Chapter 13:
(Sofia POV)
"Why don't we ask my father? Let's see who the grand advisory board appointed this time" His voice was dripping in sarcasm. I shook my head and walked with him to Garrick's office. "Hugo, Sofia what brings you two here?" he asked. I then looked over at Hugo, "We were wondering who the advisory board appointed to do Sofia's training?" I looked back over at Garrick, as I anxiously held onto Hugo's arm. I didn't want to go through everything again and it scared me that my family had no say in who was chosen. Garrick looked over at Hugo, "They called in Violet." I saw Hugo smile, "Who is Violet?" Hugo walked over to his Dad and stood in front of me, "Princess Violet Albridge. Also known as Aunt Vi." Hugo said. "Wait you have a sister Dad," He nodded. "Yes I do, she left the castle a long time ago, she never really liked all of the aspects of royal life. Nevertheless, when I wrote her she agreed to come back and do your training and after I nominated her to the board they wholeheartedly agreed that someone in the royal family was best to do this task." I never expected them to be reasonable but, the look between Hugo and Garrick was warning me otherwise. "When does she arrive?" "Later today." I nodded. "I will leave you two to discuss whatever it is you are not telling me," I said leaving the room.
(Hugo POV)
I need to remember that as well as I can read my wife she can read me as well. When I heard that Aunt Vi was going to do Sofia's training I was relieved that it was someone I knew, she always seemed nice. She only ever came around on holidays and birthdays but, she seemed like a good person. However, the look that Dad just gave me tells me that the board is up to something else. "Dad what was that look for? Even Sofia saw it, is she in danger again? Is Aunt Violet going to do something to her?" "No, no she is not going to do anything to Sofia" He said. I sighed as he said that. "I believe that the board is trying to appease you and Sofia temporarily, but they don't do anything without a reason. I'm warning you be careful, I don't want to scare Sofia but, I am worried that the Beaumonts and the Cunninghams may still have allies on that board. They have to have an ally somewhere and they will come for you two again because that is what they do." I nodded knowing that he was right. "Ok, go find your wife your Aunt will be here this afternoon and then we will resume training tomorrow." "Thanks Dad," I said leaving the room.
I left the room and saw Sofia waiting for me, "Anything you want to tell me?" "Nothing too important Sofia. It was just..." I thought about telling her about Dad's warning about the Beaumonts and the Cunninghams but, I'm pretty sure she was already wary of them, "that the board doesn't do anything without a reason and even though we both love my Aunt we just want to be careful." She nodded, "Ok, so are you going to keep tutoring me at night?" She asked, "Just to be safe and maybe have an excuse to spend time together everyday." I nodded. "Training starts again tomorrow," I said walking with her down the hallway.
We spent the morning together roaming through the castle talking about inconsequential things. It was mindless and carefree like how it was when we were kids. It was soon time for my Aunt Violet to arrive and we met Dad in front of the castle. We saw a carriage stop in front of us. Aunt Violet stepped out of the carriage and walked in front of us. Sofia went down into a curtsy, "You don't need to do that Princess Sofia, I stopped expecting people to bow the moment my brother had his first son." She laughed. Sofia nervously stood up and held onto my arm. "Sorry Princess Violet," Sofia said. Aunt Violet laughed as she spoke, "No need to apologize. I haven't been called Princess in so long. Technically I am a Duchess now but, I don't worry about titles. Please call me Violet or Aunt Vi." "Sofia then spoke, "Then please call me Sofia."
(Sofia POV)
Aunt Violet gave a completely different presence than Countess Cunningham she was so warm and joyful. I still stood nervously behind Hugo, I was going to be cautious this time but, I trusted Hugo. "If you'll excuse me, I have some things to talk to my brother about a few things. I will see you two at dinner." We nodded and watched as she left with Garrick. "Sofia are you ok?" "Yeah I'm fine, just a little nervous," I looked down at the ground. "Hey, we got this. My Aunt is not going to do anything bad to you." I nodded but continued to hold onto his arm. The rest of the day went on and before we knew it we had eaten dinner and were getting ready for bed.
I laid next to Hugo and he pulled me in close, "What were you doing so far away?" He chuckled. I placed my hand on his chest. "I've missed you," I mumbled. "What are you talking about? I haven't left your side in what 3 days" He said surprised. "After a month apart" I said, curling myself closer. "Sofia, I'm not going to let that happen again," He said sitting up forcing me up too. "You say that now Hugo, but we both start training again tomorrow. I'm only going to see you what at dinner? If we continue the study sessions that maybe an hour before we both pass out exhausted? I don't want to lose you again." I sighed. We had not talked about this before in the last couple of days but, now that it was starting tomorrow I couldn't help but worry that it would happen again. He sighed thinking about what I was saying. "Sofia I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I am not letting that happen to us again." "And I'm sure you would've made that promise a month ago before any of this happened too," I said without thinking. I was scared and tired and trying to explain what I was feeling but, I didn't want him to blame himself. "Sofia, I am sorry about what happened to you. I'm sorry that I wasn't there to help you ad I'm sorry that you are still scared" He started, "But as you have pointed our to me, you could've talked with me as well. I just wanted to talk to my wife and you kept pushing me away. So please continue to tell me how we are going to end up like this again."
"Hugo," I started, "we had lost contact with each other for years, we reconnect only for me to be captured, you rescued me and then we got married, went on our Honeymoon and then came here and went through everything. We haven't had a second to breathe until these last few days. Yeah I'm scared that something bad could happen to me again, but I'm more scared that we are going to continue rushing through life until we lose each other all over again." "Sofia, are you saying that you don't love me?"Hugo asked climbing out of bed. "No," I crawled out and reached out for his shoulder "I am not saying that at all Hugo but, it feels like Crown Prince Hugo and Princess Sofia are taking precedence over us. That we are just rushing through our lives until we don't even know each other anymore. A few days together here and there isn't going to solve that."
(Hugo POV)
I don't understand why Sofia was talking about this. Everything was fine now, Countess Cunningham was gone and we both were starting to not blame ourselves for what had happened. Her talking about our lives together so fast, we had been through a lot but, she was making it sound like a list of things rather than our lives that we worked to make together. It almost sounded like she regretted marrying me, "Sofia are you saying that you don't love me?" I asked getting out of bed. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear the answer. I couldn't look at her. I felt a hand on my shoulder, "No, I am not saying that at all Hugo," I was so relieved to hear her say that, "but" the dreaded word, "it feels like Crown Prince Hugo and Princess Sofia are taking precedence over us. That we are just rushing through our lives until we don't know each other anymore. A few days together here and there isn't going to solve that" She finished. "Then what do you want me to do Sofia, do you want me to abdicate? Do you want me to run away with you and leave all of this behind? Sofia what do you want me to do?" I began rattling off. I spent so much of my life away from her and I didn't know what to do to fix this. "I just want you to be here. To be with me. I want to live and grow as people together." I heard her crying and turned to face her, "I don't want to lose you or miss you like this again. I wan- I need you Hugo. You're the love of my life. I can't do this without you" she grabbed both my arms, "I won't do this without you."
(Sofia POV)
Hugo shook my arms off, "Sofia, I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to be the person you need. I'm trying to but, I don't know how." I shook my head, "Stop trying. I don't need any version of you other than yourself. What I do need is to see you, to talk to you, to be with you." I sighed. "Countess Cunningham has taken over a month of our marriage from both of us. I don't want her influence to take any more." He nodded in agreement. "We can't spend every waking moment together like we have these past few days. Even in the best of times that won't happen," Hugo said. "I know, I just don't want months of us barely speaking together and then spend a few day together only to be apart for another few months." Hugo nodded, "How about this, we will do the tutoring sessions together while we are still training and maybe once a week, we'll take off from training early and have it just be us." "Kind of like a date night," I said and he smiled, "Yeah like a date night." I nodded. "I think that is a good place to start. I mean we know so many big things about each other but, we still have more to learn." "Like what?" "You had to ask me what my favorite color was and I though yours was red until you told me it was blue." We stood in silence as I felt relieved. A huge wave was just lifted off my shoulder and I felt closer to Hugo. "Hey," I started, "we finally had that talk you have been asking for." He smirked, "I guess we did." He leaned in and kissed me. "What do you want to do now? I don't think I am going to be able to sleep" He whispered on my lips. "Do you want to practice making Clara?" He didn't respond but picked me up and carried me to bed. That night was the first time we took a step forward together in our marriage. We were finally united again and we're ready to take on what the future held. We just had no idea of the dangers that lurked right around the corner.