Royally Screwed

Chapter 9

LOUIS

I'm doing my best to look at anything but Sylvie. As Edmund first announced we'd be travelling at their place for the weekend to announce his sister something, I thought that he announced said sister of our arrival. Only as we were standing in front of their door did he let me know it is a surprise. And now I'm starting to regret coming with him.

Sylvie is clearly not dressed for a royal meeting. A dark green rib top, short wavy pants showing off her long legs and smooth skin. She's fidgeting on the chair, making the fabric slide one inch further, revealing one inch more of her skin.

I don't think I'll be able to get through tonight. Heck, I'm hard as it is.

"St. Moritz?", Sylvie's voice tones through the room, and like the addict I am I instinctively look up. Our eyes meet for a few minutes. Ocean blue so deep I drown. I've never found a table cloth more interesting.

"Please don't say no", Edmund asks her. "It's my twentieth birthday. I need my baby sis there."

"Dad would never allow it", Sylvie says, her voice getting lower. As if it were something private.

"But he already did", Edmund replies proudly.

"Maybe for you. Not for me", she counters.

"What did I tell you, baby sis? Relax. I got permission for the both of us", now he takes out a paper with something signed. It looks disturbingly much like a royal decree.

"Your father signed a decree you are allowed to go?", I find myself asking.

Both Edmund and Sylvie nod as if that were normal.

I don't say anything else to that matter.

"I even got a free-pass for you, Victoria", Edmund says.

Victoria seems to shake her head mistrusting. "No, Dad would never allow it."

"He did. I didn't ask as friend of yours, but as future king", my best friend answers.

"Now we're friends?", the girl doesn't seem to believe it.

"Oh come on", Edmund scoffs exhausted. "I literally did every single little shit to make sure you two could come. Could you show a bit more enthusiasm, if you please?"

I can see the moment the two girls realise this is real. And that they are actually going to St Moritz during the winter break.

"We're going to St Moritz", they say to each other, but it sounds more like a squeal. A new type of smile fills Sylvie's face. One I have never seen before. One I am glad I got to see.

It changes her whole face. She doesn't just smile. She smiles with her whole soul. Her eyes sparkle, stars dancing inside them.

It beats the Northern Lights.

"Thank you", Edmund replies, taking a sip of his hot chocolate. "Now that that's settled, Sylvie, you still haven't told me how Deauville was."

Sylvie instantly looks at the ground. The reaction has doubts rising inside me. Especially as I know what effect Deauville had over me.

The grin on Victoria's face tells me our trip there was something they discussed long about. I know it from my aunt Aria, who always has the same smile when she and Mom get into their 'girl talk'.

"Yeah, Sy, tell us about the trip", Victoria elbows her best friend.

"Vick, I swear to God", Sylvie counters.

"Especially with his Royal Ho...Highness here", Victoria oversees what Sylvie said. I notice it's the second time she misspelled my title today.

"I'm throwing your Prada bags inside the river", Sylvie threatens.

That has Victoria going pale and Edmund smirking.

"Deauville was amazing", Sylvie tells her brother, after sending her best friend an air kiss, victory smirk on her face. "The event was very well organised, and I really enjoyed the horse races. I also liked to attend the different parties. But the highlight of the trip must have been the morning that I went to eat breakfast on the beach. The pain au chocolat was delicious. I believe it was the best morning I had in a while."

I can't help but look up as I hear that. Sylvie's gaze was already on me. A shy smile on her lips.

"What a coincidence", Edmund replies oblivious. "Louis here told me he liked the pain au chocolat most too. Told me he had one at a coffee shop one day. He told me he fell in love."

My best friend seriously doesn't know when to stop talking.

Sylvie seems to look as if she has seen a ghost, as Victoria next to her is grinning wide.

"Damn, that pain au chocolat must have been delicious", the later one lets out.

Neither I can stop the mouth twitch at that thought. I am really sorry, Edmund.