Rebellious Love

Part 25

I dismounted from my horse, followed by Philip and a few soldiers who tended to the animals. I avoided meeting Philip's gaze as he approached me, sensing that he was about to speak. Instead, I turned away and began walking towards the woods.

"Follow me," I uttered quietly, my voice barely above a whisper, but Philip heard and silently followed me.

As we reached the stream, I couldn't help but pause, the tranquil sight of the moonlight reflecting off the clear water calming my racing thoughts. I came to a halt, just a step away from the water's edge, and noticed Philip stopping a few steps behind me, his presence silent but palpable.

"You asked if there's something between us, right?" I turned to face him, meeting his cold gaze. He remained silent, waiting for me to continue, his expression unreadable yet expectant.

"Yes... Edward and I... we were dating behind everyone's back and yes..." I confessed, my words hanging in the air, heavy with uncertainty. I watched as Philip's expression darkened,

Philip frowned and looked away from me, he took a slow step closer, his movements deliberate as he avoided meeting my gaze. It was clear that he was struggling to contain his emotions, his clenched fists betraying his inner turmoil.

I braced myself for his outburst, fully expecting his anger and betrayal to boil over. But instead, he surprised me by stopping himself, visibly attempting to keep his composure.

"Why?... Why have you agreed to marry me?" His voice was soft, barely audible, but filled with a mixture of disappointment and hurt.

I frowned, uncertain of how to respond, my hands hanging limply at my sides.

"It's a long story... Philip—" I began, but he interrupted me, pleading for answers.

"Then tell me... Tell me everything. I'll listen, I'll try to understand your situation as best as I can... Abigail... please," he implored, his eyes brimming with tears as he reached out and took hold of my hands, resting his forehead against my shoulder.

His sudden display of vulnerability caught me off guard, leaving me at a loss for words. All I could do was stand there, feeling the weight of his emotions pressing against me, unsure of how to proceed.

"I'm sorry... Philip," I whispered softly, the words feeling inadequate as I wrapped my arms around him, returning his embrace and resting my head on his shoulder.

As we stood there in each other's arms, time seemed to stand still, the only sound the gentle rush of the stream nearby. Eventually, we both pulled away, and I took a deep breath, steeling myself to continue.

"It all started on my first visit to the Palace, when Alphonse introduced me as his very own daughter... That's when Edward and I met," I explained, my voice tinged with sadness as I recalled the memories.

Philip listened intently as I spoke, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. I sighed heavily and lowered myself to sit by the stream, watching the water flow past in silence.

"I remember that day," I murmured, lost in thought as I relived the memories of our first encounter.

~Flashback~

"I wouldn't be surprised at how well-trained she is under your roof, Alphonse," Heridity, a close friend of his, remarked, her voice soft and sweet as she covered half of her face with a fan adorned with a pattern reminiscent of the deep blue sky.

Alphonse simply smiled in response, taking her words as a compliment as they observed the crown prince and Abigail engaged in a spirited wooden sword duel under the scorching sun.