The Prince That Got Away ( A Royal Romance Novel )

Murderers In The Family

Emilia's POV:-

Prince Albert's funeral is a grand affair brimming with tension as the different contenders for the throne all gather in one place to honor the late crown prince. In two months time the elections for the new crown prince would be held and the future monarch would be chosen.

There are a few contestants for the throne but most of them are relatively unknown members of the royal family. My husband, Rick, and Princess Abigail are the most popular. The Princess who is a big fan of my books doesn't seem interested in winning though.

" I have my software business to run and I don't have time to focus on anything else. Being a monarch is not all fun and games. If it wasn't for my parents I would have never signed up for this." She fans herself with a piece of paper as we sit in the church.

The funeral is taking place at St.Nicholas's abbey an almost one thousand-year-old church that somehow managed to survive the Civil War unscathed. Its the place where most royal weddings and funerals take place.

As I look at the beautiful stained glass windows I feel a little sad at the thought that me and Louis couldn't get married here. In fact, we never had any sort of wedding at all. But then again who would I have invited save for Tessa and maybe Roman?

Roman and I barely spoke to each other since he left for an expedition to the South Pole. It would have been embarrassing for me to have hardly anyone to represent the bride's side while my groom would have every important person on the planet coming at his invitation.

Then there's also the fact that I would have to face so many people and the planning of the entire event and its execution would have been nothing short of insanely nerve-wracking.

Albert's coffin is placed on a raised platform and is covered with the royal standard and a wreath of flowers. The staff who used to run his household break their wands of office and placed it on his coffin. The Queen gazes on with lifeless eyes and her face is expressionless.

I realize that the Queen and I have more things in common than I thought. When we are in extreme pain we often bury it so deep that to the outside world, it seems as if we are completely unaffected like robots.

Louis is standing beside her looking solemn. He's dressed in a black military uniform with all his numerous badges pinned to his chest. I wonder if he is thinking about his last conversation with his uncle mere hours before his death.

The Queen had been acting coldly toward him. One of the guards had heard the shouting from Prince Albert's room and reported it to her. I had a feeling she thought Louis's confrontation with his uncle hastened his death.

I would be lying if I said that Louis's anger that day had not scared me too. Maybe because you are wondering whether he overreacted because there was some truth in what Albert was saying. I quickly silence that voice in my head.

"You wouldn't make a bad Queen Abigail." I turn to the princess sitting beside me.

" It's not like I think I am not capable of running the country. It's just that I don't want to." She twirls a bright pink strand around her finger. A few members of the nobility give her contemptuous side eyes their gazes lingering on her hair.

"Besides we already have Louis. He's been training for this all his life and he deserves it the most. I will just give a bunch of speeches before the election so my parents would think I put in some effort. Plus I have a feeling you will be a pretty popular queen." Her words astound me.

"Why do you think that? As far as I know, I am a pretty controversial figure."

"Not among everyone. The feminists and those who are more left-wing like you because you stood up to lord Howard and you also don't hail from the nobility which makes you relatable. Then there are the fans of your book. If some people dislike you it's because they don't know you. You don't mingle with other people all that much. You need to attend more charity events, give speeches, go to parties, etc."