The f*******n Crown

Chapter |15|

A J A X ' S P. O. V

"f**k," I groan, lifting my arms overhead to stretch my rested body as the incessant knocking ceases to stop. "Come back later!" Another yawn rips out of me, my body succumbing to the luring talons of sleep once more.

It doesn't stop, but instead grows in volume.

I growl, "f*****g hell," Kicking the sheets down to my feet to climb out of bed.

Whoever this is better have a good f*****g excuse for waking me up.

I didn't get into bed until 3 last night, spending most of the evening with Damien and Emmeline in her room until she fell asleep.

Then it took a while for my mind to be put at ease considering my girlfriend is most likely due to be engaged soon, so yeah, I'm f*****g angry because they woke me up from a dream induced sleep where Emmeline was just about to sit on my face whilst Damien was f*****g me.

"What?" I yell, swinging the door open. All hopes of it being someone I actually like are dashed as Chloe smiles with that fake sweetness, holding a bouquet of lilies in her arms.

"Hey, AJ." She pushes past me, walking into my room like its the most natural thing in the world. "Woah, this is kind of messy. I didn't expect that off you."

"What did you expect?" I cling onto the hope she'll leave so I keep the door open.

"Close it, this is...private." Plastering on a fake smile, I turn to shut it, eyes rolling back as I attempt to reign in my frustration.

I can't lie to say I didn't consider dating her. Once.

Chloe may be one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen, but nothing matches up to Emmeline, and it's Chloe's blatant disrespect of our Princess and her rancid personality which turns me off completely.

Also the fact she attempted to go behind my back and arrange our marriage is a walking red flag I can't ignore. And now she's in my room.

"We have a problem."

"What kind of problem?" I drift towards my bathroom, grabbing my toothbrush. Might as well get ready for the day.

Chloe doesn't get the hint that I don't want to be near her, and leans against the bathroom door. She reaches into the bouquet and pulls out the white placard. I hold it up in the light to read the barely visible scribble. "To Chloe, thank you for your honesty, Theo."

I let the weight of the words settle in, spitting my toothpaste into the sink and rinsing my mouth.

"I mean I know that I'm beautiful, but from first glance he's already attracted to me?" I give her a side eye glare. Can this girl's ego get any bigger? "Also, I never spoken to him. This is weird isn't it? I know I've never been Emmeline's biggest fan, but I would never jeopardise the proposal like that, especially not when this could benefit all of us."

Then it hits me. Emmeline pretended to be Chloe yesterday. The King intended for them to go to her. f**k that means he likes her, it means he'll probably want more than just a policitical marriage, but to f**k her too.

God the thought of his hands on her, touching what belongs to me and Damien...wait a second.

"From a female perspective, what do you think it means? From him? Is it just a friendly gesture or..."

"No way. I mean first of all, he's seriously delusional because we have never even spoken, but to address the card just Theo, means he obviously wants to know me on a personal level. More intimate. Also the honesty thing is a complete bullshit excuse to send flowers, to let me know I'm not just anyone and he's thought about...whatever made up conversation we had."

So that would mean the King would be technically flirting with another woman, the Princess' advisor. Even though it was Emmeline, he didn't know it. It's immoral and wrong.

I wonder what that says about his character? Clearly not that he's a good guy, I mean what's to say he won't do this in the future.

"Chloe, I'm going to tell you something and it might make you a little mad or hurt your feelings but it's the truth and it's irreversible." I set my hands on her shoulders to ease the oncoming storm.

Her eyes widen a little in surprise, trying to suppress a flirtatious smile. "Emmeline met the King yesterday, unofficially and she pretended to be you. That's why he sent flowers to you, he thinks he's sending them to her."

"What?" Those hazel eyes cloud with thunder. "That little bit..."

"Hey! What did I f*****g say?"

Chloe takes a breath, as if trying to expel the anger. "She stole my identity."

Scoffing, I make my way back into the room, already digging for a clean shirt and some pants. "Hardly Chlo. Don't worry, I'm going to settle this now with him."

"What are you going to do? You can't jeopardise the proposal."

"He sent flowers to another woman, who is not the Princess. No matter if it was Emmeline, in my books, that's still a sign of a cheater and I'll be damned if Emmeline shackles herself into a marriage with a bastard like that."

For once, I've stunned her quiet. I quickly use the mirror to flatten my hair and then grab my jacket with the Dahlia royal crest embroidered on front.

"I never understood why you both fought so much for her."

"She's my best friend. Our best friend."

"Yeah, yeah I know. Never room for anyone else within the trio. I get it." I think I'm seeing it now.

Chloe is lonely, she only really has her dad and us in the palace, and all that loneliness has manifested itself into bitterness.

"I'm sorry we should have been more inclusive, let you in."

Nodding softly, she follows me out of the room. "I know where he is. He's supposed to be meeting Emmeline for brunch in the gardens in ten minutes."

"Thank you," I smile sincerely.

"She's our future Queen and regardless no woman deserves to be forced into marriage with a guy like that."

Racing down to the courtyard, I realise just how much s**t has exploded my day already, and I've only been awake for barely twenty minutes. In the distance, I find two figures fussing over the arrangements of the table.

For a moment, I think it's Emmeline, but the flash of blonde signifies I'm wrong. It's Quinn.

"Your Majesty," I dip my head in respect, though my blood continues to boil.

The King, Theo, is painstakingly handsome I'll admit. It's enough to cause my anger to intensify by a hundred, especially when he looks to me like he doesn't know who I am.

He looks at Quinn, displaying a sharp side profile with the perfection of all his features. Suddenly I feel like an oversized oaf, but then force myself to remember that she chose me.

He did.

Quinn smiles, stepping closer as if sensing my rage. "Ajax why don't we..."

"No. I want to talk to him about the flowers he had delivered this morning."

"Flowers?" She turns to him in confusion. I guess King Theo is somewhat of a liar to everyone. "You sent flowers to the Princess?"

"Not exactly." I answer, taking a threatening step forward. It's strange he doesn't have guards around, even if he is just supposed to be meeting Emmeline, then again, I wasn't requested to supervise.

I hope it's because Emmeline doesn't want me to have to witness her interaction with another man and not anything else.

"Quinn, it's okay. We'll be fine." He's charming as hell, flashing a simple smile that causes Quinn to almost blush.

Oh she likes him, but from the way he continues to gaze at her, I wonder if it's reciprocated.

Bastard.

He waits until she's out of view and then gestures to the empty seat meant for Emmeline. Gritting my teeth, I sit, hoping to finish this conversation before she arrives.

"It's nice to meet you. You're the Princess'...personal guard?"

"Correct. Also her friend, and that's why I'm here to talk about the flowers you sent."

Theo sighs, running his hand through his shortened hair. It reminds me of a prep school boy, nothing like Damien's, but more professional, more restrained. Emmeline will hate it.

"I know it may have seemed strange but I..."

"Strange? You sent another woman flowers, you're supposed to be meeting my Princess. You should consider yourself lucky that she's even contemplating marrying you."

"I know. Look, this is...hard for me too. I've been pressured by my own advisors to marry as well, something I don't even know if I'm ready for but like your Princess, I'm doing this for my kingdom too. I met Chloe yesterday evening and she made me feel more comfortable, at ease even. I wanted to thank her for doing something most are terrified to do. Tell me the truth."

Why do I not want to tell him the woman he found comfort with is Emmeline? Why does this hurt so much more?

Anger evaporates to fear and sadness, but I force myself to consider my duty. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't do this.

"Who you met yesterday wasn't Chloe, it was Emmeline. The Princess. She...she didn't tell you her true identity because I guess she found comfort in being, for once, invisible."

"f**k," He breathes out.

I let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, she's a wild one. She's different, better."

"I understand why you were angry. The flowers were to let her know that I appreciated her help, nothing more than that I promised and perhaps it made me feel better knowing I had a friend on the other side."

"Chloe, the real Chloe, was a little hurt that the gesture wasn't for her. Maybe you can rectify it by sending her some apology flowers?"

He barks out a laugh. "More flowers? Isn't that what got me into this mess in the first place?"

I shrug, throwing one of the tiny sandwiches into my mouth. "I won't tell anyone, and Chloe won't if you send her flowers. Daffodils. They're her favourite."

I don't add the only reason I know that is because she once ordered herself daffodils using my card she stole to make Emmeline jealous and as she put it 'mark her territory'.

Yep she's a crazy one.

"Okay, thank you and knowing Chloe is actually the Princess makes me feel a little better. Although I'm guessing the initial meeting will be a little awkward."

"Call her Emmeline. She prefers it." Why I'm giving this guy tips, f**k knows?

He nods, and then we both turn as voices emerge from the distance. Emmeline and Damien wear similar expressions of confusion, whilst Quinn appears more nervous than anything.

"Take as many as you want, and thank you again. I won't forget this."

I grab a handful of tiny chocolates. "Please do,"

Reaching Damien first, I nod, letting him know everything is alright. Then I turn to Emmeline, my heart almost skipping a beat.

"What happened? Did he call for you?"

"No, no. I just needed to speak to him about security matters, that's all." Emmeline doesn't respond, trapped in that liminal space within her own mind. I place my hand on her shoulder, and she flinches, coming back to reality. "Hey, it's gonna be fine."

"s**t, I'm nervous." Giving that adorable laugh, she sighs, still unmoving. Quinn watches us expectedly.

"Can you give us a minute," Damien says. She nods, drifting over to Theo.

"Emmy, you have to do this."

"I know. It's just...all too fast, also I lied to him so I guess that's not the best of first impressions."

"He'll get over it." Damien looks at me, with that smug smile. The fucker knows. I don't know how but he does.

"And you're perfect Emmy, he's the one who should be nervous and trying to impress you. Don't forget that."

"He's a king and I'm..."

"A born Queen," I mime placing the crown on her head which makes her beam.

"Thank you," She starts to walk away, causing a fissure in my heart to c***k indefinitely.

Then she spins, lips mouthing I love you both, before becoming a speck in the distance.

"Our girlfriend is perfect." He murmurs, secretly clasping my hand behind my back.

I squeeze it. "Yep she is. He's gonna fall in love with her, and we're fucked."

"My my, so pessimistic. What happened to the man I fell in love with? The one who believes f*****g unicorns are real."

"It's never been disproven." I argue. Myths have to start somewhere, some piece of evidence triggering it all but Damien is a non believer. He's always been that way but it's also one of the reasons we fit so well.

Then Emmeline is in the middle, playing into my ridiculous theories whilst Damien watches us.

Slowly I feel his hand creep down my back, squeezing my a*s with his tight hold. "What was that for?"

"A warning, that I'm gonna f**k you so hard you see stars when you cum." Jesus, my c**k already springs up.

"Looking forward to that," He waits, watching expectedly. "What?"

"We have around two hours until Emmeline is finished. Plenty of time to make good on my promise."

"But Emmy? We can't..."

"She gave us permission but made me promise to video it so she can watch later."

Holy f**k, our girl is kinkier than any of us.

Does that mean I'm the vanilla in this trio?

"Ajax. Stop overthinking and get inside right now."

I grin, already turning around. "Yes sir."

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A/N: I love Ajax in this chapter.

Who is your fav in the trio?