AGAINST ALL ODDS.

.........c

The cold stares from the people and the lingering mockery echoed in Livs mind along after the scene in the grand hall has ended.The weight of the king's words,tge cruel laughter of the chief's, and the stinging humiliation she felt-all of it pressed down on her chest like an anchor,dragging her deeper into the pits of despair.

After the kings cruel display,they were escorted out of the grand hall by a servant who dared not to look liv in the eye.She followed her leg heavy with each step,As if the entire palace had turned against her.She didn't dare glance at JW.He had said he loved her,but his actions spoke volumes.He had stood by silently,offering no protection,no defense.And that in the end ,felt worse than the insults thrown her way .

They reached a set of cold stone corridors,there steps echoing along the walls. The silence between them was thick and suffocating.

"why did you do ?"that liv finnaly asked,her voice trembling with anger and betrayal.The question was simple yet it carried the weight of her broken trust.

JW didn't answer immediately.He kept his gaze ahead his face hard and unreadable,his jaw clenched.His fists were still tight by his side,but there was nothing in his posture that indicated he was in pain or regret.It was is if the whole ordeal was something he had to endure.

"You let them do that?"liv continued,her voice growing more forcefull."You stood there,why didn't you even say a word?why?"

The words came out raw,and she could feel her tears weeling up,but she refused to let them fall.Her eyes burned with the need for an explanation,but deep down she knew she wouldn't get one.She was a fool for expecting anything else.Her own disbelief of the situation made her feel like a stranger to her whole body.

JW stopped walking ,his back still turned to her.He exhaled deeply ,the tension in his shoulders finally giving away to exhaustion.

"You don't understand ,' he said quietly."I can't fight him," his voice hoarse,"I can't win,and you-,"He hesitated but the words trembeled out,"you just a pawn in this game,and u always will be."

The hit Liv harder than any of the insults or food thrown at her.she took her steps back,as if the words physically pushed her away.She could feel her heart cracking,the pieces of her trustJW in her heart scattering like glasses.

"A pawn ?" she whispered,tge words feeling foreign in her mouth.Like it wasn't ment for her ,is that all i mean to you?To both of you?"

Her voice shook with a mixture of disbelief and sorrow.She had known that JW was distant but she had always convinced her self that he cared someway,that there was something beneath that cold exterior.Now she saw the truth- he didn't care.Not in the way he hoped.She was just another piece of puzzle he wants to play a means to an end.JW turned behind to face her,his expression torned between helplessness and frustration.He opened his mouth to say something, but his words flattered.

"I'm trying to protect you ,Liv."He said,his tone softer now but it lacked conviction it should have had."You think you are the only one being humiliated?you think i wanted that to happen?You can't go against him!You don't know what is like to be in my position."

The rawness of his voice made her flater for her moment.For a split second she could see the pain in his eyes.But the moment passes quickly,replaced by the cold mask he always wore.

"And what about me?"Liv asked,her voice steady now,though the ache in her chest was unbearable."And what about what you did to me?What you promised me?You promised i wouldn't be treated like this."

JW's face twisted with frustration,"I told you,this is the life you are now apart of,I never promised you anything"He snapped.His words came out sharp,almost bringing as though he was pushing her away."If you can't accept that ,then you should leave.Hee! if you can."

The harshness in his voice cut deeper than the insult from the king or chiefs.It was a reality check Liv wasn't prepared for.

Liv stood there, her mouth slightly open as she tried to process what had just happened.The words echoed in her mind:If you can't accept that then you should leave.

He was right.She didn't belong here.She wasn't part of this world.She was just a nuisance.A means to appease his father nothing more.

She shook her head. Tears threatening to spill.But she swallowed them back.She refused to show any more weakness.Not here.Not in front of him.

"Fine,"she said,her voice trembling slightly."I'll accept it ,I'll accept that I am nothing to you."

Without another word she turned, and walked away ,Her footsteps hallowing in the narrow corridor as she moved further from him.The further she walked ,the harder it became to hold back her anger that simmered in her chest.