Chapter 185

Pearl felt like a the worst person on the planet as she packed her things that she had just finished unpacking less than an hour ago. She had to leave. She hadn't thought this through. She knew, deep down, that a future with Erik would be difficult but the thought of him having to renounce his crown for her was out of the question. She wouldn't allow that to happen. She had carried enough regret in her life and she wasn't about to allow this to happen. She cared too much for him to be selfish enough to have something like that happen. This wasn't a normal sacrifice for someone, like relocating or cutting ties with an ex. This was the fucking throne of England.

"Pearl. Please talk to me." Erik said, knocking at the door and begging to be let in. She gathered the rest of her things and opened the door to Erik, standing there looking desperate and panicked. "Pearl, look at me." He said. But she couldn't. She walked past him and headed down the hall to the door. "God dammit, Pearl. Stop!" He yelled. It was the first time she had heard him raise his voice like that. She stopped and looked at him, tears pouring from her face.

"I have to let you go. It's the right thing to do. I can't be selfish with you. I have to let you go now." She said, her heart shattering to pieces inside her chest.

He looked at her with wounded eyes. "You told me you wouldn't leave me." He said, his voice cracking.

"I don't want to. But I can't ask you to give up your life for me. I can't. It's wrong. If your father doesn't approve, you will lo..." Pearl explained but Erik cut her off.

"And what if he does approve? What then?" He asked. "Are you ready for that? For forever with me?"

"The chance of that is hardly there." Pearl said.

"It's a chance I'm willing to take. For you." He said, walking closer to her.

"I can't let you do that." She said, wiping the tears falling with her sleeve. She turned to leave and he grabbed her arm, turning her to him and kissing her. "Don't you understand? I have to leave because the deeper we fall will only hurt us the longer we drag it out. It's inevitable."

"You're not leaving. Not now. Not ever. Do you understand? I will not be separated from you from this moment forward. I don't fucking care what my father wants. I don't fucking care about anything other than this moment, with you, and every moment with you after it. You are not leaving this house, my arms, my bed. Put your fucking bags down and let me love you how you deserve to be loved. Whenever happens, we will face it together. There will be no more talk of you leaving. Ever. Now put down your bags and come to me." He said.

The tears continued to fall down her face as she looked at him. She had two choices. Turn around and leave, knowing she sacrificed her own happiness for his birthright and the life he was born to lead or she could give in and run to him, potentially ruining his future, the throne of England, the world as they both knew it just to have his love and to be by his side. She knew the right thing to do. She looked down and took a moment, causing him to fear the worst and his heart to pound nearly out of his chest.

"Pearl...please." he pleaded.