The Prince That Got Away ( A Royal Romance Novel )

The Tyrant

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

They have managed to take down the YouTube video showing my quarrel with Emilia but now I am in the headlines again. People are talking about it. Some are on my side saying that Emilia seems to have something personal against me besides the scholarship.

Others are saying she's bound to react like that when she's poor and she's lost her only chance at graduating from a prestigious school like Ethelred High. When I read comments like the latter a feeling of guilt claws at my chest. As if this wasn't enough my grandmother is here and she's in anything but a good mood.

" I told you to stay out of this Louis. I thought I made it clear I was looking into who leaked the audio recording didn't I? I also told you that Emilia Meadows was not the one behind all of this. Yet you still chose to exact revenge against her." My grandmother's voice sounds calm as always but there's an undercurrent of anger in her tone.

" You seem to be very sure she's not the one behind this. Care to explain Your Majesty?" I calmly sip at my tea but inside I was feeling on edge.

" We didn't manage to find any proof against her and that should be reason enough for you not to take action against her."

" Just because there's no evidence against her doesn't mean you can conclusively say she wasn't the one behind all of this. Yet just now you explicitly stated Emilia has nothing to do with this." I feel my frustration mount.

" What are you trying to say, Louis?" She narrows her eyes behind her spectacles and it would have been enough to make anyone cower in front of her but not me.

" I don't want to offend Your Majesty, but I think you're hiding something from me. "

" I don't have reason to hide anything from you. Contrary to what I believe your mother has always told you, I am not conspiring against you. You are my grandson and I have always wanted to protect you. If you think I am the one behind all of this then I must say I am extremely disappointed in you." It's barely visible but there's hurt in her grey eyes that look so much like mine.

" I never thought that way and neither did my mother. " The latter part was a lie as my mother always told me the Queen didn't want me to be king and that Rick was her favorite.

" Then why do you think I am hiding something from you?"

" It's because of the way you are defending Emilia."

" She's a fatherless teenage girl with no connections. The idea of going against someone so seemingly powerless without any proof feels wrong to me. It can make the public see you as a villain or someone who abuses his power. Now that the video of you two has already been seen by thousands of people that's very likely to happen. I stopped you because I feared you would destroy your image and forgive me but you have done just that, spectacularly. "

My face burns with shame at her words. She must notice it too because she takes a deep breath and continues in a gentler voice.

" I used to think you had only taken after your father in looks but you also have his temper and a bit of his impulsiveness. But both of these qualities will get in your way if you want to be king. And as a ruler, you cannot afford to be ruled by your temper and act impetuously. You are still young, with age I hope you learn to control this side of yourself. " I stay silent not knowing how to react. Had I really acted rashly?

" I was told all my life to emulate my father. The public used to worship him."

" They did but he wasn't perfect. You're more self-possessed and cool-headed than he was." She says with a slight smile and I feel a sense of pride at her words.