Royally Screwed

Chapter 28

SYLVIE

I've never hated home more than now.

It's late, yet as we pass through the streets of Briar, the bars and restaurants are still lighten up with neon signs or LEDs. Our capital city has always been known for its night life. In another life, I might even enjoy it. I might walk with the boy I love down the streets, stop in one of the bars, and sing my heart out at karaoke. Louis would watch me with that warmth of his as I sing National Anthem for him to give his imagination free rein, then we'd sneak into my room and he'd kiss me all night. I'd wake up with his arm around my waist, and we could stay in bed until late, me watching him work on his laptop, making fun of how he crosses his eyebrows every time he made a typo.

I lean my head against the seat and close my eyes. My dreams seem far a better place to be than in this car, my Father next to me. I can't remember the exact moment he became less my Father, more my King. Might be after Mom left. Or when Edmund chose to stay at home with me and take care of me when I was sick, except of going to a conference Father asked him.

Yet the moment any ounce of sympathy I could have for him died, was when he made me give up the one thing I only ever wanted to keep. Louis.

"I am so proud of you you ended it with that boy", he now tells me. I don't remember when he ever used the word proud in the context of me. And what I can't wrap my head around is how he is making it seem my fault. "I called the Royal House of Cordelia and let them know your decision."

"You did what?!", I step out of what I wanted to call a trance.

"I announced the Royal Family of Cordelia you wanted to break up with their son."

"I love their son", I find myself shouting.

I don't give one damn shit that Fred and George are sitting in front and can hear every single little word because the wall isn't up. The whole world could hear me say I love him. That still wouldn't change a thing about what I feel for him.

"No, you think you love their son", he tries to correct me. "But you're only eighteen, you don't know what love is. You'll get over it sooner or later."

I don't know what hurt more. His words or how he thought he was right.

"You don't know what love is", I find it in me to fight back. "Why did you think Mom left? Because you treated her like she-"

I didn't prepare for the slap. "Don't question my actions. Not when all I did was for our kingdom."

"You say you want to save Arlette but you break its future", I tell him between tears. "You never saw me as your daughter. You love Edmund because he is your heir, but you never really needed me. All you ever saw me as is a burden."

"And are you doing anything to help me look at you differently?", he asks me now. "I had to come to Paris for you, skipping my Parliament meeting, just to get you."

"You could have left me there. Heaven knows I was happier."

His glare tells me enough. "You belong to Arlette. Your duties are to this kingdom. So I don't want to hear you even dare speak to that boy again. Did you understand me?"

I wonder how can one still breathe if the their heart stopped beating? That's how I'm feeling now. My heart just stopped. My soul got empty. I feel no emotions. Feel nothing at all.

"I understand", I answer, yet my voice doesn't even seem to belong to me.

"Since you embarrassed us enough already, the Palace will post an announcement telling that you and His Royal Highness parted ways. Cordelia announced us that the Prince will hold a speech tomorrow, announcing the same thing. Hopefully by the end of that speech, you and him will never have to cross paths again."

I can disappear. Were it up to me, I can disappear now. But before I fully lose myself to a ghost, I need to know one more thing. "What did Louis ever do to you?"

His answer doesn't come direct. Not even after a second. Or two. Three. Minutes pass and he still doesn't answer. But as he does, I find myself wishing he never answered at all.

"You were happy."