FAKING ROYALTY [rewrite]

chapter twenty two

Word spread through wildfire. And with Meteli being as small as it is, it wasn't a surprise that the commoners knew about the wedding plans so quickly. While it took O'Khasis a bit longer to deliver the news, celebration was booming through the kingdom.

"Laurance, I believe today is a good day to go into the kingdom," Hayden says, looking up from his breakfast plate. "They'll see you all together one last time before I send your sister off to O'Khasis with Vylad."

"Father, is this really a good idea?" Laurance asks, hesitant on the news. "Vylad, I don't mean to offend you, but there are still two marriages that will follow behind. We've already pushed my wedding date behind and replaced it with Y/N's."

From the corner of my eye I can see Vylad visibly stiffen.

"It's what's best to hide whatever attention could be drawn to the pregnancy," Hayden sighs, shaking her head before placing his silverware down claiming he's lost his appetite. "If we throw constant excitement like this towards them, they won't even realize the true reason behind it even if it seems a bit rushed. Garroth's scandal only helps this case because it'll need an heir. After breakfast I want you all clean and dressed. We'll head into town soon after."

He's coming with us. With Hayden coming with us I can only picture the commoners growing nervous. Laurance showed his people what kind of king he would be. What he wanted to do and what would change. He gave off a different aura than Hayden does.

Soon, it'll just be me and Laurance alone together in the palace. Then once I leave, he'll be all alone by himself. I don't know how he will feel. What he will think of the quietness. There would be less drama. He could have a clear head. It's hard to believe that this is for the best.

Breakfast soon ends, our plates being taken only for Hayden to leave. He seems to be annoyed that we haven't stood up from our seats. Slowly Alex rises, flattening her dress before glancing at us and walking off to her chambers. Vylad begins to walk to his own temporary chambers with a small glance back to us. Maybe the tension in the air was noticeable.

Laurance I sit in silence, staring down at our laps. I've never liked confrontation. Laurance always handled it best, but he seems to be struggling with it right now. Instead he stands up without a single glance my way.

He seems unsure if he wants to leave as the chair slowly gets pushed in, but his quick footsteps tell me he was taking a getaway.

It appears that it's my cue to leave as well.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It was like a send off. We were followed until we reached the carriage with Alex's belongings strapped along. With so many people around, I had never felt as alone as I felt in that moment.

Now only letters are sent back and forth. An engagement was already in effects long before breakfast that day. Even if it wasn't traditional, the proposal took place after Alex's dress fitting. The wedding dress was already being designed and sewed while Vylad took the long journey to Meteli.

That was two weeks ago when we waved them goodbye. Laurance distanced himself to where I only see him when we sit down at the table. I rarely hear his voice anymore. I don't remember the last time I heard him laugh. Will it remain this way for the remainder of my time in Meteli?

To escape the quietness of my chambers, I've decided on going for a walk in the halls. It's raining outside making Victoria hold me inside in fear that I will gain a sickness from the weather.

Walking by the ballroom causes me to stop in my tracks. Laurance appears to be sitting in the center of it, writing on a piece of paper. Peaking inside I find other papers around him like a cage. Why on Earth would he want to be in a place like this?

"Laurance?" I ask, my voice being prominent within the empty space. He looks up at the sound of my voice before shaking his head and reaching for all of his papers. "What are you doing in here?"

"I thought this would be the only place you wouldn't think to look in to find me," he says, standing up with his papers pressed against his chest. "It appears that I have been proven wrong."

Offense fills me as I stare at him. He looks tired. Small bags are under his eyes while his hair looks like a mess. His clothes are wrinkled. I don't know how I didn't notice this this morning at the breakfast table, but I suppose I wasn't looking hard enough to see it.

Slowly my feet betray me as they begin to walk forward without my knowledge. Laurance's figure becomes closer to me with each step I take. Before I know it, we're face to face with one another. Our eyes are locked in a strong stare, but there's no communication within them.

My hand reaches to touch his cheek. Slow he leans into my touch, closing his eyes. I've yearned for this closeness for so long. "Why would you hide from me?"

He lets out a heavy sigh. One filled with so much disappointment I can't help but feel disappointed myself. We both know the answer to it, but I simply don't want to own up to it.

He looks down at me before giving my forehead a soft kiss. "I think we both know the answer to that. I better take my leave."