A letter of disengagement

CHAPTER 8

The moment I gave Laura that letter to be delivered to the Palace, I had steeled myself for the inevitable chaos that was about to befall my family and i. I failed to anticipate how high the chaos would be.

Laura had made her way to the Crown Prince's mansion and being the handmaiden of mine, she was well known and she was led into the green house where Luther had been discussing with his mother. Laura, not caring that the Empress had been there with her own servants, had handed the letter over to Luther and excused herself. Before she fully left the green house, Luther had opened it and read it – and let's just say that his anger and disbelief was made known with his shouts. Laura informed me that one of her informants had told her that the Empress had snatched the letter from Luther's hands and read it herself and had been furious. Thankfully, Laura had used her skills to get out of the mansion before they could call her back. Before evening, most of the capital had known that I'd broken my engagement with Luther via a letter. 

The news came as a shock to everyone, seeing as I was extremely loyal to Luther to a fault. Everyone knew how deeply I was in love with him and in my eyes he could do no wrong. For me to take this decision was out of character for me. Honestly, they weren't wrong. The Alyssa of last week wouldn't even allow anyone to say a bad word about Luther in her presence and nor rip them to shreds with her sharp tongue. However, they were dealing with a different Alyssa. An Alyssa who was doing everything in her power to see that her family and the innocents in the Empire survive the horrific future that was coming. 

"Pardon me, my Lady."

I raised my head from my book and look up at the maid that came into my room. "Yes?" 

"I- apologies for the disturbance, but the Master is calling you to the visitor's room."

I frowned. "I have a guest?"

"Yes, my Lady."

I brought my leg down from the couch, closing my book and dropping it on the couch. "And who might that be?"

"It's... its the Crown Prince, my Lady."

"Ah~" A look of amusement crept onto my face. "After all my pleadings for him to visit me, he finally does when I'm no longer interested in him. How amusing." 

The maid helped me to get dressed – seeing as Laura was on the mission I had assigned her with Lucien's men – from my indoor light gown to a formal clothing. I donned on a long sleeved white shirt that was tucked into a high waist skirt that reached my ankles. To top it off, I put on a one inch heel shoes and raised my hair in a high ponytail, two long bangs framing the sides of my face. I got the engagement bangle Luther had given to me on my 16th birthday from the drawer on my makeup table I had carelessly tossed it inside. I looked at the gold bangle with tiny diamonds stones with a detached look before I scoffed and put in into a pocket in my skirt. 

"Let's get this shit over with."

With the maid following dutifully behind me, I made my way to the visitor's room – my head raised high and my face blank of any emotions. I heard a handful of maid whispering and I know that whatever will go down in that room will be spread, no matter how hard uncle would try to suppress it. 

The maid hurriedly opened the door for me and I stepped into the room. "Uncle, you called for me?" I made my way over to my uncle, my hands placed in front of me like the educated Lady I was.

"Lisa." Luther called out, drawing my attention towards him. I gave him an irritated look that had him reeling back a little with how cold I regarded him before turning back to my uncle – who was watching the encounter with furrowed brows.

"Alyssa..." Uncle began. "I received news that you sent the Crown Prince a letter breaking off your engagement. Is that true?"

"Yes." I replied immediately, my uncle blinking at how bland it was. "From now on, I am no longer interested in becoming Crown Prince Luther's wife. Its over between us and I'd like my wishes to be respected."

"To hell with that!" Luther jumped from the couch he was sitting on, his face squeezed in anger. "What is the meaning of this, Lisa?! Is this another ploy of getting my attention? Well, you have it! Now stop this madness at once!"

I turned to face Luther and my blank expression seemed to get to him. I stared at him as if he were a mere insect. In that moment, I channelled his mother and donned on the look she usually gave him when she thought him stupid and insignificant. My decision clearly affected him as he was lost for words.

"Why would I try to get your attention when you've never once cared to give it to me unless it's your mummy telling you to do so to appear as a loving fiance to the public?" From the corner of my eyes, I noticed my uncle's eyes going wide at my statement. Even Luther was shocked, his jaw going slack a little. "Crown Prince Luther, I have come to the realization that you're not worth my love, moreover are you worth my time. My love for me has evaporated that I've come to see who you truly are: a weak, spineless individual and by the gods in heaven, you fucking disgust me." I said with a terrible sneer.

"Alyssa! Enough!" Uncle jumped up, his facial expression like that of alarm and disbelief. "What have come over you?! This is the Crown Prince you're talking to! Your future husband! No matter how much he has wronged you, it doesn't warrant this disrespect! Apologise at once!"

"Why should i? Apologise that is. After all, it's the truth." I scoffed. "Crown Prince my foot. And yet you haven't proven yourself to be worthy of that title. Wake up, Luther! You're a fucking joke in the eyes of the people. At your big age, you're allowing your mother to control you! How pathetic can you be?!"

"Watch your tongue, Alyssa!" Luther yelled at me, his expression thunderous. "Just because you're my betrothed doesn't mean I can't push you for your words."

"I am no longer your betrothed, you buffoon. My betrothal with you ended the moment you opened that envelope. And punish me? Ha! I'd like to see you try." I raised my head up high and my eyes stared dead into his. "I am Alyssa Velcro, your Highness. There's a reason why your parents pushed for a marriage between us. I am needed to make this Empire not go up in flames. As the heir, I am part of the pillar of this Empire. You don't have any power over me."

I fished out the bangle and threw it on the table. Luther's eyes widened when he saw it.

"Find another naive girl to marry, because I won't be the one who'd sit back and watch you fuck everything that moves whilst I remain loyal to you." 

Luther's eyes showed his panic as he realized that I knew about his affairs. 

"Goodbye, your Highness." I turned around and made to leave the room.

"Why are you doing this, Alyssa?! What made you so cold to me?!"

I turned my head and gave him a blank look. "You truly are wilfully blind to your shortcomings. It's honestly irritating to see." Luther flinched at that. "It's plain and simple, Prince Luther: I got tired of waiting for you to meet me halfway. I no longer have the energy to beg for you to have a second of your time for me. I'm way much more than that. I refuse to be in a pathetic relationship."

With that said, I left the room, the maid who had been waiting for me at the door scrambling to follow after me.