The Prince That Got Away ( A Royal Romance Novel )

Monster In Law

Emilia's POV:-

" How do you know that it was your mother? And actually, when did you even find out?" I say as Louis leads me to sit on one of the sofas.

"The day I got shot I had a feeling that the police alone wouldn't be enough to find out who's behind all of this. So I decided to get in touch with one of my friends who has contacts within the mafia."

" You are friends with criminals?" I gasp.

" Aiden Victor is not actually a criminal. His family used to be involved in illegally selling weapons to criminals and those in the mafia. As far as I know, they no longer do that anymore but he knows people. To cut a long story short we were able to find out who purchased the gun that was used to shoot at you. The guy was one of my mother's bodyguards." Louis walks to one of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows showing a view of the ocean.

"He must be really loyal to your mother if he was willing to commit treason for her sake," I say anger lacing my tone.

" He wasn't just loyal to her because she was his boss. I fear their relationship is probably more than just that between a boss and an employee." Louis rubs a hand over his face.

" What the hell? You mean they were lovers?" My head is reeling from information overload.

" The plot involved just the three of them. My mother, her boytoy and Travis the man who shot you. Hiring a professional or someone in organized crime would have been the best way to get the job done. They know how to cover their tracks. But luckily for us mafia in this country has a rule to never target a cop or a member of the Royal family. They wouldn't be able to deal with the resulting shitstorm." Louis said grimly.

"The last time one of them did something like that was when they targeted my father. Every person in law enforcement and the military made it their personal mission to hunt down the people responsible. They wiped out entire gangs and anyone remotely suspected of being involved. So Mother Dearest picked up a desperate broke guy from the streets to do the job." He continues.

" Did she seriously want me dead? What the hell did I do to make her hate me so much?" My hands are trembling.

" I don't think she wanted you dead. Just slightly injured and terrified. At least terrified enough to make you want to leave me. She was probably hoping you assumed that you were targeted by the same people who are after me. I am sure she would have come to you with a proposition to pay you a huge sum of money in return for divorcing me." Louis laughs bitterly.

" But I still don't get why she's so hellbent on being rid of me. What the hell have I ever done to her? Is it because she thinks you will lose the election for the throne because of me?" Does she think the public won't accept me as Queen? Is that it?" My voice gets shrill as I speak.

"I think you will make a great Queen Emilia. And don't for a second think otherwise." Louis kneels on the floor in front of me.

" How do you know that Louis? How can you be so sure? I am probably the only Queen consort in our history who has gone to prison! There must definitely be people out there who don't think I am innocent. What if that has an impact on the vote? What if you don't get elected as the heir to the throne because of me?" I can't help the tears that fill my eyes.

" Emilia you will not be the first Queen who has ever spent time in prison. That distinction is held by my great grandmother who was kept imprisoned during the Civil War." Louis chuckles as he wipes the tears from my cheeks.

"You are an incredibly brave woman who acted in self-defense and William Howard got what he deserved as a result. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I think that no matter what I say you will continue to think you will make a terrible Queen. It's because of a deeply ingrained habit you have of always underestimating yourself."