle added, "We need to protect Genevieve and the baby. You have to think of the kingdom."

Alina saw that she stood no chance against them. "I won't stand here and watch you all cook lies against me in my husband's house." And with that, she left them there in anger.

Lyra rushed after her.

"Do you see what we are talking about? She didn't even regard you before leaving," Elara remarked scornfully.

That night, Rian confronted Alina after he sent for her in his chambers. "Did you threaten Genevieve?"

Alina's eyes widened in shock. "Of course not! You know I would never do such a thing."

But Rian's doubt, fueled by his sisters' manipulations, clouded his judgment. "I don't know what to believe anymore, Alina. The kingdom needs an heir, and if you're a danger to them—"

Tears streamed down Alina's face. "How could you think that of me?"

Rian ignored her and quietly left the room. Alina's heart couldn't take the distrust as she staggered back and fell on the bed, her heart shattered.

The final blow came the next morning. Alina was giving orders to a guard when Genevieve walked in to give orders to the same guard. Lyra stood behind Alina.

"Genevieve, there are a hundred and one guards in this palace to give your stupid orders to. This is something that concerns her husband," Lyra told her.

"And this is something that concerns his child. So she will allow the guard to take my orders while she goes to find a guard among the hundred and one guards to take her order." Genevieve responded disrespectfully.

Alina ignored her and continued talking to the guard. And just then, an unexpected slap landed across Alina's face. Alina's eyes widened in shock.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Genevieve still had the guts to ask Alina.

"How dare you raise your hand on her? Don't you know she's your future queen?"Lyra asked her as Alina rubbed her cheek.

"If you ask me that stupid question, I'll not just slap her again, I'll slap you as well. Future queen, this barren land?" Genevieve cackled.

Lyra made to attack Genevieve, but Alina pulled her back. They made to leave for peace to reign but as Genevieve talked to the guard, Alina unexpectedly turned, gripped Genevieve's arm and gave her a resounding slap that resetted her brain.

Genevieve screamed in pain. Just as the sisters and Genevieve had timed when the prince would pass the hallway, Rian was in time to witness Alina turn around and slap Genevieve.

"Alina," the prince yelled at the top of his voice.

Alina froze as she stared at him. Elara and Mirabelle appeared from his side, their eyes gleamed with satisfaction. The sisters nodded at each other.

"What did you do?" Rian asked her angrily.

Alina proceeded to him, "My love, I can explain. This is not what you think it is. You have to believe me," Alina tried to talk to him.

"What excuse are you going to use now?" She slapped you first?" Rian inquired.

"But that's what…" Alina made to explain, but Elara cut her short.

"Don't worry, brother. We will handle her." Elara assured Rian.

Elara and Mirabelle, emboldened by Rian's hesitation, decided to take drastic action. They approached Alina and Lyra with cold, unyielding expressions.

"You need to leave the palace," Elara declared. "For the safety of the kingdom."

Rian's heart raced with thoughts that he couldn't seem to articulate.

"What?" Alina whispered in bewilderment.

Lyra stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "You have no right to do this. Alina is the prince's wife!"

Mirabelle sneered. "Not for much longer, little girl. The kingdom's future is at stake."

Alina looked at Rian, hoping for a rescue, but his silence spoke volumes. Her heart shattered as she realized he would not stand up for her.

"Fine," Alina said, her voice breaking. She couldn't stand such a volume of betrayal. "We'll leave."

Lyra who was boiling with anger, calmed down. She trusted her sister. So, she wrapped a protective arm around her sister, glaring at Elara and Mirabelle. "You'll regret this."

As they walked out of the palace, Alina felt a mix of heartbreak and anger. She had been betrayed by the man she loved and the family she had tried so hard to be a part of.

Rian was too angry and confused to speak up, his emotions swirled chaotically. As he watched Alina walk out the palace gates, his mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out.

The palace gates closed behind Alina and Lyra, the sound echoing like a final, resounding judgment.