Hello beautiful people. I'm excited for you guys to see where I'm headed with this. As you may start to notice, chapters are becoming longer as we get into the thick of the story. There's gonna be some serious drama and maybe a few cliffhangers depending on how cruel I feel ;)


The announcement of Prince Robert's survival was broadcast on all public television and radio stations at seven o'clock pm.

The media instantly erupted into a total frenzy. Every TV station in the country interrupted their scheduled programming with the breaking news, and most around the globe quickly followed suit. The whole world had turned their focus on England.

Eleanor sat on her bed scrolling through her twitter feed. '#Robertlives' was the number one worldwide trending topic. Everyone from actors and musicians to world leaders and politicians were all weighing in on the topic.

Eventually she grew tired of social media and tossed her phone on her bed next to her. She closed her eyes and sighed. The crowd outside, which had been steadily growing since the announcement, showed no signs of diminishing and it was nearing ten o'clock. She cursed her teenage-self for picking the bedroom nearest the gates.

She'd had a stress headache since lunch. Out of bloody nowhere Robert had stormed out of the sitting room, shooting a glare toward her and Jasper on his way out. She'd immediately looked over at Liam, who's guilty expression told her everything she needed to know.

Robert was MIA the rest of the day and the anticipation and uncertainty of the conversation to come had started to get to her. She rubbed her temples trying to soothe the ache that had settled behind her eyes. It was futile as the roar of the crowd outside only increased with each passing minute.

The horde was now at least thirty people deep, there had to be over a thousand in total. Devoted citizens cheered, celebrating the news of his miraculous return. Paparazzi and reporters swarmed, desperate to be the first to catch a glimpse of the prince. Anti-monarchist protesters rallied, proclaiming the whole thing a conspiracy. Even some street vendors roamed the area having seized the sudden opportunity. It was an absolute circus.

Her phone buzzed next to her and she quickly picked it up to check it. She growed in frustration as she found it was yet another of her fair-weather friends who were nowhere to be found when Robert 'died', but now that he was alive texted her like they were besties. Her phone had been blowing up with them all night.

The only reason she even continued to check her messages was in hopes that something would come from Jasper. Apparently there was a 'situation' after Helena informed Cyrus of Robert's return -she didn't know the details but apparently something to do with a 18th century Mortimer dueling pistol- and Hill had enough to deal with already so Jasper was the lucky one assigned to take care of it. He'd said he would be back as soon as he could, but that was four hours ago and still not even a text.

Eleanor groaned and pushed her self off the bed. She slid her phone in her back pocket and grabbed a pair of fuzzy boots off her floor before shoving her feet in one at a time. She trudged across her room and exited, shutting the door behind her. If she stayed in there any longer she was going to lose it.

She walked over to the secret wall panel and pushed it open but stopped herself before entering, remembering her promise to stay in the palace until he was back.

She closed the panel and sighed exasperatedly.

What now? She couldn't go back to her room. It was like being stuck in a physical manifestation of her brain, graffiti and all.

Her usual escape of the balcony was off limits until the protective lockdown was lifted, and even if it hadn't been it wasn't exactly private with the paps hovering around like vultures. The terrace seemed much less appealing, now that her stashes were gone, and the throne room? well, lets just say she couldnt remember being sober in there since, um, ever.

That left what.. the library? She laughed to herself a little. Lord knows the last time she read a book, but since she could no longer just light a joint when she was stressed, she was willing to try anything to distract her mind.

She made her way through the maze of hallways until finally finding the beautiful carved doors that lead to the book room. She pushed them open firmly but was startled to find the large room already occupied. Robert looked up at her from one of the armchairs, he had a book open in one hand.

She awkwardly froze in the doorway, "Sorry, I didnt realize you were in here..."

He shook his head, "No its fine. Come in."

Eleanor closed the door gently behind her.

Robert shut the book he was holding and she recognized the cover. She'd often seen her father reading it in leisure.

"Hamlet?" She mused, cautiously walking closer.

"Dad's favorite," he smiled sadly.

She took a seat on the devan across from his chair.

"Drink?" He gestured toward the scotch on the table between them.

She shook her head. Her headache didn't need anymore assistance.

Robert leaned forward, grabbed the crystal decanter and poured himself a bit. He replaced the stopper and grabbed the glass. He took a sip before looking back at Eleanor with a complicated expression.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." he told her.

She sighed, knowing where this was headed. "You know what, I think I will take that drink."

He chuckled, "Your not in trouble Len."

"Then why do I have the same feeling I had when Mum was about to tell me I was being sent to finishing school?" she quipped as she grabbed the decanter and poured herself a generous glass.

He smirked, "because you have trust issues."

"Yeah, tell me about it." she mumbled, raising the cup to her lips.

His expression darkened and she braced herself for the impending conversation.

"I know about Jasper," he told her plainly.

She took a deep breath through her nose.

"How much did they tell you?" she asked carefully.

He sighed, "Enough."

"Did you have him arrested?" she asked with a new theory as to why he hadn't been responding.

"I wanted to," he admitted, "but Mr. Hill insisted that I talk to you first."

She made a mental note to thank James later.

"He thinks you're in love with the guy," her brother revealed.

Eleanor stared at her scotch. As always Hill had a clearer perception of the situation than she thought.

"Are you?" he pressed, sensing her stress.

Her heart rate escalated as she struggled with the answer. She hadn't said those words aloud yet, but saying no would be a lie, and she didn't want to lie to her brother.

"Yes," she admitted quietly, ashamed of how naive she must seem.

He ran a hand over his face, trying to grasp the full situation. He grabbed his scotch and took a sip before leaning back in his chair and crossing a leg up to rest his ankle on his knee.

"I just don't understand how everyone seems to trust him," he confessed.

"He's the one who found-"

He cut her off, "I know what he did Len but I also know what he's done."

She couldn't argue with him. She knew how it all sounded.

"I just worry about you," he told her sincerely. "So many times when you've had the opportunity for something really great, you get spooked and then you self sabotage. The drugs-"

"I've been clean for 3 months." She cut him off that time.

"And I am so proud of you for that," he praised her honestly, "but I also know that your favorite drug of choice is questionable men."

She looked down and shook her head.

"I just dont wan't you to blow your chance at the life you've always wanted on something that has an expiration date."

"the life I've always wanted." She scoffed under her breath.

The life she'd always wanted was to be enough for someone without having to be something she wasn't.

"And what, pray tell, is this grand chance?" she asked him cynically.

He took a deep breath, choosing his next words carefully.

"I talked to Beck today," he revealed.

Eleanor took a large swig of the whiskey. And there it is, she thought to herself.

"He told me that he left his wife," Robert revealed, watching her intently. "for you," he added.

Eleanor pressed her lips together and nodded, not meeting her brothers eyes.

"Now I know I've been gone for a year but last time I saw you I would have bet good money that twysden beckwith leaving his wife was the first thing you wished for when blowing out your birthday candles."

"And you probably would have been right," she said dryly. "but alot can change in a year robbie."

"His feelings for you haven't."

She sighed sadly. "Robbie we tried, we really did, but it wasn't right. Not anymore."

"Because some american grifter decided to turn over a new leaf?" he asked incredulously.

"Because Beck is in love with who he wants me to be! not who I am!" she yelled in frustration.

"He doesn't want to change you, he just wants you to be the best version of yourself," Robert defended his friend. "The version that Dad knew you could be."

She lifted the scotch glass and knocked it back quickly. It was probably some extravagant brand worth thousands of pounds but it might as well have been a five pound bottle from a local shop. She could never taste the difference anyways.

He just had to bring up dad. He knew how guilty she felt for not living up to his expectations.

Robert sighed, "Len, I just want you to be happy. Thats all I've ever wanted for you. It's all Dad ever wanted for you."

She forced a smile "I know."

"Please just think about it before it's too late. He has to move on eventually, and I don't want you to have any regrets."

She saw the concern on her brother's face. He truly was good hearted. He really meant it that he wanted her to be happy. She just didn't have the heart to tell him that her idea of happy wasn't what it used to be.

"I will," she conceded.

He nodded gently, trying to believe that.

Eleanor was suddenly very tired. She sighed and stood from her seat.

"Good night big brother," she told him with love as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

She swiftly exited the room.