Andrei's POV
I like to think that I'm an impartial King. My son Jaxon thinks I favor his brother Leonidas above all of them and that is not true. They've had me for eleven years since he was away and Leonidas has never resented me for not being by his side all those years which I'm grateful for so I let him make decisions on stuff that only concerns his 'friend' Jonina which unfortunately is also the cause of the recent squabble among them.
In the years since I became King, I have never had any cause to hurt someone so bad, they'd wish they were never born - with the exception of Elroy of course. I think of all the teenagers in my kingdom as my children which is why I created a charity foundation to help the less privileged ones to get quality education and become whatever they want to be in future.
My father was a good King but he never would've done half of what I've done for this people all by myself so it pains me
Joni's POV "Are you happy now?". Celestina asks me. "You lied against my daughter that she broke Prince Leonidas's iPad and now because of you, she has also been suspended from school. Is it until you kill all of us before you're satisfied?". I stare impassively at my stepmother with my arms folded across my chest. It is a freaking Wednesday morning and I need to get ready for school but I don't think she'll let me go in peace until she's given me a piece of her mind. The woman is pure evil and I really don't want to have to deal with her this morning. It also doesn't help that... I woke up feeling cramps in my abdomen and I know exactly what that means. "You pleaded with me to beg the Prince to have mercy on her and he did." I remind her. "You should be happy he didn't banish her as he'd wanted to." "Just because she kissed him? Is he the first boy that a girl will h
Leon's POVI am literally the most stupid seventeen years old boy on planet earth. Yes. I am a very stupid and insensitive bastard and I feel like beating myself up.I would if I could but it's not possible. I could ask Jax to do me the favor but I know the idiot would take great pride in doing that and more. He'd probably retaliate for the times I'd humiliated him in front of mom and dad and unfortunately the guards as well.I sigh and look over at Joni. I'd panicked when she suddenly slumped and would have hit her head on the water closet if I'd not been fast enough to catch her. It'd have been an entirely different story - a story I'd probably be too dumbfounded to explain.I'd let my excitement overtake my senses and I'd committed a crime that is against the rules of platonic relationships.If there is something like that.I should probably get a
Joni's POV I don't like fighting with Leon but his actions sometimes gets me so mad that I feel like throttling him. I have never in my life been so scared of dying until that moment when I couldn't breathe and all my thought was that 'this is it, I'm going to meet my mother today and get out of this hellhole I call my life' but at the same time I wanted to live to see if I'd eventually get out of this hellhole I call my life. Sometimes.... I like him because he makes me happy, makes me forget about all of my troubles even if only for a short while but after the stunt he pulled today, I don't think I want to talk to him for awhile. I am working on my English homework when Lauretta walks up to me and I sigh knowing what she wants before she even opens her mouth. "Can I help you?". I ask without looking up. "I need some money." She says. "Like... Four thousand."
"She said yes!". Leon screamed immediately he walked into the palace. "Mom! dad!". Anna rushed out into the hallway wondering why her son was screaming at the top of his voice. He'd looked so forlorn earlier and he'd even refused to eat dinner but now he was smiling from ear to ear which she found infectious and she joined him. "What's wrong baby?". She asked. "She said yes!". He exclaimed joyfully. "Uh... Who?". Anna frowned. "Joni Mom!". He beamed at her. Anna stared at him in surprise. "Jonina Samuels said yes... to what?". Leon let out a sigh wondering why his mother was so slow to catch up but his father walked out into the hallway before he could reply and he went to meet Andrei. "I did it dad! I didn't chicken out." He threw his arms around his father. "Thank you so much." &n
Three hours earlier"Leon, I can't find mom and dad." Andres informed him."I left them talking in the hallway." He looked up from his laptop. "They've probably gone to bed.""Rita told me they're not there." He plopped down on the sofa. "She wants mom's opinion on something as well.""Did you check them outside? Maybe the gazebo?"."They're not there either.""Okay. I'll go look for them." He shut his laptop and stood up."Can I watch a movie on your laptop? You've got some mad movies." Andres said."Sure." He smiled and ruffled his brother's hair before he left.Leon searched the palace grounds but couldn't find his parents either and he began to wonder where they must have gone. He was about to call Andrei's phone when one of his personal maids Tanna came running towards him with tears on he
The next day"Did you hear the news?". A girl asked her friend from behind Joni as she put in the code to open her locker. "The King and Queen were attacked last night by unknown armed men. My father told us that he was injured."Joni's books dropped with a thud on the floor causing the girls to look over at her."Don't tell me you were eavesdropping?". The first girl sneered.Joni turned to look at her. "What did you say happened to the King?"."And why is that any of your business?". The second girl asked."What did you say happened to the King?". Joni repeated tersely."He was attacked and he was injured." The first girl replied. "Has curiosity killed your cat now?". She didn't wait for a response as she faced her friend. "I bet that's why none of the Sebastianis are in school today.""I'll skip school myself fo
"Where's Jared?". Andrei asked."I sent him to pick Joni up from school." Leon said. "Do you need him?"."Not really." Andrei shook his head. "He's been my shadow since last night. I was just wondering where he could have gone. So... Joni is coming here?"."Yeah. She heard about what happened last night and she asked if it'll be okay for her to come by and pay you a visit.""Of course she is welcome." Andrei smiled. "She's welcome here anytime."Ina groaned from where she sat causing them to look over at her."What?". Leon asked."None of your business." She snapped then faced her father. "Don't let her come into the house dad. I didn't want mom to worry so I didn't tell her but I was sick for a few days the last time she was here.""You don't say." Leon drawled. "Good for you." He glared at his sister. "If she wants
"Welcome to my humble abode." Leon gestured around the room as they walked in."Wow." Joni muttered looking around the room. It wasn't humble in anyway at all. Instead she was sure it looked like a five star hotel room. "You call this humble?". She snorted.The room was three times larger than than all the rooms in her house. The bed was a sprawling King sized bed and in front of it was an ottoman the size of a huge chest and a sofa was right in front of it. On the wall facing the bed was a huge flat screen TV with a mini glass shelf containing books and on top of the shelf were picture frames.To the left were two floor to ceiling windows and glass doors leading to what she guessed was his balcony. In another corner was a glass reading table and a black leather swivel chair. She saw a door which was open and guessed it to be his bathroom and closet space since she didn't see a wardrobe anywhere.
Three weeks later Leon Ashes to ashes Dust to dust I'm listening to every other word the priest is saying as he stands in front of Joni's coffin at the cemetery. I finally accepted her wish the next day after she told me to let her go and the ventilator machine was turned off. A little boy of about ten needed a kidney transplant and Joni's kidney matched his so I gave them the go ahead to do the transplant but that was it. She didn't want anyone to have her heart and no one got it. The preparations for her funeral were made and here we are three weeks later... finally putting her to rest. I rise to my feet and move to the front when the priest calls on me to give my speech. I don't have a speech to eulogize her but a song so I sing that thanking her for her love and when I am done, there isn't a dry eye at the cemetery. The priest gives his final speech, prays for her to find a resting place and it's over. I am standing by her coffin staring down at it when I suddenly look up
LeonI feel something pull at my hair. Like someone trying to pick a strand of my hair from my head and without thinking too much about it, I swat at the hand over my head but then I hear someone giggling - a familiar giggle and I lift my head sharply.I'm hoping it's her but there's nothing. She doesn't move and my shoulders slump. It's just been twenty four hours and kinda too early for a miracle but I hope one will happen soon."Why do you look so downcast Your Highness?". Joni asks me.I look around the room in shock until I see her sitting on the sofa with a strawberry smoothie in one hand and sandwich in the other."Am I dreaming?". I croak out."Maybe." She laughs.I look her over and see that she's dressed in a white and red polka dot gown with white wedges to match. Her hair is packed up in a loose bun and she's wearing the diamond earrings I gave her for Christmas."You look beautiful." I say."Too bad it's not 14th yet." She pouts. "I wanted to go to that dance.""You can.
LeonI have just pulled on my jeans when I hear Liese's frantic voice calling my name as I stand in my closet still thinking of a shirt to wear but I abandon that thought and rush out to meet her."Leon." She breathes running over to me. Tears are running down her cheeks so fast, it's like a dam opened up in her tear ducts."What's wrong?". I ask her."I... Collins... Joni..." She stutters."Joni? What happened to her?". I demand."Accident... It was bad." She says. "She's been taken to the hospital."I run back to my closet, grab any shirt and shrug it on then my car keys are in my hand the next instant and I hurry out of my room not bothering about my shoes.I breeze past grandma who is shocked to see running barefoot but before she can call my attention, I am already halfway down the steps."Leon! Where are you rushing to without your shoes?". Mom calls as I pass her as well just as she comes out of the living room."Hospital!". I call over my shoulder."What!". I register her shoc
A month later Joni Life... A period between birth and death. "Life is short" is what people say and that's the truth. I never used to believe that until today. As usual, my gorgeous boyfriend thought it best to take me out on a date seeing as we're almost ticking the last of the boxes on my never have I ever list but a part of me knows he's very excited about number 99 and 100 and I am too but I'm just not as excited as he is. He's like a kid who's been given cartblanche to choose any candy he wants in the candy store. It's February 14 in a week's time and every student is buzzing with excitement concerning the upcoming dance for Valentine's day. I've been a student of IHHS for eleven years and counting and I've never been to a school dance before. Minus kindergarten and elementary school, say during my junior years, I'd never been asked by a boy to go to the dance with him so when Leon asked me today which took me by surprise, I said yes. It's the last dance for me before I
LeonIt's new year, also mom and dad's birthdays and I might have made an unconscious resolution to be a good boy this year. No getting into fights with my brother or anyone else but that didn't stop me from being the devil and just to taunt my brother, invited his flavor of the month; Gabriella Sysavane.The girl didn't want to come but I'd convinced her not to be scared and I might have created a scene in her head where my brother would end the day with two girls who were not her in his bed because I know he's capable of doing it and she'd said yes."Why are you smiling?". Joni asks me."He's coming." I say."Who?". She looks over her shoulder to see Jax marching towards us with a murderous glare. "What crawled up his ass?"."Gabriella." I chuckle."Did you invite her?!". Joni gasps looking shocked. "What happened to being a good boy this year and all that?".I shrug not saying anything as Jax gets to us. I grin at him and give him a side hug."Happy new year bro." I say."What are
Joni It's new year's eve in Mercia but it feels like it's already new year. Everywhere has been decorated in preparation for the King and Queen's birthday party tomorrow and the whole Kingdom's been invited to celebrate with them. We arrived in Mercia yesterday morning and while it was good to be back home, I couldn't wait to see the world again but preferably only with Leon next time. It's a nice day to go for a walk and I do exactly that even though I really don't have a destination. I wave at people and greet some I like on my way until I get to the Catholic Church and stop outside the gate. I've never been to church once. I didn't feel the need to do so before but now I feel like it's about time I let go of all the pain and heartache and possibly the hatred I feel for my dad and stepmom. I walk into the premises of the church then up the short steps leading into the church before I change my mind. There are several other people sitting on pews and praying while some are kneel
Leon I still can't believe what Andres had told us yesterday before we boarded the jet. My own self-absorbed twin brother going behind our backs to date a non royal while openly telling me not to date one. The motherfucker. He should be glad I didn't find out about this while I was still in Mercia or else I'd have given him the beating of his life. Gabriella Sysavane. I don't think I know her though but Collins would. I look around the beach in search of my best friend but can't find him or my sister anywhere which makes me frown wondering where they'd gone to. The beach isn't crowded today thankfully so I have no problem looking for them. We arrived in America very early this morning and my grandma's driver Ron came to pick us up at the airport and drove us to her penthouse. We all woke up feeling well rested and after a quick lunch, we came to the beach. Joni and Andres are playing volleyball with Raymond and some other kids and Collins was with them just a little while ago. I
Liese I jerk awake all of a sudden from a dream which turns out to be a bad idea because the action makes me feel dizzy and my head feels like ten elephants are sitting on it. I groan and clutch the sides of my head wondering how the hell I got back to my hotel room last night. We'd partied hard celebrating Joni's birthday for a week but we all decided to get drunk yesterday. I just don't remember the details after or how I'm in the hotel room right now. I turn my head to look at the alarm clock and see that it's ten am in the morning and I sigh. We're leaving France today but not going back to Nigeria because Leon has another surprise in mind for Joni. I think I'd be very jealous of Joni for snagging a thoughtful and wonderful boyfriend like Leon if he wasn't related to me. My older brother loves with all his heart, body, mind and soul and Joni is damn lucky to be the recipient of his affections. Unlike he who shall not be named. Y'all know who I'm talking about so no need to
GabriellaScrewed.I wish I had another word to qualify how screwed I am but no words come to mind. I stare at the stick in my hand again for the millionth time hoping that the pink line which looks like a cross that I'm seeing isn't actually true.I can't be pregnant.I bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling as tears gather in my eyes but I don't want to jump to conclusions just yet because these things aren't accurate. I just got it to find out why I've been feeling so tired and dizzy lately.My mom must not find out though or I'm dead. She'll strangle me with her bare hands, squeeze me like cloth and spread my skin out to dry.I'd disappointed her and myself by getting pregnant. I should have learned from her experience not to fall into a situation like this but no! One crooked smile flashed my way and I'm putty in his hands.You can't blame me though. Any girl in my position would want to be recognized by someone like him in a crowd. He was after all every girl's dream guy a