All recognisable characters belong to SM. I just own the plot.

Thank you to A Jasper For Me, but blame any or all mistakes on me.

Thank you for all the alerts/faves/reviews for the last two chapters. You guys made me smile.

I plan to update once a week, hopefully every Thursday. *cross fingers*

So, without further ado...

I stopped with a screeching halt in front of Marcus. He stood grinning while I slid out of my Porsche Carrera.

"Prince Edward, so happy to see you!"

"Looking good, old guy."

"I do, don't I?" he answered as his grin widened. Something was different about him – maybe his hair -because he almost looked handsome.

"Mrs. Marcus happy about this change?"

"Yes, yes she is. In fact, she loves it … if you know what I mean," he wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I grinned. "You want me to tell you my secret?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Oh no, I don't think I can handle the attention it'll give me." I winked at him.

"Yes, you don't need the added attention," he said. "My regimen will just increase that charisma of yours. And there's no need for you to look any more handsome than you already are – that would be a travesty to everyone."

"Yeah, I think you're right – a travesty," I joked. He wiggled his eyebrows again, and we laughed.

He proceeded to lead me inside the foyer, still making jokes about my appearance and how irresistible I was. I wondered whether this excited conversation was his attempt of distraction. He never once mentioned my late brother and his accident, and the ruckus that followed after, which was a surprise, considering he was such a nosy person. It was also something I was used to from him. He had been with us for so long, that he had some kind of liberty that way.

Sixty-five years old and he still looked as if he wasn't ready to retire any time soon. He was the head butler and although he now had an assistant, he still liked to serve the royal family first hand. My parents clearly adored the man, and so did I. I had some fond memories of him when I was a child. He was one of the faces I was glad to see every time I get the chance to visit here – The Palace, my parents' house.

The place was immaculate as ever. Every thing was expensive. The furniture and the decors were so polished and grand … and shiny. I sighed, remembering why I was here this early in the morning.

Marcus waved for me to come closer.

"King Carlisle is furious. I just thought you'd want to know," he whispered, like he was afraid he would be heard even though we were all alone in this area of the Palace.

"Don't worry, Marcus. I can take care of myself," I reassured him.

My father was angry, of that I was sure. The question was how much. I would deal with it. I always do.

"If you say so, Your Highness." His frown told me his worry, and I patted his shoulder.

"I think I should go and greet them … my father won't be too happy if I was late this morning."

He nodded, knowing I was right.

They said to meet them for breakfast, so that was where I was headed – to have breakfast with them. The formal dining room was at the eastern portion of the palace, where I was sure I could find my parents. I glanced at my watch and groaned. I was five minutes late. Father wouldn't like that one bit.

A smile and a frown, both from my parents, greeted me as I entered the room. My early resolve to act nonchalant was still in place.

"Good morning, Mother. You look lovely," I whispered, and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.

She gave me a smile before she waved for the staff to start serving. I sat opposite her and tried to ignore my father, who looked like he was ready to pounce on me.

"I'm glad you could join us, Edward," my mother said. She seemed to be in a good mood. "It seemed like such a long time since I talked to you."

"I talked to you just a week ago," I reminded her, before I took a sip of the coffee a maid placed in front of me.

"Yeah, you did, but –" She cut off, and wiped her lips with a napkin. The look of pain in her eyes made me realize what I just said.

I had visited her to return the ring Alec had given Heidi as an engagement ring. It was one of the few moments I saw my mother break down, and it wasn't pretty.

"I wish you could visit us more often … not just for some official visit," she said, giving me a tight smile.

"Well, I wish he would stop attracting bad publicity to himself," my father interrupted, his tone full of annoyance.

Here we go.

The scowl on my father's face deepened as he stared at me, and I continued drinking my coffee like his anger didn't affect me.

"Explain That To Me." He threw the newspaper in front of me, where pictures of me were splashed all over the headlines. "What the hell were you thinking?"

I shrugged, knowing it would be useless to argue my case. He wouldn't understand. He never did before, and I doubt he would start now.

"Didn't you think your drunken stupor wouldn't gain attention?! If you did, then I might really need to reconsider things."

"Carlisle," my mother whispered.

"No, Esme! He needs to understand what he's done!"

"Can we at least finish our breakfast first before you two start fighting?" She huffed as she shifted her eyes between my father and I, waiting for anyone to contradict her. Father slumped back in his seat, but I could feel his anger radiating, and I knew we were nowhere near the end of his wrath.

I gritted my teeth, trying to rein down on the anger that brewed inside me. It was a lack of judgment on my part to have been drinking in a public club … I admit that. But it was exactly one month ago that night that Alec had died, and I wasn't over it yet, not that I ever thought I would. So I went to the club, although very exclusive, but still a public one, and I drank to ease the pain of my brother's passing. I goddamn needed it! Of course, some asshole took advantage and took some pictures.

I had already instructed Emmett to deal with this whole debacle, although my father didn't know that yet. I doubt he would be concerned on the reasons for my actions, just the end result of it. It was all about our appearance and the family's good name he was concerned with. Even if I apologized, he wouldn't let this go easily. So I did what I usually did – just sat there, silent and hopeful that this breakfast meeting would soon be over.

It didn't even take a minute after the pancakes were served that my father started his rant again. "I really can't understand you."

"Well, what's new?" I muttered under my breath, taking a few bites of my pancakes, chewing it angrily.

"Do you enjoy this attention, Edward,, huh? Because I certainly don't! Now they are calling you a drunk … and all sorts of names. Not that I could blame them," he said. He laid down his fork and glowered at me. "They think you're unfit to take my place."

"I didn't ask for this." My reply seemed to make him angrier; his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched.

"All your life you have been given things, privileges any other human would have been happy to have and experience. But not you … not you," he fumed, shaking his head, looking disgusted. "You like to do things your way, even if it hurts other people. You care about no one but yourself."

"Is that really what you think?" I hissed at him. Surely, he couldn't believe that. Yes, I had done some things that landed me in a bad light, but almost everything he asked me to do, I did. Even if I lost more than I was willing to give.

"You seem to like to waste your life on frivolous things," he continued like he never heard me, his voice hard.

"Well, thank you so much for reminding me how much a failure I am to you!"

"No, Edward. You're not a-" my mother started, only to be interrupted by my father.

"You should take responsibility to the crown and your people. That's your job … now more than ever," he informed icily. "You've got to stop this bullshit … the drinking … the clubbing … and whatever else you've been doing to embarrass us."

"What the hell do you know?" The anger had been boiling and I couldn't contain it any longer. "I tried to do everything you told me … you fucking know that!"

I heard my mother gasp. It was rare for me to curse in front of them, but this morning I wasn't in the mood to indulge in small talk. "But it seems it's never enough for you!"

My chest heaved in anger, my nostrils flaring. The grip I had on the edge of table was so tight my knuckles started to turn white. I scowled at my father, King Carlisle, who scowled back.

"It's always the same with you. You go out there and put us in jeopardy with all your wild ways, and then I … or Alec will put you back in your place. You'll calm down, but then it'll happen again. I'm sick and tired of all this!" He glared at me, vicious and angry. "You know why it's never enough, huh? It's because you never really truly tried to give us your best!"

"I didn't, huh? What was three years ago about then?!"

He looked stunned like I slapped him. He knew what I meant.

"You know we don't need this, Edward. It's only been a month since Alec's death and –"

"Don't you think I know that?!" I yelled. I pushed my chair back, ready to storm out of the room. I had had enough. I had so much on my plate, and bringing Alec into the conversation was just my breaking point.

"I'm not finished with you yet, Edward!" My father's voice was all that could be heard as I walked angrily towards the door.

"Don't you dare leave this room!"

I spun around to face him. "Or what?" I demanded.

He stood up from his chair, angry, but still confident and in control, like he always was. He placed both his hands flat on the table and leaned forward as he spoke with such finality. "Or I'm going to give the crown to your cousin Riley."

The air inside my chest whooshed out so suddenly I had difficulty breathing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would do this, and I hated him for it.

"You can't do that," I replied cockily. "Don't forget I took that Government and Politics class you instructed me. I'm sure you can't replace me just because you want to."

"Can't I?" He raised his eyebrow in challenge, and I almost winced. My father was still scary if he wanted to. "I'm still the king, Edward. And I have the POWER … the INFLUENCE to make what I want happen."

I opened my mouth to say something, but couldn't find the words. Yes, he was still the king. Although there were rules that made me irreplaceable as the next heir, but rules could be bent, and I wasn't sure I could take that risk.

My father looked so triumphant, and that made me angrier. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, making my head hurt. He knew I couldn't give up the crown, not because I wanted to be King badly, but because I needed to keep a promise. A promise I made to Alec a few years ago that I would take care of what was his if something happened to him. I had thought he was kidding, but the look on his face made me realize he was serious. Call it a premonition of some sorts or whatever the hell you want, but the bottom line is, it did happen. I made that promise and I had every intention to keep it.

"That got your attention, didn't it? I thought it would," he added confidently, like he knew he already won this battle. He sat down and waved for me to sit down. I crossed my arms in defiance, and stood to wait to hear what he had to say.

"You better clean up your act, Edward. No more drinking … no drugs or women that could taint our name in any way. I don't want you associated with any girl who I don't approve of." He grabbed a slice of bread and buttered it. "In simple terms –no bad publicity, period."

"Is that all?" I muttered, gritting my teeth in irritation.

"I think that's not so hard at all, so you don't have any difficulty abiding to it." He looked me straight in the eyes, challenging me. "This time, I mean business. You're next in line to be King, and I need you to show me you're fit to be one."

"I'll be the best goddamn heir there could be, and you better count on that," I mocked, and he smiled. The satisfaction was clear on his face, and it took all my strength not to say something that would surely land me in another verbal battle with him.

I turned and left them. My chest was ready to burst. I was still raging about what happened when I heard my mother.

"Edward, wait!"

I ignored her, not wanting to get into another argument.

"Son, wait. Please!"

The pleading got to me. I halted and she was there beside me immediately, rubbing my back, soothing me.

"He wasn't trying to be mean."

"He wasn't nice either," I snapped and she flinched. I sighed, closing my eyes shut, hoping to alleviate my anger.

"He loves you, and he's trying to protect you."

"Really? Because it didn't feel like it."

"Please don't be angry at Carlisle. He's under a lot of pressure, and you know how he gets when everything's in chaos."

I tried to be angry with her for defending him, but I couldn't.

"And don't for one second think I didn't get what you meant in there? Isabella is and never was an issue with us- with him, but somehow you think it was," she whispered, pleading for me to understand.

The mention of her name made me furious and I clenched my fist, trying hard not to allow my mother to see. I wasn't successful.

"It's clear you still think she's our problem. Darling, you got that all wrong, we never-"

"I need to go, Mother," I said, and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll see you when I've calmed down a bit."

I left her standing there speechless.

So, what do you think? Yeah, I understand you have more questions now about Bella, but all will be revealed in time.

Thanks.

xoxo