Chapter 3

Ichigo thought that Rukia would be happy about that news, to know that they weren't getting married anymore, but seeing her face go from a pretty glow to a dark and painful shadow, made him want to apologize.

He tried.

He tried to say something but couldn't and just left the room, feeling like he had done something wrong.

The freedom didn't feel as good as he had thought it would and he attributed that feeling to the fact that he had been committed all his life and the feeling was new to him. That must be because he couldn't miss Rukia; that was ridiculous.

He liked Rukia but he could ignore the feeling because she liked Kaien, and he would never be anyone's second choice.

Since he had broken off his engagement with Rukia, he visited the Palace of Roses more often and he told himself that he did it because he wanted to visit his mother or his little sisters; although whenever he left there he felt strangely empty because he could never see Rukia.

One afternoon, while he was dealing with anger at Kaien's looks since the engagement had been broken off, he overheard his mother talking to Miyako in one of the many rooms of the Palace of Roses. His mother sounded too excited and Miyako seemed to be just as happy as her.

Ichigo attributed that happiness to one of the wedding preparations and preferred to turn around and leave to let them talk, however, that intention was forgotten when he heard Rukia's name in his mother's voice.

— Can you believe that since the dissolution of the engagement was made official, I have received a letter every day from some suitor for her?

— It's because Rukia is amazing and so beautiful. — Miyako commented with a strange pride in her voice that bothered Ichigo. — In addition, she is the only daughter of the king's best friend, she is intelligent, talks about almost any topic and is very good with a sword.

— Kaien told me that he was teaching her how to use it. Now that she will no longer live in the Palace of Roses, it will be very useful for her to know how to use a sword to defend herself if someone tries to harm her.

The queen made that comment and Ichigo felt his blood burn with jealousy. He was good at using a sword, any weapon he got his hands on, if Rukia had told him that she wanted to learn how to use a sword then they would have had something in common to talk about.

Ichigo shook his head at that thought and reminded himself that he and Rukia were nothing, and that she wanted nothing with him.

— After the wedding, I will speak with Lord Kuchiki about this matter. I have a couple of suitors that I like for her and I think she will like them too.

Ichigo couldn't continue listening to how his mother talked about that topic and he left there, angry and jealous.

Ichigo only saw Rukia when she was with Kaien and Miyako, several times he tried to get closer to her but he realized that Rukia seemed to run away from him with some excuse that seemed ridiculous to him.

Ichigo watched Rukia smile, walk and do and undo, and every time he saw her, he could only notice how beautiful she was, and feel the jealousy that gnawed at him when she smiled at someone else because he knew the queen was going to commit Rukia to someone else.

When Rukia wasn't running away from him, she treated him with the same respect that other people treated him, she used a soft and correct voice; she revered him and avoided looking him in the eye. It all drove Ichigo crazy, because he knew that she had a strong character, he saw it when she told him directly that it would make her life easier, and he wished that she would at least look at him to tell him that he was an idiot.

Rukia would no longer be the future People's Princess, but she was still the daughter of the War Councilor and had responsibilities in the city due to all the social causes she had been involved in all that time.

When Ichigo found out that Rukia was going to the city to visit the orphanage, his mouth reacted before his mind and he offered to accompany her that day. Ichigo thought that Rukia would refuse to let him accompany her, but she only thanked him for his presence and left after telling him what time they would go.

The queen was happy to see him take an interest in charitable causes and told him to pay attention to what Rukia was doing at the orphanage because when he got married, his wife would have a share in that place.

Ichigo hadn't considered that, getting married, and the thought bothered him in a way he couldn't express. He didn't want to get married, he liked his freedom even though he still didn't know what to do with it.

Ichigo thought that only he and Rukia would go to town, but found out that Rukia didn't want him alone with her when he saw Miyako arrive and join their little outing.

On the way to town, Rukia simply ignored him and remained silent, looking out the window or answering an occasional question from Miyako about what they were going to do.

Ichigo felt like screaming at that moment.

When they arrived at the orphanage and Rukia began to smile with the orphaned children, she never once turned to look at him and never once took his hand like she used to do those times. The only time Rukia held his hand was when he helped her into the carriage to go back to the palace, and Ichigo felt that touch was quick and cold.

— Rukia, will you still come to the orphanage once Ichigo gets married and the new People's Princess does what you do? — Miyako asked calmly before eating a piece of candy she had brought with her.

Ichigo preferred to pretend that he hadn't heard that and began to contemplate the landscape from the window.

— Oh no! That would not be correct. I will ask the queen to allow me to teach at the girls' school. I have always wanted to be a teacher and I like…

— Why? — Ichigo asked causing Rukia to stop talking about what she wanted to do.

He was upset and he didn't know if it was because those plans for the future didn't include him or because that idea had formed in his mind.

— Why what, your highness? — Rukia asked looking at Ichigo without understanding the question, with that politeness and calm that exasperated him.

— Nothing, forget it.

Ichigo said no more and waited in silence until they reached the palace. He was the first to get off the carriage and leave from there.

Ichigo wanted to ask Rukia why her touch had felt so cold, he wanted to ask her why she was so happy all the time and he wanted to ask her why she wasn't bothered as much as he was by the thought that he would marry someone else.

He wanted to ask her why her eyes didn't look at him like before.

Kaien and Miyako's wedding was at the end of January, without any other setbacks to delay that wedding, and Kaien gave his wife the crown of roses and sugar that Rukia had suggested that afternoon in the greenhouse.

Miyako looked beautiful in that crown, making it really impossible to take your eyes off of her.

Rukia was happy for them, she was Miyako's bridesmaid, the one who helped her with everything she needed that day, and she didn't leave the bride until the party started. The only bad thing was that Ichigo had been Kaien's best man and she had to be near him several times during the ceremony.

Ichigo made her feel uncomfortable every time he looked at her, as if she had done something wrong, so for the rest of the banquet and the party she preferred to avoid him as much as possible.

Rukia spent a moment with her brother and his wife, with her father who was enjoying the party, and with the queen; she even spent a moment with the ladies of the court to escape from Ichigo's gaze that was chasing her, but even that didn't work.

Rukia didn't get it, Ichigo was finally free to live his life how he wanted and with whoever he wanted, but it seemed like all he did was look at her with that angry expression on his face.

Rukia had planned to run away from that party at the time of the dance, but she couldn't do it because Ichigo moved faster than her, than anyone in that place, and he was the first to ask her to dance the first piece with him. She was tempted to refuse but Ichigo insisted and she had to accept because he was a prince and she was the daughter of one of the king's councilors and she had to live up to her last name.

It was the first time they had been together since he told her the engagement was off and Rukia felt nervous. Her heart was pounding and she avoided looking into his eyes, because his eyes were something she liked a lot.

The closeness also allowed her to feel Ichigo's scent strongly, the one she always felt every time he helped her sit down at those dinners.

— You look very beautiful tonight. — It was the first thing Ichigo said while they were dancing and Rukia blushed at that sentence. She didn't remember him telling her before and she couldn't stop her cheeks from heating up.

— Thanks, I guess.

Rukia tried to look away, not meeting his eyes because that made her more nervous. Her heart wouldn't stop pounding and she had to fight every urge to hug him and put her head on his chest in this dance.

— Do you dislike being around me so much? Is that why you ran from me all night? — Ichigo asked before making her turn to the rhythm of the waltz.

Those questions took her away from the fleeting fantasy of hugging him and she became aware of her reality again. Rukia thought for a moment about claiming something from him, saying something unpleasant, but that was the last night they would be close and she preferred to remain calm to calmly say goodbye to that relationship, the one she had imagined.

— No, it's not that, your highness. It's just that every time you look at me it seems like I've done something wrong and I don't like it. Did I do something wrong? Have I offended you at any time? — She asked and for a brief moment she looked into his eyes. Ichigo had that expression he always wore when they were together, serious, bored... annoyed. — If that is the cause, I ask you to excuse me and I assure you that it will not happen again.

— You have not done anything wrong or offended me. — Ichigo replied looking into her eyes.

She looked away because she couldn't hold his gaze without feeling her heart race. No matter how hard she had tried to make her crush on Ichigo end, her heart would always betray her every time he looked at her.

In a certain way, she was glad to know that she would leave there and she would never see him again, because that way her heart would stop betraying her that way.

— I'm glad to hear it, your highness. — Her voice sounded relieved but she felt Ichigo's hand tighten around hers as they danced. The waltz ended but Ichigo didn't let go of her until she moved away from him. — Thank you for the piece, your highness. I leave.

Rukia turned and started to walk off the floor, when Ashido stood in front of her and asked her to waltz. Rukia was about to reject him because all she wanted was to get out of there and away from Ichigo's gaze, when she felt someone grab her hand and drag her out of the party.

— What the hell do you… — Rukia's claim died halfway as she realized Ichigo had a hold on her hand. She was taken aback by that but moved her hand for Ichigo to let go because he was hurting her. — Why do you bring me here? Do you know what people are going to start saying about us because of what you just did?

Rukia was upset. What Ichigo had just done was something that people would surely talk about for days as well and everything would fall on her.

— Do you like Ashido?

Ichigo's question had that claiming tone that only couples do and they weren't a couple. Ichigo didn't have to ask her those kinds of questions because she was free.

— That's none of your business. Who I like or not has ceased to be your business since you broke off the engagement between us. — Rukia gave him a curtsey that marked the distance between them. — Now I return to the party, Ashido is waiting for me.

Rukia turned around, annoyed by Ichigo's attitude and his stupid claim to her, and started walking.

— Why? — The tone of Ichigo's question made Rukia stop, it wasn't a claim. It was more like a desperate plea. — Why are you smiling at everyone but me? Why doesn't it make you mad that I have to marry someone else like it makes me mad? Why can't I stop thinking about you all day, every day? But above all, why did you want to break the engagement?

Rukia stayed like that for a moment, turning her back on him and feeling a mixture of joy and sadness inside her heart. The intention of those questions came late, too late.

Rukia spun on her heel and saw him. Ichigo seemed desperate for an answer that would ease the torment he was living in. She could choose between answering or walking away and leaving him with those doubts, but she wasn't as cruel as he was.

— Because you didn't want to marry me. — The simplicity of that answer made Ichigo look at her as if he couldn't understand it. — I was really trying to make us have a good relationship, but you always looked at me like I was doing something wrong, you were mad at me all the time and I didn't understand why. Even when you accused me of being Kaien's lover, I didn't understand why you did it.

Rukia looked at Ichigo, who seemed to be listening to something that was very obvious but he couldn't understand.

She felt calm and kept talking, because that was the last night she could talk about it with him and she wanted to at least tell him how she felt. She would go, live as freely as they would allow her, and he would marry and serve the kingdom.

It was good.

She spent nights convincing herself that this was okay and that this was how things should be.

She was fine.

— It was obvious you didn't want anything with me, but I still thought we'd do what we had to do and each of us could get on with our own lives. I didn't ask them to break off the engagement, deep down I did want to marry you. — Rukia blushed at that confession. — I wasn't in love with Kaien, I was in love with you. I'm still a little in love with you, but in time I'll get over it.

Ichigo was still silent, looking at her with such intensity that she had to look away because her heart started to pound too hard.

— After the party I'm going to live in the War Palace, with my family, and I really hope that you find a partner that you love and that you are happy with them. — Rukia stared at her hands for a moment, right where Ichigo had held her tight while they danced. — And regarding your other questions… when they asked me about your future wife I felt… no, now it doesn't make sense. If that's all you wanted to know, Your Highness, I think I'll go back to the ball.

Rukia curtsied to Ichigo, having nothing else to say, and turned to go back to the party where they were surely talking about them.

— And if I ask you not to leave here? — Ichigo asked, taking her hand and making her stop.

Ichigo didn't seem to realize how cruel he was to her by saying those words. Rukia had wished many times for him to come to her, not with all the passion and intensity of a novel, but to come to her as she had tried many times, but in those moments it seemed that he only approached her because she would leave there.

— Why?

— Because this was all my fault, it was all my fault. I was upset that I had to marry you and I never tried to approach you in the right way. I thought you didn't want to either and that all you did was follow the lie that we should be the perfect couple when we were out in public.

Rukia gave a defeated smile, realizing that her attempts to get closer to him hadn't worked because he hadn't seen them. She was glad she wasn't looking at his face because she felt like she could cry at any moment.

— I didn't do my part to meet you, I just did what I had to do, but I didn't try, I really didn't try. Now I want to try it, now I really want to meet you and that when they ask me what you like, I can answer in the same way that you answered me.

— I don't…

They remained in that position for a moment, she not daring to look at him and he not letting go of her hand. Rukia had tried to say something, but she didn't know what to say, she only knew that the urge to cry had disappeared when she heard that clumsy declaration of feelings towards her.

Ichigo walked towards her until they were facing each other again and grabbed her face so she would look into his eyes. Rukia could see that he was looking at her differently, with an intensity so deep that for a moment she thought that everything was unreal and that he was just playing with her in a twisted and cruel way.

— Stay with me, Rukia.

Ichigo's voice sounded different to her ears. She couldn't look away from his eyes as much as she wanted to, nor could she find the words to respond to that request. They were so close that Rukia could once again feel the scent emanating from Ichigo at that moment, as well as the warmth of his hand on her face and the way he entwined his fingers with hers.

— Please stay with me, Rukia.

Rukia looked into Ichigo's eyes, her heart pounding so hard she felt like it would jump out of her chest at any moment. Ichigo leaned over her and gave her a soft, sweet kiss, which she responded nervously before pulling away from him.

— I'm sorry. It is too late for this. — Rukia made Ichigo let go of her hand. — I hope that with your next partner, you don't wait until a moment like this to say what you feel.

Rukia got out of there as fast as she could, avoiding Ichigo to stop her again and wiping away the tears that were beginning to trickle down her cheeks.

Ichigo had swallowed his pride to get closer to Rukia and he didn't know what affected him more, knowing that Rukia was in love with him and he didn't realize it, or knowing that she was in love with him and she tried to forget that feeling.

He returned to the party as fast as he could to look for her again, he didn't know what else to tell her but he didn't want her to leave the palace, but he couldn't find her anywhere that night. He kept looking for her during the other days of the celebration and every time they met, Rukia would greet him and leave as fast as she could with any excuse.

When the wedding celebration ended, Ichigo watched in the distance as Rukia said goodbye to the king and queen, as well as Kaien and Miyako, and got on a carriage that would take her to the War Palace. No one told him when Rukia was leaving and he was not at that farewell.

— You're an Idiot. — Kaien told him when they met in the hallway after Rukia had left. — You had an amazing woman by your side and you pushed her away.

— Shut up! This is all because of you! — Ichigo yelled at Kaien because he still remembered the kiss his brother gave Rukia in the greenhouse.

— Because of me? — Kaien moved as if he was about to hit him, but caught himself. — You know what, forget it! Rukia is better off without you. She will be able to find a person who does not doubt her and who loves her as she deserves to be loved, not a child who wants something because he knows he can no longer have it.

— You… son of…

Ichigo swallowed the insult just because they both shared the same mother and walked away. He didn't need Kaien to tell him how pathetic and blind he was.

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You guys are the best!