Royal Speed | Leclerc & Verstappen

47 | father's secret

-/- Monaco 2021 - race break -/-

It was a couple days later when I was released from the hospital, a black car driving me back to the palace. Max had never left my side and same right now, he had only gone to his apartment once, getting new cloths, also for me as his shirts were so much more comfortable then the hospital ones.

Arthur and Cathy were already at the palace, same as my mother who had told me that she had tried to speak to my father. But he only wanted to talk to me, not really saying nice things though.

He had never came to the hospital, this was telling me enough of how much he cared for me, how much he loved me. I still couldn't understand why he acted that way, but I was sure that bringing Max Verstappen with me, holing my hand, was surely not helping there.

Still I needed him, needed my boyfriend for this step. One thing I knew for sure though, after this conversation I was either dethroned or loved and understood my father and his behavior more than ever, probably though it was the first option.

"No matter what he will say and what will happen, I'm there, you know that?" Max said and squeezed my hand while the car was driving into the palace property.

Slowly I turned my head and looked into his eyes, seeing that he really meant it, that he would still love me even I was not a prince anymore.

"I love you." I whispered in return, feeling some tears again, but I quickly brushed them away.

The car stopped and Max quickly jogged around the car, holding his hand out as the driver opened the door for me. Thankfully I took it and together we went up the stairs to the big door, getting a couple confused looks by the staff that was around.

At this point though I didn't care, I didn't care that they now knew that I was gay, that I was dating Max Verstappen, that I was in love with another man. It all didn't matter for me as I knew the Dutchman was on my side, no matter what people would say or do.

Also I wasn't interest in their opinion, their thoughts. The only person I wanted to know why he hated it, was my father. Why he had always been so angry with me, especially with the dating topic in the last few years.

I knew I was getting older, being 24 now, but he had always put so much pressure on me, to find the right woman, to get married and to start a family. I knew that in the royal tradition people got married really early and started having kids in their twenties, but that wasn't the case anymore.

He only needed to look at other royal families, Sweden, Spain, yeah even the Dutch king didn't force Cathy into something, even though he kindly reminded her to start looking for a man. But is was something completely different the way my father did it.

Despite the fact that I had never been interested in women, but also that he hated.

"Great to see you again." Davide welcomed Max as we stepped into the big hall, "Your father waits in his office for you."

"Thanks Davide." I returned, already getting a weird feeling inside my stomach.

"Do you want me to bring you something, a glass of water, some food?" my assistant asked as he saw the color leaving my face.

"No thanks, I'm fine." I sighed, looking over to Max, who was close to me, still holding my hand, "You want anything?"

"No, I'm good." the Dutchman smiled at Davide and thanked him, before the Frenchman disappeared again.

"I'm scared." I mumbled, nervously biting my bottom lip as I looked up to the first floor where my father's office was.

"I'm here with you, we can do this, together." Max whispered before he laid his hand carefully on my cheek, turning my face towards him, "I love you."