3 THE BREAKUP

A small step, and a well-hidden face with a thick cloak, Samena was doing everything she could to blend in with the cord as much as possible. Just this afternoon, she sends him a cryptic message asking if the two of them could meet up in their secret hiding spot. Away from the prying eyes of the media., and paparazzi. She didn't know if he received the message or not but she was still taking a risk to meet him up because the sooner she would get away from his grasp, the sooner she would be able to save herself from her untimely demise and get the revenge she needed.

She had finally arrived at the alleyway where they were supposed to meet, but she soon discovered that it was surrounded by the Queen's guard. The guards wore fluffy black coats with red buttoned uniforms underneath. They appeared to be waiting for someone, and Samera had a feeling it was her.

Without waiting any longer, she quietly disappeared into the dark. Discreetly listening to the guard's softly whispering,

"I'm speculating this the majesty's secret headquarters, where he kept some of his...private matters hidden from public view,"

"Shh..shh....You ought to not have said that. We'd both lose our jobs if our Majesty found out we were talking behind his back. Rather, we must take a look around the property and maybe we can find a piece of evidence about this certain woman that we can bring to the Queen--"

"What exactly are you doing here?"

When a familiar voice echoed down the corridor, Sam returned her attention to the secret location. The man moved closer to the terrified guards, who immediately bowed their heads as if they hadn't been caught red-handed.

"Your Majesty, you've arrived."

"Of course I would be here. This is my property, and what are you two doing to my property?"

The tall one took all the courage to speak up in a firm voice saying,

"Your Queen Majesty --"

"Mother?"

A bitter laughed escape the Prince's mouth.

"Your Majesty ordered you to search my property?"

The two men didn't speak up but that was enough confirmation on the Prince side. He was not that patient though as he drove the two royal guards out of his property.

After two guards had left the vicinity, the Prince then call out for her name.

"You can come out now. They were gone."

Samera slowly retreated from darkness and into the light. It would be the first time ever she would be seeing the young face of the crown prince again. Before he had become cold and distant towards her, they used to be close best friends and bed partners.

When the passion of young love was still burning in both of their hearts, his gray eyes shone like the deepest night, and his dirty blonde hair complemented his white suit as he come closer to met her. Nobody could deny that Prince Reagan was attractive. It's no surprise because he has so many girls following him, and she used to be one of them.

Samera took a look at his casual attire. He looked more like a businessman than a Prince, dressed in a tuxedo and polished black shoes. His Majesty appeared to have just arrived to complete some errand and had come here after receiving her message. This should not have made her happy, but it did. What could she have blamed herself for? She has been in love with him for a long time. However, right now she must be prepared to be strong.

Reagan did not wait for Samera to fully step up into the night and hug her tight. Sam was taken aback but since in her heart, this would be the last time, she just let him be. Ending 20 plus years of adoration for someone was not easy. Especially when it comes to someone you've been in love with your entire life.

Sam and Reagan met back in college five years ago when all the college departments decided to have general camping on the mountainous range of York. They both met when she stumbled upon a big bear and the Prince, studying in the military at that time, shot it with his rifle and saving her.

One could compare her relationship with the Prince to a Cinderella story, but the truth was much simpler. It was not a case of love at first sight. They started out as close friends. However, on one terrible night, the young prince recklessly caused a car accident in which the truck driver died. Reagan was the first to call her and stormed into her house, crying and ranting about how bad of a Prince he was. She realized that there was still humanity left in a seemingly perfect image of the Prince and that's what she liked about him.

Not only that but Sam was charmed by the young Prince's wit and love of arts. Something she passionately shared with him through her own design she always drew in her sketchbook. He always complimented her works. When she finally took over the business of her dead father, he was her first customer. However, it seemed that every good thing has come to an end.

"What would you like to discuss?"

"Your highness, I had been meaning to tell this --"

"Let's go inside first so nobody could see us."

Reagan gave her a glass of warm milk. Because it was already autumn, the temperature was gradually changing, and standing in the cold alleyway might give her cold so he decided that giving her warm milk might help.

The Prince was overjoyed to see her, but Sam wasn't there for their usual cuddly moment, so she backed up a little when the Prince put his hands on her waist. As a result, he has a perplexed expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, the thing is..."

Her voice trailed off as if it were being dragged into the background. The expression in the Prince's eyes suggested that all of the cues she had been projecting to him had gone unnoticed and had simply passed the Prince's intuitions. Therefore she needed to be upfront and honest to him about her genuine intentions. This would pain her for the time being, but she knew that in the long run, she would be able to move on and be free of the life she had led in the past, even if it was giving up on the precious thing she had at the moment.

Sam embraced herself for whatever reactions he would have as she watched Reagan wait for her next remark. She will not change her mind and will proceed regardless of how much he begs or screams. This was her opportunity to get away from him. This was the only time, and there would be no more.

"....I had planned to marry."

She had the crown Prince's full attention by mentioning marriage. He grinned at her and took her hand kissed it as he murmured,

"Yes, I am aware. Darling. You must be patient. Once I'll get married to Princess Donna then marrying you as my royal concubine wouldn't be that hard. I promise you that this marriage was on paper only. You were always the one in my heart. We will have as numerous children as you like. You'll have my babies. You will give birth to the heir of the throne, and there might be a chance of you becoming a Queen. Mera, believe me. I had all of these plans in place ahead of time."

She had heard these words so many times in her past life that they had already lost their meaning to her. She knew that it will never happen and he would still end up following his own family. However, the same eyes gave the same glint he use to have when he look at her. She was tempted to back away from her plan but she realized she has to stand up and be independent. She already knew what her future would look like if she stayed with this man.

"I can not."

"What exactly do you mean?"

" I can not marry you."

"Wa-why? Why? Why you can't? Was this because of the article? Do you want me to track down whoever wrote that--"

"No, you should not. Reg, this isn't you."

"Why? Why, Mera? Tell me, please. Did I make a mistake?"

"No-no. Your Majesty... It was just that I felt...like I deserve better."

Her tears betrayed her this time, and they streamed down her cheeks. She was having an internal battle within her that was trying to chastise her for being so stupid as to leave the Prince for a more comfortable existence. It was screaming, and shouting at her of how selfish she was, but she held on. There was no going back.

CRASH!

Her remarks appeared to strike a chord in the young Prince's heart. His gaze started to be filled with water and he was gazing at her in disbelief. Something broke that day. Not only was the glass that held an expensive wine, but also the heart of a man who had never thought this dreadful day would ever come.

Yet he refused to believe, or more accurately, he was in denial, for how could Mera have left him unless it was...

On his heart, he was felt with rage. Different scenarios ran on his head. Things that he could no longer do to her and things that he looked forward to doing with her that would never be in reality. e stood up and walked around the room to clear his mind since he was frightened of hurting her in some way. He didn't want to be illogical at this point, so he tried to analyze her action but he only came with one conclusion.

"Did the Queen request that you do this?"

"No...You misunderstand—"

"If you were attempting to hide it from me, that's fine. I'm still going to find out about it. But the fact is that I don't want you to leave. Not right now. Not in this lifetime."

"Reg--"

"I'm not paying attention to you, Mera."

"Let me explain—"

"No! No! This is final!"

"Then at the very least, respect me and listen to me! You can't make a decision in my life! This is mine!"

Her words rang out in the empty hall. Words bouncing off the walls, creating a wave effect, as if someone was shouting within the cave. The Prince was silenced as a result of this. There were only a few other times when the two of them clashed, but she never yelled at him. He understood he was dealing with a major issue. This is no longer a simple argument.

"I do not wish to continue this relationship. I do not want to be associated with you anymore. Because I am more than just a second option. I am more than just a mistress...a concubine...a companion. I am more than what you perceive me to be."

Her tears started falling like rain and it never stop. Word by word was said in such a strong emotion and Prince Reagan has never seen her like that. His tears fell down as well but he quickly wiped it down with his trembling hands and looked away. Turning his back on her as he held her tears.

"In this relationship, it was not you that would be tainted but me. My reputation, my family, and the generations that will come after me. You know to yourself what had happened to your biological mother after she gave birth to you. You, of all the people, should know that becoming involved with a commoner like me was like a moth flying closer to the fire. You will get burned."

This remark prompted the Prince to glance at her and respond,

"My mom's situation is unique! She was fooled into sleeping with the King in order for the Queen to bear a male heir in her name and the King to have a Crown Prince. Then after that, they disregarded her like a rag, and never let me into her life. You, on the other hand, were different."

"No... not at all."

She shook her head. Getting closer and closer to him.

"I may have been in your heart, and I may have own its entirety, but your responsibilities were all above me. Therefore if the throne was threatened, above all and everything else---you would choose it over me. You would stand as the Crown Prince of Koningbridge, not Samera's lover. That's who you are. I know you and I know how passionate you are with your title and how you want to please the people all around you, so let me go."

Her words finally shattered him. He began wailing and crying uncontrollably. Samera stood firm as she dealt with her feelings calmly. She continued,

"Allow me to be joyful. Allow me to be with someone who can be my lover, husband, companion, and friend all at the same time. Holding on to me will only lead to turmoil. To me, to you, to your family, to the people of this country, and to your beautiful bride. I don't want to be the cause of a broken marriage."