HEYA! So yeah! It's a miracle that I updated so damn early this time, amirite? Well, my New Year's resolution for this year is to actually finish the stories that I kept hanging from 2015. I have, like, 5 still incomplete stories and I want to finish them all before 2016 ends.
And I updated early this time as a "gift" because I kinda left the story hanging for a veeeeeeeeeery long time now hahahaha. I'm absolutely sorry for that.
Good luck to me, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"What the hell James?!" Hugo said, his voice rising as he took a step forward, his glare piercing at James. The said prince abruptly leaned away from Sofia, his heart pounding against his chest. Someone saw him with Sofia, hugging and kissing her. He marched towards the two, as if he was about to punch James right in the face.
"Hugo… what are you-"
"Why the hell are you kissing your sister?" he asked, confused at the same time infuriated. "Don't tell me…"
"Okay, listen, Hugo. First of all, we're not even related by blood." James said, the princess still in his arms. Sofia looked up at James, not knowing what to say or do. She wished she could say at least a word to Hugo. On the other hand, the dark-haired prince still glared at the other prince. Hugo placed the box down and went for James' collar to clutch on them tightly, surprising James.
"Screw that, James. You know that's forbidden. You know full well that that's forbidden!"
James gritted his teeth as he forcibly pushed Hugo, making him stumble but not fall on the ground. Sofia intervened with their fight before anyone decided to hit the other. She stood in between of them, her arms outstretched to keep a distance between the two.
"Stop it, you two! Nothing good comes out in fighting." she said sternly. The two could only glare at each other.
"We are aware, Hugo. But it's not our fault that we feel this way for each other." Sofia said softly as she stared at Hugo with great sincerity. Hugo's glare softened a bit as he heard Sofia's explanation. He scoffed, realizing that nothing good will come out of their argument. Without saying a word, he picked the box up and turned his back on the couple and walked away.
"W-wait, Hugo!" Sofia called out, stepping back away James and catching up with the other prince. Reluctantly, Hugo stopped walking and turned around to face Sofia.
"Please understand that no one can absolutely know about this." the brunette princess said, her eyes almost glinting with tears. Hugo rolled his eyes, He already had an answer the moment he heard Sofia calling out to him. Damn his feelings, he thought.
"Fine, whatever. I don't what happened back there." Hugo muttered, a slight smudge of crimson evident on his cheeks. "But I'm doing this for you, Sof. And not for him." he added, almost glaring at James.
James on the other hand stared at the two, suddenly realizing something. He looked down on the ground with his fists clenched. Then, he walked his way towards Sofia and grabbed her wrist.
"Thanks, Hugo." he muttered, walking away with Sofia.
Hugo just stood there, watching the two's figure walking away. "Ahhhhhh, damn. What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?" he muttered.
"J-James…? Are you… okay?" Sofia asked softly, the two of them still walking. To where exactly they were headed, she had no idea at all. They were walking inside the castle, and James kept on walking as he turned from corridor to corridor. When they reached the secluded part of the castle's corridors, James slowly stopped walking, though his grip on her wrist stayed as is.
"James?"
"You had a crush on Hugo when you were 12, right?" the prince of Enchancia suddenly said after remaining silent for the whole time. Not knowing how to react, Sofia nodded slowly.
"Yes, I had. But that was six years ago, why bring it up now?" Sofia asked, but in her mind, she somehow knew the answer.
"Because you two looked so well together." James said, his grip on her wrist tightening slightly.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"James, are you jealous?"
The moment James heard the word 'jealous', he froze. Of course he was, he thought. The girl he loved the most was hugged by another man. The girl he loved the most used to have a crush on that man. Of course, it infuriated him.
"So what if I am?" he muttered. Sofia yanked her wrist from his hold as she felt his grip loosen.
"Then you're being immature. I had a crush on him when I was 12. That was six years ago. Right now, you're the one I love and I'm pretty sure you're the one I'll love for the rest of my life." Sofia said, leaving James speechless.
"But you know what? I'm the one who should get jealous. I'm jealous of your fiancé whom we've never met before because she can marry you!" Sofia added, her voice slightly cracking. She could feel the lump on her throat and her tears once again threatening to flow down. After keeping it all in, she finally told James how she really felt all this time. He lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek, wiping away the tears with his thumb.
"Sofia, I'm sorry-"
"No, it's okay."
From her cheek, James moved his hand on the back of her neck and pulled Sofia closer to him. Then, he wrapped his arm around her securely.
"It's not okay, Sof. We can't keep on lying to ourselves now, can we?" James said against her head, kissing it softly. Sofia's tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she clutched on his chests, her shoulders shivering as she cried.
"We have to tell dad. At least, before my fiancé arrives." he muttered, gently caressing her head to comfort her.
"I suppose it's the only option we have." Sofia agreed meekly. Slowly, she placed her hands on his back to fully embrace him.
Sofia and James walked side by side together towards King Roland's office. Feeling a bit nervous, James clenched his fists to at least make it stop shaking. He's kind of afraid that he and his father would get into an argument again. Feeling that James was feeling nervous, Sofia slowly took his hand to hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Surprised, the blond prince turned his head to look at Sofia who, in return gave him a small smile. This made him smile as well.
Upon reaching the door to the king's office, the two untangled their intertwined hands. Anxiously, James knocked on the door three times, slightly hoping that everything would go smoothly as he imagined it would be. After a few seconds, he heard his father speak.
"Come in." said King Roland's voice. With a sigh, James opened the door slowly.
"Good afternoon, dad." the prince greeted as politely as he could. As the two entered the room, they were quite surprised to see that his father had a guest inside.
"Ah, I'm sorry dad, was I bothering you?" James said.
"Oh? James! Good timing! And you too, Sofia." King Roland said as he stood up to walk towards the two. With a grin, he placed a hand on James' shoulder. Somehow, this confused the prince greatly.
"I was just about to summon you in my office. You're fiancé just arrived, you see. We didn't know that she'd arrive early." the king said.
What King Roland said completely surprised both James and Sofia. The brunette stood there, speechless at what was happening. It's too late, she thought. Too late to make everything okay. Too late for them.
"What? I thought she was going to arrive tomorrow? Are they that eager to marry their princess off?" James said, almost yelling at his father.
"You and I are both surprised, James. Believe me." he replied. James wanted to say a lot of things to his father, but he can't arrange the thoughts in his head.
"I'm in love with someone else, dad." he blurted out suddenly, catching Sofia off guard and the king surprised. James, realizing what he just said, was a bit flushed. How can he say to his father that the person he would love to be his queen was his own stepsister? His father would laugh at him and pat him on the back, muttering that 'it was a good joke' or something like that.
But of course, he has to say it.
It was now or-
Knock knock
Upon hearing the knock, James' thoughts became jumbled again.
"Come in, please." King Roland said, still a bit shocked by his son's sudden confession. As the door opened, two guards of a different kingdom went inside and stood by the doorways as a lady entered. She was utterly beautiful; her curled, golden brown locks seemed to be flowing behind her as she walked gracefully, like she was dancing on air. And as every lady does, she sported the daintiest smile she could showcase. The smile of a princess.
"Your Highness! We would like to welcome Princess Emilia of Rouerie!" one of the castle's servants said. Graciously, princess Emilia bowed down to show respect to King Roland. In return, the King of Enchancia bowed downs as well to show courtesy.
"I, King Roland, gladly accepts your visit, Princess Emilia of Rouerie." King Roland placed his gaze on his son as he signaled him to come forward. Reluctantly, James walked towards them and bowed down politely.
"And this is my son, Prince James of Enchancia. And of course my stepdaughter, Princess Sofia." Upon hearing her name, Sofia instantly bowed down quickly, smiling lightly at the princess. 'She look so beautiful. She looks exactly like what a princess is.' she thought with a hint of sadness.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Prince James." Emilia said, bowing down once more.
"I uh… the pleasure is mine, Princess Emilia." James replied.
"Well then, my servants shall lead you to your quarters, Princess Emilia. We shall call for you once dinner will be served." King Roland said with a smile, signaling some of his servants to guide their guest to her room. She smiled once more before walking out of the king's office, following the servants as they led her to her room. As they were all out of the office, Sofia, James and King Roland were once again left inside. With a small sigh, King Roland faced James with a frown.
"You should've told me you had someone you fancied, James. How are we going to turn down Princess Emilia's marriage meeting?"
"I didn't thought you'd approve of it." James muttered quietly, almost a whisper.
"Why? Why do you think I'd disapprove of it? Is she a commoner?" The king asked. Upon hearing his question, James was unable to think of an answer.
"You know it's alright to marry someone that is not of royalty, James. Queen Miranda was a humble shoemaker and yet, I married her. Though the law does suggest that the next heir to the throne should at least marry a spouse that has royal blood in their vines but it doesn't require the heir to marry someone of royalty." the king explained, though James already knew about it a long time ago.
"No, dad. That's not what I-"
"Forgive me, James. But please bear with this marriage meeting. Your marriage with Princess Emilia is tentative. We'll have to sort the pros and cons of your bond first. For the sake of the kingdom."
"You have your first con, dad."
"What is it, son?"
"I don't love her and I never will." James said as left his father's office, opening the door rashly and slamming it shut.
Sassy James, everyone. /brick'd
Oh my god the fiance arrived! Concerning her name, I shall reveal it in the next chappie, which I already started writing~ good for me :D (I'm trying to change lol)
I already have the outline for the ending and the chapters behind it. What I need is the actual words to make it into a story. I need freaking tips on this one guys. If you would like to share, please give me ideas for the story. I would gladly consider it.
And of course, a big shout out to all those readers who's still reading my story! Kudos to you dude!
Have a Happy New Year guys!
Peace out~