𝑅𝑂𝑌𝐴𝐿 𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑁𝐷𝐴𝑅𝐷𝑆 ~𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛

Chapter 16: The Breaking Point

Charles had been avoiding his father for days. He couldn’t stand the lectures, the cold stares, or the way King hèrve’s disapproval seemed to linger in every corner of the palace. Every time Charles walked into a room, he felt it—a constant reminder that he was failing, that he wasn’t good enough. And after his conversation with Max, the weight of it all had become unbearable.

Today, though, there was no avoiding it. His father had called for him, and no matter how much Charles wanted to stay in his room, to hide away from the expectations that felt like they were crushing him, he knew he had to face it.

As he stood outside his father’s office, his heart pounded in his chest. He could already imagine how the conversation would go. His father would point out everything Charles had done wrong, every misstep, every mistake. He would nod, apologize, and promise to do better. Then he would leave, feeling more drained than ever.

Except this time, something was different. This time, there was a simmering anger inside him—a frustration that had been building for years but had only recently started to bubble to the surface. He wasn’t sure where it came from, but it was there, hot and dangerous, and he wasn’t sure he could keep it contained.

Taking a deep breath, Charles knocked on the door. A moment later, his father’s voice called out, stern and authoritative.

“Come in.”

Charles pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was just as he remembered—dark wood paneling, bookshelves filled with volumes that Charles had never seen his father touch, and the large desk that seemed to dominate the space. King hèrve sat behind it, his eyes immediately locking onto Charles as he entered.

“Sit down,” the King said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Charles obeyed, sitting down stiffly, his hands resting in his lap. He could feel his father’s gaze on him, sharp and assessing, and it made his skin crawl.

“We need to talk about your recent behavior,” his father began, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. “I’ve received numerous reports about your lack of focus, your disregard for your duties. It’s unacceptable, Charles. You are not a child anymore. You have responsibilities—serious ones—and you are failing to live up to them.”

Charles didn’t say anything at first. He just stared at his hands, his jaw clenched. He had heard this speech before. He knew every word by heart.

“I’m doing my best,” he finally muttered, though even as he said it, he knew it wasn’t enough.

“Your best?” hèrve repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “Is this what you call your best? Missing meetings, shirking responsibilities, embarrassing this family?”

Charles felt the anger flare inside him again, stronger this time. He swallowed hard, trying to keep it down, trying to keep his voice steady.

“I’m not embarrassing anyone,” he said quietly, but there was a hint of defiance in his tone.

His father’s eyes narrowed. “You are embarrassing yourself, Charles. You are embarrassing me. Do you know how many people come to me, asking why my son can’t be trusted to handle even the simplest tasks? Do you have any idea what it’s like to hear over and over again that you are not ready, that you are not fit to lead?”

Something inside Charles snapped.

“I am ready!” he shouted, his voice shaking with frustration. “I’m doing everything I can, but it’s never enough for you, is it? No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, it’s never enough!”

King hèrve’s face hardened, his expression cold and unyielding. “You are not ready, Charles. You are reckless. You are immature. And until you start taking your responsibilities seriously, you will never be ready.”