Royally Screwed

Chapter 29

SYLVIE

"You can go back to class if you want", I tell my bestie. Vicky helped me get the janitor's room where I am currently sitting on the floor in my school uniform, tears rolling down my eyes, headphones in my ears, looking at the man I love on the screen of my phone, him about to tell the whole world he does not love me anymore.

"Are you kidding me?!", she asks. "I'm not leaving you."

"You actually like chemistry", I remind her of the class I'm skipping to get my heart broken all over again.

"And you're my best friend. I am not letting you alone with this", she doesn't change her mind. "They could as well be telling me how to make gold, I'd still rather be here with you."

"Thank you", I say, reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze.

She nods as if it were obvious, then makes sure the door is locked so we don't get interrupted, and takes a sit on the floor next to me. I give her a headphone, then we both turn our eyes back to the phone, where the black screen now changed to a room. I recognise it from one of our family's business trips to Cordelia. It is the palace's Conference room. A marble wall featuring two statues, one of the first king who ever ruled Cordelia on the left, King Peter Estair, and as tradition calls, a statue of the current monarch on the right, Queen Olivia. In the middle is a lectern featuring multiple microphones, the state emblem in gold carved at the front.

I can see Louis entering the room together with Dominick, a bodyguard walking behind them. My heart skips a beat just at the sight of him. He is wearing a black tux with a white shirt, looking as perfect as ever. Yet as Dominick tells something to him and Louis nods, heading to the lectern and the camera zooms on his face, I can see the signs that the last hours weren't easier for him than they were for me. His hair, although styled, is still a bit messy as if he would have went with his hand a lot through it. His eyes, although I know he has some make-up on, have faded rings underneath, and he looks like he hasn't slept all night.

I start crying harder at that, Vicky immediately wrapping an arm around my shoulder to offer me support.

Dominick must have taken a microphone, for we can hear him say: "I present His Royal Highness Prince Louis Grayson Nathaniel West Estair-Dunn The Third."

Louis thanks with him a short nod, until he faces the camera again. Although we're miles again, his gaze seems to pierce me, as if he could look straight into my soul.

Or whatever is left of it.

"Thank you for meeting me", Louis begins, acknowledging the many reporters and the crowd in the room. It's then he seems to mentally debate what to say, then at one point, he takes a deep breath, and continues. "I was called here today to tell you that Princess Sylvia Ashbourne and I broke up. Instead, I am here to tell you that I love her and will never stop doing as such."

The crowd explodes in a round of chatter and gasps, and even I can't help the sound that comes out of me. So pained and hurting.

"Oh Louis", I let out, tears rolling in floods down my cheeks again. Vicky quickly grabs ahold of me and lets me tilt my head on her shoulder as I seem to fight for my consciousness.

"Thank you for your time, I wish you all a nice day", Louis ends the interview, and I can't help but see the way he is holding tight to the margin of the lectern, as if he would collapse any moment now. Were I not be sitting on the floor, I would probably do the same.

"I'm so sorry", I start shouting, making my bestie flinch next to me. She holds tighter to me as I keep repeating those words all over and over again. "I am so sorry. I am so sorry."

"It's alright", I can hear Vicky telling me. "It's not your fault. You'll see him again. One day, the two of you will be together again. And you'll be happy. So very happy."

Although I usually believe her, that thought seems too much of a fairytale to be true.

~

"Sylvia, do meet me in the office", Father tells me as I enter the palace. He even waited in the hallway for me, which only makes my heart beat faster with fear.

Every time I went inside that office, something bad happened.

It is like his office genuinely hates me.

Not having another choice, I follow him to his office. He already takes a seat on the huge armchair behind his desk, and he makes me a sign I should sit in front of him. I can't help but grip my skirt to hate the fact that my hand is shaking.

"I watch your little boyfriend's interview today", he begins, his voice dropping to show me just how pleased he was with what Louis said. Namely not the slightest.

"I swear, I didn't know he was going to say that", I suddenly feel the need to explain myself. "I was as surprised as you were."

Only on a complete opposite way.

Louis still loves me. He still has hope for us. He still believes in the idea of us.

"I don't know what you did to him, but you are never to see that man again, did you understand me?", he asks me.

He pierces me as I stare at the floor, not being able to promise him that.

Not when every piece of my heart aches for him.

"Did you understand me, Sylvia?", he slams with his hand in the desk.

I flinch, startled by the sound. With my fingers crossed at the back where he can't see, I nod. "I understand, Your Majesty."

"Good", he replies. "Now disappear from my eyes. You've done enough damage for a day."

I nod, not letting any opportunity of disappearing from here slip away.

As I'm out, I close the door behind me and lean with my back against the wall, allowing myself to breathe.

I might be breaking but somewhere out there, there is a flicker of hope keeping me alive.

And that is all I need.