No Explanations - ONC24

Chapter 13 - Getaway Carriage

"While he was running after us, I was screaming, "Go, go, go." But with three of us, honey, it's a sideshow. And a circus ain't a love story and now we're both sorry (We're both sorry)" - Getaway Car, Taylor Swift

In shades of gray in candlelight, I looked at Arora in the chapel in the gardens. We would run away together, set up our own life. That life would be better than I could ever get in the City of Night, I was sure. It would be perfect, because I would be with Arora.

"I need to tell my parents," I told her. "I need to give them some explanation on why I'm leaving. I need to pack some things and I need to order a carriage for us."

Arora nodded. "Let's not waste anymore time," she said. "But pack your things first, or else your parents might not allow that," she suggested.

I smiled at her. "I like that, good thinking."

She had a proud glimmer in her eye. "That's what I do."

I took her hand and we left the chapel again. I led the way to my room, where I quickly packed some things. A set of simple dresses, things fit for an ordinary girl and not for a princess. In the meantime, Arora had ordered a servant to fetch a carriage for us and had them bring her and my stuff to the carriage. I opted for my own two horses to be used.

With that out of the way, we would go to my parents. It would be official. I had no doubt my parents would disown me, just like Arora's parents had. Then they would be two jobless, homeless women. But I had confidence that Arora and I would find a way together. We would get there.

When we arrived at the ballroom, where my parents were reportedly still waiting, Arora squeezed my hand in support. She would be right there beside me. We would be taking this step together.

The doors opened and there were my parents, on their thrones again. They looked at me, at Arora and at our tangled hands. But they said nothing as we walked up to them, together.

I did not bow for them and neither did Arora. We just stood in front of them while I was looking for the words I needed to tell them what I was doing.

"I think we were quite clear about not having anything to do with the Aurum princess," my mother said.

"You were," I said. "But I chose to ignore that. I came to the realization that I can't love boys. After dating so many of them, I think I can say that Arora Aurum is my only true love. I came here to tell you I will be dating her from now on."

My parents looked too stunned to speak. That was already an expression I wouldn't want to have missed. I had never been in a situation where my parents didn't know what to say next.

My mother looked scared at her husband. "Roger, how can we have created a homosexual child?" she asked him. "It doesn't run in my family."

"That's not how that works, honey," my father said. "But Ebony, this is completely unreasonable. You know how much this will impact our reputation, the other royals will never see us the same. How could you do this to us?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, you mean how could I choose to be with the love of my life instead of sentencing myself to a life with someone I will never really love, always wishing for that true love that once slipped through my fingers? Yes, I don't know how I could do that to you," I said.

"Ebony Navalle Keeling, I want you to reconsider," my father said.

"I won't," I simply said. "I'll just go be with the love of my life. I heard it will be a good night to have sex." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ebony!" my mother exclaimed.

"We told you there would be consequences if you would even be seen again with the Aurum girl. There would definitely be consequences to openly portraying yourself as homosexual or even dating Princess Arora. I'll ask you to be careful," my father said.