To Be King: Book One Of The Reine Series (COMPLETED)

18- Motherly Advice

Alissa Moore's Point of View:

I got out of there as soon as possible. After crying and explaining everything to Bri she helped me to pack up my things. We still had a couple more days here but I couldn't bear to be here a second longer. I didn't want to risk running into Rafael or have him show up. I was still too hurt about the whole situation and didn't want to speak to him. I saw that he left me a voicemail but I didn't listen to it.

I also didn't delete it because that would be too final for me. I wasn't ready to let go of him yet, I wondered if I ever would be.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with?" I asked Bri who just stood off to the side watching me.

"I promised a friend that I would meet up with her today and I don't want to disappoint her since she already booked her flight," she shrugged "I still wish you would just talk to Rafael"

I groaned loudly, "not this again"

"Have you forgotten what I've told you?"

"I haven't forgotten but can you honestly tell me that when you were with him you didn't feel loved and cherished?"

I couldn't answer her, I couldn't because I knew she was right but I was still unsure and needed time, "I'm leaving now"

She walked over to me pulling me into a hug. I didn't buy her whole having a friend flew in story but I didn't question it. She was an adult and I couldn't baby her for the rest of her life. If she wanted to stay in France then so be it.

"Call me when you land"

"I will," Jacob took the bags from me and opened the door for me. I would have brought the bags myself but I already knew that he would be stubborn about the whole thing and refuse to let me carry anything.

I was about to leave the hotel key at the front desk when I heard a commotion outside. I turned to look but couldn't see much. A second later the security guard opened the door letting someone in. My eyes bulged out of my head when I saw that it was the queen, Rafael's mother. I had only seen her once in person and that was at the ball. She stood with her head held high and radiated power as she walked into the room.

I quickly turned around cursing under my breath. I went about my business handing the key to the front and hoping to the God above that she didn't see me. Maybe my luck had finally run out or maybe it was just fate but when I felt a tap against my shoulder I knew instinctively who it was.

Taking a deep breath I turned around slowly so I came face to face with her. I schooled my face into a blank look so she couldn't see how affected I was by her mere presence.

"Hello my dear my name is Elizabeth Chancellor," she spoke boldly "you may not know me but-"

I cut her off, "I know that your Rafael's mom"

"Well that saves me the trouble of explaining myself," she smiled graciously "can we talk for a bit?"

I sighed, "I don't know what your son has told you but nothing you say will change my mind"

The smile never left her face as she appeared unaffected by my words, "I don't want to change your mind about anything darling I just want to give you a little...perspective"

I was still unsure if I wanted to give her the time of day or not. As if sensing my mood she continued, "you have nothing to lose by speaking to me"

She was right and we both knew it, "fine where would you like to go?"

"There's a park nearby," I nodded and told Jacob that I would be going with her to the park. Seeing as how the queen already had her security I told him to stay at the hotel to which he reluctantly agreed but said he would come to get me in an hour.

As she lead me to the park I rolled my eyes when I saw the same park bench that Rafe and I would go to. How ironic is it that his mother brought me to the same place?

She sat down and I quietly sat beside her. My mind was going a mile a minute as I waited for her to speak.

"You've been here before, yes?"

"Did he tell you that?" I looked at her, "Is that why you brought me here?"

She laughed, "heavens no...he hasn't said a word about you to me or his father"

I admit that stung hearing that he was secretive and didn't tell his parents about me. If he only wanted me to secure the throne he didn't need to tell anyone about me. But if he didn't tell her how did she know?

"When Rafael was a child he was very shy which is a rare thing when always being in the public eye. One day he asked me how I knew that someone genuinely cared for me and not my title. The fact that he brought you here and to the orphanage means that he trusts you and cares for you deeply"

My heart fluttered at the thought of him loving me, "if he cared so deeply he would've told me about his marriage deadline instead of keeping it a secret from me"

She sighed and shifted so she was looking straight ahead, "one day my husband randomly sent my son to America, the reason why was unclear. When he came back it was as if he had a shift in his core. He was a lot more open, I would catch him smiling at nothing and he was a lot more eager to attend this year's ball. Normally it would be like pulling teeth to get him there but this year something was different, it was as if he couldn't wait for it to happen and when I saw you at the ball I finally understood why. My son had finally met his match"

"The men in my family aren't good at being subtle or patient for that matter when they see something they want they go after it and they claim it"

She smiled softly, "I married my husband shortly after meeting him...Rafe is like his father so I knew he would do the same"

"When my husband told us about the ultimatum given to him by the council I was furious but after seeing Rafael dance with you and take you to the garden my anger turned to sadness"

I couldn't help but ask, "why were you sad?"

"I could see how much he adored you and how conflicted he would be in the future. How do you tell the woman that you love that you have to marry someone in ten days or risk handing over your birthright to your less than deserving cousin? Harry is family don't get me wrong but sadly he doesn't have what it takes to be a king"

I thought over what she said but I still couldn't get over the fact that he didn't tell me, "he still should have told me what was going on"

She nodded, "I agree with you there love but can you honestly say that that would have made a difference to you?"

Yet again she was right and the truth was smacking me right in the face. I would have still reacted badly and I would still be uncertain of whether or not his feelings were real. Now I couldn't quite see what I was angry for, he didn't want this to happen the council forced it to.

"The council is a bunch of bitches," I muttered not at all caring that the queen heard me.

She laughed loudly, "I agree with you there love"

"I have to go now and I know I've given you a lot to think about but I want to tell you one more thing"

"What is it?"

"I'm sure by now you've noticed that Rafael would take you here a lot and that's because I would take him here when he was a child. This was also the place where his father asked me to marry him. When he was younger he told me that he would only bring his future wife here and you're the only woman that he brought here"

"Don't let anger and pride stop you from being with the one you love," she stood to her feet and I did the same, "Rafael has two more days before he has to announce his bride...I hope it's you"

I watched her walk away with a heavy heart. If I don't marry him he'll have to marry someone else, would I be able to live with that?