Forbidden Love - Lestappen AU Charles Leclerc x Max Verstappen

Chapter 13 - Paranoia

My last day of year 10. Finally, I will try to upload more in the next 6 weeks xx

A few days later, it was time for the Dutch and British royal families to depart Monaco. This left some sadness among the Monegasque family, particularly Charles and Arthur.

Since the departure of Max, Charles has been having weird feelings of being watched. Of course this happened during the Dutchman's stay but he thought nothing of it.

Unbeknownst to Charles, Arthur and the rest of his family are in the same situation. Could someone or something be lurking around the edge of the palace grounds? Or is it just a mere coincidence? Whatever it may be, it leaves the family slightly cautious.

The first instance where Charles thought it wasn't just a coincidence was one night when he was in his chambers. The young prince had his balcony door open into the dark abyss below. Everything was calm but eerily silent as if there was something watching him. For a brief second a light turned on in the woods. At this Charles leaped off his bed, startled. Not even a second went by and it was dark once again.

The second time, Charles was walking with Arthur in the woods, hoping for something to hunt. However they were unable to find anything due to all the wildlife already being hunted. The brothers knew full well that they were the only ones who were allowed to hunt in that forest. They also knew that something was there, still insure if it were man or beast.

The third occasion was merely two days after the second. Yet this time Charles was practicing his archery skills on the outskirts of the forest, alone.  He was seconds away from shooting another arrow when he heard someone darting through the bushing around him. Charles followed the sound and found human like footprints. He'd concluded that he wasn't going crazy and someone really was stalking him and his family. At this, he decided to return inside and share his thoughts with his mother.

"Maman?" He asked into the empty room.
"I'm coming honey, give me a second," his mother replied in her mother tongue. After a moment she appeared from the darkness of her study to find her son shaking and whimpering.

Pascale walks toward her son and takes him in her arms just as she did when he was younger. "What is it darling?" She asked after a few moments.

Charles stood himself tall, wiped his tears as he said " I think there is something watching us in the woods." As soon as the words left his mouth he realised how ridiculous he sounded. Why on earth would someone possibly want to watch them from the woods? Charles was unsure why but certain he was right.

That evening the Queen gathered some guards to search the forest. They too found the footprints the prince found earlier that day. But they came back to the palace after searching all night only to find some traces of human habitation.

For now the Queen decided to forget about her son's ridiculous hypothesis and continued to complete her role.

Later in the week, the King of Italy shall arrive to form an alliance with Monaco. He would be bringing his sons Antonio and Kimi along with himself. However, what the Monegasque family were unaware of was that the King of Italy was not what everyone seemed.

You see on the outside, King Guenther was a good joy of company to be around, a great friend if you ask any of his allies. But he not all that meets the eye. Inside he has many secrets, deep dark secrets, that if anyone were to learn of these, they would never see the light of day again. That being the reason that none of his previous allies have lived to see another day.

This was just one of the many reasons why the Queen found it fit to form an alliance with Italy. But also, their strength among other nations and resources alike.

Guenther's second in command but not by a relation was Kevin Magnussen. A young Dane man who swore his life to the King of Italy's loyalty. A man who would do anything to please his good friend and boss. A man who would do anything for the money he was paid.

Now the partner of Magnussen is known as Nico Hülkenberg. A German who sacrificed everything for the Dane. A man who all but 2 knows of his past but not even they know of his capabilities. I believe that is all you should know about this trio. A deadly one at that.

However, coincidence or not Charles felt the feeling of being watching not even days after it was decided that the leader of Italy travel to Monaco. The Queen felt the same. Arthur and Lorenzo felt the same. Even Max and Lando who were unaware of any events occurring and felt the unease surrounding the palace. Could this mean danger for those around them? Or for themselves in fact?

One thing that was known was that Max never felt right leaving Charles and his family in that palace. He felt as though he was making the biggest mistake of his life. One that he would come to regret for eternity. He'd briefly mentioned this to his mother who brushed it off believing that Max would just miss the Monegasque entirely. "Young love" she would always say to her husband.

During the masked ball, max had become aquatinted with the brits going far as to even share his thoughts about leaving. Unlike his mother the three agreed with Max that he shouldn't leave. However, after this conversation Max just felt as though he was being paranoid and chose to forget about it as his mother advised.

Once he returned to Amsterdam, he immediately ran up to his chamber to write to Charles. He explained the way he'd felt about leaving. To which Charles later replied acting as if everything was normal. It must just be the paranoia.