Rejected by the prince

Prince Gilan’s POV

I’m woken from my sleep by soft but persistent knocks at my door.

“Who’s disturbing my rest?” I mutter groggily, my voice barely audible. The exhaustion from my long journey still weighs heavily on me, and all I wanted was uninterrupted sleep.

“Who is it? Is that you, Mother?” I ask, rubbing my eyes.

“No… May I come in, please?”

It’s a woman’s voice, gentle, familiar, but I can’t quite place it. The sound tugs at a memory I can’t fully recall.

“The door’s not locked. You can come in,” I reply, pushing myself upright and sitting on the edge of the bed.

She steps inside, and I’m taken aback.

There she stands, a picture of poise and elegance. The light from the corridor spills around her, catching in the waves of her hair and outlining her figure in a soft glow. Her eyes shimmer with confidence, her dress flowing with subtle grace, and her lips curve into a small, expectant smile.

She’s… beautiful. Unmistakably so. For a moment, I forget everything else. I forget the fatigue. I forget my confusion. I just watch her, caught in that quiet moment.

But something doesn’t quite click. The face is familiar, yes, but my mind can’t find the name.

“I’m sorry, remind me of your name. I recognize you… I just can’t remember where from,” I say honestly.

“My prince, don’t you remember me? It’s me, Amara,” she says, her voice soft but confident.

Amara?

I blink in surprise. Of course. It’s her. But she’s changed, dramatically. She's more refined, more striking than I remember.

“I apologize for not recognizing you. You look… different. What brings you here?” I ask, gesturing to the sofa near my bed.

She walks over gracefully and sits down.

“I came to see you, Gilan. I’ve missed you,” she says. “It’s been years since we last spoke.”

“Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t reach out. I meant to call, but things got overwhelming. Life moved too fast,” I say, though deep down I know it's a lie.

The truth is, I had no intention of reaching out to her. In fact, part of me was relieved to be away. But I couldn’t say that to her face, it would be cruel. And I’ve never been one to hurt others needlessly.

“It’s okay,” she says quickly. “I’m just happy you’re back now. Finally, we can continue from where we left off.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, us,” she says, her voice taking on a tender tone. “We can finally make our relationship official. I’m tired of waiting, Gilan. I want to settle down with you, to start a family together.”

Her words catch me off guard.

“I, Amara, I’m not ready for that,” I say, keeping my tone as gentle as I can. “We were just kids back then. We didn’t really know what we were doing. I think it’s best not to rush into something we might regret later.”

“I’m not rushing anything,” she insists. “It’s your parents who made that decision when you weren’t around. They told everyone we were meant to be.”

I sigh and lean back. “Regardless of what my parents thought, I’m not ready. I’m sorry.”

She looks at me, stunned. “Is this, because I played hard to get back then?” she asks quietly.

“No, it’s not that,” I reply.

“Then what is it, Gilan? Please tell me, so I can understand.”

I hesitate, but then I decide to be honest.

“Because I don’t feel the same way anymore. The truth is, I don’t love you, Amara. I haven’t for a long time. And I don’t think I can force those feelings just because it’s what people expect.”

She stares at me, her eyes glassy. “Please… don’t say that,” she whispers, her voice trembling.

“I would rather be honest than lead you on,” I tell her. “It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“But what about your parents? What will I tell them? Everyone in town thinks we’re a couple. They’ll laugh at me if they find out you’ve rejected me. I’ll be humiliated. Where will I even hide my face?” Her voice cracks, and I see tears welling in her eyes.

“I’ll speak to my parents,” I promise. “I’ll take responsibility. Don’t worry about what people say. You don’t have to carry this alone.”

“I just don’t understand,” she murmurs. “Why did your feelings change? Why did you stop loving me?”

“Because over time, I realized it wasn’t love, it was a crush. I was young, and yes, maybe I was infatuated with you. I remember writing you letters and wishing you’d give me a chance. But when you finally did, it was too late. I had already made plans to leave the country. We never had the time to explore what could’ve been. And while I was away, those feelings faded.”

“I’m sorry, Gilan. But, can we start over? I still love you. I really do,” she pleads, her voice breaking.

“I’m sorry, Amara. But I can’t. I don’t want to give you false hope,” I say, firmer this time. “Please, stop insisting.”

She grows quiet, staring down at her hands.

“Gilan, please don’t do this.”

“I’m tired, Amara. I don’t want to keep repeating myself. I’ve just returned from a long journey and I need to rest. Please, I’m asking you to leave.”

“Maybe you just need time to think. I can wait. I’ll wait for as long as it takes, just please reconsider.”

“No,” I say softly but firmly. “This is my final decision. Please don’t wait for me. You’re beautiful, intelligent, and kind. You deserve someone who will love you without hesitation. I’m not that person.”

“Are you sure?” she asks one last time.

“I’m one hundred percent sure.”

She slowly stands, defeated. “Okay… I’ll go now.”

I can hear the heartbreak in her voice, and a part of me aches for her. But I know this is the right thing to do, for both of us.

“Take care of yourself,” I say as I lie back down.

She leaves the room, and the door closes gently behind her.

I exhale deeply, sinking into my pillows. It’s over. Whatever was between us, real or imagined, it’s finished. The weight of that fake relationship is finally off my shoulders. I just hope she finds the strength to move on, and eventually, find someone who will truly love her.