โYou know Kane never wanted you to come here.โ โI donโt really care about what he thinks is best for me. I clearly have other things to worry about.โ Elena came faster than I expected. Weโre presently at a restaurant since I couldnโt talk to her in my dorm. โSorry for missing your birthday.โ โThat was a few days ago, it's fine.โ โDid he wish you-โ โCan we not talk about Kane right now. My birthday went pretty well, thank you very much. We have so many other things to talk about.โ โFine, what do you want to know?โ โFirst off, who is my mother hiding from?โ โWhy do you think sheโs hiding?โ โCome on, she literally pretended to be dead and is still in hiding.โ โThe king.โ โKing?โ โThe king of Rome.โ โWait hold on, why did she need me to be in that accident, she could have pretended to be dead on her own.โ โIt wouldnโt have been as authentic. They knew she might try to come out with some kind of plan to run, so she knew this was the only way they would believe. She woul
The American university of Rome is the College Iโm at. Itโs old and prestigious. The college is known for its historic buildings, beautiful architecture, and rich academic traditions. It consists of various departments, each with its own unique history and character. The campus consists of all genders. Meaning all hostels can have the different genders in them. Iโm presently researching other colleges in Rome that I could go to since this one is apparently too well known. Stacy had told me a bit more information about the history of royal blood. She had said in the past few decades nothing much has happened but from the beginning of time there was some kind of secret going on. She told me that the ancient family of the royal blood was called the house of evergreen. In the annals of time, there existed a royal bloodline shrouded in mystery and intrigue, known as the House of Evergreen. Legends whispered of their ancestral pact with the forest spirits, granting them unearthly powers
I dunno whether I should be mad that Kane is with his brother's murderer or mad that I canโt hear what they're talking about. โWhat are they doing together?โ โI dunno, you're asking me? I should be asking you! You're the one that was in love with him.โ โHeโs your step son!โ โAs much as Iโd love to continue this argument, it's not going to lead us anywhere. But I do think heโs here for a specific reason and itโs not to be buddies.โ โIโm going in.โ Elena grabs my arm and pulls me back towards her. โNope, you're not going anywhere, itโs not wise.โ โItโs not like heโs going to kill me.โ โHe wonโt but is it not better to contact Kane about this later not here.โ โUgh fine.โ I say knowing damn well Iโm lying. โIโm going back to the car.โ The moment I leave Elenaโs side I start to run towards the entrance. โAurelia, donโt do this.โ I hear Elena say through the earpiece. I ignore her and immediately pull out my gun. I slowly creep through the door and make my way towards th
It doesnโt take much time before I reach the car. โAurelia, You really have a death wish?โ Elena says while I get in. โHeโs obsessed with me, heโs not going to kill me.โ โBut his brother will.โ โJust drive.โ She starts the car and we immediately move. โWhy didnโt you tell Kane the truth about who told you the whole truth?โ โBecause he wouldnโt be happy if he found out I was still talking to you.โ โHere I was thinking it was for my safety.โ โCome on Elena, Kane wouldnโt kill you.โ โHe wanted to.โ โCan you blame him?โ We arrive and I get out of the car. โThanks for the drive, bye.โ I say before going back to my dorm. I see that Stacyโs car isnโt in the parking lot so I know sheโs not around. Knowing her sheโs probably with some guy. I go up the elevator and open my door once I reach it. I lock it and turn to go to my bed and Lo and behold, Kane is sitting on it. โYou got here rather late.โ โWhat are you doing here Kane. I could have screamed.โ โI came to see y
The beauty of hating someone needs to be studied. I find joy in seeing Leonard in pain. I saw a notification from my phone this morning. It was from Kane. He sent me a video of Leonard howling and screaming on the floor. I really do love this man. Kane hasnโt had any leads from our plan. He keeps ranting about how Isabelle has fled from the face of earth, So i decided to start looking for Isabelleโs leads on my own. One of the king's annual festivals which no one attends unless they're rich, invited or a plus one is coming soon. Lucky for me I know someone who once dated someone from the royal line. Ella. I pull out my phone and dial her number. โHey love.โ โAurelia! I missed you so much. The last time we spoke was on your birthday.โ โYeah and again thank you guys so much for the surprise.โ โOf Course. What is it though? You donโt usually just call people for nothing, knowing you you're looking for something.โ โI actually wanted to talk to you.โ โWell.. talk.โ โNo like
Iโve called Aurelia about fifteen times now and she still hasnโt answered. Iโm worried about her but at the same time she could be bathing or something that could have caused her to not be with her phone. I canโt help but have this nagging feeling that sheโs in trouble. I decided to go check out her dorm to see if sheโs returned yet. It wasnโt hard for Leonard to find out where she lived so he had filled me in, he even helped me with a duplicate key, that man and his connections. Thatโs how I had managed to see her the day she saw me here. It doesnโt take much time before I reach her room. I knock twice yet no one answers. I go to knock the third time and someone opens the door. โHello, how can I help you?โ A random woman says. โHey, Iโm Kane.โ โOh my goodness. YOU! Aurelia told me so much about you, I'm Stacy.โ She is a little too excited. She holds out her hand but I shake my head. โShe did say you were rude.โ โIs she around?โ โActually, no she stepped out a while ago b
12 strokes of midnight was closed the night Rune was killed. I sometimes wish it was still open because I seem to have no other purpose in life but only in terms of career. Iโm presently on my way back home after buying groceries. I do not like buying groceries but my husband and I seem to have switched duties now that he has a decent job and I donโt. My phone starts to ring so I connect it to the Bluetooth of my car. I check the caller ID but itโs an unknown number, I answer. โHello, who am I speaking with?โ โThatโs not really important seeing as your husband is about to die.โ My hands go stiff on the steering wheel and I almost bump into an old woman, I immediately stop the car on the side of the road. โWhat do you want?โ I say whilst grasping my phone like Iโm about to break it. โSimple, tell me where your precious little friend is hiding.โ โPlease I donโt know who you're talking about!โ I scream. My voice wobbled. โOh but you do, you were with her recentlyโฆ Does Ro
I wake up in what seems like a roomโ-wait where am I? Iโm about to start sitting up straight but everything comes crashing down like a slideshow in a cinema. Ella, Nick, Isabella. Now that I think of it, why did they put me in such a comfortable king size bed? โ-we need to make sure I make Rowan pay me a large amount before we give him to her!โ I open my eyes more than when I had woken up so that I can see who it was that spoke. I instantly shut them due to the overbearing light that slices through them. โLooks like someoneโs awake.โ Ella says. โThe curtains.โ I say softly. Not because I want to speak lightly but because my throat feels dry. I hear the curtains close so I finally open my eyes fully. I am indeed in a fancy room. There are two people in the room. One is staring at me, that must be Nick, the one who spoke. The other is Ella who is bringing me water. She tries to make me drink it with the cup in her hands but I take it from her hand and drink it on my own. โStu
My eyes have been shut this whole time that when I open them I realize none of this makes sense but I donโt even care. I get off him and kiss him so hard Iโm sure I left a bruise somewhere. I finally allow us to breathe. โIโm so sorry baby.โ I whisper whilst hugging him. โShh..โ he says and rubs my back. I step away and he wipes my tears. โI know you have many questions.โ He says whilst holding my waist. I nod with snot probably coming out of my nose. โAsk.โ He says. Heโs trying to distract me. โHow are you here.. the letter! Your silence on the phone? London?โ I speak without thinking . โMichale called yesterday. He told me he didnโt want to tell me about your wedding but I told him we already met and you told me about it. He then told me itโs happening today but I still didnโt want to bother. I had concluded that Iโd kill myslef the day you get married. So I was prepared until he told me the kind of danger you might be in and I immediately got on the plane. The only
โIโm so sorry Leo.โ I say but he ignores me and I can see his heart shattering. I know how much he loved his sister even though he loved to pretend otherwise. I then look at Luca who seems to be staring at Isabel like heโs in a trance. Heโs not even crying. Thereโs not even tears. Heโs just staring at her. I sit flat on the floor between the two dead bodies whilst the war outside is still happening so itโs not like I can go anywhere. Elena suddenly calls my name but Iโm too shocked to look at her. She shows up in front of me and hands me the same envelope that mom gave her. I take it from her and open it. I look down first because I want to see who itโs from, this is not the time. I see the name Kane there and I immediately start to get the most painful headache ever. I close my eyes and I could swear Iโm in a trance where all Iโm seeing are memories. They're all coming back. Rune was my stepbrother. Leonard killed him. I loved Kane alot and I also loved Rune a lot. Emaine
I sigh when I realize Michael and I have walked past half of the aisle and look up. I finally have eye contact with Leonard and the way he looks at me makes me want to drop my gaze back down. He looks amazing in his black suit. His hair is slicked back as well and heโs carved his beard. Heโs staring at me like Iโm the best thing heโs ever seen and that makes me smile. We finally reach the small stairs and Michael untangles his hand from mine. I see him glare at Leonard before he lets me go and I walk up the stairs. I stand right in front of Leonard. He's on the right side whilst Iโm on the left. The priest is in the middle. My girls are behind me and vice versa with Leonardโs men. I so badly want to ask Shannon where Emaine is but I donโt think itโs appropriate. I hear some whispers whilst Iโm up here but I canโt hear what their saying. Everyone sits down and I finally hear someone say that itโs not right for my mom to be here but the king's mother isn't. I snort and Leonard rai
One week later Iโve been thinking about Kane and Iโs conversation all day and my heart feels like it's exploding every time. I donโt know whether itโs the memories of my past that have been coming back lately but they are affecting the way I feel about this entire situation. Leonard decided to rush our wedding because he felt like something bad would happen in between. Apparently the rebels are angry at me for betraying them. theyโve started to riot again. I didnโt betray them but it sure as hell looks like I am now that Iโm getting married to one of the revolution's enemies. They must be feeling the same way Michael feels. I would definitely try to find who is commanding them now that me, Michael and Luca are no longer there just so that I could talk to them and try to find a reasonable understanding or come to an agreement between one another to stop the violence and just let the wicked leaders lead. The people will handle it during the elections when they are choosing their own l
I lean back in the seat, tracing the edge of the invitation card in my lap. Itโs still strange, seeing my name next to Leonardโs in elegant, golden script. I went to see them today, to invite Michael, Elena, Shannon, and the others to the wedding. A part of me hoped theyโd all be there, that maybe theyโd want to share this with me. But every single one of them declined. Their rejections feel like tiny, sharp pinpricks, pressing deeper the more I think about it. As we slow at a red light, I glance out the window, watching people hurry across the street, faces blending into each other. Then I freeze. In the car beside me, a familiar face leans against the window, lost in thoughtโKane. My heart skips. Without thinking, I lean forward and tap the driverโs shoulder. โPlease, pull over. Right here.โ He raises his eyebrows at me through the rearview mirror but nods, steering us to the curb. I roll down my window, sticking my hand out to catch Kaneโs attention. โKane!โ I call softly, hop
Everyone keeps congratulating me but for some reason I donโt even feel like this is real. Leonard told me he doesnโt want to waste much time on our wedding and I agreed so weโre getting married in a week. I decided to go to kanes place to tell Michael and the others. For some reason I canโt get Kane out of my mindโฆ.ever since he helped me that day by getting me away from that weird ass man in the library stuck with me and I haven't been able to thank him. I didnโt even thank him for trying to get to me the time that Leonard had kidnapped me. Leonard invited his hateful relatives for our engagement. Apparently the tradition is that they have to all come and dine with me, I refused to do so.. they came regardless but I wasnโt there to see them. Leonard had understood that I needed to leave so he let me go to kanes place which is where Iโm heading now. He insisted that I take some of his guards so I did. I donโt know how Shannon, Michael, Elena, Luca and even Kane will take this newsโฆ
Hearing that Aurelia was in love with Leonard was one thing but seeing it in her eyes did something to me. The moment we got home I didnโt speak to anyone no matter how much they tried to get me to speak. Thereโs no use for me to stay in Rome if the reason Iโm here is clearly goneโฆ I donโt want to give up but as long as she doesnโt have her memory back I have to leave. I decided to write her a letter, I hope that when she gets to read this her memory will be back. Iโm presently packing. I'm going back to London. I donโt plan on getting talked out of this so Iโm planning on going when everyoneโs asleep besides Shannon, I'm going to give her the letter personally because I know sheโll deliver my message. I step out of my room silently and knock on her door a few times. She opens it whilst brushing her eyes with her hands. She looks like she hasnโt been sleepingโฆ but she does look very tired. โKane?โ she asks, voice hushed. "What are you doing here? And...with a suitcase?" I st
I sit in my room, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. My heart still races from the commotion downstairs. I expected my mother, Shannon, to leave with the rest of them, but she didnโt. Sheโs here. I hear her soft footsteps approaching before thereโs a light knock on the door. โAurelia, may I come in?โ she asks, her voice gentle but firm, like always. โYeah,โ I whisper, unsure of what to expect. My fingers fidget in my lap as she steps in and closes the door behind her. She sits beside me on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. Thereโs a brief silence as she studies me, her eyes soft but observant, the way a motherโs should be. I look away, my throat tight, already feeling the emotions bubbling up. I know what this is about. โI didnโt leave with the others because I needed to talk to you,โ Shannon says, her voice soft but serious. She reaches out, taking my hand. Her touch is warm, familiar, and it instantly begins to break down the walls Iโve tried to
I sit on the edge of the couch, my eyes scanning the room. Kane leans against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable. Shannon and Luca sit across from each other, both looking deep in thought. Elena is quiet, but I can feel her eyes on me, waiting. Emaine sits off to the side, her posture stiff, clearly uncomfortable. I clear my throat, trying to break the silence. "The revolution has been regrouping. We donโt know who their new leader is, but I have reason to believe theyโre planning to take action soon." Kane uncrosses his arms, his lips curling into a grim smirk. โLet them. If their first plan is to kill Leonard, Iโd be more than happy to let them.โ Before I can respond, Shannon jumps in. "Thatโs not a good idea, Kane. Especially if Aurelia isnโt leading them anymore. They see her as a traitor. If they try to kill Leonard, theyโll go after her too." Her words hang in the air, and I can feel the tension rising. Lucaโs phone suddenly rings, cutting through the weight of the