That Prince Is A Girl: The Vicious King’s Slave Mate Novel

Chapter 357: "Em?"

Keira? She sat up to see Aekeira standing by the door. Emeriel had been so lost in her despair, she hadn't heard the door open.

"Keira…" Her voice wobbled, and the tears she had fought so hard to hold back surged forward, spilling over.

Aekeira's eyes shimmered with her own tears. Silently, she opened her arms wide. Emeriel sprang up and ran into those waiting arms. And sobbed.

Aekeira held her tight. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. I went to the gathering as soon as I heard, but the crowd and soldiers wouldn't let me through. I heard everything, Em." Aekeira's breath hitched. "They sa-saved you, all of them."

"I know," Emeriel cried into Aekeira's shoulder. "It feels unreal."

"Yes. I'm trying to process it. Everything we were so afraid of has come to pass, yet… you are still here with us. Safe. The worst did not happen." Aekeira shook her head, crying. "The worst did not happen."

Emeriel pulled back, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I don't think it's over yet, Keira. I'm not sure the Urekai will let it go just like that." She sniffled. "They know I'm his Soulbond. I saw their disgust, their rejection. They won't let this go."

"Hey, look at me, Em. Look at me." Aekeira cupped her face, and Emeriel met her sister's eyes, finding a surprising strength in their depths. "We always knew this would happen. Always. Don't cry about it. There's so much to cry about, but not this."

"True, but…" Emeriel looked at Aekeira with utter misery. "He ha-hates me now."

"Oh, Em…"

The dam broke again, tears flowing freely, her sobs shaking her small body. Emeriel's chest hurt too much. Too much. "He hates me now, Keira."

M๏гє ยק๔คՇєร ןภ ɢคlภ๏שєlร.ς๏๓

Aekeira hugged her tighter, and Emeriel clung to her. Keira's arms around her were the only thing keeping her from drowning. So, Emeriel held on and bawled her eyes out.

Aekeira guided her to the bed, sitting down and cradling Emeriel's head against her shoulder.

"I should have told him sooner," Emeriel choked out between sobs. "I should have st-stopped being so terrified and told him sooner, so he wou-wouldn't have found out this way. The look he g-gave me in that cave, Aekeira…" her cries grew louder. "It hurts."

"Cave? What cave?"

Between sobs and broken sentences, Emeriel recounted what happened in the cave.

Aekeira's arms shook, tears falling, staining Emeriel's cheek. "I'm so glad he saved you. I shudder to think what would have happened if not for him."

"Yes, but-"

"There are no buts. Stop blaming yourself." Aekeira pulled back, looking into her red-rimmed eyes. "There was no way you could have told him sooner and still gotten away with it. In the worst-case scenario, you would be dead. In the best case, he would have rejected and avoided you. It's still a lose-lose situation."

Emeriel wiped a tear-stained cheek. "You're not helping."

"Sorry, I just wish you would stop hurting, Em." Aekeira gently wiped away another tear. "I'm so worried right now, thinking of what's going on out there."

GRAND LORD VLADYA

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