She meet Rainer at the hallway where he was passing a message to one of his commander.
Ayla stared at him, her chest tight, her heart barely holding itself together.
"You're really going to throw away our marriage… for her?" she asked, her voice trembling. "For someone you've only known for a few weeks?"
"You may leave"
Rainer didn't hesitate,
"Yes."
I've know her for years he corrected
The word landed like a final blow.
"Because I love her," he continued coldly. "And I want to spend my life with her."
Ayla felt the air leave her lungs.
"You're… really leaving me?" she whispered.
"Yes," he said again. "I'm sorry, Ayla. But this is what I want."
Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall not in front of him.
"Then go," she said, her voice breaking despite herself. "Go be with her."
Rainer turned to leave
Then paused.
"There's one more thing."
Ayla's stomach dropped.
"What now?"
"I'm going to speak to the king," he said. "I want a formal divorce. I want this marriage ended… properly."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Ayla swallowed the pain rising in her throat.
"You're really going to erase everything we had?" she asked.
Rainer's expression didn't change.
"This marriage was political," he said. "And it can end the same way. If you give your consent, the alliance between our kingdoms remains intact."
There it was.
Not love.
Not regret.
Just… strategy.
Ayla looked at him really looked at him searching for the man she once loved.
He was gone.
Replaced by someone colder.
Someone she didn't recognize.
Finally, she spoke.
"I'll give my consent."
Rainer blinked, slightly surprised.
"But not for you," she added. "For our kingdoms. For our people."
A flicker of relief crossed his face.
"Thank you, Ayla."
Her lips trembled.
"Don't thank me," she whispered. "Just go."
And this time
He did.
The hallway felt too quiet after he left.
Ayla stood there, unmoving, as the weight of it all settled in.
Her marriage was over.
Just like that.
Memories came uninvited
Her father announcing the engagement.
Her anger. Her resistance.
Then meeting him.
Rainer.
Charming. Warm. Easy to love.
And somehow…
She had.
She remembered laughter. Late nights. Soft promises.
The way he used to look at her
Like she was enough.
Now?
That look belonged to someone else
That night
The alarms rang.
Sharp. Urgent. Terrifying.
Ayla jolted upright in bed, her heart racing.
Then
Smoke.
Flames flickering beyond her window.
Screams.
Steel clashing.
Her breath caught.
"We're under attack…"
She didn't think she moved.
Throwing on a robe, she rushed out into the corridors.
Chaos met her instantly.
Soldiers running. Servants crying. Orders being shouted.
And then
She saw him.
Rainer.
Standing at the forefront, commanding the defense like nothing had changed.
Like he hadn't just shattered her world.
And beside him
Calantha.
Calm. Composed.
Watching everything.
Like she belonged there.
Ayla's chest tightened.
But she forced it down.
Not now.
There would be time to break later.
Right now
Her kingdom needed her.
She pushed forward through the chaos until she found a group of soldiers gathered over a map.
"What's happening?" she demanded.
One of them turned, startled.
"Princess you shouldn't be here. It's not safe."
"I didn't ask that," she said firmly. "Tell me how I can help."
The soldier hesitated… then nodded.
"We need a message delivered to the North Tower. Immediately."
"I'll take it."
He handed her the note quickly.
"Be careful, Your Highness."
Ayla didn't respond.
She was already running.
Through smoke filled corridors.
Past shouting guards.
Her heart pounded not just from fear
But from something else.
Something stirring beneath her skin.
Faint.
Warm.
Awake.