The broken Princess Reborn to be His Duchess

"She's the real princess, not you!" Sneered Alaric, before pushing me aside. He didn't even watch me fall to the ground or turn around to look at my fallen body. My body that had once been beautiful and young, now aged from stress and neglect.. My nails dug into the hard wood floor and I pushed my trembling body up, my dress was heavy and was like an extra weight pulling me back, but this needed to be done. I NEEDED HIM TO SEE ME. I pushed past the silent guards stationed in the stone corridors, always watching and never intervening. Not one. I continued further, following the smell of gardenias, the strong perfume that clung tighter to Alaric than I ever could. I passed the portraits of the old kings of before and the tapestries of families not meant to be forgotten, their eyes following me, begging me not to go further. If only I hadn't. If only I had listened...I stood in front of the door that I was too afraid to enter for so long, even as his wife, he had never allowed me to share his bed. He had never wanted to even touch me. Was I so hideous? I squared my shoulders and stepped in front of the guard. "Move." I ordered, but he did not. I could hear voices inside and my heart rate quickened, "I order you to move under the authority of the crown princess," he hesitated, "I am sorry princess," he said lowering his eyes, "but his majesty—" I pushed him aside and he stumbled, before he could grab at me I said coldly, "touch me and I will have your head!" His fingers fell in mid air and with a bit of triumph in my step I pushed the door open, only for everything to come crashing down. "Elaine," He breathed hard, his lips pressed against the nape of her neck, her dark hair tumbling in waves down her naked back, she threw her head back and her eyes met mine, and she smiled before aggressively increasing the roll of her hips, the sheets fell away and I watched as my husband of five years gripped her tighter and moaned her name. My fingers fell to my side. I was powerless. I stumbled backwards, the weight of my dress winning. The tapestries had looked away, disappointed that I did not yield to their advice. I was walking aimlessly now, the corridor getting darker and darker as I climbed the spiral stairs to the east tower. The tower where Alaric had confessed his love to me 10 years ago, the same place we had watched the water lilies bloom below and ate stolen tarts from the kitchen. I climbed the steps alone now, the laughter of the past fading around me like restless ghosts. When I reached the top, it was dark. It was empty. It was decrepit like me. The wind bit into my arms, pinching and shoving me from side to side as I stumbled to the edge and looked down. The lillies had died. The water was murky and dark. Was I really the last one to see it? The last one to notice that I never fitted in. I never belonged here with Alaric or with anyone. Tears rolled down my face with a caress of warmth and salt, and I shut my eyes and fell. I was falling until I broke the water and then I was sinking rapidly. My eyes opened as my oxygen depleted, it was then I realized that I wanted to live. I wanted to restart and now I have ended it all. The blackness below tightened its hold on my dress and refused to let go and no matter how I struggled and fought, it would not let go. The last bit of air left my lungs and the pain was excruciating and then it all went dark... "Princess Catalina," smiled the King and when my eyes shot open and I looked up, it was five years ago. I was five years ago. What was happening? "She is so flustered," laughed Mira, "it's all this talk of marriage." "What is that Mira?" Asked the King, she smiled shyly, "I thought you knew father," she blushed, and I knew it was all orchestrated, my humiliation, the years of abuse... "She is in love with Alaric." The king's eyes widened, "is this true Catalina?" And all eyes turned on me... I remembered when this had happened the first time, I had nodded meekly, my cheeks permanently stained red, but now it was different. This is what I wanted. A second chance. "I am sorry your Highness," I said loudly, I knew Alaric was watching, in my old life he was standing at the back, listening and fuming. I had been punished for speaking up and naming him immediately after. I remembered the bruises, and I remembered his words, "Your obsession with me is distasteful and pitiful, I will marry you as per my father's wishes but you will never be anything more to me." I had cried instantly and begged, grabbing on to his beautifully embroidered sleeves and he had pulled away even more disgusted. But that was then, this was now. I cleared my throat and ignored Mira's smirk as she feigned fanning herself to hide the smile on her face. She had won, or she had thought she had. "Your majesty," I breathed looking up and allowing my eyes to fill with the pain of the last five years, "here comes the water works," mocked Mira, and now Alaric was at her side, his grip on her seat tightening with anger towards me. "What is it child?" He asked, his face softening. "I know that you care for me as a child and I have one humble wish," I said and waited, "anything for you after all you are my dearest friend's daughter and it pains me everyday to know that their kingdom fell." I took a deep breath and kneeled before him, "Child, you may stand, if this is about your wedding to Alaric consider it done." He waved his hand dismissively and the entire hall was filled with whispers. "Your majesty, what I am about to ask might offend you," I said biting my lip, if it all went sideways I could lose my head in this life instead of drowning in the pond. "I do not wish to marry Alaric." Everything went silent. The air, the crowd, the world seemed to hold its breath. The King chuckled, "who else would you marry?" He smiled warmly, "it has been my dream to unite our families and I know it was your father's too." I swallowed, "I am in love with someone else and I wish to marry him with your blessing."