Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 306: A Shoulder to Lean On

Margery had known about the illegitimate princess for years.

She had, after all, witnessed Princess Jacinta finding fault with the girl over even the smallest things.

And she had to admit that, at first, she had been of the opinion that perhaps Princess Lyria had done something to offend Princess Jacinta. Why else would Her Highness single her out so relentlessly?

Perhaps Princess Lyria wished to take Princess Jacinta’s place.

The rumours had spread freely among the servants, and everyone had heard the stories of what Princess Lyria’s mother had supposedly done to the King—how she had tried to force a child upon His Majesty and secure herself a place in the palace.

Some claimed the woman was still living somewhere within the palace walls, hidden from public sight. Others insisted she had abandoned her daughter after achieving her purpose and fled without so much as looking back.

Margery had never cared much for the princess’s mother.

Nor, if she were being entirely honest, had she cared for the princess herself.

She had simply wished to perform her duties in peace.

To her, whatever Princess Lyria endured had been nothing more than the consequence of circumstances she neither understood nor cared to understand.

That had been what she believed.

Then Paul had spoken to her.

It had been shortly before Princess Jacinta’s attention settled upon him.

He had remarked, almost absent-mindedly, that perhaps Princess Lyria was the true victim in everything.

Margery had dismissed him immediately.

”It is none of our concern,” she had replied.

Paul had merely smiled—that gentle smile of his that somehow always made it difficult to remain annoyed with him.

”Perhaps not,” he had answered. ”But even if it is none of our concern, you needn’t look upon Her Highness with such disgust.”

Margery had scoffed at the time.

She had thought him too soft-hearted.

The very next day, however, she had crossed paths with Princess Lyria.

The princess had been walking with her head lowered as always.

She rarely looked at anyone directly, yet somehow she never collided with a single person. It was almost as though she knew precisely where everyone stood without ever lifting her gaze.

She moved like a shadow slipping silently through the palace corridors.

Margery would ordinarily have walked straight past her.

Yet that day, something caused her to pause.

Blood.

She had caught the unmistakable scent of it and it was fresh.

Her brows had furrowed, and instinctively she had taken a step toward the princess, intending to ask whether she required assistance.

But before she could utter a single word...

Princess Lyria had disappeared around the corner.

It was hardly surprising.

She had always seemed more ghost than person.

One moment she was there.

The next...she was gone.

Weeks drifted by after that.

Then everything in Margery’s life began to unravel.

Princess Jacinta had taken an interest in Paul.

Even now, Margery could still remember the uneasy feeling that had settled in her chest the first time she noticed the princess watching him. She had doubted it at first, refusing to belive it but it got to the point where she could no longer deny it.

Shortly before Paul died, during one of their final but brief conversations together, he had made her promise never to involve herself in the affairs of the court.

Though he was still of the opinion it would never happen because they planned to leave together after all.

Margery almost smiled at the memory.

For one thing, she had already become entangled in court affairs whether she wished it or not.

And for another...

Who could have imagined that the very princess she had once believed deserved every harsh word thrown at her would become the one extending a hand toward her?

The same princess who was asking her to hold on.

To continue clinging to life she herself had long since ceased valuing.

Truthfully, Margery had not been living.

She had merely been existing.

The only reason she still remained in this world was because she had dedicated herself to a purpose.

Once that purpose had been fulfilled...

She had intended to leave.

Just as Paul had.

She had imagined that perhaps, wherever he was now, she would finally be reunited with him.

The thought had comforted her on countless lonely nights.

And now...

It was as though the princess had looked directly into the darkest corners of her heart.

As though she had seen the thoughts Margery never voiced aloud.

The longing.

The exhaustion.

The quiet desire for everything to finally end.

Yet instead of condemning her...

Princess Lyria had simply asked her to keep holding on.

Margery stared silently at the young woman before her.

Princess Lyria returned the look with nothing but gentle concern.

Those warm amber eyes held no pity, no judgement.

Only kindness.

A kindness Margery had never expected to receive from someone who had every reason to mistrust the people around her.

She never even realised when the first tear escaped.

Then another.

And another.

Before long, they came in torrents.

Perhaps it was because she had not expected such tenderness from the princess.

Perhaps it was because she now knew just how genuinely kind Her Highness truly was.

Or perhaps it was simply because the weight she had carried alone for so long had finally become too much.

Princess Lyria’s eyes widened.

”I a-apologise, I t-thought...”

Margery laughed weakly through her tears before shaking her head.

”No need to apologise your highness...”

She wiped hurriedly at her face, though the tears refused to stop.

”Thank you,” Margery whispered.

Her voice trembled.

”Thank you... truly.”

The words dissolved into quiet sobs.

For everything Margery had imagined might happen...

Not once had she imagined the princess stepping forward.

Nor had she imagined Princess Lyria wrapping her arms gently around her.

Holding her close.

The embrace was hesitant, almost uncertain, as though the princess herself feared overstepping.

Yet it was warm and safe.

The others watched with widened eyes.

Surprise flickered across every face before gradually softening into quiet understanding.

”L-let it o-out,” Princess Lyria murmured gently.

”S-sometimes... w-we h-hold things i-in f-for f-far t-too long.”

Those simple words shattered whatever composure Margery had left.

She buried her face against the princess’s shoulder and cried.

She cried for Paul.

For herself.

For every lonely night.

For every smile she had forced.

For every promise she had broken simply by continuing to breathe.

She did not even care that she was leaning against royalty.

She did not care that such behaviour would ordinarily be considered unacceptable.

For the first time in what felt like forever...she grieved.

Princess Lyria merely held her through it all.

Patiently and quietly.

As though there were nowhere else she needed to be.

Several minutes passed before Margery’s sobs finally subsided.

Her breathing steadied little by little.

Not once during that time did Princess Lyria urge her to stop crying.

She simply remained there the anchor she promised to be.

When Margery finally stepped back, embarrassment immediately settled over her.

She dabbed hastily at her swollen eyes before letting out a sheepish laugh.

”I am terribly sorry for ruining the mood,” she said, offering the others an apologetic smile. ”It was meant to be such a pleasant morning.”

”It still is,” Debbie replied at once. ”Besides, this is the first time I have ever seen you cry.”

”A rather remarkable occasion,” Bridget added with an amused smile.

”If only there were some reward for witnessing it,” Pippa chimed in. ”Then everyone would know we were present the day Margery finally cried.”

A laugh escaped Margery before she could stop herself.

A genuine one.

Perhaps it would not only be the princess who became her anchor.

Perhaps these women—the friends she had somehow gained without ever seeking them—would become anchors as well.

Perhaps she did not have to carry everything alone any longer.

”Okay,” Debbie said with a clap of her hands. ”How about we focus on getting Her Highness ready lest she arrives late to her date?”