Hey guys so I have something special for you all. I know I said I wasn't sure how I felt about coming back but let me tell you when inspiration hits, you can't walk away. This is a plot I thought up and with the help of my Co-writer Jess, we knocked it out of the park. Its a Modern Day Royal Romance so I do hope you enjoy what we have come up with and don't forget to review.
Stay Blessed and I love you all.
Cardonia.
The house of Evans is the heart and soul which resides in the center of the thirteen kingdoms, the family lineage expands generations upon generations as far back as history books go. King Dwight and his Queen Mary reign the other kingdoms across the land, known for their fair, just, and occasionally strict methods. Those who travel from near and far are most welcome in the Evans' castle and are treated to a hot meal and warm bed before they return on their journey.
Through the generations they went through upgrades and it was King Dwight who oversaw the remodel shortly after he was crowned, to introduce indoor plumbing, electricity, and the need of sheetrock to rid the constant draft with plagued all who lived there. After his marriage to Queen Mary, from house of Yates, additional upgrades were brought in as a computer, television, and a telephone. Little by little these items were incorporated throughout the village and soon all in Cardonia were brought up to speed with the joys, and the occasional downfall, of modern technology.
A few short years after their marriage King Dwight and his Queen welcomed their son Samuel Evans. The last baby to grace the castle was Dwight himself, as he was an only child. The kingdom rejoiced and they looked after the blond-headed child as if he were their own. Samuel, who preferred to go by Sam after his tenth birthday, enjoyed his life as a prince. People welcomed him into their restaurants and the arcade. He had his pick of the newest comic books as well as back issues which were hard to come by. His life was sheer perfection for a growing boy. And when his brother Steven, whom he nicknamed Stevie because it was better to him, Sam was thrilled to have someone else in the castle to play with.
He and Stevie were inseparable as soon as his little brother could keep up with him and not feel like a nuisance who couldn't understand what movies or comics were. Stevie's appreciation for art caused Sam to take a look at the craft himself and he wasn't as talented as his little brother, who could paint the most brilliant scenes, but Sam had an eye for recreating comic strips; reaching a level where he and his closest friend Finn from House of Hudson-Hummel, sat around for hours plotting and piecing together their own comic books.
It reached a point where Sam found his true calling and he wished to pursue his life as an illustrator, however to do so he would have to attend classes and an internship, which meant he couldn't adhere to the duties which were necessary for him to claim the throne once his father took his final breath. The thought of ruling a kingdom weighed on him since he was fourteen, when he learned of his fate and Sam knew it wasn't in him. He never saw himself as a leader, if anything he thought Finn fit the bill better than him but he wasn't an Evans and only an Evans could take the throne. As soon as he was twenty-one and Stevie eleven Sam saw more of a leadership quality in his brother and people naturally gravitated towards his even-tempered nature instead of Sam's which could sometimes be all over the place depending on the day.
After a long discussion with both parents he relinquished his training and Stevie willingly accepted. By then Stacey, who was merely five years old, had a much closer relationship with the middle Evans but Sam saw the disappointment when she realized her big brother Sammy wasn't to be the King someday. This hurt him to the core but she was a kid and he hoped she would forgive him someday. Maybe after he pumped out a couple comics and showed the one he pieced together for her when she was sick with the chicken pox.
Sam enrolled in Gleisham University a kingdom over. It was the first time he traveled on his own outside of the world he was most familiar with and many recognized him from the numerous news stories and documentaries which churned out since the day he was born. It felt odd to be seen as a type of celebrity and Sam hoped a time would come where he'd get treated just like everyone else.
However, after two years at the University, it never quite settled but he grown accustomed to girls who threw themselves at him or fraternities which wanted him to pledge. There was temptation around every corner and he kept careful with it as best he could. He was human, after all, and there were the occasional relationships which formed during this time, but most were short lived and didn't go far as he didn't want to get mixed up in some type of scandal as it was hard to trust many people.
Except there was one particular girl he met while at a party, which a friend from class threw at a bar down the street from the university, who caught his eye. She was beautiful but saying that doesn't do her justice as she was more than beautiful. She was breathtaking, practically stopping his heart in mid beat until he felt he couldn't get it started again until he talked to her. It took everything in Sam, who wasn't a shy guy but damn his palms sweat so much that night, to go up to the bar and introduce himself to the bar tender.
A couple beers later he learned her name: Mercedes Jones. Never in his life had he came across someone as captivating as her. She had so many stories to tell and a laugh which made him feel as warm and cozy as one of those days where he ate too much and laid out in the sun. It was a weird description to make but it was one he liked. It felt good. It felt right. And, with her, she never once brought up the fact he's a prince or question his decision to refuse the throne. He felt normal with her and that, right there, meant everything to him.
Sam frequented the bar a few times before he finally mustered up the courage to ask her to dinner. A drink didn't seem right to him because she dealt with that all day and it'd be a dick move to pull. The dinner turned into lunch then a movie date and soon they were inseparable. The paparazzi loved to follow them around and gossip and news outlets plastered their pictures everywhere. Most wanted to know who she was while the National Enqzirerer went as far to say they eloped and had a secret baby. It was ridiculous but people ate it up .
When it came to all that Sam paid it no mind because none of that mattered. He liked his time with Mercedes and he thought they had the real deal. The type of deal his dad told him about when he met his mom the first time. That wasn't something you can fake and Sam thought about asking for her hand but the night he was about to propose he got called back home because his father dropped dead during dinner.
The proposal was put on hold and Sam packed the ring, the love letter he planned to read to her when he popped the question because he knew he would be too nervous and all over the place to get the words out and the letter was to help him; and returned to Cardonia to be with his mom and siblings.
Everywhere went dark for the following week due to the fall of their beloved King. The death, which unexpected, hurled Stevie towards with throne and the boy, who was shy of his fourteenth birthday, felt the intense pressure to be the man everyone needed. An hour before his coronation ceremony, which brought all the royal families from the twelve surrounding kingdoms, to their royal court, Stevie confided in Sam and Queen Mary he couldn't do it. It was too much. To see his little brother struggle this way made Sam realized how selfish he behaved when he should've stepped up to be King in the first place instead of cast it aside to pursue his dream to create the type of comics he loved to throw himself into.
It was decided at the last possible minute Samuel Evans, prince of Cardonia and son of King Dwight and Queen Mary; was to be crowned King.
For three years Sam thought he escaped this very fate and now, two hours later, he sat on a throne which formerly belonged to his father, his grandfather and all the other Evans' in their long lineage. The sensation was surreal but the reality of it did weigh on his chest in a way which made him wish he could lift it off and throw it aside. But it was internal and it was uncomfortable. This wasn't where he wanted to be. It wasn't where he belonged. He was supposed to be back at the school and, hopefully, engaged to the woman he loves.
Instead, he carried the burden of ruling over kingdoms which he felt he had no reason to look after. This wasn't something he could do. His father did it easily and people respected his word. He was some prince who the media dubbed as a playboy who's head was in the clouds while he lived off the taxpayers money. He didn't belong in this throne. If anything Stevie did but at fourteen he wasn't ready. Hell, he wasn't ready but he was the eldest and had to do it.
Years ticked by and Sam's reign as King continued. The people questioned why he didn't have a Queen beside him, who wasn't his mother, and he knew the reason. She was a kingdom over and not of royal blood which automatically disqualified her from the throne. He wanted to be with Mercedes but since that unforgettable night where he lost his father and, essentially, his freedom, Sam ceased communication with her because he was under a microscope now and anything he did effected the kingdom.
At the start of his fourth year as King, Sam celebrated his twenty-eighth birthday and was approached by his mother. They spoke briefly about pending affairs which he needed to tend to but something wasn't right about the way she spoke to him. He knew his mother rather well and when she sat him down to speak honestly it was revealed she quietly kept from him and everyone around that she was dying from cancer.
The news struck him like a stack of bricks and Sam panicked. He lost his dad four years ago and now his mom had death closing in on her. Stevie and Stacey were still kids in his mind and he didn't think he could be a parent to them, especially to his little sister who admired the crap out of their mom. He asked all the usual questions, mostly to see if she covered all the medical bases but she knew her time was about to draw to a close. Then, while already down on the ground from the news, she delivered another blow and said she wanted to see her son married before she bid farewell to this world which blessed her with such a good life.
Sam paced the castle most of the night, mostly the stairs which led up to the tower closest to his room. He thought after two hours it would tire him to the point he could sleep but none came. When the third hour came around he went to his bedroom and sat at the computer. A message was typed and he asked his best friend to come to the castle whenever he was free. He needed someone to talk to and doing so over the phone or online wouldn't be wise because he didn't want the world to learn about his mother's cancer.
Finn arrived three days later and Sam unloaded everything, unable to stop the verbal flood until he practically dropped onto his chair and felt deflated from it all. There was a lot on him and to marry without love didn't seem right. He could try to date the princesses from the twelve kingdoms but how were they to come close to the one he felt slipped through his fingers all due to royal obligation.
When it came to his life Finn knew it better than anyone. The pair been best of friends since they were in their diapers and Sam knew what he told Finn would remain between them. So for Queen Mary to see the tall, dark-haired boy in her son's bedroom didn't come as a surprise. However she wished to have a word with the King and asked him to step outside.
Upon first glance Mary appeared in perfect health but Sam, who was aware of her condition, noticed the heavy make up she wore and how carefully she dressed to make those around her think she was heavier than she really was. Sam pulled a chair close by and asked her to sit, afraid if she kept on her feet too long she'd crumble. She asked him about his thoughts about asking a princess to be his Queen and Sam struggled to keep his true feeling hidden. She was a dying woman and only wanted to see the kingdom under rule with both a King and Queen. It was old fashion, of course, but it was what she knew. After a long, hard minute of internal struggle he unloaded on her and said he couldn't simply marry someone to fill the role of a Queen. He needed it to be with someone who he loves and none of these other princesses came close to Mercedes, who he knows he can't ask because she's not of royal descent. Sam, who fell into passionate talks from time to time, went further into how if he could find a way around the whole, outdated rule he could have a Queen right there within a week or two. Which he wasn't 100% about because he did ditch Mercedes with no word and he imagined she was beyond pissed at him or even moved on. Something he didn't know about because he hadn't heard much about her over the years.
Mary, who was one of the most understanding women he knew, broke into tears at her son's pleas and she shook her head. She wished it could be that easy but when it came to the law of the land he needed to pick a princess. Sam gave up. He was forced to be King and now he was forced to marry someone he didn't know or even care about. He made a sarcastic joke about why not set up one of those ridiculous reality shows where he picks a Queen at the end of it and as horrible as the idea was Mary thought the idea could work. It would pull in the people from all kingdoms to learn more about the King and to give insight to the other princesses and the countries they come from. And, perhaps, her son could possibly find love with one of them. Sam didn't want to hold his breathe and before he could take his mother out of the whole asinine idea she called her assistant into the room and told him to get in touch with the producer at the local television station which broadcast everything of their family.
What had he done?
Gardinvale
Mercedes Jones was born to Percy and Merigold Jones. He was owner of PJ's Bar and Grill and Marigold was a teacher. She might have come from humble beginnings but that didn't bother her, she was proud of her family, proud of the fact that they were truly blessed to have each other. Growing up the only child of the couple, she saw first hand what true love was. But every generation of her family had that love. Her great great grandmother, on her mother's side, gave up her own family just to marry the love of her life. They all believed that love would conquer all.
Mercedes went through school, having everyone see her as their friend, as the lovable Diva with the heart of gold, but never wanted more than that from her. Never wanted to be anything but friends, and that was okay with her, she knew just like her mother, and all the women in her family that someday her Prince would come. She just didn't know it would happen literally.
When she met Sam Evans she had no idea who he was, she just thought he was a typical frat boy who loved women and to party, she had seen him around campus, seen the people who flocked to him. She had her own things to worry about, school being a major part in that. She attended Giesham University, to study business. She wanted to be able to take over for her dad when he finally retired. So she went to school during the day and at night she worked at the bar and Grill making sure she learned everything she needed to learn for the success of her father's dream.
But one day Sam came into her father's bar while she was working and her life changed. He was funny and sweet and she floated on air the day he came in and asked her out. One date turned to two, then three and next thing you know they were inseparable. She knew Sam was popular but she finally learned why, when she read a story about herself and Sam online. She was taken back that the Crowned Prince of Cardonia would ever give her the time of day. She wasn't some refined Princess with exquisite taste and formal upbringing. She was a lowly commoner, but Sam saw past that, he saw past her quirks and flaws and loved her for who she truly was. Or at least she thought he did.
Mercedes thought they had forever, she thought he was her future, but when he didn't show up for their date, after making such a big deal about her being free, she grew worried. She showed up at his place and found it empty. Sam was gone, he left with no word, with no note, with no trace. She had never experienced a pain like that before. Sam broke her heart. She waited for days, then weeks, then months for word from Sam, but none came. She heard from a friend that Sam had returned home, that he was now the King of Cardonia, that is when the rumors spread.
Some said she scared him off, that he caught a glimpse of what life as a commoner was and he couldn't take it, so he ran home to his Kingdom and riches. Others said he used her as a last hurrah before he took the throne. That he only wanted to sow his wild oats. That one stung, considering that he was her first. First love, first everything. She held onto hope for three months, three months of no tears, no anger, just hope that he would come back. But Sam never did, and Mercedes was never the same.
But when she learned that the King of Cardonia had passed around the time that Sam disappeared, it all made sense, he had a duty to his Kingdom. But that was also when the reality of the situation was that she knew their love was real, you couldn't fake that kind of love, but she also knew that no one of Royal Blood, would ever marry someone outside of their Kingdom. That was like spitting on your heritage, it just wasn't done. And to that extent, she understood why he left the way he did, she understood why he had to take over the throne. But what she didn't understand was how he could ignore her. No letter or call. No email or text. Sam left her without a word and that is what crushed her.
After she mourned her relationship, she focused back on school, back on her goals, but Sam never left her mind. Her dates were compared to him, did they make her laugh like Sam. Did they open doors for her, make her smile, kiss her this way, hold her that way. And every time the answer would be no. They didn't make her feel the way he did, because they were not Sam and they never would be. Two years after Sam left, her mother sat her down, she was worried about her daughter. She told Mercedes to stop hiding behind her fear of heartbreak and to find what love was. Find someone who could be for her who Sam was.
That is when she fell in love for the second time in her life, except this time it wasn't with a person, it was with music. She started writing her feelings out to deal with that hurt she felt from Sam, but then it became something more. Music began to heal the broken parts of her, the closed off parts, the cold hearted parts of her and for the first time in four years, she finally felt like she was getting back to who she was. She only performed at the Bar but there was something about the way she felt on that stage, that gave her the strength to face her demons.
