SAINT. | ln4 . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁

say you'll see me again | 12

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THAT MORNING LANDO had comforted the distraught princess. Merliah had finally opened up to him about how hard it was being a princess.

Lando learned Merliah would never be able to achieve what she dreamed of achieving, marry the one she loved, or do the things she wanted to do. Everything was set up by her father from the beginning in order to assure a smooth transfer to the throne when the time came.

Merliah had always dreamed of becoming a painter.

But she never could.

She had always dreamed of finding her prince charming.

But she never would.

Everything was set in stone, and she knew her father would kill to make that plan run smoothly. Merliah wasn't happy. The little time she spent with Lando this weekend, she realized she was never happy. Her whole life, she played a facade in order to keep her parents proud. And now she was an adult.

But the privilege of being an adult would be taken away from her so she could dedicate her life to the crown.

And this she dreaded.

She wanted to live. She wanted to explore the world and go to countries she had never been to. Merliah wanted to learn what it was like not to be followed by a bodyguard or to have everything handed to you on a silver platter.

That's what made her happy.

Lando felt nothing but guilt for the girl. In this short period, he has grown addicted to her. He dreaded the thought of not seeing her again when she would arrive back in Monaco.

Merliah felt guilty for dragging him into her mess. He had just won his first race, and he was here, consoling her. He should be happy, not feel empathy for her. She'd never be able to repay him for this moment.

Her bodyguard and handmaiden had packed her hotel room up. Merliah learned that after the club last night, she fell asleep in Lando's car due to being drunk. Lando had no other choice but to take her back to his hotel. The two hadn't done anything sensual, but she did remember the kiss they almost shared last night.

And now she feared she would never be able to achieve that kiss.

They sat in Lando's car in a comfortable silence. She kept her eyes out the window, watching all the families and children that rode bicycles on the sidewalks or the couples that were on morning runs together. Merliah realized she was stripped of that as a child.

She'd never get that back.

"Princess, you're not thinking too much about your dad, right?" Lando broke the silence, looking over at Merliah, who had a single tear running down her cheek.

"No." She chuckled and wiped the tear from her sleeve. "Sorry."

"It's okay, sweetheart. It's going to be okay, I promise. Don't think about it." He comforted her, placing a hand on her thigh and rubbing circles on her delicate skin with his thumb.

"Say you'll see me again."

"Merliah Saint Anastasia Grimmaldi, I promise we'll see each other again."

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a/n:
ow