𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐬

xxɪɪɪ || ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ(ꜱ)

Astrid was a wreck. Sleep never came with it's sweet relief, so instead she spent the night awake and alert, every quiet night time sound causing her anxiety. Jasmine stayed in Felice and Madison's dorm that Wednesday night; she saw immediately that Astrid needed some time alone, and her being there wouldn't do any help.

Wilhelm knew nothing was wrong, something that Astrid intended to keep that way. Things between him and Simon were finally cruising along a stable road, and she refused to be the one to cause a bump in that road.

Felice and Madison were also in the dark about the whole situation. Because of this, it was August who appeared at Astrid door as Thursday was coming to an end.

Astrid didn't even bother to keep her expressions in check as August swung open her door on that cool Thursday afternoon. Rolling her eyes, she glanced around the room to find something to throw at him.

"I come in peace," He said immediately, closing the door behind himself as he cautiously moved further into the room. Astrid raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Nobody wearing a crown ever comes in the name of peace," She remarked, "And considering if this all goes sideways and the Queen somehow managed to get me to marry you while I still breath, you will have a crown on your head, I would say that statement is well and truly nothing but a goddamn lie".

"So you know. How it'll go when we do marry. She's spoken with you about the accelerated adoption?" August asked. Astrid was amazed by his naivety and his calmness. She was ready to fight tooth and nail to stop this wedding, do whatever she needed to keep August from taking any kind of throne, and he was still believed that they were starting a happy little family.

Astrid knew her expression was conflicting; surprise and sadness, anger and hatred and merged into one confused expression. She shook her head in disgust, "If you believe this-" She pointed sharply between herself and August, "Is ever going to happen, you are sorely mistaken. I will never marry you, August. I will die before I allow you access to a throne. You disgust me".

She turned away from him, unable to look at him. How could someone be so cruel, so self centered? He ruined Wilhelm, put both him and Simon through so much pain. He manipulated Sara, Wilhelm and Erik. He's screwed over everyone, and now the Queen was just handing him a crown.

Leaning against the window, Astrid blew out a breath. It materialized on the window, a soft frost snowflake appearing and disappearing as the sunlight hit the glass pane. "You're being over dramatic, as always," August said, shaking his head with a smile on his face.

Astrid turned back to face him, and immediately saw what was happening; he thought it was a game. "I know what you did," She said sharply, catching August's attention. He raised an eyebrow in question, standing defensively with his hands positioned on his hips.

"You killed him".

August's face darkened. He looked away for a couple of beats, before turning back to face Astrid, who stood with her head held high, her ground holding steady. He chuckled humorlessly. "You know," he replied, in a dangerously low voice, "Jack shit".

He laughed louder this time, "You know nothing, Astrid! You think getting me arrested for that little video was going to do anything? God, you are so naïve!" Astrid was dumbfounded; he was so pleased with himself. He knew what he had done, knew that she knew, and he was happy. He didn't feel any remorse for it, none at all. Astrid could see that now.

"I'm going to get to the truth," She promised, grabbing her jacket from the desk chair before shoving past August. "And I'm going to make sure that you go down, and go hard. You think a child pornography charge was hard? Try a murder one! I'm sure all those guys in jail would love to know how you senselessly murdered their Crown Prince!"

"Wilhelm is the Crown Prince!" August countered, his face flushing red as fire sparked in his eyes. "Erik...Erik was in the way. He had to be taken care of to make sure that you had time to shine".

"You never cared about him," Astrid said, tears welling in her eyes. "Not about him or Wilhelm. Not about this family".

"On the contrary, I care about both very much. But they aren't getting me that crown," He replied.

Astrid slammed the door in his face. After she did, she collapsed against it, in a teary, confused mess of emotions. 

*                 *               *

(790 words)