Rudolph and Isadora, Part 96

The king had accepted her bargain and she had docilely accepted her betrothal. She went about her daily life, but it was like putting thin gauze over a stab to the heart. She knew she had made the right decision - she couldn't have let Rudolph be locked away - yet she knew she would never be happy as Julien's wife.

***

Across the rain-soaked grounds of the palace, through the grand avenues of the capital, past the bustling city, Rudolph and Alisen lived on the outskirts of town. They were not yet married, nor really settled down, but they neighbors winked when they saw the girl their Rudolph had picked up on his travels, and the rumors said that Rudolph was going to ask the girl to marry him any day – if she didn't ask him first. Although he was prone to staring out the window on some days, he was happy with Alisen, and beginning to see the rest of his life fall into place. He was eighteen, he had a wonderful girl whom he was still in love with, and he was happy. It was time to let the princess go.