A Strange Feeling

23| Story

Chapter 23: Story (Erik's POV)

"I can't believe what just happened" I sighed. We were sitting in the living room waiting for Andreis to come. Ana sat beside me, her head on my shoulder, "Me neither" she said. The rest remained silent, looking either on the ceiling or on the ground. 

I remembered the night of our first dinner when Ana asked me if I liked being royal. At that time, I loved every part of it, expect my uncle's idea of marriage. I loved being a prince, I loved the attention, public display, I even loved the girls who screamed every time they saw me. I loved the big palace and the extreme exposure to generational wealth. But now, I was sick of all of it. 

I felt like I was in a cage. My whole life was a lie, my whole childhood was like a school play where everything was written beforehand. I realized that I've lived in a fake fairytale in which I'm the prince, my parents are the king and the queen, my uncle is like my second father, and everyone is nice and friendly. For years I thought we were all on the same side, fighting against discrimination and degradation of any kind. Apparently, it was all a lie and now the illusion is falling. And with the illusion fell all of my believes and ideologies. 

I looked over to my father and he looked confused. His eyes were full of disappointment, but his face showed anger and frustration. He was in dilemma or denial, and I understood him because I would've been too. His brother never showed any signs of idiotism until he proposed the idea of marriage between me and Eliza. But I bet he never expected his brother to take this in such wrong turn.

My mother was tapping with her fingers on the side table clearly worried. She flinched when the door opened, and the guards brought Andreis inside. She stood up quickly and walked over to him "Are you okay?" she asked him.

"Yes aunt Francesca" he nodded. 

She sighed, "Oh my poor child. I always saw you as my own son, I'm truly glad that you are okay" 

We all looked at him for a minute, when I said "Andreis, we appreciate what you did today," I paused "It was very brave of you".

"You did the right thing, thank you" Ana added.

"Oh, come on guys, I should've done that earlier" he chuckled. He was very stressed, he was fidgeting and looking around like he was in trouble.

"Can you tell us more about Mariet? Is she really safe?" my father asked.

"Yeah, um-she left the kingdom a year ago when my father's threats became scarier and more accurate" he tilted his head "I call her from time to time, she is doing okay."

"I know her!" Cassian said, "She was going to the public high school and then the community college, right?"

"Yes. How do you know her?"

"I went to high school with her, she was younger though. Remember that I begged to be sent to public school instead of being homeschooled" he explained.

"Yeah, but she is safe now, that's what really matters" Andreis smiled to himself "It was a normal Monday when I decided to go to her high school with Joan, my best friend, just to have some fun with other peers. That's when I first saw her. They told me that she was very shy but very kind girl and that her family is very generous even though they don't have enough money. I introduced myself to her and I felt the sweetness of her soul touching mine, it was a weird feeling" he took a deep breath. We all looked at each other then we shifted the focus back to him.

Once again, we were showed that our family is full of shit. I couldn't understand how we left such things slip under our noses.

Andreis continued, "Then I asked her on a date, and we started seeing in public, but when my father found out we continued meeting in secret. We did it for years until my father started messing with her life. Then I gave her money and gold that she can sold and drove her out of the kingdom" he sighed deeply and loudly.

"Adreis why didn't you tell me? We would've done something, this thing has been going on for years, we could've helped you" my father rubbed his shoulder.

"I was afraid for her uncle. My father knows how to manipulate very well, he knows how to hold you by your weak points. You think Eliza wanted to marry Erik? No, he persuaded her into it, he manipulated her until she lost her mind and started thinking that he loves him" he looked at us, slamming his hand on the armrest of the chair "You think my mother agrees with everything he says? Of course not, she doesn't have any other choice"

"Were we so damn stupid to not see it?" Cassian raised his brows.

"I don't think you are stupid, I just think my father is a great manipulator and fanatic"

Ana let out a giggle "Sorry, but Issaac is the reason inbreeding is prohibited. We should be happy that no one else turned out like him"

"You are absolutely right" Andreis pointed at Ana.

My mother turned to my father "We will stop him, right? We must take some action, your brother is insane. We must do something"

"We will. I'm thinking about things we can do. We still don't know how the public reacted on Andreis's statement, but we can accuse him for violating many royal rules regardless what the public has to say"

I pulled my phone out of the pocked and opened the social media to see if there were any comments. The Internet was full of angry people who apologized to me and Ana and throwed shade on Issaac. It made me feel better knowing that she was clear of any accusations.

"The people are on our side" I showed them the comments.

We all let out a loud sigh. I wondered if we will ever see the light in this tunnel that we are stuck in. It felt like we jogged in circles without finding the exit. Everyday was a new day with new struggles and blockages. 

I looked at Ana and I realized that we should all be thankful to her. She maybe brought the chaos in the palace but at least we are getting rid of the garbage that stank under our noses for years. Her arrival made everyone show their true face, it felt like her energy made all of us show our true selves, she could literally destroy us if she wanted.

I know that I often fell into the thoughts of how perfect she was, and it seemed like we were all under her, but it was not like it at all. She was just what every human was supposed to be, honest and full of light, and a little bit of rage. Just like every wise person once said 'Balance is the only way through life'

I realized that I wasstaring at her when she smiled at me. That damn smile, it gets me every time.

.

.

.

.

I love Erik okay? I know I write his character myself but I love him.