Kerttu's Elite - A Sequel

Humanized - Chapter 10

Lupita's friend had died. Ashley. I didn't know her well but Lupita was so distraught I knew she must have been great. We stayed in our room, playing board games and watching old television. Mom and Dad had recovered all media ten years ago and had tech people developing better computers. Under my reign I would be sure to include more of that. Technology is the future.

His family was still here. Jakob's. His memorial was later today. I didn't know if I was ready. I had bought his family a new house, given them a couple of thousands. I knew it didn't matter at all. A life had been lost. Money didn't matter.

That's when I realized why I had never loved royalty that much. It's great that you can help people financially, add leave to their souls like with Tyrion. But we can still be sad. Still be destroyed. Money does not build, it holds.

A sharp knock on my door. I finished rolling my die, concluded my turn, then opened the door. It was my parents.

"Hey," I said dryly.

They were wearing their finest black, Dad's eyes filled with sorrow. "Hey Lupita, Kerttu. You guys should start getting ready."

I nodded, beginning to close the door but stopped by a hand. It was Dad's.

"Are you okay?"

"No," I whispered. Mom opened the door fully and pulled me into a hug.

"I know this is hard but we have to go."

"Why?" I asked, muffled by the thick material of her dress.

"Because we are royalty. We must perform. And we have to honor him. We have to honor them all."

I nodded, letting go of her. "I know. We'll be down there soon."

Two more people had been discovered dead. 35 dead. People who had devoted their lives to helping and protecting us. To loving their loved ones to the best of their abilities. To making us laugh and smile. They had all taken care of us all in their own way.

"We all have an energy," I started, my voice weak with emotion. "Whenever we are our genuine selves. The world tries to mar it. One person who died today who never let the world do that was Jakob." My hands were pressed against the podium, visibly shaking. "He was a ball of positive energy. I didn't know him for long but I knew it was someone who I wanted to be around. Maybe not romantically but as a friend. And that is the most beautiful thing you can have."

"My prayers to all those who died. And thank you for your service to the palace, to my family, to your family's, to the human race. Thank you for your service."

I got off the stage and hugged his mother. She had already given the most heartfelt speech ever and I hoped I had done her justice.

"Thank you, Princess Kerttu. Thank you."

The memorial ended. Tyrion had found me after and we were sitting outside his tombstone. Dozens of roses surrounded it. We sat on the grass, staring at it.

"Are you okay?" I asked, not moving my eyes from his grave.

"Yeah," Tyrion replied. "How are you? That matters most."

I gave a dry chuckle. "That's not true but I'm not great. I can't believe they all died. I can't believe he died. He was your best friend, right?"

He smiled, shaking his head. "Yeah, he was. He was...great."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."

Oddly, it was a sunny day. But it was also oddly fitting. We basked in the warmth of the Angeles air, in remembrance and solitude. Together.

I headed to Chaarlie's room, I didn't know why. I just wanted to see him.

He opened the door.

"I swear to God, Chaarlie, when am I not going to see you in a suit?"

He let me in. The room was some reason romantic. He had lit candles, the fresh smell of pinewood. It was dark, tiny light bulbs providing slight illumination. The concoction of the smell and auror, the warmth of the room.

He was grinning when I regained my attention. "There are only two options with me: naked or suit. Which do you prefer?"

I covered my face with my hands. "How do you say things like that and still keep looking at me? You are crazy." He maintains eye contact at all times, that charismatic glint in his eye. He was quite the character.

"You are very hard to look away from," he said boldly, standing tall. "Take a seat."

I sat on his couch. "Wow this is plush."

"Right?" he affirmed. He unfurled a cushy throw and laid it snuggly around my body. The room's atmosphere intensified quickly the second he hid. His hands tucked the throw around my sides and then he sat on the edge of the couch. "Is that good?"

"Perfect," I sighed. "I love comfort."

He smiled down at me, the glow emitting from his eyes. His brown eyes and hair shimmered with the candles as if he was air. His shadow of a beard was brightened, his body close to the side of my thighs.

"Me too," he replied gently. He said it as if it was a secret.

"Are you okay?"

His sharp eyes zoomed in on me. "I'm great. Why?"

"You just seemed...like you were far away for a second. I maybe-"

"No, no, I was. I've just never met someone this similar to me before. That I enjoyed seeing this much. It's very...refreshing."

"Well, thank you, Chuckie. Do you prefer Chuck or Chuckie?"

"I told you, you can choose," he replied with that glorious smile on his face.

"I like Chuckie."

"Then so do I." He tucked me in one last time and then we spent the next couple of hours just talking.

He had two step-brothers, his mother had taught him to surf. He did not know his father well but told me he was someone of prominence. He didn't want to talk about him after that. He was learning to play the guitar and had moved from Angeles to Clermont when he was a kid. Quite the transition. He had two close friends or as he called them, confidantes, and ran a small business. He was spectacular.

We talked so late in the night my eyes began to drift closed.

"You getting tired?" he asked, rubbing my leg softly. I nodded, yawning.

"We will finish our talks later. You are quite the intriguing man." I forced myself up out of the heavenly spot, smiling. "Thank you for talking with me, Chaarlie." He gave me a hug, pressing me close to him.

"Thank you for talking with me." He kissed me briefly on the forehead then I was on my way.

What would tomorrow bring?

**How do you guys feel about Chuckie? Do you prefer Chuck or Chuckie?**

**Please vote and comment and have an amazing day? Plus which suitor are you rooting for and do you miss Jakob?**