My Royal Story

Chapter 22

The knife choked me as tears ran down my cheeks, this wasn't the end! I kneed Luke in the genitals and he cowered backwards. The knife fell from his hand and sliced my wrist. I swore under my breath and picked it up.

Luke laid on the ground and I pinned him down, the knife to his side. "I loved you, Luke. I really did."

"I still love you, Lily! Let me go! We can  have a family and-"

"Dammit, Luke! Don't you dare say those words to me! You never really did love me! You loved the crown!" I began to stick the knife in his side and he screamed.

"Stop!"

I dug the knife deeper and blood stained his shirt. "Goodbye, Luke."

Luke sat there in pain, then he began coughing up blood. His eyes rolled back into his head and the coughing stopped, Luke was gone.

I ran out of the room and down the stairs. I almost tripped, I was running so fast. I flung open Bradley's door. My eyes looked around the room for him. He was on the ground clutching his chest, "Bradley!" I screamed.

I dove to him and looked into his eyes. "Lily," he croaked. I kissed him and he kissed me back. "Lily, you're bleeding," he touched my throat and wrist.

"I'm fine, but I don't think you are."

"I am," he said. "That dumb soldier didn't know which side of my chest my heart was on."

I laughed and hugged him. The door suddenly opened, "Bradley, have you seen Lily? I've been looking for her everywhere- oh goodness!" Lady Jubilee screamed. "What happened?"

I told her the story and her mouth hung open, "You killed Luke?"

"He hurt Bradley and almost killed me. You can even look through the cameras."

"I will, but first I better call the medics for Bradley. He is looking quite pale."

"Okay."

• • • • •

A week later I sat in the infirmary with Bradley. I held his hand as I told him about Luke, "I got a fake marriage contract from Lady Jubilee. Luke believed it was real. I stayed with you that night so he couldn't kill me in my sleep. The next day he knew what had happened the night before. He nearly killed me until I got the upper hand. That was when I ran to your room and found you dying on the floor."

"I'm so proud of you," he whispered.

"I love you."

"I love you," he kissed me on my cheek.

• • • • •

Bradley was released two days later. He wanted to take me somewhere special. He grabbed my hand and led me to a balcony. He climbed over the fence and helped me over it, too. We climbed down a ladder and onto the ground.

I was out of the palace for the first time in a long time. Bradley ran towards to forest and I followed. He led me into the forest. We stood under tall trees with long branches and rustling leaves.

"How did you know I love the forest?" I asked.

"I know everything," he held my hand and got down on one knee.

I gasped as he pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a silver ring with a small blue stone. "Lily, will you marry me?"

"I love you so much!" I hugged him.

"Is that a yes?"

"What do you think?" I kissed him. For the first time in a long time, I was the old me, with a smile on her face, bright eyes, rosy cheeks, and ribbons in her hair.