The f*******n Crown

Chapter |14|

E M M E L I N E ' S P. O. V

Strangely, this entire thing mirrors my parents' first meeting.

Not that it means anything!

I still reserve a dislike for this man, purely on the basis that I'm being forced to consider a marriage with him when I'm in a committed relationship with my two best friends.

"Can you let me out?" This feels wrong, intimate in the way I'm surrounded by dozens of incomplete artworks that are obviously his form of outlet in the same way reading and nature walks are mine.

Being royal, you need something to make you feel normal, to ground you to reality when the world around believes you to be the nearest semblance to God.

I understand this man, which I hate, but also cannot show, since I'm supposed to be Chloe.

Fuck, time to channel my inner b***h.

"I said let me out. I don't want to look at your s**t art anymore." I cringe internally, the need to apologise already creeping up, but I squash it down.

Weirdly, he laughs. "Please keep the insults going. No-one speaks this way to me."

"I don't understand." I stammer out. "Shouldn't you be angry? Threaten to kick me out or whatever."

"I find your lack of fear regarding my title to be intriguing. Most people believe flattery to be the best form of communication when speaking with a royal."

Scoffing, I decide to allow myself to look at his art. Anything to get away from those hypnotic eyes.

God what is f*****g wrong with me?

"I assume you're wondering why I haven't finished any of them." I trail my finger across the dried purple fused oiled paint.

"It's beautiful, so why wouldn't you finish it?"

"I guess then it would be over. There would be nothing for me to look forward to when I wake up."

"Surely being the King comes with an array of excitement to create anticipation?"

He shrugs, and I find my breath hitching slightly as he leans across me. I try to quell my response but his touch is like electricity, stimulating every nerve.

Stiffening, I notice his subtle smile, and then he moves forward, inches away from me when he lifts something up. "It's getting a bit a cold."

Stepping away, he pulls on the red shirt and I clear my throat, turning to avoid further embarrassment. "I need to leave."

I shoulder past but he grips my wrist. "Let go of me."

Surprisingly he drops my hand. "Sorry, I just...tell me what she's like?" I frown in confusion. "The Princess. What is she like?"

"Why ask me? Aren't I supposed to be biased?"

He laughs softly, the echo bouncing off the walls. "I trust you."

I raise my brow, "Already?"

"I guess so."

"Okay, she's...kind to her people. She respects them and knows how important they are to the foundations of the kingdom. She hopes to become a good Queen."

"Does she love easily?"

My eyebrows scrunch, "That's a weird thing to ask her advisor."

"Aren't you the closest to her? My advisor is my best friend."

I bit my lip, trying to think of anything to say. "No, she doesn't. She keeps her heart guarded and I think you should know that if you were to marry her it would be strictly political."

"She sounds practical."

"Love doesn't really work in politics, besides you don't seem like the type of man to want love anyway."

He nods, "Maybe we're suited for each other then."

I don't reply, but instead walk away, that very question left pondering in my mind.

***

D A M I E N ' S P. O. V

These past few hours have been draining for us both, especially not with Emmeline here. Ajax is angsty to leave but Quinn is yet to finish her presentation.

I like her organisation, her practicality but I'm also eager to leave. To check in with our girlfriend.

It would be weird to simply run out though. It could raise suspicion so instead we have to wait it out.

"And that concludes the welcoming to Thalnia. I'm sorry the Princess couldn't join. Would you like for me to send for the doctor?"

"No, no. I'm sure she'll feel better from her rest, hopefully it was just jet lag." Nodding, she turns off her computer and begins to pack aaay.

Ajax is already moving towards the door, but I can't help but ask the one question that is itching at my mind. "Quinn? Why did the King not meet us at the airport? Or upon arrival?"

I hate secrets and already Thalnia felt like it had something to hide. "Oh well, he wanted to let the Princess settle in first. He didn't want to overwhelm her."

"Are you sure that's it?" I'm good at reading people and Quinn is avoiding all eye contact, a tell tale sign she's lying to me. "I would hate for such secrecy to affect our communications already."

We both stare each other down, neither relenting until finally she gives in and sighs. "It isn't a bad reason, but he was nervous. A little scared actually. This marriage is something that has encroached on both of their lives and he wanted me to report back my thoughts on the Princess first."

"And?" My heart is torn, wanting on one account for her to tell him she's horrible so he doesn't propose but I know that would be a lie and desire Emmeline to be portrayed in her true positive light.

"She's lovely, and she will be an excellent Queen, but I've only known her for a few hours." This King is already not reaching my standards to even be considered as a possible candidate for Emmeline's marriage. "Damien, I assure you that Theo is just and he is kind. He will see Emmeline soon, I will make it so."

"Good. She deserves the best."

Strangely, Quinn does not back down from me. "So does Theo"

Leaving the room, Ajax is racing ahead, ignoring all my rules on the plane to make our relationship as inconspicuous as possible. "Wait, she's not going anywhere."

"You were taking too long." He complains, relenting a little in his pace so he falls in line with me.

"We need to make sure they're not hiding anything. It's strange we haven't met the King yet, but I guess what Quinn said makes sense."

"That he's scared of Emmeline?"

"Nervous." I correct. "Which if true gives him means of a conscience. A positive."

"Hold on a second," Ajax places his hand on my chest, abruptly stopping in his stride. "We're not supposed to be rooting for this guy."

"As her advisor, I have to be unbiased to find her the best possible candidate, and if this Theo is the best, then..."

"No, don't even say it." Slamming his hands on his ears, he storms away. I roll my eyes.

God, he can be such a child, but for all his quirky faults I'm still madly in love with him.

Ajax is already in the room, when I arrive and I can hear his voice, full of fear and worry, as I broach the entrance. "What do you mean she's gone? You have to find her, god, you were supposed to look after her."

"I'm sorry," The young maid begins to weep. She must be barely 15, and Ajax immediately looks regretful.

"Hey, it's okay. Just tell us what direction she went in."

"I told some guards," She hiccups. "They went searching for her, but Thalnia is a safe place. No-one gets hurt in the palace."

If the guards still hadn't found her...my heart was racing furiously, fear beginning to set in at the prospect of someone hurting her. "I'm sure it is a safe place but if the Princess..."

"Hey guys," All our heads turn, finding Emmeline leaning against the door archway. Her maid rushes forward, wrapping her arms around Emmelien as heavy sobs racket her body. "What happened? Ophelia, are you okay?"

We wait for Ophelia to warn Emmeline against running off again, something Ajax and I will clearly have to reinforce too. I'm clutching Ajax's hand, tight to restrain him from barrelling Emmeline into his hold. At least while Ophelia is still in the room.

"I'm really sorry, I promise I won't do it again. I just needed some air."

"It's okay Princess," She murmurs, bowing gracefully before leaving the room.

The moment the door clicks shut, Ajax lifts her into his hold, smashing his lips against his as though they've been reunited after years apart.

I roll my eyes at his display, waiting until he lets her go to speak, "Don't think you'll get the same reception from me until you tell us where you've been."

"Damien-"

"No Emmeline. Christ, we're in a foreign kingdom, without the necessary resources, or knowledge to truly help you if anything went wrong. You left this room, which we specifically advised you not to do and you didn't even leave a f*****g note...or anything...you could have been hurt or worse, and we wouldn't know. We wouldn't f*****g know."

"Hey," She tries to hold me, but I shrug her off, anger and fear radiating burning heat through my body. "I needed some air, some space away from everything and everyone."

"Even us?" The very thought cuts me from the inside out.

"No, of course not, but you both were busy and I didn't want to interrupt. Walking down the halls, I didn't feel like a Princess, I could have been anyone and that in itself was a form of freedom I don't get easily. I just needed ten minutes to not be me."

"And did it work?"

She nods, but I can tell there's something she's not telling us, or trying not to at least."

"What is it?" Ajax inquires, knowing I can sense her conflict.

"Our Princess is hiding something from us." I walk towards her, one, two, three and I'm mere inches from her face. The deception is written plainly for me to bear witness too.

Gripping her chin, I squeeze tight until she gasps, "What did you find on your little expedition?"

"I saw him." She murmurs.

"Who?"

"The King." I clench my jaw, fighting every urge to throw something at the wall.

Ajax rushes forward, placing a hand on my shoulder, comforting in knowing I am not alone in this. "What was he like?"

"He was pleasant, I guess. Not snobbish, or arrogant or cruel. He was just a man, a kind man. It was weird."

"So you spoke to him?"

"We exchanged pleasantries, but he thinks I'm Chloe."

I don't believe the words when I hear them. "Excuse me?"

"He thinks that I am Chloe, mostly because I told I am." f**k. "Well I wanted to see how he would react with someone other than me, see the real version of him, rather than the one left for show, and I guess strangely I felt I had some kind of power over him."

"This could screw up the proposal."

"How?" She's scared, which means she could want this. She sees herself here, with him, and he might just be the best candidate to offer.

Weirdly, I don't feel anger, or jealousy, only a vast sense of emptiness in knowing the end is approaching quicker than I foresaw.

"It's okay, but he might feel betrayed or humiliated when he realises who you truly are."

"f**k, I wasn't thinking, I'm so-"

"Don't it's okay. I'll fix it if it comes to that, but for now I'm going to enjoy the rest of the evening with the two people I love most in this world."

Cupping her soft cheek, I brush her lips with the slightest pressure, inciting her to take charge for once, and relishing in the way she bites down into my lips, drawing blood that she soothes with the smooth plane of her tongue.

"Ajax," I draw him in, watching them kiss, before taking his lips for my own.

Already, I feel my worry dissipating, alongside stress, finally settling into peace within my mind, knowing that I have them.

I rest my forward against theirs, cupping both their cheeks with my palms. "I love you both."

It's a declaration that will never be heard by anyone other than them, and to me, that is some kind of heaven.

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A/N: Thoughts on Damien and Theo??