All Chapters of Almost Beloved: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

As I stared at the words in a daze, I heard Evelina Wrenwood's voice from inside the room."Yolanda, do you think Prince Alaric will return to the capital today?""You ask every day, Ms. Wrenwood. Surely His Highness will come back after all that thinking about him," Evelina's maid, Yolanda, replied with a laugh."Then I can give him the peaches! He said last time that the peaches from the southern duchies were the best."Yolanda hesitated. "Ms. Wrenwood, these peaches were a gift from Prince Cassian.""I know. His Highness won't mind that I gave them to Prince Alaric. He's always been generous."The swarm of words appeared before my eyes again.[That's hilarious! She's using the crown prince's gifts to impress someone else.][What, is that really appropriate? How can she act like that?][What's wrong with it? Evelina loves Prince Alaric, not Prince Cassian. If Prince Cassian insists on giving her gifts, that's his problem.]I said nothing, turned around, and wrecked my chamb

Evelina came from Moonveil at this time of year, too.She stood at the foot of the steps, so tiny that she barely seemed more than a kit. Only one tail had begun to grow. When she looked up, her eyes were wide with fear in this unfamiliar place.I told her not to be afraid, that this would be her home from then on.Back then, I thought she would grow up and learn, in time, who truly cared for her.She did grow up. One by one, all nine of her tails grew in. They were beautiful.And yet, I was never the one she looked at with love.Sometimes I wonder if, without those words, I would never have come to see her in this light. I would have kept telling myself she was simply reserved, that she struggled to show her feelings and only needed time.But now, I knew better.A cold snap hit in March, and I caught a bad cold. I had been coughing on and off for days, but I still wasn't getting better.Evelina finally came by that evening. "Your Highness, I heard you were unwell. I made this

Alaric reined in his horse and stared down at her. "Whose Foxkin are you?"Evelina stared at him in surprise. "Prince Cassian's.""So you do know." Alaric's voice was icy. "You were sent to Prince Cassian, yet you come to my home every day. "You pass on the gifts he gives you to me. Every kindness he shows you, you use to win my favor instead."Do you think you're worthy?""Your Highness, that's not it! I just…""You've never had any regard for His Highness." Alaric leaned down, his words sharp and clear. "I never thought you were good enough for me, and I never will. Prince Cassian may let you get away with anything, but I won't show you any mercy."He straightened and snapped the reins. His horse splashed through a muddy patch, soaking Evelina in dirty water.That evening, she stood stubbornly outside my manor, demanding to see me. I was reviewing reports when Anthony came to tell me. My pen stopped mid-stroke."Ms. Wrenwood refuses to leave. She says she wants you to

I gave a small smile. "See? You can't even bring yourself to lie to me.""No, that's not it." Evelina shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Your Highness, I just didn't know…""You knew," I said, cutting her off. "You always knew. You just never thought I'd marry someone else."Evelina stood frozen."Everything I gave you, you passed on to someone else. I don't blame you, because that was your choice," I said.Then I added, "But now I've stopped giving, so don't blame me. It's my own choice."Evelina's tears streamed down her face, but she still said nothing. She didn't ask me to stay or try to explain herself. She never said the words I had once dreamed of hearing, either.Evelina only cried and asked, "Your Highness, are you giving up on me, too?""You abandoned His Highness first, Ms. Wrenwood." Cordelia's voice came from behind me. "You can't expect someone you left behind to wait for you forever."Evelina jerked her head up and looked past me at Cordelia. In th

Alaric continued, "Evelina accused you of conspiring with the enemy and plotting treason. Every piece of evidence was flawlessly forged, and you had never seen any of it."Father ordered you to take your own life."He looked at me, his eyes full of tears."In my past life, I ruled as king for ten years after you died. Those were ten long years. Every day, I read reports and met with ministers."Each day, I went to the royal mausoleum and spoke to you. Rosaline's coffin stood beside yours."Whenever I visited, I'd tell her to wait a little longer. Soon, I would be joining you both."For ten years, I never had a peaceful night's sleep. Do you know how quiet it was in the royal mausoleum? Or how much I missed you both?"At last, I understood.My voice trembled when I finally spoke. "So that was why you'd acted this way ever since you woke up in this life.""My only wish after being reborn was to get Evelina away from you." Alaric spoke calmly."In the first few days after I re