The Prince That Got Away ( A Royal Romance Novel )

Shattered

Seven Years Ago...
Emilia's POV: -

When mom suggested I go to the Halloween concert dressed as Cruella I thought she was joking. Turns out she wasn't. She even went so far as to secretly order a Cruella costume complete with a wig from Amazon. A few months ago I would have never imagined doing something like this. But back then I didn't have The Fisher King encouraging me to be brave and step out of my comfort zone. Thanks to him I am trying to tackle my self-esteem and anxiety issues bit by bit. I have even decided to see a therapist and have started exercising.

I put on two mismatched black and silver earrings shaped like lightning bolts. I had always wanted to wear earrings but I am a chicken who's always been afraid of pain. So I never got my ears pierced till now. It was my online pen pal who told me I should live my life to the fullest and do whatever it is I want to do. So I got my ears pierced. It was such a trivial thing but even that was enough to boost my confidence.

I wish I could say I was just happy and excited at the prospect of finally meeting The Fisher King. But to say I was unnerved would be an understatement. It wasn't just fear of rejection, there was also the fact that he was someone from my school. It was such a weird coincidence and it left me feeling queasy. I was the designated outcast at school and there was a huge chance this guy would not want to have anything to do with me after knowing who I was.

To top it off he knew my deepest secrets and I was plagued by nightmares of Tiffany and her clique learning about my mental health issues or my complicated relationship with my family. Not that he would tell anyone about our conversations, right? The boy I knew was kind and funny even a bit of a dork. It was hard to imagine him as a bully. After hearing Louis tell Tiffany that I wasn't his type and continuing his routine of ignoring my existence I had gotten over the little crush I had on him. If he hadn't rescued me that night I would never have crushed on him in the first place.

Hence there was only one boy on my mind and that was my Fisher King. He was so much more than a crush. I was quite sure I had fallen in love with him. I had even started dreaming of the future, marriage, and kids included. I even daydreamed about him kissing me and even doing more than that to me. Then I got worried at the thought that he wouldn't find me attractive. I prayed that he wasn't someone too handsome or rich since that would mean he was out of my league. I hoped he was one of those teens who looked younger than their age because I definitely had the body of a fourteen-year-old boy.

When I reach the party a tremor goes through me at the thought that I would finally see him tonight. The whole school looks like a haunted castle and the atmosphere is festive with people prancing around in their gaudy costumes. There's a covered walkway leading to where the concert is being held. It's decorated with spider webs and has huge pumpkins placed along the entire path. The tables are decorated with skull centerpieces and are holding snacks shaped like horror movie characters.

The Fisher King: Are you here yet?

I gulp as I type yes. He had told me he would come dressed up as the Phantom of the Opera. I on the other hand hadn't told him about my costume saying it was a surprise. But the truth was I kept imagining the scenario where the Fisher King would turn out to be one of the people who hated me at school. I wanted to see who he was before I revealed my identity to him. My plan was to quickly spot the boy dressed as the Phantom of the Opera and then have the chance to think before I introduced myself to him.

Just then my eyes fall on a broad-shouldered man with half his face covered by a black mask. He's wearing a Victorian-era men's suit complete with a scarlet waistcoat and black cape. It's him! My heart starts pounding as I approach where he's standing. He's the tallest person in the room and his broad shoulders are visible beneath his suit. His inky black hair shines beneath the lights and then he turns toward me.