The last of his search party filed in to report another failure and Prince Caspian stood alone on the high balcony overlooking the kingdom, watching them come in from the gates.
"Why, oh why do you haunt me so?" His voice was hoarse and breaking.
Every time he mistreated Aria, all the times he cast her aside to find her still waiting. All the humiliation she endured on his behalf, the times he would sneak out to be with Seraphina, speaking badly about her.
The memories of how he let her fall at a public official dance. People tittered and he barely glanced in her direction.
The times he left her alone in his garden on their official dates in the cold.
She took his treatments with grace and never once complained.
His disgust at her spineless character, reasoning that her family's dire states urged her to throw away her pride and dignity for a shred of his affection.
If only he could turn back time!
