Epilogue 1-Desire

Chapter 3

"Hello Prince Hugo, I see you've come back."

Hugo jumped at the sound of the woman's voice. His eyes shot over to where the unearthly sound emanated from, and none other than the witch he'd unintentionally befriended over a month ago was standing there, staring at him awkwardly. She was so weird. What was her name again? "Uh.. Hi. How are you?"

She was smiling with that creepy grin of hers again. "I've missed you so much. But you're here. You came looking for me. I'm so happy you've come." The girl came and sat a bit too close, he shifted to maintain some semblance of personal space as she started staring up at him again with those pleading eyes. "Oh, my poor prince. Are you troubled? I'd love to help you, tell me all about it."

While he appreciated a bit of fawning she was a little too far outside his comfort zone now, after the weirdness of Amber's birthday ball.. "Uh, that's okay. I'll be fine, I just wanted some alone time."

The witch pulled back, "Oh I know, I know how sad you must be. It's hard to loose someone you love. I lost both my parents a long time ago, but we move on, and we love again…"

That was the weirdest thing he'd ever heard. Who forgets about loving their parents after they die? "Wow. Uh, I'm sorry your parent's died. Did you get adopted or something? Wait… how did you know I lost Princess Vivian's love?" The witch's eyes went wide. That was unnerving.

"Vivian…."

"Yes, Princess Vivian of Zamuria, how did you know?"

A strange babble of incoherent words came out of her, and she flung her arms around Hugo's neck. "Whoa, whoa just wait a minute there! Let go now!" He was pulling her arms off of him but the gentle tugging he usually used on women wasn't working. Finally he had to use force to extract himself from her grasp.

She had started to cry, "Oh Hugo, I'm so sorry but I just love you so much! I know we were meant to be together, you saved my life and I just know that we were meant to be!"

WHAT. The woman was clearly deranged. He stood and held her hands in front of him, looking down at the sobbing witch. "Look, I'm sorry but I don't feel that way about you, okay? You seemed nice enough and all, but I'm a prince and you're not a princess. Besides, we have nothing in common."

The witch seemed to take in his words, and her demeanor shifted from a sobbing love struck mess to something a little more like what James looked like when he though no one could see him. "So you'll only marry... a princess?"

Where was she going with this? "Well, I'm supposed to marry a princess at some point, but look that's just not you okay. So I think it's best if I go now."

She wouldn't let his hand go, one of hers was clasped on tightly to it, clawing at the skin. In an instant a very real feeling of dread crept up in him as he watched her other hand reach for the wand she had poking slightly out of her dress pocket. Thin fingers wrapped around the straight stick, and as she started to cast some sort of spell he knocked the wand from her hand. The dainty object landed in the river, floating down the stream. The temporary distraction was all he needed to bolt beyond the riverbed to his waiting horse.

The witches visage disappeared behind him. That was close. Too close. Witches were a dangerous bunch.

He returned home and sought out his steward, informing the older man of the witch and her attempted assault. It needed to be dealt with, and promptly. No one attempts an assault on the prince, no matter their sex. Banishment would be her fate. Once the matter was conveyed, the steward had his own message. A surprise visitor awaited Hugo. It was none other than Amber, who awaited him in his chambers. He stood there in the doorway, observing her lack of movements. Her breathing was heavy, and she seemed upset. Why was she here? Did she know about Vivian?

He took another step forward and her head shot up, revealing those dazzling eyes. She raced over and flung her arms around him. "Oh Hugo, I just can't anymore. I love you so much, so I forgive you. I forgive you, so please, let's forget it ever happened."

He shouldn't. Everything about loving Amber was wrong. But in that instant, with loneliness consuming him, he simply couldn't resist the modicum of comfort offered by the radiant golden princess of Enchancia. He returned her embrace there at the entrance to his chambers, and after a brief moment noted his father and brother observing the interaction from the end of the hallway. This had been orchestrated, but it didn't matter anymore. The blonde beauty was kissing him sweetly, and the small amounts of comfort it gave were enough to ease his weary heart.

She suddenly stopped and looked up at him, stroking the side of his face, "Hugo, my love, my dearest, you're healthy right?"

She must have noticed how the sorrow of the last week was weighing on him. It was so unlike her to notice those things though, so maybe she had changed for the better. "Yeah Amber, I'm perfectly healthy." His response elicited a joyous cry and more kissing, with her hands wrapped around the side of his head.

She bade him enter the chambers, but the image of Vivian's lovely smile under the stars kept him from full relapse. He resolved to meet her for a picnic in Enchancia the next day, and maybe this time things would be better. One can only hope, and his beautiful shy princess wasn't waiting for him.

The picnic was enjoyable, and the overwhelming kindness Amber showed lifted the burdens of his heart. He found himself whispering sweet nothings in her ear, as if they'd never parted ways. It was all so easy, to fall back into the same routine. He banished the hurtful words uttered long ago, and focused instead on the stunning beauty and forced kind gestures. He knew he should tell Amber about his failed relationship with Vivian, but it would certainly shatter the newfound peace. It could come another day. While the picnic was enjoyable, it was less than private, as James had tagged along with his new girlfriend, the woman Amber had been so terse with at the garden party. It was all a bit shocking to Hugo, and when James started gnawing at the woman's neck right in front of him it was a bit much, causing Hugo to grimace. Amber noticed instantly, "James, you two should go over there for a while." Amber was pointing off into the distance to a grove of trees. A strange smile crept over James, and he pulled on 'Lily's' clothes in a provocative manner. They took off toward the trees, undoubtedly to enjoy delicacies of the flesh.

"Okay Amber, what's going on with James? I thought you hated that girl and didn't want your brother near her?"

His princess looked a bit startled. "Oh, well you know you said yourself they might just be rumors. I've spent a lot of time with Lily over the last couple months and she really is just the sweetest thing. She's so helpful, unlike Cedric, and she's conjured all sorts of neat jewelry and presents for me."

"But what about all the promiscuous behavior you were so worried about?"

Amber's gaze turned cold. "At least for her they were just rumors." Her mood shifted again, and the sunshine was let back in. "I'm just happy that she likes my brother a lot, and he must really like her too. This is the longest one of his conquests has ever lasted. They usually fizzle in a week."

That much was true. James was always on the hunt, always searching for something he could never find. The trail of broken hearts he left behind would rival any skirmish Enchancia had ever known. There were noises coming from the trees. It was more than a little embarrassing, and Amber grabbed his hand, leading him farther away from the indiscretions occurring in those woods. She stood there, holding his hand and looking at the gentle breeze blowing through the grass. Maybe they could work out their differences, and somehow the future everyone else envisioned for him with the princess of Enchancia would be an okay fate.

The quiet was shattered by a deep growling sound. Amber let loose a scream and Hugo spun. To his horror three giant black demons were approaching. They seemed to be on fire inside, and had massive curled wings. He grabbed Amber's arm and started to run back toward the clearing, trying desperately to get her into the flying coach. He needed to get her to safety. James and Lily came running out from behind the trees, and panicked. Lily flung up her wand in a desperate attempt to hurl a spell, but the nearest beast knocked her aside with a swift kick. James screamed and ran up to the creature, but was also knocked backward by a wing flip. He rolled backward several yards. Lily had used the opportunity to try another spell, and cast one that struck the creature in the eye. The beast yelped in agony. In an instant it had reached down and grabbed the witch in its mouth, piercing her stomach and in one swift motion flung her body into the air. She landed several feet from where she had once stood, bleeding excessively. Amber again screamed in terror, as the other two gigantic black beasts now blocked their path to the coach.

This was it. Hugo grabbed Amber and shielded her body when a dazzling yellow light exploded in front of them.

It was Amber's sister Sofia. In one authoritative motion the woman cast powerful magic, blasting the nearest beast backward into the distance. Next she channeled some eerily terrifying magic into the ground below her, and blasted the beasts, transforming them into butterflies. Amber and James ran over to embrace her, leaving a stunned Hugo standing next to the witch who was bleeding to death on the ground, "Hey, Lily's still hurt over here!"

The trio finally came to their senses, and after a fashion Sofia bent down to heal the witch. All of a sudden there was a wand in Hugo's face.

"You too" She wanted promises that nothing of this excursion would be revealed. Considering the last witch he'd encountered had tried to attack him he wasn't about to argue.

"Whatever you say Princess. Just don't turn me into butterflies okay."

It seemed to pacify her, and she disappeared in a strange twinkle of yellow light.

"WHAT is with your SISTER Amber!" Lily was lying there asleep, and James had bent down to carry her back to the coach.

"My sister saved our lives."

"Well yes, but did you see the magic she just did? That was some pretty eerie, almost evil looking stuff right there."

His comments set James on edge. "Don't you dare say anything like that about Sofia! She's the most beautiful, amazing woman that ever walked this earth!"

Whoa. There was something in James's countenance. He was holding Lily, but dropped her like a rock into the carriage when he'd started to yell. Why was he so defensive? It was too strange. "You mean she's the most wonderful sister right, not woman. You just dropped your woman on the carriage floor."

James looked livid, but stopped screaming. The entire coach ride home James was stewing as he drove the coach, and Amber started to whisper into Hugo's ear. "You know James is really protective of Sofia, so don't say mean things about her okay."

"But Amber, don't you see it's weird?"

"Don't be silly. He's a good brother, to both of us."

"But—" Hmph. He knew he was never going to win this argument. He never did. It was best not to question it. What had once been a pleasant afternoon was again mired in awkward fighting. But it could have been worse. They could have all died.

Not two days later Sofia was back in Enchancia, and yet again Hugo was ordered to attend a party by the golden princess. Instructions on what he was to wear, down to the cufflinks, had been sent. Unfortunately he had arrived twenty minutes late, setting a negative tone to the whole evening. Amber was on edge, and looking around suspiciously at people. Anyone female Hugo tried to talk to was met with angry stares. The Enchancian princess kept a firm watch on him, and it was a more than a little uncomfortable for a grown man to be guarded like a dog's bone than allowed to socialize like a human being. Halfway through the dance Hugo spotted Sofia and the new boisterous black-haired girl chatting at the snack table, and walking timidly up next to them….

Vivian.

And she was speaking with Sofia. Hugo froze. Memories came flooding back to him of the wondrous summer month they spent together, and it was all he could do to keep his emotions inside. The pain must have leaked out of him though, as Amber watched him relentlessly. "What are you staring at Hugo."

It was more of a demand than a question. He turned away, as it was too painful to relive the moments. "I need some air Amber. Excuse me." He couldn't take it any more, and walked out of the ballroom and down the corridors. She was here at this party, as if nothing had happened. He needed to get a hold of himself. It would ruin the newfound peace with Amber if he let himself go, and Vivian was going to be married soon anyway. He collected himself and went back inside the ballroom. In an instant Amber was at his side, and the rest of the night was spent dancing. He tried not to, but in fleeting moments his gaze turned upward to catch a glimpse of the shy princess, but she was gone. Her time in the ballroom was as ephemeral as her presence in his life.

The dance continued on, as these things do, and eventually Amber tried to get him into her chambers. Seeing Vivian again had taken the wind right out of his sails, and he bid the blonde princess goodnight, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

The next few days passed in silent loneliness, and thoughts of Vivian dancing in the moonlight with some Count refused to leave him. This internal torture continued without end until suddenly one afternoon a courier came bursting into the dining hall as dinner was about to commence.

"SIRE, Rudistan has been attacked by an army of hinderbeasts! Enchancia has gone to King Magnus's aid."

His father looked around at the court, and made his proclamation, "As will we. I leave in the morning, summon my knights."

Hugo stood next to his older brother and watched as his father went off to war the next morning. He'd taken an assortment of knights and advisors, but left the majority at home under the direction of Axel, who suddenly found himself a promotion.

"I just hope Dad comes back."

A comforting hand came to rest on his shoulder, "Don't worry bro. He will, Dad's always been regarded as a good fighter and strategizer. You should be more worried about the kingdom now that I'm in charge." With that a smile escaped his lips. He was trying to lighten the mood.

The king returned a couple days later in good health, with tales of Princess Sofia sacrificing her body to stop the battle and a horribly wounded King Rolland. Amber must have been devastated. He flew to Enchancia to console her, but was greeted by the castle steward, Bailey-something. The man kindly but firmly informed Hugo that social visits were not occurring, as there was too much internal conflict to be dealt with. Apparently their royal sorcerer had committed treason, and was on the loose. It wasn't safe to linger. Hugo tried to argue, but was met with as strong a rapprochement as was acceptable from a steward. Apparently the man knew all about the strained relationship Hugo shared with the Amber, and felt the kingdom couldn't handle more shattered emotions right now. Dejected, he left a note for Amber to contact him if he was needed, and returned home. He felt utterly useless, and languished in his castle while Enchancia fell apart.

"SIR! Enchancia has been attacked!"

WHAT. The announcement had come after a few weeks of waiting. "Is Amber okay?" Questions were flying, but the courier had no answers. Hugo was off in an instant, a pox on propriety. His flying horse took him to the palace, while his father had sent several knights to bolster king Rolland. Nothing could have prepared Hugo for the sight that lay before him. The devastation was massive. The grounds had been burned, half the palace destroyed, and everywhere the disemboweled carcasses of hinderbeasts were strewn. He circled, seeking any glimpse of survivors, and his father's knights rushed into the collapsing building. Hugo finally spotted king Rolland. He was with a couple guards, and they were carrying James. The prince looked rigid. Was he… dead?

"Hugo!" Rolland looked elated to see him. In truth he had a tenuous relationship with the man, who presumably had no idea the extent of Hugo's relations with Amber but still had expected a marriage proposal a long while ago. One that Hugo couldn't bring himself to deliver.

"King Rolland what happened? Is Amber okay? What happened to James?"

The worried look on the king's face melted at concern for his daughter, "Sofia said my wife and Amber fled that way." He gestured out beyond the palace to the hills beyond. "Could you go find them Hugo, the battle is over, and I need to tend to James. He's not well."

That was an understatement if ever there was one. Hugo was off in an instant, scouring the countryside in the direction the king had pointed. "Princess Amber!"

Finally there was a response, "Hugo! We're down here!" They'd taken refuge under several trees.

He landed and was met with a passionate embrace. "Oh Hugo! My PRINCE! You came to save me!"

"Of course. Now what happened here? The castle is destroyed!"

Amber and Miranda looked at each other. Finally Amber spoke. "We were attacked by a giant dragon. Actually, she was a mage, and somehow she knows Sofia. My sister was fighting her."

Wow. Sofia really was a powerful sorceress now if she could pull off defeating a dragon-mage. What was going on with Amber's sister? "Well it's okay now. King Rolland sent me to find you and bring you back safely."

On the ride back Hugo informed the women on James's condition. They landed and the girls ran inside without so much as a thank you. However, given the circumstances it could be forgiven. He slowly made his way into the castle, and saw Rolland standing over the petrified prince, shaking his head. Miranda was walking up slowly to her husband, and Amber was distraught. The golden girl turned and buried her head into Hugo's shoulder.

"Rolly what happened to James?"

"Sofia stopped James from murdering Cedric by casting a spell on him. Miranda, she doesn't want to be a royal anymore. She's thrown her lot in with that sorcerer, and I couldn't convince her to stop."

"Oh Rolly." The queen was stoking his head. The gravity of it all was too much to bear. The castle destroyed, their crown prince frozen with some curse, and their princess had abandoned the family. It was best to leave the king and queen to their thoughts. It wasn't Hugo's place to interject, as this wasn't his kingdom. He guided Amber out, and the princess seemed to be holding back tears.

"Oh Hugo you were right, James was acing weird because he was in love with Sofia."

In that instant all the pieces fit. The assault to Desmond, the eye twitching about the cruise, and the extremely protective nature all fit together in one brief instance of clarity. "I was trying to tell you something was fishy Amber."

Her mood darkened. "I already told you that you were right, do I need to sing it from the mountaintops!"

"That's not what I meant Amber!"

"Then what did you mean Hugo, that you're the all-knowing sage who could have saved the kingdom?!"

"Hey, I wanted to come and help you, that's all."

"Well you should have come sooner, before my castle was burned down!"

He felt the anger rush forward, and saw her start to flail wildly. This again. Always this. When would it ever end? "I TRIED TO! You know Amber, I'm starting to get really sick of fighting with you."

"Well then you shouldn't do horrible things that make me upset, and then I wouldn't be angry!"

Oh it was on now. "What horrible things! I came here to make sure you were safe!"

"You know what horrible things, just what were you up to with Vivian!"

He froze and blinked at the girl in front of him. She was flailing angry, but suddenly she stopped, and the anger was replaced by a desperate agony. Somehow she knew.

"Amber, we had broken up."

Her eyes went wide, and tears starting flowing out of them. In that moment he felt like the smallest man in the world. How could he have let himself be with someone else? He KNEW it would devastate Amber this way. All the times she'd been jealous, she had every right.

She collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. He just stood there, looking up at the sky. What could he say to her? She loved him so much, but he'd fallen in love with someone else, someone who didn't even love him in return.

It wouldn't do to leave her there, so he bent down and scooped up the sobbing mess of princess, carrying her to a nearby tower that seemed undamaged. He set her upon the stone staircase, and sat beside her as she continued to cry. Minutes seemed like hours. Finally she spoke.

"I knew you weren't faithful to me."

What could he say? "But Amber we'd broken up."

"Don't, don't even. I don't want to hear it. All I want to know is why, why didn't you tell me you'd been unfaithful to me."

"I wasn't unfaithful to you. When you asked me earlier I hadn't started seeing Vivian yet." It set off a new wave of crying. "Amber please, I'm not seeing her anymore."

The golden princess with reddened eyes looked up at him. "Huh? Why not?"

"Because, things didn't work out, and well, I guess when I saw you again I missed you." She sucked up some of the tears, and he could tell she wanted to hug him but was restraining herself. He took the initiative, and she pushed him away a bit. "I know you have every right to hate me Amber, so if you want me to go, I'll go." She was mulling it over. It would be better if she just told him to get lost. That way she could move on, and so could he. He stood to leave, but she grabbed his hand.

"WAIT. Don't go. I need you." Oh no. He hugged her tightly, and pushed away all the doubts. Her kingdom had come inches from destruction, and even though their relationship was doomed to fail, he needed to be here for her. It might be a week, or a year, but at this point he didn't care. Walking away forever wasn't acceptable today. He stayed with her that night, but kept his distance. Their relationship needed time to heal, and for her to fully forgive him before they could be intimate again. It was much better that way. All she needed was a really good friend right now, and although they had their problems, he still wanted to do the right thing by her in this hour of need.

The morning finally came, and throughout Breakfast Rolland kept smiling at Hugo. It was wholly unnerving to be continuously sized up by their King. Normally Hugo shined around royalty, but the tenuous nature of his relationship with Amber set the prince on edge. A sorcerer arrived from Rudistan just afterward, ostensibly to reverse whatever curse Sofia had put on James, and Hugo spent the day with Amber while she directed some of the maids to clean up the mess.

Suddenly there were screams of terror, the sound of rushing people. Amber started to run toward the noises before Hugo grabbed her. "Seriously Amber, you're going to run toward the horrible screams?!"

She nodded, and they stayed put until the terror subsided. It was replaced by sobbing sounds, and Hugo let her go.

James had awoken, and killed the sorcerer Greylock.

Everything after that was a blur. There was talk of war. Rudistan had all but declared it, with Corinthia along for the ride. This and that, factions breaking off. Hugo's father and brother were solidly aligned with Enchancia, not the least of which was due to the promise of Hugo's engagement to Amber. The pressure started to be applied more heavily. Enchancia wanted allies, and this marriage needed to happen sooner rather than later. Amber for her part seemed to be relishing in the leadership void Rolland's absence and James's insanity had afforded, but each new day brought new fights.

It was too much, too fast, too soon after Vivian. Rolland had invited everyone to Friezenburg for the Crown Princesses ascension to Queen, and Hugo was forcibly contracted to attend. He found Amber primping before the ceremony with Hildegard.

Amber was ecstatic for someone whose kingdom was on the brink of war. "I'm just so happy Hugo, I was thinking that we could get married in the winter snow, a white wedding, ohh it will be so romantic!"

WHAT. "Amber, what are you talking about? I didn't propose yet."

The girls froze. Amber turned to him. "But your Dad, and mine, they were going on and on about setting a date for our wedding this morning."

Hugo panicked. He'd taken too long, and now his fate was being decided for him. All of a sudden a lifetime of endless fighting was set as stones along the road in front of him, leading him down a long miserable life to the chasm of death. He felt as if the world was ending, and he'd had no say in his method of execution.

This wasn't the way one is supposed to feel when they get engaged.

The thought sprung into this mind, and refused to leave. Amber had risen, and was yelling at him. He retreated into the corridor, and she followed him. "But why Hugo, don't you love me? Don't you want to marry me?"

She deserved an explanation. "Of course I love you Amber. I've loved you for years, but we aren't compatible. We fight constantly, over nothing! Can you imagine if we got married, we'd do nothing but fight for the rest of our lives!"

"The only reason we fight is because you think I'll just always be here waiting for you no matter how you treat me."

"I don't WANT to treat you badly Amber, but we aren't good for each other!"

"Why, WHY WHY!"

"Because we hurt each other, and I don't want to hurt you anymore." All of a sudden it came to him. He was the problem. Their relationship was abusive. Dazzling highs, and horrific lows. It would never end unless he stopped it. It was killing her, he was killing her. It was a slow death of her psyche, and of his as well. He took her hand, and the insanity she was screaming stopped. "Amber, I love you, but you deserve someone better. Someone who's the right key to unlock your happiness, and fits you perfectly. I'm just not that guy."

Her shoulders slumped, but she couldn't deny it. "I… know. It's just, I love you so much." She hugged him, and he hugged her back. "Amber I'll always love you okay."

Tiny words squeezed out of her, "But you're never going to marry me, are you?"

It was time. All the love was swirling in his mind, but so were all the tears. He had to do this; he had to set her free.

"No, I'm not."

She started to buckle at the knees, but he held her up. "Amber we can't keep doing this. It just keeps hurting us both, and it's better if we don't try anymore."

She steadied, then pulled away and nodded. Those eyes, those dazzling eyes. They were his dazzling eyes no longer.

It was heartbreaking. Her arms finally left his sides, and she ran off toward Hildegard's room. This was it. No more. He couldn't go after her. It would only hurt her. Instead he wandered the halls, and took up residence at an open window.

After a while his silent brooding was disturbed by Axel. "What's with you baby bro? You should come with me to socialize with everyone."

Socializing was the last thing on Hugo's mind, and if everyone was there, so was Vivian. Too soon.

"I'm not feeling very social. Please just leave me alone." Hugo turned and faced the distant southern mountain range that was the border with Zamuria. Axel looked out the window, and suddenly got sentimental.

"You're not still pinning for the Translaivian girl, are you?"

It made Hugo jump. He was still pining for her, in subconscious ways. It still hurt, badly. "Maybe I am, but it doesn't matter."

"Well that's true enough." Axel rested his hand on the windowsill, "After all, she's getting married today."

Hugo's heard sunk. "Oh."

"Yeah, I heard the timing was intentional so no one would show up."

Hugo couldn't do anything but laugh at himself. Today just kept getting worse. Axel seemed to notice that the melancholy only deepened at his words, and seemed to regret them.

"Sorry bro. Anyway Dad's got a big announcement to make later that will hopefully put us all in a more stable situation, and hopefully put a smile on your frowny face."

Hugo's demeanor hardened, and he looked back out the window. "I know all about Dad's announcement, and I'm not marrying Amber."

"Oh that's a bad move baby bro, Dad—"

"I don't care. Amber and I would end up killing each other. We never stop fighting. I can't believe King Rolland would want his daughter to get married knowing that she'd be unhappy." He looked up at his brother, pleading for help. "I'd be unhappy, forever."

Axel nodded. "On man, Dad's not gonna like this, but I'll see what I can do. If I cut him off now before he tells everyone it'll save face."

"Thanks."

"Yeah yeah. Gotta go, we don't need two wars on our hands." In an instant the crown prince was gone, and Hugo now turned his attention to the far off distance. Where Vivian, the musical nymph of desire, was busy preparing to wed some Count. The pain seemed as raw as before. Imagining some other man with her, joyfully listening to her music, gazing with her up at the stars, taking her as his own. It was beyond horrible.

"HUGO!"

He spun, and a frantic Sofia, wearing a stained blue dress was running at breakneck pace down the halls. She was after James. The princess picked up on his melancholy, and started to dig deeply at him. It did no good to hide it any longer; the truth would be made known. "I broke up with Amber, for good this time. It was never going to work, and we were always so miserable."

The princesses' platitudes did little to soothe his soul. In truth he'd latched back on to Amber to numb the pain of loosing Vivian. "It's okay. I was clinging to something safe because I was hurt."

The princess froze as he spoke, then her eye started twitching. "Wait… are you pinning for Vivian?"

How could she know that! Unless… that's right. Vivian was Sofia's dear friend. Sofia must know why Vivian chose the count. She must.

"No Sofia, I should have realized it! You're Vivian's dearest friend and she must have said something to you. Please I need to know, I need to know so badly. Why did she decide to marry that Count? Why did she stop loving me?"

Hugo couldn't believe it. Sofia was standing there, telling him that Vivian loved him, and it was all a misunderstanding. He had to go and stop the wedding. He took off running down the corridor to the flying carriage outside. Could it be true? Could she really still love him, even though she was marrying the Count?

The race to Zamuria was on. Vivian had been engaged before they'd started seeing each other, but maybe she just hadn't had the courage to tell the Count no. It was completely within her non-confrontational personality. Then Hugo had taken off. What if… he was too late?

Faster. All of his desires for a future filled with happiness depended on it.