(8) The News of the Invasion

Reartle, Afnira

A foggy and cold morning caused Alex to stir in bed, looking for the warmth of the blankets she slowly detached Cathy who had been tangled with Alex. Unfortunately for Alex, Cathy woke as Alex tried to sit up.

"Alex?" She said groggily struggling to open her eyes, Alex turned and smiled

"Good morning beautiful," she said kissing her forehead and sitting up. Cathy groaned

"No it's too early come back to beeeed," She said clinging to Alex's waist to stop her from leaving.

"Baby it's cold I'm going to get another blanket, I'll come right back," she promised as Cathy slowly unhinged her arms off her waist and plopped back onto the bed hiding behind the cover. Cathy heard a buzzing from Alex's side of the bed and decided to check it out.

"Alex your phone is ringing! Someone's calling you! also bring my pillssss" She yelled to Alex who had disappeared looking for an extra blanket.

"Answer it for me!" Alex responded from where she was.

"Hello?" Cathy asked

"Princess Alexis?" The voice asked over the phone. It was a deep voice of an old man.

"No this is her fiancée Cathrine Belmi," she replied now wide awake.

"Lady Cathrine, I am General Khan, if you could inform the Princess that there is a demon invasion in the southern gate" Cathy's stomach sank.

"Are the King and Queen alright?"

"The king... yes, they are safe, the Queen is simply requesting that we inform the crown Princess of the situation,"

"Does she have to go?"

"I am unclear of any instructions of her return, du zief aufri,"

"Okay thank you, du zief aufri," Cathy replied hanging up and standing up to look for Alex.

"Who was that?" Alex asked with a sweater in hand. Cathy grabbed Alex's free hand and held it tightly.

"It was General Khan, there's an invasion at the southern gate." Alex's body tensed as she dropped her sweater and Cathrine's hand and ran to the closet. "What are you doing?" Cathrine asked confused. Alex turned to her and scrunched her face

"I'm going to Kauldrin," she stated as she put on pants and a clean shirt.

"But you don't have to go Alex," Cathy said nearing her and putting a hand on her shoulder. She turned to me

"What about my parents, my country, my responsibility?" She asked frustrated,

"Alex they have it under control, if they didn't they would've sent for you," Cathy said trying to calm her down, "plus we have people here that need our help! People we can actually help," she said trying to reason with the Princess but it backfired. Suddenly Alex jerked her hand off her shoulder and paced the floor trying to figure out why her fiancée would say such a thing.

"I have to go help my people! It's my responsibility since birth! I can't just drop it for some people that don't pertain to me!" She exclaimed at Cathy who narrowed her eyes,

"Just because they don't belong to the kingdom of Kauldin doesn't mean we should just ditch them willy nilly Alex! We came here to help!"

"Correction, we came here to attend a ball! but you decided to help when the King asked not me, I'm here for you, but my parents and my country are in need and I can't give my attention to problems that I don't have time to fix!" Alex responded harshly pointing at the outside.

"So now that there's a problem they don't need you to solve it, you're just going to ditch me and these people?" Cathy said hurt.

"I'm not going to ditch you but you need to get it into your head that we have a responsibility to help our country before anything else!" Alex strained

"You go on and on about responsibility but when there are people suffering right in front of you you refuse to listen!" Cathy fumed

"There's an invasion happening in our kingdom and you just want stay here and help these people you don't even know?!" Alex snapped at Cathy who stood defensively,

"We can't just leave them here like this Alex, surely you know this!" She responded not budging. Alex shook her head and turned away. Then she looked back with tears forming in her eyes but with a determined face.

"Cathy this is our responsibility as nobles of Kauldin to take care of it!" She exclaimed.

"That's the job of our parents! You aren't Queen yet! And I'm not the head of my house! We aren't even married yet! We still have so much to do! why are you rushing into everything!"

"Rushing? The demons are getting in the way of us getting married and you don't want to stop them?" Alex asked frustrated why Cathy doesn't want to go help.

"I- they're not the only thing getting in the way Alex," she responded strong. Alex's body tensed.

"What do you mean Cathrine?" She asked fearing the truth.

"Alexis, you always go on about your responsibilities as if you have any, not to mention your parents don't like me! What about me? I have problems too! But it's always about you! When will you realize the world isn't all about you!" Cathy snapped. Alex stepped back, Cathy had hit a nerve.

"So you're saying we shouldn't get married," Alex said cold and distant.

"Alex I didn't mea-"

"I think I understand now Cathrine no need to explain any further, I'm leaving right now so don't worry, just do what you want," Alex said grabbing her coat and leaving the cottage. Cathy stepped to follow her but stopped maybe it's better this way, we want different things right now.

~Alex-

Once I drive far enough I pull over and scream but those tears of anger slowly become tears of sadness as I realize what just happened. Did I just lose the love of my life? It's all my fault. I have to go bac- I feel the ringing on my phone and I look for who it is.

Wigget is calling you

I sigh as the little hope I had that it was Cathy leaves but I pick up nonetheless

"Alex?" His voice seemed distressed and worried

"What do you want Wigget?" I respond

"It's the southern gate.... it- it fell. They're entering freely into the country, they're requesting everyone that can fight head to the battles fields, are you and Cathy coming back from your trip to help?" He says in a rushed voice.

"It's just me, Cathrine won't be coming," I really sadly I wish I could go back to her and tell her I'm sorry and stay, but my country needs me. Cathy will be here. Safe. "I'm on my way."

——

Yours, Aegean✨