Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 71: Fallen Hero

Camilla wasn’t even able to respond to Sarai. She simply ran. She ran blindly through the yew grove, as if trying to outrun the hateful words. She couldn’t go far, though. The pain in her belly grew until a wave of nausea overwhelmed her.

She stopped and found herself holding on to the trunk of a nearby tree as the vomit rose up her throat. Her eyes filled with tears and the sour taste of bile filled her mouth as she heaved over and over again. Her belly cramped painfully, nearly bringing her to her knees.

After what felt like an eternity, she was able to straighten up shakily, blinking her burning eyes. She took a few deep breaths but the pounding in her chest continued, Sarai’s falsely sweet voice echoing in her mind.

Camilla felt as if her heart had been crushed into the dust. She had never dwelled on the specifics of her family’s deaths, deliberately refusing to fill in her mind’s blanks. She preferred to remember their many happy times together instead.

Now, even that peace had been shattered by Sarai’s cruelty. She’d never be able to think of her father or brothers again without terrible images filling her vision.

"Your Highness."

Camilla stifled a sob at the sound of a faint voice calling out to her. She wasn’t even afforded the privilege of being alone at such a time.

I swear if Princess Sarai has followed me here, I will hit her with whatever I can get my hands on, she vowed as white-hot fury surged through her. I’ll gladly take whatever punishment King Edward metes out later, so long as I get to wipe that smile off her face.

Camilla swiped at her mouth with the back of her shaking hand and turned around. To her great relief, it wasn’t Sarai who had called out. Instead, she saw Francis Lowell weaving through the trees a little distance away and looking at her with a pained expression.

"Are you alright, my lady?"

Camilla nodded without hesitation, even though they both knew she was far from alright. She felt too drained to even care that Francis was seeing her in such a disheveled state. She quickly dried her watery eyes.

"I’m truly sorry you had to hear something so terrible-" Francis began as he stepped closer carefully.

"Something as terrible as the truth, you mean?" Camilla stared hard at him, willing him to deny it. But he didn’t. Francis just kept watching her with the same somber expression.

The nausea rose in her belly again. She doubled over and heaved painfully.

Camilla was finally able to rise on her trembling legs. "You saw my father that day, didn’t you, Sir Francis?"

He nodded reluctantly, his face etched in sadness. "A group of us scouted Arlen Castle, not long after the Moraigthian forces had already swept through."

"And William? Was he also part of this group?"

Francis nodded again. "He led it, my lady."

Camilla let those words sink in. William had known about her father all that time and never said a word to her.

"Did you see Malcolm as well?" Her face crumpled in fresh grief at the thought of her youngest brother, who had been opposed to rebelling against King Kenneth in the first place.

"No, my lady. That took place somewhere else. I don’t think any of Prince William’s men witnessed it."

Camilla scrutinised his open, guileless face. He seemed to be telling her the truth.

"William told me my father died a hero." Camilla finally spoke, hating the way her voice trembled.

"He said that because he thought you had already lost enough." Francis’s voice was gentle. "He wouldn’t have wanted to add to your suffering."

"And yet he was happy enough to tell Sarai the truth." She shook her head bitterly.

"No, my lady." Francis was adamant. "She wouldn’t have found out from him. In fact, when the princess started asking questions about your family background a few days ago, William expressly forbade us all to tell her anything."

"Then who would’ve told her...?" Camilla’s voice trailed off as her suspicions focused on one person. She said no more, however. It didn’t really make a difference now. Regardless of who told Sarai, she now knew the awful truth of her family’s end. She’d have to live the rest of her life with the knowledge. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Francis then confessed something that made Camilla’s jaw drop. "Before we departed Arlington to retreat back across the border, William sent a purse of gold to a group of Moraigthian soldiers to cut down your father’s body and bury him with all possible honour. William even removed his own cloak and ordered for your father to be wrapped in it."

"Why would he do that for his enemy?" she choked out.

Francis smiled faintly. "Will’s a chivalrous man. He said no one deserves that kind of humiliation, even when they’re on the losing side. He didn’t agree with your father’s actions but he respected his rank and his skill on the battlefield."

Camlla nodded slightly, feeling she had just discovered a side to the prince she hadn’t known existed.

The two of them were quiet for several moments. Eventually, the young knight rubbed the back of his neck, still frowning. "Would you like to go for a walk in another part of the garden, Your Highness? I’m happy to keep you company."

She shook her head. "Thank you for the offer and also for your kindness, Sir Francis. But I just want some time alone now."

Camilla turned and started walking slowly back to the castle. She wiped her eyes one last time, hoping that by the time she reached her apartments, her face wouldn’t reveal she’d been crying. She didn’t want to talk about what had happened with her ladies. Even though they’d be nothing but kind to her about it, Camilla didn’t want to see the pity in their eyes.

She’d had more than enough of that for one day.