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[fadingreveries]

@tessa-liam

In an alternate universe, I like to think that too… 😂 but then it would completely erase the entire book 2 of TRR! And I like the slow burn pining from afar that comes with Liam and Riley in book 2 😝

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch2: Welcome to Cordonia (Pt. 1)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Riley travels to Cordonia, but what will await her there?

Word Count: 1.2k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

After packing her bags and leaving her New York apartment behind, Riley found herself on a plane with Maxwell and Drake. She gazed in awe at the cream-coloured leather seats, dark oak tables, and a complete minibar with beverages she could only have dreamed of consuming in her lifetime. It was clear that she had underestimated just how lavish their lives were back home. 

“Say ‘goodbye’ to New York and ‘hello’ to Cordonia!” Maxwell exclaimed, his arms stretched out wide in front of him and still as eager as ever. 

It turned out that not only was he Liam’s fairy godmother on his bachelor party night, but he had now undertaken the new position of Riley’s fairy godmother on her way to Cordonia. He felt very satisfied with the good he was spreading in their lives. Better this than to cause more mischief and mayhem, as Bertrand would put it.

Riley leaned back in her chair, hugging herself tighter with her leather jacket around her. She was dressed in a magenta blouse and black jeans, yet she was slightly shivering. She wasn’t even all that sure if it was because of the air conditioning cranked up high or because of her nervous but excited energy. 

She was surprised by her spontaneity at that moment and still couldn't process where she was. “I can’t believe this is actually happening…”

Riley knew it was a risky decision to choose. She didn’t know what the future held in Cordonia or what her relationship with Liam would unfold into. But she knew better that to never have tried for something she truly wanted was to regret it for the rest of her life.

“Believe it. We’ll be landing soon, ready or not. And if you’re not ready, those ladies at court are going to eat you alive,” Drake responded, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Metaphorically speaking, anyway. But Drake had seen things pretty close to it. In front of other members of the court, noble ladies dished out compliments and gave out diplomatic answers to every question like it was second nature. Being close to Liam showed him the other side of them which involved a lot more name-calling, sabotaging, two-faced conversations, and downright dragging others’ self-esteem across the cold ground.

It was something that rubbed him the wrong way whenever he got an occasional glimpse of it. It was just a constant reminder to him that no one at court could ever really be trusted. If Riley was gonna stick around, she might as well know the ropes as early as she could. 

Maxwell knew he was being a Debbie downer again. Or as little Maxwell liked to put his own little twist on it when he was six-years-old, a “Drakey downer.” Maxwell shushed him, putting his finger up to his lip. “Yeesh, don’t scare her, Drake. You okay, Riley?”

“Honestly… I’m terrified,” Riley admitted, suddenly feeling a twinge of nervousness. “I met you all just last night and suddenly… I’m uprooting my whole life for a competition in a country halfway across the world. I feel like I’m a little over my head for doing this.”

Drake scowled, scoffing as if he almost saw her answer coming. It was exactly the point he kept bringing up to Maxwell when he said Riley would be joining them. “I knew it. She’s not gonna last a week. It’s a waste of time bringing her if she’s not even sure of herself being here.”

“I don’t get why you’re being so grim about this,” Riley muttered, frowning as she looked Drake in the eye. “Is it really as bad as you say it is?”

Seeing the genuinely hurt look on her face, Drake took a second to breathe and rethink his sudden hostility towards her. It wasn’t anything personal. He just knew this kind of risky decision-making only ended in disaster for people. 

Mostly, he didn’t want it to negatively affect Liam. He knew Liam hesitated to talk about his feelings in front of others, but Drake could always see the truth in his eyes. No way in hell was he going to let anything hurt him. 

Shaking his head, Drake sighed. “Look, no offense, but I’ve seen girls like you come and go. It never ends well. Not for you, not for Liam, not for the royal family.”

Maxwell had only met Riley the night before but besides Liam, he was quite possibly her only advocate for her time in Cordonia. He didn’t even want to think about how Bertrand was going to react knowing he had technically plucked a random girl from New York to compete in being the next queen of their kingdom. 

In a protective manner, Maxwell frowned and retorted, “Riley’s not some crown-chaser. She and Liam have something real. I saw it last night with my own two eyes. And if they don’t believe it, you can personally bring me to the eye doctor to get my 20/20 vision rechecked. Everyone knows that’s just one of my amazing assets.”

“Drake… I’m different from those girls. Liam being a prince doesn’t matter at all to me,” Riley softly said.

The boy she learned to love that one special night was just Liam to her. She knew the title and his responsibility to Cordonia was a large part of his life, but she knew that she would have fallen in love with Liam regardless of what his title was. 

Pointing an ironic finger at her, Drake leaned back in his seat and remarked, “That’s exactly the kind of naive thinking that’s going to land you in trouble here.”

Just then, the pilot announced the plane’s descent. Sliding open the window for a brighter view of outside, Maxwell peered out. He knew it was something that Riley would find fascinating and hopefully, it would calm her slight nerves for her big journey ahead. A little boost for her spirits. 

“Hey, look! You can see Cordonia out the window! Riley, you won’t want to miss this!” Maxwell said, gesturing her over to join him by the window. 

Making her way towards Maxwell’s spot, Riley craned her head to get a better look of the scenery. She gasped in wonder, taking note of the various shades of blue and turquoise in the ocean surrounding the country. The beige and tan stone buildings with roofs of orange and sandy colours immediately caught her eye. There was an expansive wealth of healthy forests with their dark green foliage. She could even see the large white and gold glamour of the royal palace’s architecture from where the airplane hovered over. 

“That’s Cordonia? It’s like something out of a fairy tale!” Riley exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with even more enthusiasm by every new sight she saw. “The sparkling ocean, the swaying trees—”

“If you burst into song, I’m jumping out of the plane,” Drake interrupted her, although he was a little relieved to see that any trace of her nervousness faded away. 

“I’m just saying it’s beautiful,” Riley commented, her mouth still slightly agape and her eyes fixated on the sights below. 

“It is, isn’t it?” Maxwell agreed, before turning to observe her. It was exactly what she needed to get excited over her new start. “Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Riley answered with a grin, feeling like she could handle anything thrown in her way.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch2: Welcome to Cordonia (Pt. 1)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Riley travels to Cordonia, but what will await her there?

Word Count: 1.2k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

After packing her bags and leaving her New York apartment behind, Riley found herself on a plane with Maxwell and Drake. She gazed in awe at the cream-coloured leather seats, dark oak tables, and a complete minibar with beverages she could only have dreamed of consuming in her lifetime. It was clear that she had underestimated just how lavish their lives were back home. 

“Say ‘goodbye’ to New York and ‘hello’ to Cordonia!” Maxwell exclaimed, his arms stretched out wide in front of him and still as eager as ever. 

It turned out that not only was he Liam’s fairy godmother on his bachelor party night, but he had now undertaken the new position of Riley’s fairy godmother on her way to Cordonia. He felt very satisfied with the good he was spreading in their lives. Better this than to cause more mischief and mayhem, as Bertrand would put it.

Riley leaned back in her chair, hugging herself tighter with her leather jacket around her. She was dressed in a magenta blouse and black jeans, yet she was slightly shivering. She wasn’t even all that sure if it was because of the air conditioning cranked up high or because of her nervous but excited energy. 

She was surprised by her spontaneity at that moment and still couldn't process where she was. “I can’t believe this is actually happening…”

Riley knew it was a risky decision to choose. She didn’t know what the future held in Cordonia or what her relationship with Liam would unfold into. But she knew better that to never have tried for something she truly wanted was to regret it for the rest of her life.

“Believe it. We’ll be landing soon, ready or not. And if you’re not ready, those ladies at court are going to eat you alive,” Drake responded, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Metaphorically speaking, anyway. But Drake had seen things pretty close to it. In front of other members of the court, noble ladies dished out compliments and gave out diplomatic answers to every question like it was second nature. Being close to Liam showed him the other side of them which involved a lot more name-calling, sabotaging, two-faced conversations, and downright dragging others’ self-esteem across the cold ground.

It was something that rubbed him the wrong way whenever he got an occasional glimpse of it. It was just a constant reminder to him that no one at court could ever really be trusted. If Riley was gonna stick around, she might as well know the ropes as early as she could. 

Maxwell knew he was being a Debbie downer again. Or as little Maxwell liked to put his own little twist on it when he was six-years-old, a “Drakey downer.” Maxwell shushed him, putting his finger up to his lip. “Yeesh, don’t scare her, Drake. You okay, Riley?”

“Honestly… I’m terrified,” Riley admitted, suddenly feeling a twinge of nervousness. “I met you all just last night and suddenly… I’m uprooting my whole life for a competition in a country halfway across the world. I feel like I’m a little over my head for doing this.”

Drake scowled, scoffing as if he almost saw her answer coming. It was exactly the point he kept bringing up to Maxwell when he said Riley would be joining them. “I knew it. She’s not gonna last a week. It’s a waste of time bringing her if she’s not even sure of herself being here.”

“I don’t get why you’re being so grim about this,” Riley muttered, frowning as she looked Drake in the eye. “Is it really as bad as you say it is?”

Seeing the genuinely hurt look on her face, Drake took a second to breathe and rethink his sudden hostility towards her. It wasn’t anything personal. He just knew this kind of risky decision-making only ended in disaster for people. 

Mostly, he didn’t want it to negatively affect Liam. He knew Liam hesitated to talk about his feelings in front of others, but Drake could always see the truth in his eyes. No way in hell was he going to let anything hurt him. 

Shaking his head, Drake sighed. “Look, no offense, but I’ve seen girls like you come and go. It never ends well. Not for you, not for Liam, not for the royal family.”

Maxwell had only met Riley the night before but besides Liam, he was quite possibly her only advocate for her time in Cordonia. He didn’t even want to think about how Bertrand was going to react knowing he had technically plucked a random girl from New York to compete in being the next queen of their kingdom. 

In a protective manner, Maxwell frowned and retorted, “Riley’s not some crown-chaser. She and Liam have something real. I saw it last night with my own two eyes. And if they don’t believe it, you can personally bring me to the eye doctor to get my 20/20 vision rechecked. Everyone knows that’s just one of my amazing assets.”

“Drake… I’m different from those girls. Liam being a prince doesn’t matter at all to me,” Riley softly said.

The boy she learned to love that one special night was just Liam to her. She knew the title and his responsibility to Cordonia was a large part of his life, but she knew that she would have fallen in love with Liam regardless of what his title was. 

Pointing an ironic finger at her, Drake leaned back in his seat and remarked, “That’s exactly the kind of naive thinking that’s going to land you in trouble here.”

Just then, the pilot announced the plane’s descent. Sliding open the window for a brighter view of outside, Maxwell peered out. He knew it was something that Riley would find fascinating and hopefully, it would calm her slight nerves for her big journey ahead. A little boost for her spirits. 

“Hey, look! You can see Cordonia out the window! Riley, you won’t want to miss this!” Maxwell said, gesturing her over to join him by the window. 

Making her way towards Maxwell’s spot, Riley craned her head to get a better look of the scenery. She gasped in wonder, taking note of the various shades of blue and turquoise in the ocean surrounding the country. The beige and tan stone buildings with roofs of orange and sandy colours immediately caught her eye. There was an expansive wealth of healthy forests with their dark green foliage. She could even see the large white and gold glamour of the royal palace’s architecture from where the airplane hovered over. 

“That’s Cordonia? It’s like something out of a fairy tale!” Riley exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with even more enthusiasm by every new sight she saw. “The sparkling ocean, the swaying trees—”

“If you burst into song, I’m jumping out of the plane,” Drake interrupted her, although he was a little relieved to see that any trace of her nervousness faded away. 

“I’m just saying it’s beautiful,” Riley commented, her mouth still slightly agape and her eyes fixated on the sights below. 

“It is, isn’t it?” Maxwell agreed, before turning to observe her. It was exactly what she needed to get excited over her new start. “Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Riley answered with a grin, feeling like she could handle anything thrown in her way.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

No worries about falling behind, I’m just grateful to have anyone reading my thoughts and expansion into the TRR universe!

I think this might be one of my favourite comments on anything I’ve ever written on here! ❤️ I love hearing feedback about things that I write and it only motivates me to become a better writer in general

While the bulk of the dialogues came largely from TRR’s canon of the first book plus bonus scenes from the bachelor party one-shot on the now defunct Storyloom, nearly all the added description came from me! It feels very humbling to know that people love reading about TRR fics as much as I love writing about extra behind-the-scenes to our favourite story 🥰

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 4)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 1.9k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

But before Liam could move, Maxwell grabbed his arm and sputtered out, “When was the last time you talked to a normal person?”

“Considering I hang out with you two…” Liam started, before his face betrayed him with a mischievous grin. “I must say it’s been awhile.”

This earned Liam a lighthearted punch from Drake, who pretended to act wounded when he guffawed. “Hey!”

“Exactly,” Maxwell stated matter-of-factly, pointing his finger at the two of them. 

This time, Drake mulled Maxwell’s words over in his mind, turning to Liam. “I suppose Maxwell does have a point. If you accidentally blow our cover and she calls the paparazzi, we might cause an international scandal.”

“Surely it can’t be all that different from talking to one of the noble ladies at court,” Liam pointed out, shrugging his shoulders. 

“Okay, pop quiz, Prince Charming…” Maxwell began, rubbing his hand over his chin deep in thought.

Drake raised his eyebrows, shaking his head and reaching for his glass of whiskey. “This ought to be good.”

“You’re next, Dragon,” Maxwell added, a look of amusement in his eyes before turning back to Liam. “What do commoners talk about?”

“Commoners talk about…” Liam slowly replied, trying to form his own thoughts on what others who weren’t burdened with the responsibility of a kingdom and its citizens on their shoulders pondered about. What did they talk about? Liam bashfully shook his head, clearing his throat. “Uh… Drake, help.”

Drake shrugged his shoulders, giving Liam and Maxwell a blank look of confusion. “I mostly grew up with you guys. Why do you think I would know?” 

“It’s probably the denim shirt. It makes you so approachable,” Maxwell responded, reaching out to pinch fabric on Drake’s shoulder to make his point. 

With a scowl of annoyance, Drake brushed off Maxwell’s comment of his fashion choices. Drake advised Liam, “Look, we can’t waste any more time on this. Her shift’s going to end. Just go apologize for our group being so demanding, tell her you hope we didn’t cause her too much trouble, and thank her for everything. Then we’ll head out.”

“Ooh! Ask her if there are any good clubs around here!” Maxwell excitedly added, his eyes lighting up. Time to bring on the drinks and partying!

The frown on Drake’s face returned, as he chastised his friend, “Maxwell!”

“I shall attempt to work it in,” Liam answered, taking a deep breath and standing up from his seat. 

It was a little after the bar had closed when Liam walked over to the waitress, feeling his stomach twisted in knots. While he exuded confidence and prestige as the Crown Prince of Cordonia in front of crowds, this was the first time he had ever felt unsure of himself talking to a person.

Riley was finishing up stocking supplies away on shelves and cupboards when Liam tapped her on the shoulder. He felt almost as if he was a schoolboy, cheeks on the verge of turning red at the sign of a beautiful girl in front of him. 

There was a look of surprise on Riley’s face when she turned around, as her lips turned up in a smile. “Hello.”

“I think we’re about ready to head out. I just wanted to thank you… and apologize. I know we kept you late, and my friends can be… demanding,” Liam apologized, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Riley thought the apology was more endearing than it was meant to be. Something about the way he graciously apologized for his friends—although nothing that warranted a real apology—had touched her because he was courteous of how others felt. “Demanding? Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Liam chuckled, another bright smile washing away the initial anxiousness he felt walking up to this beautiful woman. “I had the feeling that you could take care of yourself.”

For a moment, the two stared at each other with equal amazement and wonder. Riley shyly looked away, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. Liam bit his bottom lip, trying to hide his smile from growing wider. This was the moment where Liam knew he should have said goodbye but for some reason, he couldn’t.

Instead, Liam cleared his throat and suggested, “If you don’t have any other plans tonight, maybe I can make it up to you by buying you a drink. We’re about to go to a club.”

That sounded pretty normal, right? Liam thought with a smile. Then his eyes widened in shock. Oh no, what did I just say?

He tried to rethink what exactly was so embarrassing about what he said. It was his bachelor party and there was nothing harmed from offering a polite invitation. Besides, it was an unlikely chance that she would accept. There’s no cause for concern. There’s no way she would accept an invitation from a complete stranger. That would be—

“Oh? Which one?” Riley curiously inquired, knowing that the busy weekend promised fully packed clubs in all of downtown. 

Shrugging his shoulders, Liam admitted, “Uh… We were hoping you might have some advice about that. We’re not from around here.”

With a thoughtful expression, Riley racked her mind full of the clubs she knew that were popular with university students and young adults in general. Then she decided against it and went on a whim with an honest answer, not sure if Liam would take a liking to it. “I recommend going to a gorgeous secret cove by the beach. Forget the club.”

Raising his eyebrows in an amused manner, Liam nodded with a smile as if to say she had single-handedly guessed exactly what he was in the mood for without knowing him very well. “You know… that actually sounds perfect. To be honest, I’m getting a little tired of the usual bachelor party antics. Lead the way.”

“Sure! Let me finish up here, and I’ll meet you out front,” Riley answered, trying not to let her excitement show. 

Riley quickly finished her work and headed to the back to change. She caught a glance of herself in the breakroom mirror. I am so ready to get out of this uniform, she excitedly thought. 

Pulling her outfit out of her bag, she put a forest green coloured off-shoulder dress that ended midway on her thighs but with a slightly longer coverage behind her. She put on a few layer necklaces and strapped in her chestnut-coloured sandals before heading out of the bar.  

Meanwhile, Liam walked outside to meet with the guys who stood on the sidewalk in front of the bar and restaurant. Tariq was down the street taking photos of his shoes in the light of a storefront display for his social media. Drake and Maxwell looked at their best friend expectantly, wanting to know how the conversation they had talked him into had gone. 

“How’d it go?” Drake questioned, shoving his hands into his pockets. 

It was obvious that it had gone better than expected. Liam had already given away his answer with a wide grin. “Oh, you know… I took your advice… I apologized… thanked her… invited her out with us.”

Drake thought he misheard his friend. Maybe he was in the mood for jokes now that they had loosened up a bit at the bar? “What was that last part?”

Just then, Riley stepped out of the bar, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. “I’m here. Are you ready to head out?”

The four men of the bachelor party turned to glance at the waitress they met earlier, with all of them staring in awe and mouths hung wide open. Riley could feel herself almost blushing, thinking about how funny it was that they were all looking at her differently only after changing out of her uniform. 

“Wow,” was all Drake could say, his expression blank this time out of shock compared to his own doing. 

Fiddling with the strap of her purse, Riley simply echoed him, “Wow?”

“I… almost didn’t recognize you,” Drake admitted, taking her in from head to toe. He couldn’t lie to himself; she was gorgeous in her new get-up. It was probably why he let that unfiltered comment slide without realizing. 

Tariq smiled, taking note of how Riley stood up straighter in confidence. “That uniform wasn’t doing you justice.”

“Yeah. The waitress is hot,” Maxwell remarked, trying to flatter Riley. 

A scowl made its way onto Liam’s face and his eyebrows knitted together. There was something in the way that Maxwell worded his compliment that didn’t sit right with him. It was almost as if it implied that she was only worth noticing because of her attractive looks. Liam couldn’t deny that, but he felt there was so much more to her than anyone realized. She was genuine and that in itself was more than enough reason to consider her something more worthy than merely “hot.”

“Her name is Riley, and I doubt she appreciates you talking about her like that,” Liam responded, shooting her an apologetic look. It made Riley smile. She had never been defended that way by a man before and she found it quite attractive. 

“Right. Sorry, Riley,” Maxwell apologized, a sheepish laugh coming from him. “I meant to say you look lovely.”

“So she’s our tour guide now?” Drake asked incredulously, waiting for his best friend to second-guess her joining them. He looked at Riley, then Liam with an unsure expression on his face. 

“Riley was kind enough to agree to show us around. She’s doing us a favour, so be nice,” Liam emphasized, giving his friend a knowing look. 

“Sweet! Let’s get this party going!” Maxwell yelled out enthusiastically, his party mindset always steering towards The more, the merrier.

Riley led the way down the street, and the four men followed. While Tariq conversed with Riley about luxury stores nearby where he could purchase new suits for his next business meetings, Maxwell and Drake slowed down and joined Liam behind them. 

Drake turned to Liam, grumbling under his breath, “Are you sure about this?”

“How can anyone be sure about anything, Drake?” Liam asked. Truth be told, he didn’t have the faintest idea why he had decided to invite Riley with them. There was simply an intuitional force driving him to do all that was spontaneous which he couldn’t do back in Cordonia. 

With a shake of his head, Drake muttered, “Seriously though, she seems cool, but we don’t know the first thing about her.”

Ever the skeptic, Liam knew Drake only had good intentions and was merely cautious on his behalf. He always appreciated Drake’s protective nature. “I just… have a good feeling. Trust me?” Liam said, a small smile on his face. 

Drake glanced at Riley, before sighing. “Okay. But that doesn’t mean I trust her. Don’t let her know who you are.”

“Of course! I’ll keep a… what-is-it-called?” Liam promised, trying to think of a term Drake had used earlier at the start of the bachelor party. “A small profile?”

Drake gave Liam one long look. The thoughts he ignored and the things he put up with for his best friend.

A wide grin made its way on Liam’s face, as he gleefully chuckled. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

“Yeah, yeah, come on,” Drake brushed it aside, trying to enjoy the new twist of events for the four guys.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

@tessa-liam

As much as I love Drake, Maxwell, and Hana, this retelling will have Liam as her main love interest! 🥰 Personally, his route seems the closest to the canon story as the most natural path because of how the story’s plot is laid out.

And also mainly because I have a soft spot for him and Riley… there are a lot of scenes I want to add to explore more of their relationship not told in the main TRR scenes 🤗

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 7)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 1.6k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

A short time later, Riley and Liam were on their own private tour boat headed to the Statue of Liberty. While Riley pointed out other nearby monuments and attractions on land, Liam hung onto every word she said. There was something in the way she spoke so passionately and excitedly about all that she saw was truly admirable. 

“Part of me didn’t think you’d pull this off,” Liam admitted with a grin, glancing back at the docks where the boat had just departed from. 

“You didn’t think I could pull it off? You just don’t know me very well,” Riley playfully smiled, shrugging her shoulders. 

“You’re right. But I’d like to fix that,” Liam commented, before his voice dropped to a hushed tone. “You’re fascinating, Riley. Why are you doing this for me?”

“I’m doing this because… you seemed like you needed it,” Riley confessed, glancing back at Liam with a shy smile. 

“That’s… so sweet of you,” Liam thanked her, a slight blush on his cheeks. This was the most thoughtful gift he had been given in a long time. “To be honest, no one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

For some reason, Riley found that hard to believe. She imagined everyone bending over backwards to do anything to please a prince. “Really? Come on, you’re a prince. I bet people do things for you all the time.”

“I do get all the perks that come with being royalty, but no one’s ever seen me as just… me,” Liam revealed, breathing a slow breath out almost like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He had never been able to put it into words before until now. “No one’s ever listened to me the way you do. No one’s ever come up with a spur-of-the-moment plan to make my dreams come true.”

Curious to learn more about this boy’s innermost thoughts and dreams, Riley gently asked, “Liam… what else do you dream about?”

Truthfully, there was very little time for Liam to think about himself when all eyes were on him every moment back home. But when he thought about her question, Liam answered, “Finding someone. Someone who can be the queen that Cordonia needs.”

It seemed like Liam wanted to say more when he opened his mouth and closed it quickly, so Riley added, “And… someone you fall in love with, right?”

“That’s never been part of the criteria that the Cordonian Council uses,” Liam wryly said, shaking his head. A future monarch was meant to have a partner who could rule their kingdom with stability. Love didn’t seem to fit in that equation. 

Suddenly, the boat slowed and the foggy mists of the harbour parted in the middle. In the distance, they saw the Statue of Liberty appear. 

“So? What do you think?” Riley asked, turning to Liam to see his reaction. 

For a moment, Liam was speechless and could only stare in wonder. The deep midnight blue sky and twinkling stars provided the most majestic background for the Statue of Liberty. She looked proud and determined, raising her torch up high in the air as the flames glowed a light yellow matching the crown on her head. 

“Magnificent. I’ve heard that art has meaning because of what it makes the viewer feel. Whether it’s ink splatters on a canvas or the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it only matters if it moves you,” Liam commented, letting out a sigh of amazement. 

“And?” Riley prodded, wanting to hear more of his thoughts seeing a monument he had only dreamed of visiting. 

“And right now, looking at this view with you, I feel like anything is possible,” Liam confessed, gazing at her with hope. “Thank you for this moment, Riley. This feeling… this means more to me than you could ever know.”

“Liam…” Riley began, her eyes never leaving his gaze. 

“I want you to know that I admire you. Your adventurous spirit. The way you follow your heart,” Liam revealed. He hadn’t known her for long and if this was the only night they had together, he wanted to at least tell her his honest opinion of her. 

Touched by Liam’s words, Riley felt a swell of pride warming her chest. But when she realized he was echoing his own sentiments of wanting to be free and follow what his heart desired, Riley quietly spoke, “You can live that way too.”

With a sad smile, Liam replied, “If only. My whole life I’ve prepared myself to do what’s best for Cordonia.”

As they leaned in closer to each other, Riley whispered, “Well, we’re not in Cordonia now…”

Almost instinctively, their hands met and laced together, holding tight to the other as if they would never find the right time to let go. There was a sense of hope and magic intertwined in their fingers. Riley looked up into his eyes as he drew close to her. Liam pulled her in close to him, cupping her cheek as she leaned in. Meeting in the middle, they felt a warm feeling rush throughout their bodies that connected them as one. They pulled away, and he leaned his forehead against hers. 

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” Liam chuckled, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear. 

Riley laughed, placing her arm on Liam’s. “I try.”

As he brushed his finger on her cheek, Liam softly spoke, “I’m glad to have met you, Riley. I’ll never forget this night…”

__________

The next morning, Riley got ready for her day. Last night with Liam was fun, even more than she could have ever asked for. But as she dressed in her work attire, she knew it was only a distant memory to remember from now on. It was time to face the real world where she would continue on with her endless days of work at the restaurant. 

Riley walked up to the doors of the bar where she worked, fishing her pockets for her name tag. She jumped in her spot when she heard a familiar voice call out from behind her. She wasn’t expecting to see Maxwell waving at her from the other side of the street. 

“Riley! Glad I caught you,” Maxwell exclaimed, rushing up towards her. “We’re heading back to Cordonia so Liam can find someone to marry and all that jazz. But before I go, I wanted to officially extend to you an invitation to join us for the festivities in Cordonia.”

“Huh?” Riley asked, confused. Maybe she was still in a dream, dazed from her excursion with Liam last night.

“You wouldn’t usually be allowed to join… but I want to sponsor you!” Maxwell revealed, 

Clearly, Maxwell needed to do some more explaining because everything he said was making her mind race. Riley echoed his words, “Sponsor me?”

“I’m from a noble house, but I don’t have any sisters, so we don’t have anyone in contention to marry the Prince. Instead, we can sponsor any girl we choose. And you’re my pick,” Maxwell explained.

Raising her eyebrows, Riley asked, “You want to sponsor me? Why me?”

“I’m not just doing it for you. I saw how Liam looked at you last night. I’ve never seen him so happy. Honestly? I don’t want him to lose that,” Maxwell explained. Liam hadn’t said anything once they had gone back to their hotel, but the love struck look in his eyes had given it all away. “We’re kinda crunched for time, though. I’ve got a plane leaving within the hour…”

This was too much information for a conversation that was only less than five minutes. Riley’s eyes widened. “Whoa. You’re moving a little fast, don’t you think?”

“No time to waste. The opening Masquerade is tonight! It’s the start of the… uh, I guess you could say, it’s the start of the competition,” Maxwell replied, shrugging his shoulders. 

Everything Maxwell had revealed only prompted her to find out more about what exactly he meant. Riley questioned, “What do you mean?”

“There’s a whole horde of gorgeous, rich, noble women vying to become Cordonia’s next queen. And it’s not just about winning the Prince’s hand. You’ve also got to prove to the council that you can rule Cordonia with him,” Maxwell answered, but he gave a reassuring smile. “But I think you’ve got what it takes. You’re witty and charming,”

Riley was still confused. A masquerade? Winning over the Cordonian council? “Uh, thanks. So… a fancy Masquerade… and what else am I getting myself into?”

“Fun stuff, I promise! You’ll get to go yachting in the Mediterranean, skiing in the Alps, and dancing in the Royal Palace…” Maxwell stated, counting on his fingers before gesturing back to the restaurant. “Or y’know, you can stay here… and go back to your waitressing gig with your crappy boss. That’s probably about as good,” Maxwell said.

For a moment, Riley thought about everything that happened last night… The way she felt an instant connection to Liam at the bar. The way he came up to talk to her at the end of her shift. Climbing up the hill with him to see the view of the beach. Warming up by the bonfire with him. Talking for hours with Liam and sharing parts of each other. Seeing the Statue of Liberty together. Ending the night with one unforgettable kiss. 

She was always looking for more adventure in her life. Why not take the opportunity she was being given? Then Riley slowly started to smile. She answered, “I’m in.”

“Yeah! Go pack your bags. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!” Maxwell whooped out, as the two headed back in the direction of her apartment ready to embark on their journey to Cordonia.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 7)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 1.6k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

A short time later, Riley and Liam were on their own private tour boat headed to the Statue of Liberty. While Riley pointed out other nearby monuments and attractions on land, Liam hung onto every word she said. There was something in the way she spoke so passionately and excitedly about all that she saw was truly admirable. 

“Part of me didn’t think you’d pull this off,” Liam admitted with a grin, glancing back at the docks where the boat had just departed from. 

“You didn’t think I could pull it off? You just don’t know me very well,” Riley playfully smiled, shrugging her shoulders. 

“You’re right. But I’d like to fix that,” Liam commented, before his voice dropped to a hushed tone. “You’re fascinating, Riley. Why are you doing this for me?”

“I’m doing this because… you seemed like you needed it,” Riley confessed, glancing back at Liam with a shy smile. 

“That’s… so sweet of you,” Liam thanked her, a slight blush on his cheeks. This was the most thoughtful gift he had been given in a long time. “To be honest, no one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

For some reason, Riley found that hard to believe. She imagined everyone bending over backwards to do anything to please a prince. “Really? Come on, you’re a prince. I bet people do things for you all the time.”

“I do get all the perks that come with being royalty, but no one’s ever seen me as just… me,” Liam revealed, breathing a slow breath out almost like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He had never been able to put it into words before until now. “No one’s ever listened to me the way you do. No one’s ever come up with a spur-of-the-moment plan to make my dreams come true.”

Curious to learn more about this boy’s innermost thoughts and dreams, Riley gently asked, “Liam… what else do you dream about?”

Truthfully, there was very little time for Liam to think about himself when all eyes were on him every moment back home. But when he thought about her question, Liam answered, “Finding someone. Someone who can be the queen that Cordonia needs.”

It seemed like Liam wanted to say more when he opened his mouth and closed it quickly, so Riley added, “And… someone you fall in love with, right?”

“That’s never been part of the criteria that the Cordonian Council uses,” Liam wryly said, shaking his head. A future monarch was meant to have a partner who could rule their kingdom with stability. Love didn’t seem to fit in that equation. 

Suddenly, the boat slowed and the foggy mists of the harbour parted in the middle. In the distance, they saw the Statue of Liberty appear. 

“So? What do you think?” Riley asked, turning to Liam to see his reaction. 

For a moment, Liam was speechless and could only stare in wonder. The deep midnight blue sky and twinkling stars provided the most majestic background for the Statue of Liberty. She looked proud and determined, raising her torch up high in the air as the flames glowed a light yellow matching the crown on her head. 

“Magnificent. I’ve heard that art has meaning because of what it makes the viewer feel. Whether it’s ink splatters on a canvas or the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it only matters if it moves you,” Liam commented, letting out a sigh of amazement. 

“And?” Riley prodded, wanting to hear more of his thoughts seeing a monument he had only dreamed of visiting. 

“And right now, looking at this view with you, I feel like anything is possible,” Liam confessed, gazing at her with hope. “Thank you for this moment, Riley. This feeling… this means more to me than you could ever know.”

“Liam…” Riley began, her eyes never leaving his gaze. 

“I want you to know that I admire you. Your adventurous spirit. The way you follow your heart,” Liam revealed. He hadn’t known her for long and if this was the only night they had together, he wanted to at least tell her his honest opinion of her. 

Touched by Liam’s words, Riley felt a swell of pride warming her chest. But when she realized he was echoing his own sentiments of wanting to be free and follow what his heart desired, Riley quietly spoke, “You can live that way too.”

With a sad smile, Liam replied, “If only. My whole life I’ve prepared myself to do what’s best for Cordonia.”

As they leaned in closer to each other, Riley whispered, “Well, we’re not in Cordonia now…”

Almost instinctively, their hands met and laced together, holding tight to the other as if they would never find the right time to let go. There was a sense of hope and magic intertwined in their fingers. Riley looked up into his eyes as he drew close to her. Liam pulled her in close to him, cupping her cheek as she leaned in. Meeting in the middle, they felt a warm feeling rush throughout their bodies that connected them as one. They pulled away, and he leaned his forehead against hers. 

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” Liam chuckled, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear. 

Riley laughed, placing her arm on Liam’s. “I try.”

As he brushed his finger on her cheek, Liam softly spoke, “I’m glad to have met you, Riley. I’ll never forget this night…”

__________

The next morning, Riley got ready for her day. Last night with Liam was fun, even more than she could have ever asked for. But as she dressed in her work attire, she knew it was only a distant memory to remember from now on. It was time to face the real world where she would continue on with her endless days of work at the restaurant. 

Riley walked up to the doors of the bar where she worked, fishing her pockets for her name tag. She jumped in her spot when she heard a familiar voice call out from behind her. She wasn’t expecting to see Maxwell waving at her from the other side of the street. 

“Riley! Glad I caught you,” Maxwell exclaimed, rushing up towards her. “We’re heading back to Cordonia so Liam can find someone to marry and all that jazz. But before I go, I wanted to officially extend to you an invitation to join us for the festivities in Cordonia.”

“Huh?” Riley asked, confused. Maybe she was still in a dream, dazed from her excursion with Liam last night.

“You wouldn’t usually be allowed to join… but I want to sponsor you!” Maxwell revealed, 

Clearly, Maxwell needed to do some more explaining because everything he said was making her mind race. Riley echoed his words, “Sponsor me?”

“I’m from a noble house, but I don’t have any sisters, so we don’t have anyone in contention to marry the Prince. Instead, we can sponsor any girl we choose. And you’re my pick,” Maxwell explained.

Raising her eyebrows, Riley asked, “You want to sponsor me? Why me?”

“I’m not just doing it for you. I saw how Liam looked at you last night. I’ve never seen him so happy. Honestly? I don’t want him to lose that,” Maxwell explained. Liam hadn’t said anything once they had gone back to their hotel, but the love struck look in his eyes had given it all away. “We’re kinda crunched for time, though. I’ve got a plane leaving within the hour…”

This was too much information for a conversation that was only less than five minutes. Riley’s eyes widened. “Whoa. You’re moving a little fast, don’t you think?”

“No time to waste. The opening Masquerade is tonight! It’s the start of the… uh, I guess you could say, it’s the start of the competition,” Maxwell replied, shrugging his shoulders. 

Everything Maxwell had revealed only prompted her to find out more about what exactly he meant. Riley questioned, “What do you mean?”

“There’s a whole horde of gorgeous, rich, noble women vying to become Cordonia’s next queen. And it’s not just about winning the Prince’s hand. You’ve also got to prove to the council that you can rule Cordonia with him,” Maxwell answered, but he gave a reassuring smile. “But I think you’ve got what it takes. You’re witty and charming,”

Riley was still confused. A masquerade? Winning over the Cordonian council? “Uh, thanks. So… a fancy Masquerade… and what else am I getting myself into?”

“Fun stuff, I promise! You’ll get to go yachting in the Mediterranean, skiing in the Alps, and dancing in the Royal Palace…” Maxwell stated, counting on his fingers before gesturing back to the restaurant. “Or y’know, you can stay here… and go back to your waitressing gig with your crappy boss. That’s probably about as good,” Maxwell said.

For a moment, Riley thought about everything that happened last night… The way she felt an instant connection to Liam at the bar. The way he came up to talk to her at the end of her shift. Climbing up the hill with him to see the view of the beach. Warming up by the bonfire with him. Talking for hours with Liam and sharing parts of each other. Seeing the Statue of Liberty together. Ending the night with one unforgettable kiss. 

She was always looking for more adventure in her life. Why not take the opportunity she was being given? Then Riley slowly started to smile. She answered, “I’m in.”

“Yeah! Go pack your bags. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!” Maxwell whooped out, as the two headed back in the direction of her apartment ready to embark on their journey to Cordonia.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 6)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 2.3k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

The two of them walked to the bonfire, settling into comfortable silence. The guys played by the water nearby while Riley and Liam sat together by the fire on a thick, sturdy log. Riley warmed her hands, while the two of them appreciated the crackling flames which glowed bright orange and yellow. She looked at Liam, his calm face showing how perfectly content he was in the present moment. 

“Tonight’s been quite the adventure,” Liam quietly admitted, chuckling. “I never thought my night out on the town would end up like this. You’re really something else, aren’t you?”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” Riley responded, blushing as she looked down at the ground. 

“Believe me, it is. Spending time with you tonight has been the most fun I’ve had this entire vacation,” Liam confessed, his hand tilting Riley’s chin upwards so their eyes met.

However, this piece of news made Riley slightly frown for Liam. “That’s sweet… But I guess that means you haven’t really been enjoying yourself very much.”

“It’s been wonderful, but there’s something missing. I really wanted to do one thing in particular while I was here…” Liam began, unsure. It was his turn to flit his eyes away. 

With a gentle touch of her hand on his arm, Riley softly inquired, “And what’s that?”

“It’s… well… you’re probably going to think it’s silly, but I’ve always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty… It wasn’t really in the guys’ plan, so we just never got around to it. And now it’s my last day here…” Liam revealed, a sullen expression taking over his face. Then almost like an instinct, he composed himself. “I don’t mean to sound so ungrateful. It was thoughtful of my friends to throw me this bachelor party. They’ve done their best, but I’m not in the mood to celebrate.”

“Wait a second, it’s your bachelor party?” Riley’s eyes looked as if they would pop out of their sockets in shock. Her heart sank in disappointment. Her attraction to Liam was one-sided after all. “Congratulations.”

“If you knew the whole story, you might not congratulate me so quickly,” Liam commented, shaking his head. 

This confused Riley, making her scrunch her eyebrows together. Wasn’t an engagement something grand and worth celebrating? “Oh?”

“I actually don’t know who I’m going to marry yet… only that I’ll have to pick my fiancee by the end of the year,” Liam explained, wincing as he remembered the importance of the start of the social season. 

Pressing for more details, Riley asked with intrigue, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

The more cautious part of him insisted that in reality, he was in a defenseless situation with no bodyguards to supervise him. He was supposed to hide his true identity from anyone who asked here.

But the part of him that longed to share his genuine self with someone as understanding as Riley won over. He couldn’t lie to her, not after all they had experienced together in a short amount of time. 

“The truth is, Riley…” Liam started, taking a deep breath before revealing, “I’m the Crown Prince of Cordonia.”

“You’re a prince?” Riley echoed his words, as she paused. It was a surprising tidbit of news, but it didn’t alter how she viewed Liam as an honest, sincere man. “This doesn’t change anything. I don’t care what your title is. You’re still the same guy I met earlier this evening… Caring, thoughtful… I’ve seen a lot of customers come and go, but I’ve never seen any guys at his own bachelor party be concerned about whether the waitress was having a good night.”

Relief flushed through Liam, as a genuinely happy grin made its way on his face. “You don’t know how rare it is to hear someone say that. You’re the first one, in fact… It seems the more I talk to you, the more I like you, Riley. It’s strange… I’ve known my whole life that I have to take up the duties of the monarchy. I’ve always wondered how that’s shaped me, who I might’ve been without the crown. You could be anything, do anything. What drives you, Riley?”

A thought-provoking question like this deserved a deep, authentic answer. Riley closed her eyes, dreaming about what it was that her heart desired. Then she opened her eyes, confessing, “What I really want is… to fall in love. Love is what gives life meaning… the connections we make… the hearts that we touch…”

Touched to hear a very honest, genuine answer, Liam smiled kindly at Riley and softly uttered, “That’s beautiful, Riley.”

Looking out at the surf, the two of them saw Maxwell, Drake, and Tariq splashing in the water. Tariq only stayed as close to the shore as possible, only a few feet away from the water. Drake and Maxwell, however, had waded into the water until it was up to their waists and decided to splash Tariq from where they stood to try to get him to join them. 

“Got ya, Tariq!” Maxwell gleefully chortled, splashing more water in Tariq’s direction. 

Tariq yelped, backing up more on the shore. “I told you, these shoes are leather!”

“Aw, lighten up, Tariq. You’ve got, what, a hundred pairs?” Drake sarcastically joked, a teasing smile on his face matching Maxwell’s.

Back at the bonfire, Riley commented, “Looks like your friends are having fun.”

“Good. I’m happy for them. They deserve to have fun,” Liam genuinely admitted, admiring how carefree they appeared. “Tomorrow, it’s back to Cordonia for the start of the social season.”

With the corners of her lips tugging up into a smile, Riley remarked, “But it’s not tomorrow yet…”

Her cheeky smile was contagious and soon, Liam found himself with an identical one. “What are you suggesting?”

“You said you wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. Let’s do it! I know a place where we can catch a boat tour. Best view in town,” Riley excitedly suggested. If Liam only had this one night of freedom, she wanted to make it a special, unforgettable one for him. 

Liam’s mouth hung open, as if he couldn’t believe the words that came out of her mouth. “Right now? But it’s way past midnight. Won’t all the tours be closed?”

“Oh… right. I forgot how late it’s gotten,” Riley responded, slightly frowning. But when she saw a glint of disappointment in Liam’s eyes, she knew she had to at least try. “In that case… you’re lucky I can call in a favour.”

“A favour? And just like that, you can get us on a tour boat after midnight to see the Statue of Liberty?” Liam laughed in disbelief, trying to make sense of how serious Riley was. He found this girl never seemed to run out of surprises and he slowly found himself gravitating to her sense of adventure. 

Riley shrugged her shoulders, but giggled. “Well, maybe a few favours, actually, but I have some friends who owe me. It won’t be easy, but I know this is important to you, so… let’s go!”

“Right now?” Liam inquired, his eyes still wide with surprise. 

Riley nodded in the direction of his friends, explaining, “It’s only getting later every minute we wait. Besides, it looks like the guys are busy enough. I bet they won’t even notice you’re gone.”

It was a big risk, Liam realized. He was about to go on a midnight excursion with a girl he had never met before to see the Statue of Liberty in a city he had only visited once or twice in his lifetime. He was continents away from home, from the supervision of his father, and from the eyes of the public. Despite his overthinking, Liam already knew the direction his heart wanted to take him. 

“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?” Liam asked, although he was positively sure that he knew the answer to that question. 

She could see the anticipation gleaming in Liam’s eyes. Riley shook her head, her smile turning into a grin. “Nope.”

“Then I happily surrender to your demands,” Liam answered, as they shared a laugh together with the glow of the embers reflecting the warmth depicted on their faces. 

__________

Somewhere along the way, the two had skipped the small-talk phase without even knowing. They discovered how easily their words and stories came out in the presence of someone who seemed equally as fascinated with their life just as the other was. 

“So you gained almost twenty pounds because you ate too much baklava in protest for it to be the only dish served at dinner?” Riley repeated, trying to suppress a laugh. 

“Leo tends to exaggerate that part whenever he tells that story. Everyone at the palace found it amusing, waiting for me to give in and have something more substantial. To be fair, I was only eight-years-old so my protest didn’t last as long as the effect I intended it to have. In the end, I ended my objection when I realized how much trouble I must have caused for the kitchen staff to find enough baklava just for me. Besides, I found it was closer to ten pounds, which I immediately shed off after two weeks,” Liam explained, shaking his head with a bashful smile. “Either way, it’s a story he never lets me live down. Now, I believe you owe me an embarrassing story in return.”

Riley paused for a moment, trying to think of a story that would rival Liam’s. Then she looked away in embarrassment and nervously giggled. “When I was six-years-old, I believed I was destined to be royalty. I told people I was the long-lost princess of a distant kingdom. I only showed up wearing princess gowns anywhere I went whether it was at school or grocery shopping. For the longest time, I was convinced that I was going to kiss a frog who would turn into a prince, and we would live happily ever after. My parents would bring it up every year on my birthday in front of everyone, asking where my prince was. I would always answer that he was out there somewhere, waiting for me to find him.”

“That doesn’t sound so terrible. It’s rather endearing, actually,” Liam commented, as a pink flush deepened her cheeks. “It’s fascinating that you still seem as starry-eyed as a child compared to how you are now as an adult.”

“And I think it’s sweet that you prioritize others’ feelings out of the goodness in your heart back then as you still do, like tonight,” Riley added, making Liam bite back a tender smile. 

A short while later, Riley and Liam were at the docks overlooking the city skyline. As the two of them rested their hands on the metal rails, Riley let out a content sigh. “And here we wait?”

“For?” Liam said, waiting to see what other surprises Riley had in store. 

“A magical boat I’ve summoned just for you,” Riley joked, cheekily putting her hands behind her back. 

Letting out a little chuckle, Liam commented, “Not a bad view.”

They could hear crickets chirping in the background and fireflies dancing in the cool breeze of the wind. The stars in the sky shined even brighter than the numerous lights on all the skyscrapers. They could see the silhouettes and shapes of all the buildings waving in time with the peaceful calm waters. 

“Now, I’m dying to know why you’re so eager to see the Statue of Liberty,” Riley started, turning to glance at Liam. 

“Can’t you guess?” Liam pushed her to continue, an inviting smile on his face. He had known Riley for less than twenty-four hours, yet he felt like she could figure out the answer already. How strangely comforting was it to know that he had met a girl who seemed to know him in the same way that he felt like he knew her from another lifetime? 

“You want to see the Statue of Liberty because… she symbolizes freedom,” Riley answered, before flitting her eyes at Liam for a sign of possible confirmation. 

“Freedom is something that I’ve always wanted,” Liam confessed with a knowing smile. Then he wistfully looked out at the deep waters in front of them. “But I’ve always known that my role would require me to give up much of what I desire.”

“You’re the prince. Can’t you do what you want, at least some of the time?” Riley pointed out. For a boy who was so selfless and caring about others, she found it a little miserable that it didn’t seem like people valued Liam’s own feelings and desires. 

“As a member of the royal family, my actions reflect on my house and all of Cordonia,” Liam explained, almost word-for-word how his parents explained it to him all those years ago. Then he frowned, looking down at the ground. “It’s something I’ve never been allowed to forget. No matter how badly I might want to.”

Liam stared at Riley for one long moment, and she turned up to stare into his eyes. With one gentle hand, Liam reached out to caress her soft cheek. In response, Riley had lightly placed her hand on Liam’s arm. They were inches apart from each other as they glanced up at the other’s eyes and down at their lips.

Just then, the two of them heard the blast of a horn. Looking out across the water, they spotted a tour boat pulling up. 

“There’s our ride!” Riley exclaimed, taking Liam by the hand as they ran together for their special boat ride.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 5)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 1.8k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

Liam and Drake caught up to the rest of the group where they stood under a lamppost on the sidewalk. Liam couldn’t help but look up at the skyscrapers. He had never seen buildings taller than the palace in Cordonia before. At the corner of the street, Riley fiddled with her phone. 

“So how far is the walk?�� Liam questioned, wanting to know where else their adventure was leading them. 

“We’re not walking there actually. It’s pretty far away. I called a car on my way out of work, so it should be here in a second,” Riley explained, before glancing back down at her phone again. 

“Wait, you can afford to have a car on retainer?” Maxwell asked, before he caught himself. He cleared his throat with a little frown. “I mean, obviously. I also have one too. Because Beaumonts always travel in style.”

Luckily, Riley didn’t notice his odd answer and instead giggled. “Um, okay. It’s a rideshare, so not really mine.”

“A what?” Maxwell blinked in confusion. 

“A ‘rideshare’? You know, like a cab? Do they not have those where you’re from?” Riley explained. Maybe these guys had never even heard of shared transportation before or maybe they had never ridden a taxi before. 

Nodding, Maxwell replied, “Oh, of course they do… but it’s not like any of us would have any reason to use them.”

“Why’s that?” Riley questioned, curious.

Maxwell’s eyes widened. Bertrand was right. He really needed to watch what he was saying sometimes. He started stammering, “Oh! Uh… because we’re… um…”

Before Drake could tackle Maxwell to shut him up, Liam cut in with an excuse, “Because… we normally use our own cars like normal folk do.”

“Yeah! I drive it!” Maxwell added, feeling grateful for Liam’s quick thinking. Then he made the decision to add on, “No wait! We all have separate cars that each of us use.”

“And know how to drive,” Liam stated, trying to keep himself from blowing their cover. 

“Smooth,” Drake mumbled, giving them both another deadpan look of his. 

Thankfully, a large, black SUV pulled up to the curb next to the group. Since Riley was distracted flagging it down and opening the door, Liam and Maxwell collectively breathed out their own sighs of relief.

“Our carriage awaits,” Riley remarked, gesturing to the car. 

“Woohoo! A car!” Maxwell excitedly cried out, the only words that came out for how much he looked forward to a rideshare in America. 

Tariq, on the other hand, was pleased to see something that felt more like home. “Luxury leather!”

Liam looked over the SUV with a nod of approval, smiling. “It does look rather spacious.”

“Wait, wait, wait! We can’t do this!” Drake interjected, as everyone in the group turned to take in his frazzled expression. “We don’t know the driver! Liam can’t take a ride from a stranger!”

“Oh, why not?” Riley froze in her spot, worried that something was wrong. 

Drake flashed her a smile that was probably meant to be reassuring but came across as mildly unhinged. He grabbed Liam’s arm, hauling him back and whispering urgently, “Bastien will murder me if you get into an unsecure vehicle with an unknown driver!”

Riley hesitantly got out of the car, concerned. “Um. Well if you guys don’t want to take a rideshare, then that leaves the bus.”

__________

After a few moments at the bus stop, a bus stopped in front of the group. The bus driver opened the bus doors and waved the party inside. “Bus 2015. Going downtown!”

“Ooh, there’s a conductor! Do we need tickets?” Maxwell asked, enthralled by the idea of taking a bus like the common folk did. 

Drake shook his head, correcting him, “You’re thinking of a train.”

“Well, you still need to pay…” Riley stated matter-of-factly with a grin. 

This made Maxwell frown, as he halfheartedly said, “Ooh, ‘paying’...”

The bus driver informed them, “You can just tap your credit card on the reader to buy a SingleRider ticket!”

“My which on the what now?” Maxwell instantly replied, suddenly looking alarmed as he went through his pockets. 

“Allow me, Maxwell,” Liam answered, flashing a friendly smile to the driver. “Five passengers please. Do you have change for a hundred?”

The driver paused in her seat, looking confused. “Dollars? No.”

“Oh,” Liam simply said. Then he gave the one-hundred dollar bill to her with his smile back on his face. “Then keep the extra!”

Riley, Liam, and his friends walked past the bus driver who looked very happy to let them board. They sat down on the blue cloth seats of the bus before the bus started up again and drove down the busy streets. 

“I’m sorry, we don’t get out much,” Drake apologized to Riley, trying to excuse his friends’ peculiar behaviour. 

“I’m starting to gather that…” Riley responded, thinking to herself before giving them all a friendly grin. “But it’s certainly been an adventure so far.”

__________

At the destination, the bus dropped them off at the nearby beach ten minutes away from the bustle and rustle of the city. Everyone piled out of the limo at the beach, and the guys headed off towards the ocean. 

“We should build a bonfire,” Drake suggested, glad to be somewhere more refreshing and less stuffy compared to the crowds they had been surrounded by all day. 

At this comment, Tariq eyed Drake scavenging for dry wood and frowned. “I’m not doing manual labour.”

“Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. What I meant was, I’ll go build a bonfire,” Drake corrected himself, resuming his search. 

Maxwell, on the other hand, was ecstatic with the new location of the bachelor party. He hollered out, “This place is awesome! Skinny dipping!”

“Keep your pants on, Maxwell,” Tariq pleaded, not wanting to see anything resembling undergarments or worse, underneath them. 

The sky had turned a deep indigo colour with streaks of pink and purple from the sun finishing its descent across the horizon. There were white clouds painted across the sky, shining in the reflection of the ocean’s dark blue and turquoise waters which lapped onto the shores of golden sand. 

“Thank you for bringing us here. I can tell the guys are enjoying themselves already,” Liam thanked Riley, as he admired his friends exploring the undiscovered gem of a beach. 

Riley thoughtfully observed Liam beside her, before commenting, “I bet you’re used to putting everyone else first.”

“And why would you say that?” Liam questioned, turning to look at her with an air of curiosity. Other than his most trusted friends, no one had ever paid attention to him outside of how he brought pride to Cordonia. 

“I can tell. I’m good at reading people…” Riley simply said. She focused her attention on Liam, wondering how he felt at the moment with the new change of scenery. “Now forget about your friends. What about you? Do you like it here?”

Smiling to himself, Liam quietly murmured, “I love it.” It was nothing but the truth. Here, he felt as if he could hear himself think more clearly. He relished the light breeze in the air and the sound of the waves lapping gently onto the shores. 

“It’s my secret spot, so I’m really trusting you,” Riley mentioned, bumping her shoulder against Liam’s. It was a spot she frequented when she wanted a moment to herself to breathe and temporarily put down the weight on her shoulders on the ground. It seemed like Liam needed that as well. 

This fact touched Liam’s heart, as he smiled at her with a sense of gratefulness. “I’ll do my best to be worthy of that trust. Though there’s just one problem… How am I supposed to buy you that drink?”

Jokingly, Riley tapped her finger on her chin as if deep in thought. Then she told Liam, “You’ll think of something. Or maybe you’ll just keep owing me.”

“Fair enough,” Liam agreed. Riley was witty and charming, he had to give her that. “So what should we do?”

“We should… climb up the cliff!” Riley excitedly suggested, pointing to the small hill near the shore. 

Liam’s mouth hung open, as he asked in surprise, “Way up there?”

“Try to keep up!” Riley teased, as she made for a running start with Liam trailing close behind her and laughing in amusement. 

Finding handholds and places for her feet, Riley quickly scaled the cliff face. Once she reached the top, Riley panted, trying to catch her breath as she grinned. “Did it.”

She turned around, extending a hand down and helping Liam up to join her. Gratefully, Liam took her hand and soon found himself facing Riley. Time seemed to stand still as the two gazed into each other’s eyes, which shined brighter directly underneath the soft light from the moon and in the other's presence. 

“Thanks,” Liam responded, a little flustered as he dusted his hands off on his pants. 

Up here with only the two of them, Liam allowed himself to truly observe Riley. He saw her eyes twinkle with excitement as she took in the simple beauty of nature around them. He noticed her wavy black hair bend in the wind, as she brushed a few strands away from her face. 

But when Riley turned her head to face him, Liam knew this wasn’t a silly little crush anymore. Her look gave him butterflies in his stomach but a warm sense of comfort coursing throughout his entire body. He didn’t even know it was possible. 

And maybe, he realized, she was the one he was missing all his life. 

Riley smiled, looking out at the breathtaking view of the shores, the ocean, and the sky around them. “What do you think?”

“Huh?” Liam said in confusion, snapping himself out of his daydream. 

“The view. Worth the climb, right?” Riley asked once more, before craning her neck back up at the stars above them. 

“Oh, definitely,” Liam agreed, the warm smile never faltering on his face. 

For a moment, they both looked out, watching the moonlight play on the waves below as the wind moved through the clouds. From where they were, they felt closer to the stars which shone brilliantly in the sky. Then Riley shivered, which Liam immediately took note of. 

“Cold?” Liam frowned, taking note of the hair on her arms stood up in goosebumps. 

“Maybe just a little…” Riley admitted, giving him a shy look as she wrapped her arms around herself.

“I see that the guys got the bonfire going. Let’s head back down and warm up…” Liam suggested, as he made his way down the hill and helped Riley down.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 4)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 1.9k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

But before Liam could move, Maxwell grabbed his arm and sputtered out, “When was the last time you talked to a normal person?”

“Considering I hang out with you two…” Liam started, before his face betrayed him with a mischievous grin. “I must say it’s been awhile.”

This earned Liam a lighthearted punch from Drake, who pretended to act wounded when he guffawed. “Hey!”

“Exactly,” Maxwell stated matter-of-factly, pointing his finger at the two of them. 

This time, Drake mulled Maxwell’s words over in his mind, turning to Liam. “I suppose Maxwell does have a point. If you accidentally blow our cover and she calls the paparazzi, we might cause an international scandal.”

“Surely it can’t be all that different from talking to one of the noble ladies at court,” Liam pointed out, shrugging his shoulders. 

“Okay, pop quiz, Prince Charming…” Maxwell began, rubbing his hand over his chin deep in thought.

Drake raised his eyebrows, shaking his head and reaching for his glass of whiskey. “This ought to be good.”

“You’re next, Dragon,” Maxwell added, a look of amusement in his eyes before turning back to Liam. “What do commoners talk about?”

“Commoners talk about…” Liam slowly replied, trying to form his own thoughts on what others who weren’t burdened with the responsibility of a kingdom and its citizens on their shoulders pondered about. What did they talk about? Liam bashfully shook his head, clearing his throat. “Uh… Drake, help.”

Drake shrugged his shoulders, giving Liam and Maxwell a blank look of confusion. “I mostly grew up with you guys. Why do you think I would know?” 

“It’s probably the denim shirt. It makes you so approachable,” Maxwell responded, reaching out to pinch fabric on Drake’s shoulder to make his point. 

With a scowl of annoyance, Drake brushed off Maxwell’s comment of his fashion choices. Drake advised Liam, “Look, we can’t waste any more time on this. Her shift’s going to end. Just go apologize for our group being so demanding, tell her you hope we didn’t cause her too much trouble, and thank her for everything. Then we’ll head out.”

“Ooh! Ask her if there are any good clubs around here!” Maxwell excitedly added, his eyes lighting up. Time to bring on the drinks and partying!

The frown on Drake’s face returned, as he chastised his friend, “Maxwell!”

“I shall attempt to work it in,” Liam answered, taking a deep breath and standing up from his seat. 

It was a little after the bar had closed when Liam walked over to the waitress, feeling his stomach twisted in knots. While he exuded confidence and prestige as the Crown Prince of Cordonia in front of crowds, this was the first time he had ever felt unsure of himself talking to a person.

Riley was finishing up stocking supplies away on shelves and cupboards when Liam tapped her on the shoulder. He felt almost as if he was a schoolboy, cheeks on the verge of turning red at the sign of a beautiful girl in front of him. 

There was a look of surprise on Riley’s face when she turned around, as her lips turned up in a smile. “Hello.”

“I think we’re about ready to head out. I just wanted to thank you… and apologize. I know we kept you late, and my friends can be… demanding,” Liam apologized, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Riley thought the apology was more endearing than it was meant to be. Something about the way he graciously apologized for his friends—although nothing that warranted a real apology—had touched her because he was courteous of how others felt. “Demanding? Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Liam chuckled, another bright smile washing away the initial anxiousness he felt walking up to this beautiful woman. “I had the feeling that you could take care of yourself.”

For a moment, the two stared at each other with equal amazement and wonder. Riley shyly looked away, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. Liam bit his bottom lip, trying to hide his smile from growing wider. This was the moment where Liam knew he should have said goodbye but for some reason, he couldn’t.

Instead, Liam cleared his throat and suggested, “If you don’t have any other plans tonight, maybe I can make it up to you by buying you a drink. We’re about to go to a club.”

That sounded pretty normal, right? Liam thought with a smile. Then his eyes widened in shock. Oh no, what did I just say?

He tried to rethink what exactly was so embarrassing about what he said. It was his bachelor party and there was nothing harmed from offering a polite invitation. Besides, it was an unlikely chance that she would accept. There’s no cause for concern. There’s no way she would accept an invitation from a complete stranger. That would be—

“Oh? Which one?” Riley curiously inquired, knowing that the busy weekend promised fully packed clubs in all of downtown. 

Shrugging his shoulders, Liam admitted, “Uh… We were hoping you might have some advice about that. We’re not from around here.”

With a thoughtful expression, Riley racked her mind full of the clubs she knew that were popular with university students and young adults in general. Then she decided against it and went on a whim with an honest answer, not sure if Liam would take a liking to it. “I recommend going to a gorgeous secret cove by the beach. Forget the club.”

Raising his eyebrows in an amused manner, Liam nodded with a smile as if to say she had single-handedly guessed exactly what he was in the mood for without knowing him very well. “You know… that actually sounds perfect. To be honest, I’m getting a little tired of the usual bachelor party antics. Lead the way.”

“Sure! Let me finish up here, and I’ll meet you out front,” Riley answered, trying not to let her excitement show. 

Riley quickly finished her work and headed to the back to change. She caught a glance of herself in the breakroom mirror. I am so ready to get out of this uniform, she excitedly thought. 

Pulling her outfit out of her bag, she put a forest green coloured off-shoulder dress that ended midway on her thighs but with a slightly longer coverage behind her. She put on a few layer necklaces and strapped in her chestnut-coloured sandals before heading out of the bar.  

Meanwhile, Liam walked outside to meet with the guys who stood on the sidewalk in front of the bar and restaurant. Tariq was down the street taking photos of his shoes in the light of a storefront display for his social media. Drake and Maxwell looked at their best friend expectantly, wanting to know how the conversation they had talked him into had gone. 

“How’d it go?” Drake questioned, shoving his hands into his pockets. 

It was obvious that it had gone better than expected. Liam had already given away his answer with a wide grin. “Oh, you know… I took your advice… I apologized… thanked her… invited her out with us.”

Drake thought he misheard his friend. Maybe he was in the mood for jokes now that they had loosened up a bit at the bar? “What was that last part?”

Just then, Riley stepped out of the bar, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. “I’m here. Are you ready to head out?”

The four men of the bachelor party turned to glance at the waitress they met earlier, with all of them staring in awe and mouths hung wide open. Riley could feel herself almost blushing, thinking about how funny it was that they were all looking at her differently only after changing out of her uniform. 

“Wow,” was all Drake could say, his expression blank this time out of shock compared to his own doing. 

Fiddling with the strap of her purse, Riley simply echoed him, “Wow?”

“I… almost didn’t recognize you,” Drake admitted, taking her in from head to toe. He couldn’t lie to himself; she was gorgeous in her new get-up. It was probably why he let that unfiltered comment slide without realizing. 

Tariq smiled, taking note of how Riley stood up straighter in confidence. “That uniform wasn’t doing you justice.”

“Yeah. The waitress is hot,” Maxwell remarked, trying to flatter Riley. 

A scowl made its way onto Liam’s face and his eyebrows knitted together. There was something in the way that Maxwell worded his compliment that didn’t sit right with him. It was almost as if it implied that she was only worth noticing because of her attractive looks. Liam couldn’t deny that, but he felt there was so much more to her than anyone realized. She was genuine and that in itself was more than enough reason to consider her something more worthy than merely “hot.”

“Her name is Riley, and I doubt she appreciates you talking about her like that,” Liam responded, shooting her an apologetic look. It made Riley smile. She had never been defended that way by a man before and she found it quite attractive. 

“Right. Sorry, Riley,” Maxwell apologized, a sheepish laugh coming from him. “I meant to say you look lovely.”

“So she’s our tour guide now?” Drake asked incredulously, waiting for his best friend to second-guess her joining them. He looked at Riley, then Liam with an unsure expression on his face. 

“Riley was kind enough to agree to show us around. She’s doing us a favour, so be nice,” Liam emphasized, giving his friend a knowing look. 

“Sweet! Let’s get this party going!” Maxwell yelled out enthusiastically, his party mindset always steering towards The more, the merrier.

Riley led the way down the street, and the four men followed. While Tariq conversed with Riley about luxury stores nearby where he could purchase new suits for his next business meetings, Maxwell and Drake slowed down and joined Liam behind them. 

Drake turned to Liam, grumbling under his breath, “Are you sure about this?”

“How can anyone be sure about anything, Drake?” Liam asked. Truth be told, he didn’t have the faintest idea why he had decided to invite Riley with them. There was simply an intuitional force driving him to do all that was spontaneous which he couldn’t do back in Cordonia. 

With a shake of his head, Drake muttered, “Seriously though, she seems cool, but we don’t know the first thing about her.”

Ever the skeptic, Liam knew Drake only had good intentions and was merely cautious on his behalf. He always appreciated Drake’s protective nature. “I just… have a good feeling. Trust me?” Liam said, a small smile on his face. 

Drake glanced at Riley, before sighing. “Okay. But that doesn’t mean I trust her. Don’t let her know who you are.”

“Of course! I’ll keep a… what-is-it-called?” Liam promised, trying to think of a term Drake had used earlier at the start of the bachelor party. “A small profile?”

Drake gave Liam one long look. The thoughts he ignored and the things he put up with for his best friend.

A wide grin made its way on Liam’s face, as he gleefully chuckled. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

“Yeah, yeah, come on,” Drake brushed it aside, trying to enjoy the new twist of events for the four guys.

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 3)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 1.8k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

On the other hand, Riley headed over to the table where the three guys sat, talking. She put on her best smile and set down a few menus in front of them. 

“Hello, gentlemen. I’ll be taking care of you this evening,” Riley politely introduced herself, pulling out her pen and notebook to write down their orders. 

Maxwell grinned at her, bouncing in his seat with excitement. “Waitress, steaks for the table.”

“How about some filet mignon, medium rare and prepared with a bearnaise sauce?” Tariq suggested, before pondering his choice for possibly something much more extravagant than he initially asked for. 

Riley laughed. Clearly, this group had never been to a casual New York dive bar before. They were a breath of fresh air, compared to the drunk locals who also came in at the same time demanding pints of beer and sloppy Joes. “The closest thing we have to filet mignon is the deluxe burger.”

Tariq frowned in disappointment, hesitating to look over the menu to see if the unfortunate news was true. “Dare I ask for your wine list?”

Back in the restaurant, Liam noticed that Maxwell, Drake, and Tariq had found a table and were talking to a waitress. Her dark brown hair hung in waves almost like a waterfall down her back. She wore a cream-coloured work shirt, black leggings, and a red work apron around her waist. 

“We’ve got an excellent vintage house red,” Riley slowly answered, having the feeling his frown would continue to turn downwards with her reply. 

Tariq gasped as if he couldn’t believe the words that came out of Riley’s mouth. “House red?”

Riley shrugged her shoulders, smiling sheepishly at the three men at the table. “It also comes in white.”

Drake laughed at Tariq’s woeful reaction, turning to Riley. “We’ll be fine with a bottle of whiskey… and four deluxe burgers.”

Glancing at the three men at the table, Riley furrowed her eyebrows in curiosity. Who was the fourth person? “Four?”

In response, he nodded behind Riley and Liam took that as his cue. There, Riley turned to see the man walking towards the bachelor party and her eyes widened. 

He had eyes as blue as the deep sea, a straight pointed nose, and a hint of a stubble on his face. He was dressed in a black blazer, white dress shirt, navy blue cravat, black dress pants, and black Oxford shoes. His copper blonde hair was neatly swept into a right-sided part and his thin lips were already working into a smile that radiated such genuinity and charm that Riley’s stomach immediately filled with butterflies. 

Whoa. He’s really cute, Riley thought. 

“Sorry I’m late,” Liam apologized with a shy laugh, making his way towards Riley. “Thank you for your patience, Miss…?”

Riley blinked before snapping herself out of her daze, mustering out a simple, “Uh, Riley.”

“My name is Liam. Charmed to make your acquaintance, Riley,” the handsome stranger flashed a dazzling white smile.

“Trust me, the pleasure’s all mine. It’s nice to meet you.” Riley shyly replied, her cheeks flushing. Liam had looked down, biting his lip with a smile as bashful as her own. “Now let me go put your order in. Be right back!”

Liam watched as Riley walked away towards the restaurant kitchen window. She tore away the paper where she had written the guys’ order in her notebook, sticking it on to a steel order wheel where other orders hung in preparation and letting kitchen staff know what their order was. 

For some reason, he couldn’t help but observe in almost a trance-like state how Riley almost seemed to float across the room. She was handing out menus to new customers one moment before balancing dishes on her arms and gracefully setting down plates in front of other tables. 

“And now that I definitely am down to get a face tattoo, that’s how we’ll end the night!” Drake exclaimed, noticing how Liam had hardly said a word during their conversation at the table. 

Maxwell excitedly grabbed his friend’s shoulders. How exciting was it that Drake had finally come around to his wonderful idea! “Yeah, Drake! That’s the spirit!”

“What do you think, Liam?” Drake questioned, arching an eyebrow in curiosity in his direction. 

With his eyes still fixated on Riley, an autopilot response slowly came out of Liam’s mouth. “Sounds great…”

“Okay, now we know he’s definitely not listening,” Drake stated, taking a swig from his whiskey. It wasn’t hard for Drake to know when something else had preoccupied Liam’s mind. Not when he had known his best friend for his entire life. 

Maxwell pouted, letting out a disappointed sigh. “You were kidding about the tattoos, weren’t you?”

“Hush, Maxwell. Something’s going on with Liam. He’s distracted,” Drake informed him, keeping him in the loop of things. 

Liam’s eyes widened, as he sat up straighter in his seat and cleared his throat. Why had his throat suddenly gone dry? “What? No. Of course not. Brotherhood. Bonding. Where were we?”

“You can tell us what’s wrong,” Drake offered to him, knowing that every once in a while Liam needed to confide in people he trusted. “Is it the rumblings in Lythikos? The water rights over the Royal Orchard? The controversy over the location of next year’s Art Festival?”

“The fact that Drake’s not going to get a tattoo with us?” Maxwell added. Maybe Liam could possibly change his mind? Drake was known for going along with things the second that Liam took an interest in them. 

There was no use lying to his two closest confidants. If anything, perhaps they had some wise words for him to help deal with these newfound emotions. Liam took in a deep breath before quickly exhaling. “It’s… our waitress, Riley.”

“I knew it!” Maxwell triumphantly cried out, looking at him with a smug look. “Now it’s a bachelor party!”

Drake leaned back in his spot, thinking to himself for a few seconds before speaking up, “Huh.”

“What?” Liam asked, wanting to know what he was thinking. 

“I’ve never seen you get this way about a girl before,” Drake commented. It was true; Liam had met so many ladies at court over the years as a prince, yet this was the only time he seemed genuinely interested in one before. Especially one who was across the ocean in America working in a New York dive bar. 

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, Liam sat up straighter in his spot. He felt a warm blush across his cheeks and he was certain that he looked absolutely flustered. “I’m not any way. I’m just worried that we’ve imposed on her good nature.”

Finally catching on to what Drake meant, Maxwell commented, “Uh-huh.”

“Sure…” Drake added, as he and Maxwell exchanged knowing looks. 

“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind being impositioned on further…” Maxwell noted, waggling his eyebrows in a playful manner. Hopefully they knew what he meant to say…

Maxwell could be clever, but this was unfortunately not one of those times. Drake sighed, running his hand down his face. “Maxwell…”

“Or you can just leave her a nice tip when we pay the check! You know a Beaumont never shorts a bill!” Maxwell briskly suggested, with a hint of nervous laughter. “Water bills, phone bills, car bills, dinner bills. We’ve never shorted any of those before! With all the money we have, of course. But even if we did, that wouldn’t be a bad thing…”

That was an uncharacteristically long answer for one simple suggestion. Drake eyed Maxwell suspiciously. “Of… course…”

Maxwell knew he had said too much. If Bertrand was there, he would reprimand him with words like, “Maxwell Percival Beaumont, why must you expose the true nature of House Beaumont’s finances in front of important company?” He could feel Bertrand’s glowering gaze at him all the way from Cordonia. Giving another uneasy chuckle, Maxwell fiddled with the collar of his shirt before taking a giant bite out of his burger. That should shut him up for now. 

Drake leaned over to Liam, whispering with a concerned expression, “Is Maxwell acting weirder than usual, or is it just me?”

“It’s hard to tell what the baseline weird level is…” Liam admitted, though he did notice that Maxwell had been quite anxious whenever money was mentioned. 

Drake stared at Liam hard for a moment. Of course Liam was still absentminded, his eyes following Riley across the room. Drake stated, “You really are distracted.”

“Perhaps…” Liam replied, only half listening to his friend. Riley giggled in front of a table of elderly women who had complimented her, making his heart warm at the sight of her smile. 

Drake noticed the look in Liam’s eyes, before he advised him, “Okay, go. Talk to her.”

“I couldn’t,” Liam declined, shaking his head. There was absolutely no chance he could talk to her without making a complete fool of himself. 

Moving on from his little comment about his house’s money, Maxwell asked, “What’s stopping you?”

“What’s stopping me?” Liam repeated, before instinctively saying, “The crown.”

“There’s going to be a revolution if you have one conversation with a waitress?” Drake responded, trying to put things into perspective for Liam. “Besides, none of that matters tonight. If only for one night, this is the moment when you get to be human.”

“Also, the tattoos…” Maxwell quietly suggested, taking a sip from his drink. 

Drake groaned, as he lightly smacked his friend on the back of his head. “Maxwell! Anyway, it’s just a conversation. What harm could there be? It’s not like one little choice here is going to change the entire fate of Cordonian history.”

Feeling enlightened by their conversation, Liam answered with relief on his face, “You’re right.”

“I usually am,” Drake plainly responded, knowing for a fact that he was right. It was very rare for him not to be. 

Liam breathed in, feeling a slight hint of nerves coursing through him. “I’ll… go talk to her.”

“Perfect. And then we’ll be on our way,” Drake responded, setting the plan in motion. 

“It’s a plan,” Liam stated, before placing a gentle hand on Drake’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend.”

Drake smiled, reciprocating with his own hand on Liam’s shoulder. “What are friends for?”

Liam nodded, grateful as always for Drake’s steady presence. Drake had been through the best and worst times that Liam had ever experienced in his life. He always knew what to say whenever he doubted himself and this time was no exception. 

Liam stood up, feeling oddly nervous for an inconsequential interaction with an almost stranger. “I’ll be back. This’ll just take a moment…”

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 2)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Word Count: 2k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

A short time later, they all found themselves outside the restaurant address Maxwell provided. He promised Liam and Drake nothing but the best for his two best friends, so they had no choice but to trust in his plan and follow him to where the night would supposedly begin.

However, it was an odd location to have a restaurant, considering it was squished in between a car dealership and a gas station. They thought it would have at least been surrounded by other well-known, swanky restaurants. 

“I know this looks like a closed auto shop, but I’m sure it’s part of the theme,” Maxwell added, as they gazed up at the building wondering why it wasn’t busy at this time of the night. 

Liam had never seen a restaurant with decor for that specific theme. New York was filled with surprises. “How intriguing.”

Drake banged on the door, but no one answered. The building’s windows provided a chance for them to peek inside and see the cars, tools, and tires inside. Something wasn’t right about this so-called “restaurant” Maxwell had bragged about on their way over. Where were the people? Where was the food?

“These rust stains are so authentic,” Liam remarked, brushing his hand over one of them. The attention to detail was very admirable for the authentic auto shop environment. 

Maxwell glanced down at his phone with confusion, tilting his head to the side. “I don’t get it. I searched for ‘Michelin,’ and this came up…”

Of course. Now it made sense. Drake looked at Maxwell, slowly saying, “You do know Michelin also makes tires.”

“Why would the same company that controls the most prestigious food ratings also make tires, Drake? That doesn’t even make sense,” Maxwell answered, a bewildered look on his face as he scratched his head. 

Drake sighed. What did a man have to do to get some whiskey at that moment? “I’m too hungry to explain this to you, and I don’t want to eat a tire for dinner.”

Looking around in their surroundings, Drake spotted a hole-in-the-wall bar on the other end of the street. There were a few patrons heading in and out but compared to the restaurants further down the road, it didn’t seem as crowded or stuffy as he would have thought for a Friday night. Plus, it was the closest one they could find, anyway. 

“That place is open and empty. Let’s go,” Drake suggested, gesturing to Liam and Maxwell to follow him down the street. 

__________

In the host area of the bar and restaurant, the men all met up with Tariq. The restaurant had a rustic feel to it with exposed brick and pine panels around them on the walls. There were numerous booths with shiny red leather seats and oak tables. 

Several French wine barrels served as decor on the walls. There was a particularly large sign listing the establishment’s special of the month was plastered near the main bar area where the beer taps and shelves of alcohol were set out on display. 

“You know, I’m not sure this is the best restaurant in New York,” Maxwell remarked. The place wasn’t bad or anything, but he expected a place with more ear-splitting tunes and drunk partying for a bachelor party. How else were they supposed to let loose? 

Taking note of the relatively smaller number of people in that building compared to others nearby, Drake simply said, “I didn’t say it was the best. I said it was open and empty.”

Liam, on the other hand, was fascinated by his surroundings and smiled to himself. While the bar had its charms that not everyone would have valued, he thought it was rather refreshing. Very different from the polished palaces and mansions he had grown used to, almost like it was a brand new place to discover. “I find it charming… Shall we—”

But whatever he was about to say was cut off by his phone ringing. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Liam peered down at his phone’s screen. At the sight of his father’s name on the caller ID, he knew it might have been an urgent matter. It didn’t feel right for him to ignore his father for his own night out. What if something had happened back home? What if he was needed?

“Go on ahead, I’ll be there in a minute,” Liam insisted to his friends, walking away briskly to take the phone call. 

Meanwhile, Riley glanced at the door as a group strolled in. Tariq was dressed in a luxurious dark grey suit and tie with a lavender dress shirt that most likely cost more than Riley’s monthly earnings. Maxwell was the definition of a smooth, polished man dressed in his long-sleeved black shirt, dark brown khakis, and brown derby shoes. On the other hand, Drake gave the impression of being both down-to-earth and dignified with his light denim shirt done halfway up, a white shirt, black pants, and mahogany dress boots. 

“Waitress, there you are. We need your best table!” Tariq called out, spotting Riley with an excited grin. 

Drake chuckled, running a hand through his chestnut-coloured hair. It was easy now to get excited about the bachelor party when there was a very humble place serving his favourite drink of all time on their menu. “Forget the table. Just bring us whiskey, and lots of it.”

Riley headed to the main counter of the bar where she swiped a few menus from the shelves underneath. When she popped her head back up, she was met face-to-face with a stricken-looking Daniel who briskly typed away on his phone. 

“Riley, please take this one. I’ve got a date tonight, and I’ll never make it out of here in time.” Daniel pleaded, glancing down at his watch as if he was tracking down the seconds to his date. 

“You really want me to take the bachelor party?” Riley asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise. Then she snuck a peek back at the group of men animatedly talking to one another as if the night had only just begun for them. She grinned. “I’m on it. The tip will be insane! I’ll have those guys eating out of my hand in no time.”

Daniel let out an enthusiastic whoop, before placing his hands on Riley’s shoulders with a sigh of relief. “You’re the best!”

“Are you still talking? I’ve seated them already. Now get over there before I dock your pay!” The manager threatened, his mouth turning down in another stern frown. 

Once past the front doors, Liam was outside by himself. The streets were fairly busy on the side of the road they were on with groups heading to different bars and restaurants. Many of them appeared to be intoxicated and caused ruckus by hollering out lyrics to songs he had never heard of. It made him smile, however, seeing how carefree they were and how they didn’t have to overthink their responsibilities to simply have fun for one night. 

Liam answered the call on his phone, pressing his phone up to his ear. “Hello?”

“Son, I’m so happy to reach you. The news coming off your American tour has been quite positive,” Liam’s father, King Constantine, greeted him. “Though, I’m surprised you’re not back at the palace. Your team said your flight was leaving this morning.”

One month earlier, Liam had been sent to America to embark on a tour on behalf of Cordonia. Now that he was the new Crown Prince, his father insisted that he have a hand in international affairs by meeting with various American ambassadors and leaders to forge more alliances between America and Cordonia. 

For weeks, he had sat through endless conferences, meetings, galas, and dinners all in the interest of improving Cordonia’s relations with other American dignitaries. The one positive shining light in it was he had Drake and Maxwell by his side the entire time, but he had never been able to put his responsibilities in the back of his mind until this night. 

Liam pursed his lips together, attempting to word his answers properly. “I know I was supposed to be back earlier, but…we took a detour to New York.”

“A detour?” Constantine asked in surprise. Liam heard the sound of a chair’s legs screeching against the floor, a sign his father had stood up from his spot in shock. 

“Nothing to be concerned about,” Liam quickly brushed off, keeping his voice as neutral as possible. 

He had gotten very good over the years learning how to mask his emotions to maintain stoicism, a skill he used frequently in times of distress and danger. His father’s worrying was harmless but if he heard of any potential danger, Liam knew he would be ordered immediately to return to Cordonia. 

Constantine, however, remained unconvinced at Liam’s response as he solemnly commented, “You’re the Crown Prince of Cordonia. Anything unexpected is a concern.”

“Not in this case. Trust me, I can handle myself,” Liam reassured his father. He knew his father was merely looking out for him, and he loved him very dearly. The last thing he would want was to worry him from halfway across the world. 

“Of course you can. But be cautious,” Constantine advised his son. There was a brief pause on the phone, then he spoke again, “I’m proud of you. I just want you to know that.”

“Thank you, Father,” Liam beamed, a grin on his face although his father couldn’t see. He wanted nothing more than to be a son worthy of his father’s praise. 

Constantine continued, “I know you won’t do anything to disappoint me or the Crown.”

Liam stiffened, almost as if the guilt ate at him for disobeying orders and going out on a whim with agreeing to this bachelor party the guys had planned. He politely answered, “Of course not, Father.”

“That’s always been your brother’s specialty, as you know,” Constantine remarked. 

At the mention of his older brother, Leo, Liam was no longer in the mood to make conversation. Constantine rarely praised Leo anymore as much as he did before he abdicated, which made Liam feel conflicted. Leo was his roguish older brother who had his back at every moment when they grew up in the palace together. 

He admired Leo and Constantine more than anyone could ever know. He knew the three of them had always been so close before and to see the bond weaken between Leo and his father knowing he couldn’t do anything to mend it was hard on him. 

Liam thought to himself once more, before saying, “Mm. Well, I must get back. Take care.”

With that, Liam hung up the phone. For a moment, he stood underneath the pale light from the streetlamps and imagined himself as one of the young college students he saw passing by had he been in an alternate universe where he wasn’t born as a prince of Cordonia. 

He pictured himself walking freely around campus to go to classes with Drake and Maxwell, not having a bodyguard on standby 24/7. Liam imagined going out to clubs with the two of them without asking for permission and being able to enjoy himself without worrying about how it affected his representation of his country. It would be much easier for him to meet more people of his age over an unsupervised drink or two compared to how many other noble ladies he’d met before at previous formal dinners. 

A dull ache filled Liam’s chest, the way it always presented itself whenever he dreamed of a distant universe where his life was not his own. In previous therapy sessions, he had learned that dwelling in the possible outcomes in the past had no place in his busy life as a Cordonian royal as it only brought him stress and disappointment. With a shake of his head, he sighed and headed back inside. 

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

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[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance Retelling Masterlist

Series Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

The Royal Romance, Book 1 🏰 - Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (part 1/part 2/part 3/part 4/part 5/part 6/part 7) - Bk1 Ch2: Welcome to Cordonia (part 1/part 2/part 3/part 4/part 5) - Bk1 Ch3: Reunited

[fadingreveries]

The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch1: Once Upon a Time (Pt. 1)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: I couldn't tag everyone because it wouldn't let me, but turn off "exclude from Tumblr search" for your account in settings and comment if you’d like to be tagged! @kingliam2019 @princess-geek (thanks for showing interest! Thought I would tag to say thank you!)

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Love awaits in the royal court of Cordonia as Riley competes for the Crown Prince! Will she accept his proposal, or will someone else win her heart?

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

Word Count: 1.6k

~ ~ ~

Those who found love with the right person, in the right place, at the right time, and the right life destined for them were rare. With how unpredictable life may be, not everyone was lucky to be destined with all of the key factors that would culminate for the biggest blessing from life itself.

One night’s chance encounter changed the lives of people who would become a close-knit group of friends in more ways than one.

Once upon a time, Riley Brooks was a young lady who resided in New York City. She was a fair-skinned, beautiful lady with dark ebony tresses and Dutch-braided bangs. With soft doe-like eyes and peach-coloured lips, Riley had met her fair share of suitors but none with whom she felt a longing connection to. 

After working as a part-time waitress to put herself through school, she had finally graduated with an undergraduate degree and a Master of Arts degree in history from the prestigious New York University. At last, she was ready to explore the world beyond lecture halls, late night study sessions, and thesis dissertations. 

“Just another glamorous New York Saturday night of hauling trash to the dumpster.” Riley sighed, heaving a stuffed black bag up where it would join the other garbage that had been piling up that night. 

At the current moment, however, she was stuck on a late-night shift at the restaurant and bar where she had worked for the last six years. With all her might, she hoisted the humongous black garbage bag which landed on the others with a soft thump. She dusted off her hands, looking warily over her shoulder with the barely lit back area of the brick building. 

There was something about the back alley of the building where she threw out the garbage every night that made her uneasy, partly due to the fact that drunk party goers tended to loiter there in the dark when veering off course from the streets and sidewalks. Luckily for her, she had her favourite coworker, Daniel, by her side to help. 

“It could be worse. There could be—” Daniel, her co-worker had started before letting out a frightened yelp and darting away from the dumpster, “Rats! Riley, help!”

Riley glanced down at the sight before her, taking note of two adult mice and two baby mice. As they scurried away, she laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of this adorable mouse family. They’re trying to get by, just like us.”

“Hey!” A booming voice yelled out, making the two co-workers turn around. “Riley, Daniel, quit slacking off over there!”

If there was one thing Riley was ready to embrace, it was the fact that she had finally given her two-week notice to her boss. After six years, she would finally be out of his clutches and no longer have to hear constant nagging from him about every minuscule detail she had made the mistake of carrying out in front of him. 

“You told us to take out the garbage,” Riley reminded him, a scowl deepening as she remembered how insufferable her boss was. 

“And now I’m telling you to wait on the bachelor party that just rolled in. Chop chop!” The manager barked out, clapping his hands for emphasis before storming back inside the bar. 

__________

Meanwhile, it was the night of Liam Rys’ bachelor party. Two of his friends plus one acquaintance had organized a clandestine night out in New York City before they returned to Cordonia for the social season.

Earlier that evening, Maxwell whooped out, “Awesome! We finally lost Bastien! I can’t believe we pulled that off, but I’m not going to question it.”

It was around eight o’clock on one Friday night when Liam, Maxwell, and Drake had escaped Liam’s bodyguard, Bastien. There was an outdoor music festival held all day at a nearby park and with all the large crowds, Maxwell and Drake had planned to help Liam escape from his royal duties for at least one night. Which meant losing his bodyguard as soon as possible and blending in with the New York nightlife. 

“Knowing Bastien, I’m sure he’s got an eye on us somehow. At least we have the illusion of independence,” Drake commented, knowing that it was better than nothing. He knew if anything that this illusion could give Liam a slight sense of what he truly longed for.

“I’ll take it! Time to whip out the… ultimate Bachelor Party Bucket List!” Maxwell excitedly cried out, as he drew a worryingly long physical paper shaped like a bucket out of his pocket. 

Blinking in confusion at the paper contraption his friend summoned out of nowhere, Drake remarked, “There were so many parts of what you said that I’d hoped weren’t literal.” 

“Okay, here’s what I got…” Maxwell cleared his throat, reading from his paper bucket list. “Give each other crazy nicknames, get tattoos, eat at the best place in New York, have a spontaneous, crazy adventure, get into a fight, and get tattoos!”

“You said ‘get tattoos’ twice,” Drake plainly stated, not impressed by Maxwell’s idea of a bachelor party. 

Maxwell rolled his eyes, giving Drake a look that indicated he should have known that the meaning was implied. “That’s how important it is!”

Drake shook his head, looking Maxwell straight in the eye. Never in a million years was he going to agree to tattoos, especially not for Maxwell’s pure amusement. “I’m not getting a tattoo.”

“Friendship tattoos!” Maxwell exclaimed, trying desperately to convince him otherwise. Tattoos were a long-lasting symbol of friendship in itself, right?

Clearly, Maxwell had different ideas on what qualified as fun things to do with your friends in an unfamiliar city. Drake scoffed, “There’s not enough whiskey in Manhattan.”

“We’ll circle back to that,” Maxwell responded, turning his back against Drake and not taking no for an answer. He elbowed Liam’s side with a cheeky smile. “Remember, it’s this guy’s night.”

Liam sheepishly chuckled. How lucky was he to have such thoughtful friends? “It is my night.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t let it go to your head,” Drake warned him, although he had a small smile. 

The prince was touched by his best friends’ warm gesture. Not everyone would go out of their way to make his one night of controlled freedom as enjoyable as possible, at least not as much as these two would. It was something he had never been allowed the luxury of, given that he was the Crown Prince of Cordonia and the heir to the throne after his older brother, Leo, had abdicated years earlier. 

With a sad frown, Liam confessed, “Actually… It really means a lot to share this moment with both of you. After this summer, everything will change. I’ll be married… I’ll be preparing to start a family and carry on the royal line. It means everything to me to have one last moment with the two of you.”

“I don’t know that you’ve ever had a carefree moment in your life, but we’ll do our best,” Drake softly murmured. He meant this more than Liam would ever know. Drake had seen first-hand the struggles his best friend had gone through growing up with the burden of being royalty, but he wasn’t about to let his last night of freedom before the social season go to waste. 

Maxwell nodded, a mischievous smile on his face. “Damn right we will. First up, nicknames.”

“What is this again?” Drake groaned in exasperation. Just when he thought they had made it past his bachelor party antics. 

Once again, Maxwell looked at Drake as if the answer was obvious. He declared, “We think of awesome nicknames to give ourselves as a group!”

Drake’s deadpan answer was quick, his blank expression unwavering. “Cool. Mine’s Drake.”

Maxwell pouted, his bottom lip protruding out in protest. “Man, come on. You could pick anything! Alpha Bravo? Dark and Stormy? Toasted Marshmallow?”

“Pass,” Drake answered, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Unacceptable! All our nicknames are gonna be in theme! Right, Liam?” Maxwell questioned him, his eyebrows scrunched together in determination. Once Maxwell had an idea, he didn’t plan on giving up. It just wasn’t the Beaumont way. 

Liam chuckled, amused at Maxwell’s enthusiasm to make his bachelor party much more lively. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, we could theme it after cards like King of Hearts or Jack of Spades… or our favourite foods… or… or… like a fairytale!” Maxwell excitedly suggested, his eyes lighting up even brighter with each suggestion. 

“Fairytale?” Liam asked, looking for clarification.

Drake guffawed, turning to Liam. “You could be Prince Charming.” It wasn’t far from the plain truth, anyway. 

“There you go! Now you’re getting into it!” Maxwell grinned, pleased that Drake was now participating with the same level of gusto as he was. 

Drake immediately frowned, not wanting to give off that impression and play into Maxwell’s fantasy of having the perfect bachelor party by his wild standards. “No… I just… ugh, Liam, pick one.”

“We should go with the theme…” Liam pondered with a smile to himself, before answering, “Fairytale. I kind of like Prince Charming.”

“Of course. I'm the Fairy Godmother because whatever you want tonight, I’ll make it happen!” Maxwell stated, his body giddy almost as if you could see the energy bouncing off of him. 

Liam gestured to Drake, trying to think of a nickname for him. “What about Drake?”

Maxwell stepped closer to Drake, who rolled his eyes, before he snapped his fingers and announced, “He’s got ‘Dragon’ written all over him.”

“I’m good with that,” Drake agreed, shrugging his shoulders. It wasn’t the worst nickname he could be given. 

“Yes! Let’s roll!” Maxwell cheered, happy with how things had worked out. One thing down, five more to go on the ultimate Bachelor Party Bucket List! “Next stop is dinner!”

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: Turn off "exclude from Tumblr search" for your account in settings and comment if you’d like to be tagged! @kingliam2019 @princess-geek

[fadingreveries]

Novel-style story for The Royal Romance?

For any Choices fans and The Royal Romance fans out there, would anyone be interested in the idea of a novel-style retelling of TRR?

One that would be told in third person and involve more commentary, comprehensive backstories, and bonus scenes including Riley (MC), Liam, Drake, Hana, and Maxwell? It would also include descriptions of diamond scenes and premium outfits for those who haven't purchased them in the app.

I'm totally dreading finishing the series because it was the first story I ever read on Choices, so I'm trying to cope by writing fan fiction... LOL.

But then I thought, would anyone be interested too?

It would go along the lines of something like this...

“Hey!” A booming voice yelled out, making the two co-workers turn around. “Riley, Daniel, quit slacking off over there!” If there was one thing Riley was ready to embrace, it was the fact that she had finally given her two-week notice to her boss. After six years, she would finally be out of his clutches and no longer have to hear constant nagging from him about every minuscule detail she had made the mistake of carrying out in front of him.  “You told us to take out the garbage,” Riley reminded him, a scowl deepening as she remembered how insufferable her boss was.  “And now I’m telling you to wait on the bachelor party that just rolled in. Chop chop!” The manager barked out, clapping his hands for emphasis before storming back inside the bar. 

Please tell me I'm not the only one who's wanted to read more from the original TRR series...

[fadingreveries]

THE HUNGER GAMES (2012) dir. Gary Ross THE HUNGER GAMES (2008) by Suzanne Collins (pg. 298) THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (2013) dir. Francis Lawrence CATCHING FIRE (2009) by Suzanne Collins (pg. 352) THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY — PART 2 (2015) dir. Francis Lawrence MOCKINGJAY (2010) by Suzanne Collins (pg. 388)

[fadingreveries]

"She could fly around District 12 all she liked, but she and her mockingjays could never harm him again."

Yeah, you thought that this was the end

[fadingreveries]

The Hunger Games trilogy, text to screen (in/spo)

[fadingreveries]

TBOSAS Ramble #6

"They were transporting the tributes in livestock cares, and not very clean ones at that. He wondered if they had been fed and let out for fresh air, or just locked in after their reapings. Accustomed as he was to viewing the tributes on-screen, he had not prepared himself properly for this encounter in the flesh, and a wave of pity and revulsion swept through him. They really were creatures out of another world. A hopeless, brutish world."

I think this quote kind of shows part of how distorted Coriolanus' view of people from the districts who are close to his age that I felt wasn't super explicit in the movie. Coriolanus hated district people. He always compared how much more superior Capitol people were to them.

But the reality is, part of it isn't really his fault.

Yes, a boy like him at his age is responsible for forming his own values and beliefs of the world. But I do think most of his prejudice no doubt came from his upbringing with being on the Capitol's side of the war. It was ingrained in him for as long as he can remember and if it's the only piece of the past that makes the most sense to you because what's on the other side must be terrifying and wrong and immoral, then wouldn't you believe in the same way?

What I like about TBOSAS is that it really delved a lot deeper into the social hierarchy comparing the citizens of the Capitol and the districts. The fact that the tension is already built into children depending on where they grow up and the culture in which they grow up in is so scary to think about when you realize that children and young adults can easily be influenced the same way.

TBOSAS is not just about a fight to the death. It is so multilayered and has so much depth to analyze, which is what I love about the THG series.