#bastien x olivia | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tessa-liam · 9 months

Text

Turning the Page

Now and Then

- Chapter 9-

Choices, The Royal Romance, AU

Series Premise: As Riley Brooks journeys through life as a single parent in New York City, an epiphany strikes as she contemplates the future for herself and her two-year-old son.

Turning the Page Series Masterlist

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!OC Riley Brooks

All characters belong to Pixelberry Studios, except William Brooks (Rys) and Matteo Magro, who belongs to this series.

Category: On-going series, contains angst/fluff/depression. Cross-over fic with Choices, Perfect Match.

Rating: M🔞Warnings - Series will contain crude language, NSFW material – not Beta’d - please excuse all errors.

Words: 2498

Now and Then – 9

Chapter Summary: Riley and William arrive in Cordonia

Title & Music Inspiration:

Now and Then, The Beatles

When You Love Someone, Gretchen Peters, Bryan Adams

Wherever You Will Go, The Calling

A/N1: In this alternate universe, after King Constantine orchestrates two individual scandals to humiliate and entrap Riley Brooks and Olivia Nevrakis in shame, Madeleine Amaranth secures her position as the Queen of Cordonia. Riley, as the King’s mistress and Olivia, in self-imposed exile. Tariq is never found.

A/N2: My submission for @choicesflashfics, Week#67, prompt #1 - “Nothing could ever change how I feel about you.”

A/N3: My submission for @choicesjanuary2024, prompt Day 25 - ‘Remembrance’ #choices monthly challenge @lilyoffandoms #choicesjanuary2024

A/N4: Damien Nazario has been assigned as William’s personal bodyguard.

In Flight, Cordonian Royal Jet, above the Mediterranean Sea

Looking out over the vast expanse of water below her, and under the clear blue skies above the Mediterranean Sea, no clouds were in sight ... not a white cloud, nor a black cloud.

Riley gazed out the large passenger window of the private jet, in solace, with her memories. Everything felt calm; almost too calm. The flight from New York to Cordonia was eight hours in duration, and even though they left early in the morning, they would not arrive at the palace until late in the evening with the change in time zones.

Trying to and not getting any rest, her thoughts returned to the events over the holidays.

...Remembering when Liam arrived at her door, in New York on Christmas Eve, a short week ago. The expression of elation on his face as she opened the door for him...

[‘Hello, my love,’ he tenderly smiled; He was standing there with an exquisite bouquet of long-stemmed red roses, as uniformed delivery drivers from the toy store waited patiently at a distance behind him, as the Royal guard performed a security check.

Liam stepped over the threshold, leaning down to draw her in for a kiss on the cheek, as she accepted his gift. ‘Oh Li, these are gorgeous; thank you so much.’

At Bastien’s prompt, the delivery people entered the brownstone with prewrapped gifts and placed them under the Christmas tree, also filling the extra space in the living room very quickly.

Chuckling, Riley watched as Liam thanked them with a generous tip, as he closed the door after them.

“Our son will be so thrilled at what Santa brought him; wait till he wakes up tomorrow.”

Liam laughed, moving quickly to put his arm around her, pulling her to his side. “Who says all these gifts are just for him? Hmmm?” Riley turned her head towards him, as Liam bent to capture her lips in a passion-fueled kiss.

“Ah yes, your gift is right here.” Liam slipped his hand inside his coat to reveal a small box, wrapped in gold with a red ribbon. “This is for you.”}

Riley breathed out, shaking her head.

...Remembering wanting him so badly that evening ...as he kissed her forehead to say ‘good night’ before turning to the guest room; Leaving her feeling so confused, once again.

...Remembering how excited LiLi was when he saw his father again Christmas morning ... and the look of pure joy in Liam’s expression as he watched his son blissfully playing with his new toys.

...Remembering the look of adoration between Liam and his son; a private and sacred bond established between the two ... a bond only meant for them.

Riley looked down at her phone and smiled fondly at the picture of William. He was proudly standing beside his gingerbread house gift for Liam, alongside Daniel and Matteo, to smile at the camera. Riley marveled at how unequivocally her son loved his father, so quickly. As if two loose puzzle pieces finally clicked into place. There was never a doubt in her mind that William needed to be wherever his father was. The connection between father and son was undeniable.

...and with those thoughts, she agreed to return to Cordonia.

And now, she found herself on the Royal jet headed back, leaving behind her New York world for the place that shattered her ‘happily ever after,’ again.

Liam, being the new, ever-doting father was pointing out to his son the shores of Cordonia through the window. She saw the look of marvel in Liam’s eyes, as he watched his son’s reaction to seeing Cordonia for the very first time. They were sitting in seats across the aisle from her as she glanced over.

Catching Riley’s eye, Liam responded with a wink and a smile.

"Welcome home, love."

Riley smiled in return, as her heart skipped a beat.

Home...

It had been a while since she had felt this way about Cordonia. Another lifetime; so much has changed, and yet remained the same.

***

Damien Nazario, the Interpol agent who was now permanently assigned to be William Rys's personal bodyguard, was reviewing the Crown prince's dossier, and his duties to the Cordonian crown, his new employer. Bastien took a seat beside the young agent to answer any questions he may have, as head of the Royal guard, at the rear of the plane's cabin.

"So, Damien, any questions for me?"

"No, sir. I believe I have a handle on the situation.”

"Good, because you are now the official head of the security detail for Prince William, the future king of Cordonia."

"Understood, sir.” Damien was well aware of the complexity of a constitutional monarchy.

"Now, there's one more thing I need to discuss with you,” Bastien eyed the young agent.

"Yes, sir?"

"Madeleine Amaranth, the former queen of Cordonia. I have forwarded her updated dossier to you."

"Yes, I've read it through.” Damien paused, waiting for more information.

"Good, because she has expressed malicious intent towards Prince William and Lady Riley, should they return to Cordonia."

"Understood. I'll ensure her movements are tracked and reported inside and out of the country, sir."

"Thank you, Damien.”

"My pleasure, sir.”

Bastien, looking pleased, leaned back in his chair, checking the time on his watch, as he felt the plane begin its descent.

Cordonia, Capital

The jet touched down smoothly on the tarmac, as the engines powered down. The cabin door opened, and the stairs were lowered.

Riley could feel the warm breeze blow past her as she stepped off the plane.

Taking a deep breath, Riley looked around. The air was different here. It was fresh and clean. She closed her eyes and let the wind brush her cheeks.

Liam followed, with William sleeping in his arms.

"Is everything alright, love?" Liam’s brows were raised in concern, noticing her hesitation.

"Yes, I'm just taking it all in." Riley, looked down, unable to keep eye contact.

"Are you sure, Riley? You've been very quiet throughout the entire flight home."

"I'm fine, Liam. It is just a lot to process. I'm just a little overwhelmed."

"All right, I understand. Let us get to the palace, so you and William can get settled and rest ... okay?"

"Yes, thank you, Liam."

Liam glanced over at Riley with concern as he personally buckled his son into the car seat. It was quite easy for him to see and feel the apprehension in her mood. She could not hide her emotions from him as well as she always thought she could.

Riley had remained noticeably quiet during the ride to the palace as well, looking out at the passing countryside. Liam could not help but wonder if she was having second thoughts about returning to Cordonia, and/or to him.

As they pulled up to the palace gates, Liam looked over at Riley, noticing a small smile on her face.

"What is it, love?" Liam spoke softly, reaching for her hand.

Riley returned his touch with a squeeze. "This place...it's beautiful."

"Thank you, that, it is. Welcome home."

“William will be so excited when he wakes up.” Riley glanced at a still sleeping William as the SUV slowed to a stop.

"I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me.... to have you both here." Liam confessed.

"You're welcome, Liam. It's the least I can do."

Liam's heart sank at her words. He hated the distance between them. He wanted to take her in his arms and make everything right, but, for right now, he knew that was not the best strategy.

He had to accept that things had changed, and their relationship was different now. He had to be patient and give Riley the space she needed.

But he also had to make her see how important she was to him. He had to show her how much he had missed her ... that he wanted a future with her and William in Cordonia.

As the SUV door opened for her, Riley felt a sense of Deja vu. This was where she had started her journey with Liam in Cordonia all those years ago. And now, here she was, back again.

"Do you want me to take you and William to the guest wing, or do you want to stay in my chambers?"

"I would like to stay with you, if that's okay."

"Of course, Riley. I would love that."

It was surreal for Riley as she walked the pristine palace halls towards the Royal Chambers. Liam carried William, who was fast asleep in his arms beside her.

The memories of the past times she was here flooded her mind and her heart ached as she pushed the painful memories aside. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

As they reached the large double doors of the entrance to the Royal east wing, the guards opened the doors for Liam and Riley to enter.

Riley stepped inside; the same chambers where she had spent so much time before. The familiar scent of Liam's cologne filled the air, sending a wave of longing for a past time through her mind.

Walking into her room ... it was exactly as she remembered it. Everything was in its place, from the elegant chandelier hanging above the bed, to the intricate paintings adorning the walls.

Riley took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of the bed. She looked around the room, taking in every detail.

She felt a pang of sadness as she remembered those past times.

After tucking William into his bed in the adjacent room, Liam came in and sat down next to her. He gently placed his hand on hers, and she looked up at him, their eyes meeting.

"What are you thinking about Riley?"

"I'm okay, Liam. I was just thinking about how much things have changed since I was here last."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held her close. "I know it's a lot, but I'm here for you, and I'll help you in any way I can," Liam whispered.

"Thank you, Liam."

He pulled away and cupped her face in his hands, staring into her eyes intently. "You're welcome, Riley. Always. Nothing could ever change how I feel about you.”

He moved in to press his lips to hers, and she melted into his kiss.

It was soft and gentle, and full of longing.

He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, breathing heavily. "God, Riley, I've missed you."

"I've missed you, Li."

He leaned down and kissed her again, deeper this time.

His tongue swept across her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth to him.

Their tongues tangled together in a dance that was familiar and yet new.

They were no longer the same people they were when they had last been together. They were both older and wiser, and the passion between them burned even brighter.

Riley pulled away and put her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating beneath her palm.

"Liam, I..."

"Shhh."

He placed a finger over her lips. "Don't say anything, Riley. Just feel."

His lips found hers again, and the world disappeared. There was nothing but the two of them, lost in each other.

She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She moaned into his mouth as he slid his hands down her back and pulled her closer.

He broke the kiss and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent.

"Riley," he breathed. "God, I want you so much."

“Liam, I ...”

Liam pulled back and looked into her eyes, “stay with me tonight.”

📌All fics & edits: @ao719 @txemrn @queenmiarys @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @alj4890 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @harleybeaumont @busywoman @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @kyra75 @tinkie1973 @emkay512 @malblk21 @kristinamae093 @charlotteg234

📌Liam x Riley, OC: @emersyn-in-cordonia @mainstreetreader @belencha77 @walkerdrakewalker @iluaaa @mysticalfangirl @queenwalton @bascmve01 @umccall71 @choicesfrog @amandablink @ownworldresident

📌Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @choicesflashfics @choicesjanuary2024

#tessa liam writes #liam rys #the royal romance #riley brooks #trr #king liam #trr fanfic #king liam rys #trr liam x OC #choices fandom #choices the royal romance #choices fic writers creations #choices flashfics #@choicesjanuary2024 #choices monthly challenge #turning the page

76 notes · View notes

kristinamae093 · 1 year

Text

Ghosted

Ghosted - Always Watching (Chapter 8)

Series Summary - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach. But everything changed when she vanished just before the end of the social season. As everyone voices their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him question everything around him.

Book/Pairing - TRR - Liam x MC (Riley Brooks)

A/N1 - This AU starts right before the beginning of the engagement tour. There is a two-month lapse between the coronation and where we pick up, but we will stray from canon. Please excuse any errors found.

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

The morning after the discovery of the maid’s body, Liam sat with Olivia, Drake, and Maxwell inside the study at the Applewood estate. Liam canceled the barn raising scheduled for the day early that morning. He told the press it was because of inclement weather, which was not necessarily a lie, although it wasn’t the entire truth.

Liam realized they could not keep the murder under wraps forever. Only a few people knew the real reason for the cancellation, including those in the safe room, Drake, Olivia, Maxwell, and the guards. He planned to keep it that way until they knew who was responsible, and then he would happily release that information to the public. He visited with Rhonda’s family briefly and told her husband they would receive a stipend from the crown, as well as college funds for her children.

They all believed that the incidents shared a relation; the only steady lead they had regarding Riley wound up dead days later, and that was no coincidence for anyone. Olivia explained to Liam in great detail her observations at the crime scene; after hearing her retelling, he too believed the area was staged, but he couldn’t make too many conclusions until Bastien presented him with the evidence.

The bloodied dress put a sense of urgency on things, but the murder really made everything more critical. Whoever was behind this was clearly not playing a game and didn’t want their plan to be uncovered. He was growing restless, not knowing the extent to which this treachery ran.

It appalled him that all of this happened right under his nose. The doubts about the narrative against Riley were always there, but this runs deeper than just wanting a particular woman to sit on the throne as Queen. Whoever orchestrated all of this was an enemy of the Crown, and Liam was determined to rid that negativity of his court.

Another part of his impatience was purely the need to see with his own eyes that Riley was safe. The guilt he felt for turning his back on her crept up on him at random times throughout the day, but he was trying to push that aside and focus on locating her at any cost. He hoped that whoever was responsible hadn’t been able to locate her either; he prayed with everything in him that after she arrived in New York, she found a safe place to retreat, far away from the turmoil that was unraveling around him.

“OH! What about this one?” Maxwell exclaimed, as he sat next to Drake and scrolled through an online catalog of outfits for an upcoming gala.

Drake rolled his eyes. “Please stop showing me this crap. S’long as you wear something, I don’t really give a shit what you show up in.”

“What are you going to wear?”

“Clothes, most likely.”

“Clothes, most likely.” Maxwell mocked under his breath.

“What was that?” Drake snapped.

“Nothing! Oh, this has a matching one! Look! Ohmygosh we could match! Twins!” Maxwell exclaimed as he once again shoved his phone in Drake’s face.

Drake grimaced at the sight before him. It was a set of bright blue ocean wave suits, complete with a bright orange squid bow tie. “God, no. Not even if you paid me.” He replied as he shook his head.

“Oh, come on, Walker. You can be a sea creature instead of one who drags his knuckles on the ground.” Olivia added with a smirk.

Drake flipped her off. “Fuck. You.”

Olivia snickered. “I’d rather take a lava bath, but thanks.”

“I’ll see if Bertrand will match me,” Maxwell said with a mischievous grin.

“Good luck with that, Beaumont,” Drake answered.

“It could go better than you think, honestly. He’s been super nice to me ever since we told him about all this stuff with Riley. I miiiiight be able to get him to do it.”

“I’m taking pictures if it happens, hands down,” Drake chuckled.

Olivia subtly rolled her eyes. “Stay away from me, regardless of what you wear. You too, Walker.”

“Way ahead of you there, Ice Duchess.”

Liam stayed quiet; although he still held rage with Bertrand and his tasteless actions, he hadn’t given his status as Duke much thought. Although it had not left his mind, for now, especially for Maxwell’s sake, he was keeping his inner thoughts to himself.

A knock interrupted them from their uplifted moment. Liam stood and granted them entrance, and Bastien appeared with a bow. “Your Majesty, I was hoping to give you an update on the homicide.”

“Of course.”

“We have no clear suspects. However, we discovered a murder weapon.”

Olivia’s ears perked up from her seat, and Liam’s eyes widened. “You did?”

“Yes, sir. We found it in the woods near the area, and I sent it off for analysis. It was a black knife with gold trimmings; I believe it to be the same one used in the earlier ceremony that night.” Bastien held out a folder to Liam, who accepted it and started looking through it immediately.

The picture at the start revealed the murder weapon, which was the same knife used to cut the apple with Madeleine, but covered in blood from the tip to the hilt. He flipped further and felt his stomach churn at the images of the crime scene. The first few photos were of the maid’s face and he could recognize her, but barely. As he proceeded, he suddenly pulled the file away from his face with a grimace as he saw the cause of death photographed.

“I apologize, sir. I should have given you a warning beforehand.”

Liam swallowed thickly and with a deep breath resumed, but a tad more prepared for the sight this time. “My God…” He gasped. “What – How – I –” He stammered before closing his mouth with a shake of his head.

“We still don’t know a lot, sir, as it’s still the early stages of investigating. But we are working around the clock to ensure we receive a solution promptly. Obviously, we’re certain the cause of death was the wound in the jugular, however, we have sent the body for analysis as well. When I spoke with the other staff, they recalled seeing her earlier in the day, but her whereabouts past three p.m. are unknown.”

“Is that everything?”

“For now, yes. I will let you know something else as soon as I know.”

Liam resumed his venture through the folder and furrowed his brows at some of the random items photographed as evidence; the things Olivia noted were present, as well as what appeared to be a cap for a tube of lipstick with a clear set of fingerprints. Of course, the suspect could have dropped the item, but it seemed conveniently placed within the other markers. The only thing that implied relevance was a bloodied shoe print. He could tell it was a woman’s, as the base was short and narrow, not to mention the pinpoint of a heel. However, it was still an odd discovery given that there appeared to be no other signs of blood anywhere else except on the body itself. “Bastien, are you questioning the legitimacy of this crime scene? At all? I see multiple red flags here just at first glance.”

“We found a few things out of the ordinary, but I have sent everything for analysis. I’m confident either way, the forensics will produce some kind of answer.”

Liam nodded, sufficed by his response. “Have you looked for Riley? Or Tariq?”

“I have attempted but have found no new leads. However, I am still continuing even with arrangements for the tour and the homicide investigation. I am doing everything in my power to provide you with some answers.”

“Thank you, Bastien. Just… keep me updated…” Bastien nodded and bowed before he exited. As he did, Liam stood staring blankly at the door behind him, his mind a jumbled mess of chaos that seemed to only get worse by the day.

Drake cautiously approached Liam. “You alright, man?”

Liam laughed sardonically. “No, Drake, I’m not… How am I just supposed to wait? How long is it going to take Bastien to find something?”

“I’m not sure, but what else can we do?”

Liam ran a hand down his face and let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know. If I did, we’d be doing it.” He snapped, but immediately caught himself and retracted. “Sorry, Drake. I’m just…”

“Na, it’s cool. I get it. I wish there was something we could do, but… it sounds like we’re just waiting until Bastien can get those reports back.”

“Goddamnit,” Liam growled as he slammed his fist down on the desk he stood beside. “I– I can’t just sit here and wait. I need to do something now."

“Perhaps we should seek outside help,” Olivia interjected.

“What do you mean?”

“I have an acquaintance who is somewhat of a… ‘private investigator’. He’s not cheap, but he’s worth every penny. He can look into Riley and Tariq’s locations, for sure, as well as whatever else you may see fit…”

“I’m not against the idea… but how would that even work?”

“We can figure out the details later, but I have somewhat of a cover already thought of. I can easily say he’s my driver, or bodyguard, or anything, really. Who’s going to question me? Honestly?”

“Much as I hate to admit it, maybe she’s onto something, Li,” Drake interjected with a sour face. “Bas clearly has his hands full, and I know you wanna get some kind of answer.”

“See? Even the cave dweller agrees!” Olivia exclaimed, earning her a middle finger from Drake. “Plus, perhaps having another set of capable eyes around will do us some good.”

“I want to agree, I really do. It’s just… the last person to get involved with this was… well, you know. Do we really want to put someone else in danger like that?”

Olivia snickered. “It’s cute of you to worry, but he’s more than capable of defending himself.”

“I don’t know…”

“Do it, Liam! DO IT! Or I will myself!” Maxwell exclaimed.

“No offense, but how are you gonna pay him?” Drake asked.

“Perhaps he would be interested in a one-on-one interpretive dance class; we could trade one service for another.”

“Hate to break it to you, but your dance class ain’t worth shit.”

Olivia rolled her eyes but approached Liam and blocked Maxwell and Drake from view, forcing him to focus on her. Of course, her top priority was ensuring Riley’s safety, but in addition, she had her own questions regarding her blackmail. She would help Liam with anything, but this was more than merely a favor; it was personal. However, Bastien’s competency was undoubtedly questionable in Olivia’s mind. She couldn’t rule him out as a suspect, but she didn’t exactly have something concrete to tie him to anything. For the time being, she needed a second set of capable hands.

“Liam, we have to act on this now. Whoever did this is actively covering their tracks. If we don’t do something, we may never figure this out.” Olivia pleaded.

Liam swallowed thickly and kept his gaze trained on the floor. “I know…”

“So, let my associate come and assist us. If he doesn’t provide answers, I’ll pay his service fees out of pocket. But of course, I’ll be working alongside him.”

“I trust you, Olivia, I do. However, I’m worried that putting another person into the equation may end up biting us in the ass in the long run.”

“I understand, but again, he’s highly trained and knows what he’s doing. All we have to do is keep his cover intact until we can locate one of them. We can’t tip the mastermind off and give them an opportunity to bury this deeper. As long as everyone in this room keeps their mouth shut about his true purpose, we should have no issues.”

Liam looked away with a heavy sigh; although he remained hesitant to add another person to this mess, the thought of getting any kind of answer outweighed any con he could think of. And, he trusted Olivia to steer him correctly. He finally said, “Okay, do it...”

“I already did, Liam. He’ll be in the country this evening, hopefully,” Olivia smirked. “Now, we need to address the next order of business…” she trailed off as she approached the window and stared out. “Whoever did this killed that maid to send us a message; I think we need to send one back.”

Liam’s jaw fell open. “What?! Why would you think that, Olivia? We–”

Olivia held her hand up to stop him. “Let me finish; we need to send a message while doing ourselves a favor. The tour leaves for Italy in four days, but that can not happen, Liam.”

Liam furrowed his brows. “You want me to cancel the tour?”

“No, I want you to rebuild it to stay in the country. Think about it; you’re technically still going along with their plans, but perhaps throwing a wrench into them. You’re showing that you’re willing to play along for now, but you won’t back down entirely like they assume you’ll do.”

Liam shook his head. “I don’t think that’s smart, Olivia. We don’t know what they’re capable of or what lengths they’ll go to.”

“I’m aware of that, but it’s not like you’re canceling everything; you’re simply rerouting, so to speak. The results will still be the same; you’ll ‘marry Madeleine.’ How you get there shouldn’t matter.”

“Isn’t that suspicious? To suddenly keep the tour within the country?”

“It would be, but I thought ahead and I think I have a decent proposal laid out.” Olivia produced a file and handed it to Liam. “How are we going to figure this out internationally? We have to stay here…”

Liam opened the folder and saw a detailed explanation for the sudden changes, as well as a list of future events to be held within the duchies. “Wow,” He responded with wide eyes. “This – this is convincing, and you’ve practically already planned everything… When did you have time for all this?”

“Last night. I wanted to come and find you right after Walker and I left the crime scene, but I assumed my plan would get a stronger reaction if I laid it out for you. All you have to do is make the calls…”

“I think it’s a solid move, Li,” Drake interjected. “You’re standing your ground but yet still giving the appearance that you’re moving forward for the ‘greater good of Cordonia.’ I’ll help you take care of anything you need help with, or try to at least. But she’s right; we won’t find any more information about what happened to Brooks globe-trotting.”

“Trust me, I don’t want to leave, but we already set these events! What am I supposed to do to–”

“You need to pull your head out of your ass, Liam.” Olivia interrupted. “You’re the King and I think this would be a lot easier if you’d start acting like it.” She saw Liam contemplating her statement and stepped closer to him with narrowed eyes. “It’s time you put your fucking Crown on and show these assholes that you won’t back down. What’s really important to you here, Liam? Do you want to figure this out, or are you going to let them use your duty to control you – again? I lay the plan out for you and when my associate joins us, we are that much more prepared if they were to strike back, but we can’t pussyfoot around anymore. You wanted to do something now, so do it.”

Liam stared at her for a long moment as her words echoed in his mind and a newfound determination took over him. His nostrils flared as his hands balled into fists at his sides. The bright blue orbs that were previously dimmed seemed to darken even further. Olivia was right; this was his country, his call, and the ball was now in his court.

Liam never said a word, but soon marched over to the desk and picked up the phone. He listened intently until someone answered the other end of the line. “Buonasera, Francesco. I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel our pre-scheduled festivities...”

Liam, Drake, and Maxwell worked the rest of the day and into the evening to cancel all the tour’s events, and were well on their way to planning what Olivia had mapped out. With the newly produced schedule, they would have much more time to focus on their investigation while still keeping the same number of events as before.

Liam’s determination in his decision stood firm, however, he couldn’t deny feeling apprehensive as well. He was sure there would be retaliation in some form and was unsure as to just how far they would go. However, the power he felt at that moment was something he wasn’t used to. Since his ascension, he’d signed treaties and other small documents, but this was the first time he was going to assert his authority in such a large capacity. Adrenaline ran through his veins and for the first time, he felt like a King.

The door to the study was suddenly flung open without warning, startling everyone inside. Madeleine marched into the room with a red face. “What the hell, Liam?!” Constantine trailed not far behind her, although his expression was one more of confusion than anger.

“Ah, I take it you’ve learned of our changes?”

“There will be no changes! We’ve had this planned for weeks! We’re not canceling within a few days–”

“I already did.”

The color drained from Madeleine’s face. “No, you didn’t.”

Liam indignantly laughed. “Oh, I sure did.”

Madeleine’s cheeks heated further, nearly purple. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Constantine put a gentle hand on Madeleine’s shoulder. “Language.” He scolded. Madeleine stepped back with her arms crossed over her chest. “Liam, I want to believe you’re not doing all of this for an irrational reason.”

“I’m simply doing what’s best for Cordonia.” Liam shrugged.

Madeleine scoffed and shook her head. "Unbelievable! Have you completely lost your mind? How is this what’s best for anyone?!”

Constantine turned and gave her a warning glance. “Although I do not agree with her delivery, I echo Countess Madeleine’s question.”

“First off, explain to me how an international tour is beneficial to Cordonia at this current moment. The only event that even made a difference was the charity banquet in Paris; the rest of it was just a bunch of bullshit. This way, we can rally our people behind us.”

“It was for publicity, Liam!” Madeleine exasperated. “We need to worry about our international standings, which are going to be shit now that you’ve–”

“Our key priority is the Cordonian people. My father pointed out to me that the citizens doubt our union already, and I can’t say I blame them. It isn’t a secret that you weren't my first choice, not even the second.” Liam had to hide his smile as he stood from his seat and crossed the room to stand in front of Madeleine.

He forced the softest tone he could when he spoke again. “I want to do everything I can to ensure this works. I know I haven’t done my part, but this is my first step in making amends. Although the international publicity would be good, we need our homeland’s support more. We can enlist in media coverage so we can still get the word out, but Madeleine, we need to stay here. Cordonia needs us right now; Cordonia needs to see its future leaders united. We have to show them we are going to lead them together.” He swallowed down the lump of bile in his throat.

Constantine observed Liam’s body language during their interaction. Never had he seen him so confident about a decision; he looked regal, authoritative, not a hint of doubt to be present. Liam made undeniable points, and he had preached to both of them to do more to keep the people's faith in their union. However, he couldn’t help but feel like Liam could have ulterior motives for the sudden change.

Constantine arched his brow. “That’s why you’re doing this?”

“Yes, father. I just want to ensure the right people are supporting us. We need strength internally. I’ve adapted all the best traditions into our stops along the tour to honor those who have come before us. And, well–” Liam sighed and looked away. “I need to show the Cordonian people I am in the right mind to lead them. They’ve questioned me since my coronation. I have to show them I can do this… I can’t do that from Italy or Paris...”

Constantine eyed Liam sternly for a long moment. Throughout his life, he could force Liam to break with only a glance. It never worked on Leo, but Liam always cracked under the pressure if he was hiding something. However, Liam showed no signs of hesitation and there were no slips in his facade. He looked regal, poised, composed, calm, and firm, with just a hint of vulnerability. Since he passed the signet ring to Liam, he was practically begging him to get his head together, and the man standing in front of him appeared to be doing just that.

Liam knew exactly what Constantine was doing as soon as his brow arched. It’s the same glare that had gotten him into trouble multiple times growing up and he expected to endure the stare as soon as he told his father the news. It took all of his restraint, but he never let his carefully placed expression stray from his features. He silently prayed Constantine couldn’t notice the sweat profusely forming in his palms, though.

After a long moment, Constantine’s face broke out into a small smile. He stepped forward and patted Liam on the shoulder. “I believe this is an excellent idea, son. You have my full support.”

Liam had to fight hard to hide his surprise. He expected more of a fight from Constantine, but perhaps Olivia provided the perfect excuse. He slightly bowed and said, “Thank you, father.”

“Let me know if you require any support in the plans.”

“Thank you, but we’re nearly finished.” Liam turned to Madeleine, who stood with her arms still crossed over her chest. “What do you say, Madeleine? You’re free to look over the arrangements if you’d like. We’ve left your bachelorette party on the same day as before, but the location is open to the entire country… Just say the word and I'll have the jet prepared...”

Madeleine rolled her eyes. “I don’t get why you want to cancel an international tour so we can go to the same old duchies–”

“Countess, your King made his wishes known and his reasons are relevant. Do you wish for the people to doubt your reign as Queen?” Constantine asked with his hands clasped behind his back. “Perhaps after the coronation fiasco this would have been the best solution, anyway.”

“Fine, we can proceed with your new plans.” Madeleine finally relented. “But there had better be media coverage, Liam.”

Liam fought the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he nodded. “You have my word.”

Constantine smiled and put a hand on both of their shoulders. “I’m proud of both of you. You’re going to change the course of Cordonian history, the two of you. Have you prepared a statement, son?”

“I’m working on it,” Liam answered. “Would you like to be present with me, Madeleine? Perhaps it would be better if we announce the changes together.”

Before Madeleine could respond, Constantine did so for her. “Yes, that’s a splendid plan. Do use urgency so we may stay on track. Be sure to extend invitations to our international counterparts who we expected to see along the tour, though.”

Liam nodded, and Constantine exited with Madeleine at his side, who trampled away with heavy footsteps. Drake audibly gagged as soon as the door closed behind them. “That was hard to watch.”

Liam shuddered. “Tell me about it. Do you think they bought it?”

“I think so,” Maxwell answered. “Your dad seemed really into the idea, honestly… and as long as it’s heavily publicized, Madeleine will be happy.”

Liam rubbed his hands together. “Right… Right… You’re right…”

“Calm down, Li. You did good.” Drake patted him on the back. “They bought it and I think you made a smart move by enlisting Maddy to make the statement with you.”

“I agree. It’s showing the mastermind that although I’m changing things up, Madeleine is on board. That’s who they’re concerned about, anyway... I’m hoping that having her support on this will work to our advantage.”

“Damn straight. Now, we gotta hurry and throw all this bullshit together so you can get your statement out there.”

A few hours later, Olivia was on her way to meet with her contact on the outskirts of the city limits. Her acquaintance was someone she worked with in the past and trusted to assist them. He helped her look into the source of her own blackmail after she hit a wall. Olivia only traced it back to three different middlemen; had it not been for her associate’s aid, she never would’ve found the others. He didn't classify himself as an investigator, spy, or hacker; simply a jack of all trades. His skill set and knowledge were insurmountable, and Olivia knew he would be a worthy asset.

Olivia pulled up to an empty parking lot aside from one other vehicle. A tall man in a black leather jacket stepped out and adjusted his shirt underneath as he did so. He took off his sunglasses and leaned against the side of the car. She exited her own SUV and made her way over, all the while looking around to ensure they were alone.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Ray. I have a job for you.” Olivia cautiously spoke as she reached him.

Ray smiled and bowed to her. “What can I do for you, Duchess?”

“I need you to look into the whereabouts of two people. The first is Tariq, second Riley Brooks.”

Ray nodded. “I was wondering if you were going to seek help there.” Olivia’s brows furrowed, causing Ray to chuckle. “Please, anyone could tell those photos were fakes or set up. It seems likely that the one who leaked the story is the same person who blackmailed you.”

“It’s not just the story, Ray. We think someone removed her from the situation. We found this–” Olivia produced the trash bag with Riley’s contaminated dress and held it out to Ray, who took it and glanced at the contents. “–inside a shed, along with all of Riley’s other belongings.”

“A shed?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

Ray gave her an unsure expression. “I don’t like that, Olivia. That instantly gave me an unsettled feeling. There’s a reason her stuff is there.”

“Trust me, I know...”

Ray once again looked inside the bag. “You haven’t sent this off anywhere? To check the DNA?”

“I intended to, but then I was called to a homicide for the only solid lead we’ve had regarding Riley.” Ray didn’t even try to hide his shock, which caused Olivia to chuckle. “Yeah, tell me about it. Obviously, we’re thinking it’s all connected, but…”

Ray noticed Olivia’s hesitant expression and inquired, “What?”

Olivia sighed and explained to Ray all the things she observed the night of the maid’s murder. When she finished, she added, “I was going to have Bastien send that dress off to forensics, but after his futile behavior, I don’t think I want him near it. He’d probably fuck around and lose it or something.” She rolled her eyes.

“I can have it sent to the lab I use if you’d like. If I tell them it’s a stat order, I should only have to wait a few days.”

Olivia nodded. “Yes, do that.”

“You got it. Now, have there been any leads into either of your missing persons?”

“All Bastien has found is that Riley landed in New York the morning after the jamboree.”

“Nothing on Tariq?” Olivia shook her head. “Hmm… I find it odd that there would be no trace of him.”

“I can confirm on my end I found the same result when I searched.”

“I’ll begin at once. And you want me to travel with you?”

“Just for now. If we’re correct once the news breaks of the tour’s new destinations, there may be retaliation. I’m not sure what that could look like at this point and I need more people around who can properly assess situations. Honestly, finding Riley’s dress and leaving it opened my eyes to the fact that we’re all emotionally involved in this. There’s no reason for it to have sat in there a second longer once we found it, but we were all so stunned nobody was thinking. I hate to admit it, but even myself included.”

“I can see why; it’s a lot of information to learn at once and not a lot of it makes any sense from where I’m standing. But I agree that having someone with a firm and clear mindset could benefit you.”

“I’m counting on it.” Olivia handed him a thick folder. “Here is your dossier to cover you throughout the tour. You are now Harold Marshowitz, my new bodyguard. Alternative forms of identifications are in there as well as any security clearance you may need.”

“Got it.”

“Great, let’s get moving.”

“Wait–” Ray stopped her. “While we’re free to speak openly, I wanted to bring forth another potential lead I see…”

Olivia arched her brow. “I’m listening…”

“Have you looked into that article? At all?”

“What do you mean?”

“It had to come from somewhere; it didn’t just appear. Not only did someone have to take those photos, but there was a story attached to it. Someone concocted that; I’m unsure if it’ll be the same person, or…”

Olivia shook her head as frustration washed over her. “No, I hadn’t even thought about that…”

“As you said, you’re all emotionally involved in this. I’m not, so I can see things a little more clearly…” Ray trailed off, then hesitantly spoke. “I’m, uh – a little surprised that the guard didn’t think of that.”

“Bastien is an idiot, but something about his demeanor lately has struck me as off… I don’t know if he’s developing dementia, or if it’s something deeper…”

“All the more reason to have me around,” Ray smirked.

“Is that something you can look into? The article?”

Ray flashed her a cocky smile and straightened his jacket. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “I’m trusting you, Ray. I need you to come through for me.”

Ray placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “All jokes aside, this is what I live for, Olivia. I love sinking my teeth into a juicy mystery. I will find them, you have my word.”

Out of sight, a figure was lurking in the shadows not far away, intently watching and listening to the meeting. As Olivia and Ray vacated the area together, the peeper clenched their jaw and repetitively punched the tree they stood beside. After removing their surveillance equipment and slamming it to the ground, they started vigorously pacing.

Everyone assumed Liam could start asking questions, but his duty and broken heart were supposed to keep him blinded. The expected time for his inquiries was long after the wedding when the job would be fully completed. However, Liam and his collective group of friends were making progress in their search and had uncovered too much in a short period; not everything, but it wouldn’t be that hard to find the rest of those answers, especially now that he brought on a competent professional to help. Considering how early it was in the tour, the possibility of him figuring it out suddenly skyrocketed.

As a result, the entire operation was in more danger than ever before; that was not an option for anyone involved. They served the deception all around; if the mission was uncovered, multiple people would go down for it, and they would face the wrath of more than the current monarch.

It wasn’t hard to guess where their investigation would lead them next, and that meant another loose end just identified itself. The unknown person brought out their phone to make a call, which was answered on the first ring. “We have a tremendous problem…”

Tags (let me know if you'd like added or removed): @choicesficwriterscreations @ao719 @txemrn @imashybish @queenrileyrose

@kingliam2019 @riseandshinelittleblossom @dcbbw @tessa-liam @twinkleallnight

@amandablink @cordonia-gothqueen @sfb123 @jared2612 @harleybeaumont

@bebepac @charlotteg234 @busywoman

@malblk21 @angelasscribbles

@bascmve01 @iaminlovewithtrr @hopelessromanticmonie

@mysticalfangirl @umccall71 @fuckitweball0000 @differenttyphoonwerewolf

@lovingchoices14 @emersyn-in-cordonia

@aussiegurl1234 @karahalloway @the0afnan @nestledonthaveone

#the royal romance #choices the royal romance #king liam #liam rys #trr #choices trr #trr au #choices #liam x riley #ghosted #trr fanfic #trr fandom #drake walker #maxwell beaumont #olivia nevrakis #choices fic writers creations

78 notes · View notes

angelasscribbles · 1 year

Text

One Night in Cordonia Chapter 9: Aftermath

Series: One Night in Cordonia, a @choicesprompts Round Robin Event.

Fandom: TRR with a little OH

Pairings: So many lol. Let's see,,, while Leo and Madeleine are about to be engaged that didn't stop Mads from being with Anton or trying to get with Liam. It also didn't stop Leo from fantasizing about Adelaide. Meanwhile we saw Bastien x Claudius, Bertrand x Drake, Olivia x Max, Olivia x Tobias, and in perhaps the only 'normal' pairing, Liam x Riley.

Word Count: 1,483

Rating: MA

Warnings: lots of mentions of sex

A/N: Thanks to @harleybeaumont for bouncing a couple of ideas with me.

This is the final "wrap-up" chapter. Thanks to the writers that participated in this little endeavor and thanks to all the readers that joined us on the journey! It's been fun and there will be more round robins in the future.

While this concludes our main series, I am hoping for the following one-shots:

Leo x Adelaide @karahalloway

Olivia x Max @alj4890

Olivia x Tobias @jerzwriter

I myself am thinking about doing a little follow-up with Liam x Riley to explore her backstory in this universe (American model, here during Leo's season, with a press secretary, how did that happen?)

Leo and Liam circulated through the crowd gathered on the front lawn of the Beaumont estate, handing out bottles of water and answering questions as vaguely as possible.

Bertrand stood in a small group asking questions and piecing together what had transpired the night before. The last thing he needed was another damn scandal. It was bad enough that Anna De Luca had published that story speculating that they were broke, all because Maxwell had freaked out over a canceled credit card.

Bertrand had canceled the card to teach his spendthrift brother a lesson, but after years of yelling at him that his extravagant habits were going to break them, Maxwell had assumed that was exactly what had happened. There had been a very public spectacle when his card had gotten declined at the Annual Cordonian Peafowl Convention.

And now his brother was being ridiculous trying to convince him that they possessed some kind of resistance to the shagging smog that had turned their party into an orgy. Preposterous!

“So, you and I and Liam and Leo are all immune!” Max told him.

“What do you mean immune?” He sneered, “That can’t be true!”

“Oh yes,” Constantine assured him, “Exposure makes you immune and that immunity gets passed down to your children! Your father and I attend this party one time…”

As Constantine prattled on, Bertrand’s eyes rose slowly, and reluctantly, to meet Drake’s expressionless gaze. He blanched and stumbled backward knocking over one of the tables full of water bottles.

“…oh, now that I think of it, that was the summer after you were born!” Constantine slapped him on the back with a chuckle, “Never mind! Guess you weren’t immune after all.”

“Oh, thank heavens!” Bertrand was so relieved that he didn’t even care he’d blurted that out loud.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me,” Constantine waved as he strode away, “I really have to be getting back to the palace now.”

“Sir, excuse me,” Maxwell chased after the king as he made his way toward his motorcade.

“Yes, son?”

“About the bash…”

“What about it?”

“Leo said you were going to ban them in the future, but since this wasn’t our fault…I mean…it was an attack and not anything that we did so-“

“Calm down boy!” Constantine guffawed, “I suppose, considering the circumstances, there’s no harm in continuing the bashes, just up the security next time!”

“Yes, sir!” Max almost passed out from relief, “We will, sir!”

Madeline sat in one of the lounge chairs that had been scattered around the lawn, examining her nails studiously as she considered the night before. Justin may have turned out to be a terrorist hell-bent on overthrowing the monarchy, but boy could he shag! Too bad Liam had refused her advances, she’d likely never get another chance at him. For one, she was about to be his sister-in-law, and for two, he seemed quite taken with that American strumpet, Riley Brooks. Dismissing that train of thought, her mind wandered back to Justin, or Anton, or whatever his name was, she wondered if the palace allowed conjugal visits.

Penelope barely remembered her actions, she had already been piss drunk before the shagging smog after all. Still, her question remained. How would they know that they weren’t lesbians unless they tried? She watched Kiara from across the lawn, wondering how to get her best friend to reconsider their relationship.

Oliva yawned as she watched the Cordonian upper crust freaking out about their night of lost inhibitions.

Amateurs.

What on earth was wrong with indulging your kinks now and then? Prudes, the lot of them.

Before the attack had happened, she had been about to sneak away with Trystan Thorne, the exiled prince of Drakovia for a little slap and tickle when Jin had appeared demanding to know what she was doing. Not him. She had trussed him up and indulged his little cock and ball torture kink one damn time and now she couldn’t get rid of him.

Thankfully he had already been escorted from the premises. As a former spy for the Auvernese government, he’d been taken in for questioning.

Her eyes lifted to take in Maxwell Beaumont giving her a surreptitious once over. She hated herself a little for the shiver of desire that ran through her. Looking away she decided that she would deal with the younger Lord Beaumont issue later. Right now she had a hot doctor waiting to be tied up.

She quietly slipped away from the group and headed for the armory.

Several days later….

“We have the men responsible in custody, sir,” the young guardsman told him, “Except one, we’re not sure how he escaped.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Bastien Lykel turned toward the window overlooking the Beaumont’s vineyards, “Call off the search. We should be able to get what we need out of the prisoners currently in the palace cells. We have their leader, Anton Severus. We don’t need the escapee.”

“Sir?”

“You’re dismissed, Lieutenant!”

The young officer scurried out of the room that Bastien had turned into a makeshift office as they continued to comb the crime scene for clues.

Not that he needed any. He knew who was behind the attack. And he knew exactly how Claudius had escaped.

The two men stood in the cool night air on the same hill that Claudius had stood on just two nights earlier as he had received his orders from Anton.

Claudius eyed him with deep suspicion, “Why are you letting me go? What’s in it for you?”

“There’s nothing in it for me, other than knowing you’ll be safe from the death sentence this way.”

“Why do you care?”

Bastien grunted, “How can you ask me that? For the sake of what we once were to each other-“

“If you gave a shit about me, you wouldn’t have left the Sons of the Earth! You wouldn’t have joined the enemy!”

“Corondia is not your enemy, and the Sons of the Earth are misguided. Anton Severus is an egomaniac and a narcissist! I joined the King’s Guard to protect my country from people exactly like him!”

“People like me?”

Bastien stepped forward, taking the other man’s head in his hands as he stared into his eyes, “You’re nothing like him! And it’s not too late for you! No one knows you’re affiliated with the Sons! You could leave! You can still live a worthwhile life!”

Claudius knocked the other man’s hands away with a shake of his head, “I don’t believe you, and I don’t forgive you for leaving. This changes nothing!”

He had come for revenge, but he was leaving with renewed angst over his lost love. He gave Bastien one last desperate look before turning and melting into the night.

Every member of the Sons of the Earth that had fallen victim to the shagging smog would be tried and convicted of attempted murder, treason, and actual murder.

On the other side of Cordonia, the Cult of Dionysus had succumbed to the experimental gas that had been meant for the nobility. Their deaths would secure the maximum sentence for the collaborators.

Before he fled into the night, Claudius had willingly given up the distributor of the gas as revenge for giving them the wrong product.

With Anton in custody, Claudius was now the leader of the Sons of the Earth.

He wasn’t sure he was ready. His devotion to the cause wasn’t as strong as it used to be. He’d been focused for so many years on exacting his vengeance on Bastien Lykel for leaving the movement, and him. But after their night of passion, he was no longer sure that he could execute any plan that might hurt his former lover.

Teagan had already abandoned the group citing gross incompetence and mediocre leadership.

When he finally made it back to headquarters, he realized he was working with a third of the original group. One-third were sitting in the palace cells and one-third had walked away along with Teagan.

He was left with green recruits and men that should have retired years ago.

With mixed feelings, he sent them all home, telling them to disperse, lay low and wait to be recalled at some nebulous point in the future.

The Sons of the Earth was officially disbanded. Taken out by a video gamer and fucking shagging smog.

Claudius poured himself a generous helping of Anton’s best whiskey and settled into the plush leather executive chair in Anton’s office. He stared out the window as he wondered what he was supposed to do with his life now.

He pulled out his phone and typed Bastien’s name into Google then zoomed in on a photo of him at the last King’s Guard’s Annual Awards Banquet, looking handsome and distinguished in a well-fitting suit.

His fingers traced over his former lover’s face on the screen as he contemplated his next move.

42 notes · View notes

lolablackwrites · 1 year

Text

MC Mixer #2--Alice x Bastien

Here is my submission for week 2 of @choicesmcmadness ‘s MC Mixer!

Hello, Trend readers! Check out this online exclusive sneak peek from our upcoming exclusive interview with the Duke and Duchess of Valtoria, Alice Ayers and Bastien Lykel.

—Ana de Luca

***

Ana: As the newest duke and duchess of Cordonia, the two of you must have to attend a lot of parties.

Alice: I find them easier to stomach if I think of them as networking events.

Bastien: Which they are—from the outside it might look like just a party, but policies and international relations can be made or broken at these events. Alice in particular has been very adept at navigating these and strengthening Cordonia’s position on the world stage.

Ana: My other sources have said the same thing.

Alice: (laughing) You both give me too much credit. It has to do with my years of bartending and learning how to talk to just about anyone.

Ana: A skill I’m sure comes in handy, especially at events with an open bar…

Alice: I can neither confirm nor deny this…although I did once impress another member at court with my knowledge of top shelf whiskey.

Ana: I’d be remiss if I interviewed you for Trend and didn’t ask you about fashion—what are you wearing to these events?

Alice: If it were up to me, I’d exclusively wear jeans and my leather jacket. (Laughs). But in the best interest of Valtoria and Bertrand’s blood pressure, I’m very fortunate to have those with better fashion sense than me at my side—especially Hana.

Ana: Just to clarify, you mean Lady Hana Lee?

Alice: Of course. She’s an incredibly talented seamstress and the only reason I look even mildly presentable most of the time is because of her.

Ana: Lady Hana is quite talented—the photos of your wedding dress were stunning. Now, Bastien, I understand you had a hand in that?

Bastien: Only in that I recruited Hana to make Alice’s dress, I can’t take any credit for the final product.

Ana: And what about the fashion you wear to these events?

Bastien: I honestly wasn’t aware anyone was looking at me, seeing as I’m always standing next to her.

Alice swats his arm and smiles before taking his hand.

Alice: You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re particular about your suits and you always have them tailored so they fit you perfectly. Your style is timeless.

Ana: I have to agree—I’ve had a lot of men asking me about your suits.

Bastien: It’s like Alice said, it’s all about the tailoring.

Ana: Let’s talk a bit more about party prep—what do you do to get ready before any big event?

Bastien: Nothing too extensive, just a shower and shave. I can get away with a lot less than Alice.

Ana: It’s true, men get off easy. Alice, what about you?

Alice: It depends on the event, really. Sometimes I hire someone to do my hair and makeup so I’m sure things turn out right, other times I do it myself. Mostly my party prep includes psyching myself up to be “on” for the event. Despite how I might come across, I’m a homebody at heart.

Ana: As we know, you two are currently expecting your first child, so arranging for child care isn’t an issue quite yet.

Alice: (Laughs as she places a hand on her stomach). Not yet, for now this little one just goes with us. But that is something we’re going to have to consider sooner rather than later.

Bastien: Because of our obligations at court, we’re already starting that process now and reviewing applicants for a nanny.

Ana: I can only imagine what that process looks like, especially as King Liam as named your child as the royal heir.

Alice: Olivia is personally vetting each applicant.

Ana: Given the queen’s reputation as a Nevrakis, I can only imagine what that entails.

Alice: She’s…thorough. And a force to be reckoned with, which is why we love her, both as a friend and as the queen of Cordonia.

Ana: It’s true, our beloved queen is a powerhouse. Let’s circle back to your party prep—how do you usually get to your events?

Bastien: Given that we attend many events while being hosted here or at the homes of the other members of court, our travel usually includes walking downstairs. But when given the opportunity, I’ll drive us.

Alice: Bas restores vintage cars and I get to be the lucky one who is chauffeured around. Who wouldn’t love that?

***

The full interview with the Duke and Duchess of Valtoria will run in our next print issue.

#mc mixer #getting ready #Alice Ayers #Bastien Lykel #The Royal Romance #Bastien Lykel x MC #Guarded Hearts #The Guarded Heir

13 notes · View notes

bobasheebaby · 4 years

Text

Royal Ruby- Cordonian Ruby chapter 5

Pairing: Olivia x Bastien; Ruby Rys

Word count: 2,113

Warnings: angst, no triggers that I can think of, mention of dead parents, grab the tissue box folks this one is rough

Summary: Ruby’s is thrown by a loop after reading a letter from her parents.

A/N: Olivia stopped dying and cutting her hair when Ruby was five.

A/N2: You might recognize a bulk of the letter from TRH but I have added a lot to make it so much worse.

A/N3: A major thanks @sirbeepsalot for all your graping, prereading, editing, and telling me when to let go. I love you boo!

Series warnings: character death, blood, surgical procedures done by non medical personnel, may go NSFW in the future. May contain gun violence, knife violence, threats, not sure how dark this will go. By requesting to be tagged you acknowledge you are at least 18 years of age.

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist.

Disclaimer: I own Ruby, Galen, and Lovett, I’m borrowing Bastien and Olivia from PB.

Ruby’s hands shook as she slid the letter opener under the flap of the sealed envelope. She’d always questioned her name, with golden blonde locks, and sapphire blue eyes she had always found her name to be more fitting of someone with crimson locks, like her Mama. Her Papa always told her he’d promised to give her the name moments before she was born.

She knew her mother died shortly after or before her birth, her Papa wasn’t clear on exactly when, he always grew quiet when asked. She heard her mother was strong and brave, and had a wonderful singing voice, but not much else.

She carefully pulled the crisp white paper from the yellowed envelope. She had been puzzled when her Papa handed it to her, all he or her Mama would say was it was time to learn the truth, her truth.

She ran her fingers over the elegantly scripted words.

Our dearest child,

We’ve been looking forward to your arrival. We’ve been counting the hours until the day you are born. We can’t wait to hold you and see your face for the very first time.

Most importantly, we’re going to be a family. Always there for each other. Ready to understand and believe. We will always be there for you if you ever find yourself in need of a guiding hand or a loving hug.

Life is full of surprises. Ups and downs. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but we’ll love and support you no matter what.

Ruling Cordonia will seem like a big job, but your mother and I have every faith in your ability. Know that you come from a long line of people who once walked a similar path. Though things may seem daunting, we know that you shall preserve just as those before you have.

Ruby paused. Cordonia. The name felt familiar, like she should know where or when she heard it. Her mind falling blank. She pursed her lips as she continued to read. She could work on placing how she knew the country later.

You have so much strength and courage and you aren’t even here yet, but I know this because all I have to do is look at your mother to know you will take after her. You will be strong and courageous just as she’s always been and have the kind and loving heart we both contain. You will be the best of both of us.

Please remember times aren’t always easy, but you can do anything with the right people by your side. We have both learned that from each other and the love of our friends.

In spite of the hardships you may face, know that Cordonia will appreciate all the creativity and heart you bring to each challenge. Because we know you will be ready to take on anything. There are lots of twists and turns in life, and you need to keep your head on a swivel and your mama on speed dial.

We know that we can teach the lessons you’ll need to weather any storm.

We’re already so proud of the wonderful things we know you’ll do, of the person we know you’ll be. And we couldn’t be more proud to call you ours or love you more.

Love,

With all our hearts

Mom & Dad

Ruby watched as fresh tears dropped on the page, mingling with those dried tears of her parents. Her parents. She always knew her Mama and Papa weren’t blood, but they, along with her siblings were all she ever had.

She stared down at her father’s elegant script, watching as the fresh tears blur the once-crisp black letters. She felt as though she understood who they were even in a few lines.

Her eyes retraced the words, falling on two that made her heart race; Ruling Cordonia.

Cordonia. She couldn’t get the word out of her head. She knew she heard or saw it somewhere before. Maybe at school. She laid the letter on the bed and picked up her phone quickly typing Cordonia into the search bar.

I know this place. She could feel it in her bones that she had a connection to this place she was apparently set to rule before today.

She clicked the top link and slowly scrolled down the page as she scanned the words. She let out a gasp and her heart clenched when she reached the picture of the last king.

Her lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes. She did know this country, she read about it when she was ten, she could remember the strange connection she had felt as she had read about the royal family before.

She had found it odd that she shed tears for a family she never knew. She scrolled down further stopping at a picture of the king and his queen on their wedding day, beneath was the only family portrait. The queen wore a peach and gold gown and she was visibly pregnant. King Liam and Queen Carolyn one week before the accident, heir unborn and unnamed.

Tears silently streaked down her cheeks. These were her parents. God, I look so much like both of them.

Something isn’t right. She survived, yet the page clearly stated that none of the royal family had survived. Why do they think I’m dead?

She glanced at her letter, the one her parents had given her. They had told her this would reveal her truth, they knew. She wanted to be furious that they had lied to her all her life, but there had to be a reason. Her mama always told her that the reason may not always be clear but it’s always there.

She picked up her letter standing, she needed answers and she wouldn’t get them from some website. She needed to speak to her parents.

- - -

“Mama, Papa, can we talk … ” Ruby held up the unfolded letter, “about this?”

Olivia nodded, shooing away Ruby’s younger brothers with a look. “Come sit, and tell us what questions you have.” She patted the seat next to her.

Ruby slowly walked towards the only mother she ever knew, a great ache in her chest. Her stomach twisted in knots, all she’d ever known was about to change, didn't it already? Since learning who her parents were she had felt like a hundred-pound weight had been placed upon her head.

Was she really ready to have the only life she ever knew crash down around her like a simple house of cards? Was she ready for her life to change completely?

She swallowed as she sat beside Olivia on the couch laying the letter on her lap. Her sapphire eyes glanced down at the letter, though she nearly had it memorized. “Umm … ” suddenly her mouth went dry. She looked up, her eyes locking on the familiar steely grey of her Papa. “Is — is this real?” She stumbled over the words, she began to question if she was fit for the title she was born to. I��m not cut out to be a princess, I can’t even speak to the parents who raised me. Wait, my parents died … am I already queen? “Am — am I really a — a princess?”

“Ruby’s a princess?!” Lovett gasped, his head peeking from behind the door.

Olivia’s eyes narrowed as she gave her youngest child a warning glare. “Lovett, you and Galen go and wait in your rooms, we will explain everything later.”

“Fine,” Lovett replied, shoulders slumping as he stomped off, he never got to have any fun.

Olivia turned back to her daughter, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You are a queen.”

A million questions ran through her head in a millisecond. What really happened to her parents? Why wasn’t she raised in a palace? Why did everyone think she was dead? Only one question slipped past her lips. “How?”

Bastien and Olivia locked eyes, a silent conversation shared between them before Olivia told her how she’d been best friends with Ruby’s father, watched him fall in love with her mother and both of them fight any obstacle in their way, together. Ruby sat silent, occasionally nodding as she processed every word.

She listened as they recounted that a king and queen of a neighboring nation wanted to force her parents into marrying her off to one of their children before she was even born. How her parents refused, stating their child would marry for love, not alliance. They tried to come to some sort of agreement without a betrothal contract, but the king persisted. He was foolish with his own country’s funds and wanted Cordonia’s, no matter the cost.

Her breath caught in her throat as her Papa explained that he was her father’s head guard, that they had been on their way to the hospital when they were run off the road. Tears silently slipped down her cheeks as he told her that her father died trying to protect both her and her mother upon impact. He spared her the details but told her that her mother only lived long enough to tell him to name her baby Ruby and to protect her.

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she truly felt the painful loss of her parents for the first time in all her life. She lost out on knowing her parents because a king couldn’t stand being told no. The part she read about him being a dictator finally made sense. He killed them, took them away from me.

She wiped her cheeks and took a deep breath. She needed to hear more, exactly what had happened to her family.

After she urged him to continue he told her how he had cut her from her mother. He told her how every thought had been: be alive. He told her the relief he felt as she took her first breath. She sniffled as she was told she was wrapped in her father’s jacket, which they later found her letter in.

She looked up, surprised to see the man who was always calm in any situation was silently crying himself as he spoke. “I’m sorry Papa, I didn’t mean to —”

“You deserve to know Ruby,” Olivia said. “Let me take over.” She took a deep breath. “Papa walked to where I lived, he was a guard, I was a duchess. Where I grew up, we had more snow than sun.”

“That’s why you always loved the snow.”

Olivia nodded with a soft smile that quickly drifted away. “There was a storm that night, and it was a wonder you and Papa didn’t freeze to death. Papa arrived covered in blood, clutching you to his chest in the middle of the night. He nearly scared my majordomo half to death.

When I saw Papa holding you to his chest I instantly knew. He asked me for help getting you out of the country, we both knew you would be safer elsewhere. I quickly decided it would be safer for you if I went with you both. We’ve used more aliases than I could possibly recount, we moved a lot when you were little. We always posed as husband and wife with a beautiful daughter.” She looked down at her hands. “At some point, I’m not sure when the lines blurred, we got closer, and by your fifth birthday I was pregnant with Galen.”

“So that’s why we always changed names when we moved.”

“Yes,” Olivia patted her hand, “to keep you safe, to keep us all safe.”

“What does it all mean?”

“Well, you are the rightful queen, there might be some pushback but with the head guard and a duchess backing your claim, it would be harder for them to contest.” Olivia pushed back a wave of golden hair. “Besides you look so much like both your mother and father, no one could deny that you are theirs, a Rys.”

“Oh.” Ruby looked down at her hands. When she woke in the morning she never expected her life to change so drastically.

“Of course, you don’t have to claim your title. Papa and I would completely understand if you wanted to continue being a Johnson.”

“No.” Ruby shook her head, the answer coming automatically surprising even herself. Once the word was out she knew she couldn’t answer any other way. “You said I’m a Rys, I’ve always been a Rys — no matter what name I used. Cordonia is my home and I have to take it back.”

Olivia smiled again at Ruby, proud at the Nevrakis strength she was exuding. “Let’s get ready to go home.”

Feedback fuels me, please like, comment reblog or send an ask. Feel free to scream, I promise I can take it.

Masterlist can be found in my bio.

@speedyoperarascalparty @liamxs-world @annekebbphotography @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @ao719 @blackwidow2721 @stopforamoment @akrenich @gardeningourmet @daniv2278 @bella-ca @gibbles82 @choiceslife @blackcoffee85 @sirbeepsalot @mrskamilxh @dcbbw @alicars @desireepow-1986 @mfackenthal @bhavf @indiacater @drakesensworld @kingliam2019 @walkerswhiskeygirl @ladyangel70 @jovialyouthmusic @edgiestwinter @rainbowsinthestorm @janezillow @sleepwalkingelite @texaskitten30 @traeumerinwitzhelden @bbrandy2002 @jared2612 @blackcatkita @darley1101 @innerpostmentality @lolablackwrites @endlessflame @fullbeaumonty @hhiggs @itsalliepg @smalltalk88 @littlegreenmoo @mynameiskaylabella @bobbersb @imma-winchester-addict @cordonianroyalty @loveellamae @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @katedrakeohd @forthebrokenheartedthings @super-secret-fandom-blog @burnsoslow @queenjilian @bebepac @datynasuha

51 notes · View notes

zigsexual · 4 years

Text

you know what while we’re at it i’d just like to say that bastien/olivia is a fucking disgusting and predatory ship verging on pedophilia. basically the only canon thing we know about bastien is that he was a father figure who helped raise drake after his dad died, and drake is essentially the same age as olivia who also grew up alongside him in the palace.

why the fuck would anyone want to write a sexual relationship between a middle-aged man and a girl he watched grow up through childhood. it’s perverted and you should be ashamed of yourself.

#bastien lykel #olivia nevrakis #bastien x olivia #bastien/olivia #the royal romance #its one thing if youre a fucking freak who wants mc to hook up with him #but bastien has known olivia since her parents died when she was literally a preschooler #thats fucked up

58 notes · View notes

msjr0119 · 5 years

Text

Kinky Cards

This is my submission for ‘Kinky Cards 2020’ as hosted by the amazing @speedyoperarascalparty . My prompt was chosen by @kacie-0156

22.Celebrity Crush. Your partner chooses a celebrity (real or fictional) and you must dress up like him/her for a day. For extra kinkyness try to feel into the character

Using my pairings from my new series ‘We Belong’. (Bastien x Olivia, Drake x Evie, Liam x Riley, Maxwell x Hana)

Warnings: Smut, Swearing

Writers

@darley1101 @boneandfur @debramcg1106 @lilyofchoices @blackcatkita @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @jessiembruno @emichelle @bobasheebaby @xxrainbow-princessxx @hopefulmoonobject @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria @ao719 @brightpinkpeppercorn @sirbeepsalot @choicesbyjade @kaitycole @choicesarehard @drakewalkerwhipped @thehonorarybeaumont @zaffrenotes @drakewalkerfantasy @god-save-the-keen @fluffy-marshmallow-heart @innerpostmentality @emceesynonymroll @chappela @janezillow @katedrakeohd @argylemnwrites @leelee10898 @candy72008 @client-327 @ladynonsense @blackcoffee85 @dcbbw @blackwidow2721 @breaumonts @mind-reader1 @choiceslife @texaskitten30 @callmetippytumbles @tornbetween2loves @thecordoniandiaries @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore @queen-of-effing-everything @domesticatedantelope @drxkewalker @jovialyouthmusic @walkerismychoice @walkerswhiskeygirl

*****

Everyone had gathered at Ramsford for a catch up. Riley had given birth to the crown Princess a few weeks ago- Uncle Leo was looking after her as they had decided that they needed a bit of time away from Mommy and Daddy duties with their friends. As well as time away from their duties.

Maxwell had always insisted with gatherings such as these to play crazy drinking games- however, as the Queen was breastfeeding Liam ruled out any drinking - being the protective husband. After playing cards against humanity for hours, after a few offensive cards- the group decided to call it a night.

“Guys, so when I was drunk years ago- this random girl gave me these cards known as ‘Kinky cards’... myself and Hana have used them every so often- don’t ask. But why don’t you guys have a go? I’ll give a random one to each couple. I’m looking forward to hearing what you get up to...” Maxwell being the fun Lord, had hoped that his friends would enjoy it- having a quick peek at the cards he had ‘randomly’ selected he sniggered to himself.

****

Since Olivia had officially began dating Bastien, during gatherings such as these he would combine work as well as spend time with her. Liam didn’t mind, as long as he was alert at all times incase of any unexpected emergency. Olivia, Bastien, Liam and Riley returned to the palace- going their separate ways, the Duchess and guard entered Olivia’s room. Throwing the card on the side, Olivia wasn’t interested in joining in with the game- she liked to keep her sex life private compared to her friends such as Drake and Evie who showed their love for each other overtly.

“What does the card say?” Bastien asked her, intrigued as to why she wouldn’t show him what it consisted of.

“Bast, it’s a load of crap. Maxwell and his dumb ideas for fun.” Rolling her eyes, she wasn’t ready for a debate. Bastien eyed her body up and down, his eyes pleading with her to tell him. Noticing this, she easily gave in. “It says ‘Celebrity Crush. Your partner chooses a celebrity (real or fictional) and you must dress up like him/her for a day. For extra kinkyness try to feel into the character.’ Happy now?”

“Yes. Liv, you know I’m off duty tomorrow until the ball- so those twenty four hours can begin now.” Smirking at her, she provided her infamous scowl towards her lover.

“Hell no!”

“Come on babe, I bet everyone else is doing their cards- we can’t let the team down.” Bastien replied in a seductive way as he removed his jacket and shirt in one swift motion. She couldn’t resist fondling with his cock, wanting to feel his hardness- that she could see through his jeans.

“Liv, the card....” Frustrated that she was clearly ignoring the task that they had been given- he pushed her away, hoping that this distance would tease her until she responded.

“For fuck sake. Who’s your crush then?”

“You know at the Halloween party, when you dressed up as Catwomen? That became my fictional character crush.”

“You have to be fucking kidding me. Do you know how warm that costume gets?”

“Well I think your ice cold heart will even the heat out then.” Reaching up, he pulled each Bobby pin out of her hair, causing her red locks to cascade down. Olivia’s arms came around to encircle his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, slowly she closed her eyes, and placed a light kiss on his lips- hoping that this distraction would prevent him for elaborating on his need about wanting to complete the task. Breaking the kiss, their eyes locked - there was silence.

“Close your eyes again, Liv. I’ll be back in a moment.” Doing as he commanded, he slowly put one arm around her back as he snuck behind her. “Open your eyes, and put it on.” Scrutinising the room, she wondered where he had hidden the outfit as he had only provided her with the mask. Putting it on, she believed that she could get away with just wearing this- having sex with him may knock all of the fantasy out of his mind, he may just accept partially completing the kinky card- she thought. A happy smile broke out on his face as he looked at her wearing the mask, as his hands worked at stripping her out of her clothes- never breaking eye contact. Bastien brushed the straps off of both her shoulders. As he lowered the dress further, the lacy underwear that she was wearing immediately turned him on. As the dress reached her hips, he gently kissed her bare lower back. From there, he simply pulled the dress away, discarding it on the floor. She maintained her position as he moved to snuggle up behind her, sliding his arms under her arms and then wrapping his arms around her, under her breasts. His firmness pressed against the fabric of his boxers, and rested between the upper halves of her buttocks. From nowhere his hands were instantly on her, taking in her body as he always did. Feeling his fingers keenly fondling her breasts and freeing them from her bra, her chest was now fully exposed. Turning her around, in a matter of urgency his mouth was suddenly hard upon hers. Consuming her with desire, he kissed her intently then began to slowly and passionately toy with her lips and mouth. His lips moved down her body and plunged his mouth over her nipples, sucking them making her body tremble. His tongue swiftly moved straight towards her already moistened pussy lips. Throwing her head back, her body was sensing the pleasure and pulsing the stimulus throughout her body.

“Bast....” she moaned, unable to hold in the orgasm. Pushing him away, she immediately dropped to her knees- holding onto his thighs, she was enjoying the view of his massive hard cock. Feeling his arousal in her mouth as she began to work his cock and draw his pleasure from him. Taking his length in and out, she knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer. Stroking his length with her soft hands, she heard him groan quietly. Licking and sucking just the end of him at first, she increased her speed. Grinning as he removed himself out of her mouth, she licked her way down to his testicles- taking them into her mouth, sucking hard. Quickly lifting her up, she wrapped her legs around him as he laid her on to the bed.

Laying with her legs spread open, she was eagerly awaiting for him to arouse her. Rolling her on to her side, he spooned her as his teasing fingers and thumb rubbed her clit. Pumping deep into her, hard and firm filling her pussy with all he had.

“Get on all fours Liv.” Turning around to face him, her face provided a slight bit of disgust and disappointment.

“All fours? You know how I like to take a bit of control in our sex life- I want you on top of me!”

“You’re a cat for twenty four hours. Doggy style or in this case pussy style.”

“Can’t we just lie, saying we’ve done the card? This is ridiculous...”

“Why Duchess Olivia, you’re not one to be so easily defeated..”

“Just fucking do it then...” She crawled up on to her hands and knees, lowering her head to the pillow and encouraging him to take her from behind. Feeling the tip of his cock pressed against her asshole, she shook her head as he grabbed her buttocks. “Don’t you dare push that in where I think you’re wanting to.” Bastien smirked, they had never done anal before. He had mentioned it plenty of times previously, but respected her wishes. He certainly didn't want to annoy her, and he had a feeling that if he accused her of instigating this type of sexual activity she wouldn't do it again- or she could potentially end their relationship. Rubbing her clit in a tantalising rhythm- he heard her let a slight moan escape from her lips.

“So wet for me already, Liv...”

“Always are, my love... don’t stop!” Having this encouragement, he rubbed for a few seconds longer before inserting one finger- pumping it in and out. Olivia’s moans increased louder and louder with every movement he made. Adding another finger, his speed increased feeling her juices pour onto him. Removing his fingers, made her whimper- she wasn’t sure if she could stay in that position for much longer as her legs felt like jelly.

“Bast, just get on with the main thing... I want to feel you...” Raising her arse further towards the air, Bastien positioned himself at her entrance- rubbing his tip against her already wet folds.

“You ready, your grace?” He whispered in her ear, feeling his hot breath linger sent a shudder down her back.

“Please...” she barely whimpered. Kissing her bare skin, he slowly entered her- making sure that he was fully inside, allowing for her walls to accept his length. Slowly thrusting in and out, he soon increased the speed- slamming right in to her. The thrusts became rough, with Bastien shifting ever so slightly- hearing Olivia moan his name over and over as if she stuck on loop, made him feel pleased that he was pleasuring her. Feeling a knot form in her stomach, she had lost count of how many times she had released- hitting her g-spot she was done for.

“Fuck Bast... I’m about to.... again.....” Feeling herself clench around his cock, he smirked as he rode her through her orgasm. His cock twitched inside of her, she suddenly heard him groan- knowing that he was climaxing, as she was for the final time. Riding out their highs for as long as possible, he eventually slid out of her. Laying next to her, he pulled her close towards him- running his fingers through her hair, then caressed her cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too... but Bast... can I take this mask off? It’s not good for my skin...”

“I won’t tell Lord Beaumont... take it off my love.” Smirking, she knew she had provided him with a bit of his fantasy, in the back of her mind she had hoped that this would be enough.

******

The day after, Olivia was determined to completely ignore the fact that she had to dress up in character- laying a few of her many red dresses on the bed, she was undecided as to which one to choose.

“Duchess Olivia, I believe that you already have your outfit. These can go back into your wardrobe.” Rolling her eyes back, she could throttle him in an instant with his persistence regarding completing the kinky card challenge.

“I can’t show up as Catwoman, it is a ball to celebrate the birth of the Crown Princess.”

“I’m sure that King Liam and Queen Riley wouldn’t mind...besides it all part of the game.”

“I will show my face in this costume, then leave. How many hours have I got left?”

“Technically six.” Bastien purred, as he spanked her. “I’ll see you down there Duchess Olivia. Don’t distract me too much.”

Duchess Olivia Nevrakis Of Lythikos

Olivia stroped into the ballroom, providing all the guests with dagger eyes- she never used to let what people thought of her get under her skin. But for some reason, she was feeling humiliated and frustrated that she couldn’t keep to her intentions of quitting the game whilst she was ahead.

“Hey Liv, damn girl! My best friend is one sexy lady.” Attempting to hold in her laughter, Evie was shocked that Olivia would turn up to an important event such as this not wearing read.

“Shut it, Evie!”

“I assume this is part of your kinky card?”

“Unfortunately you assume correct. What card did you and Drake get?”

“Now that would be telling... I’m just going to grab Riley and Hana- we will be back soon.” I bet whatever they had was nothing quite as ridiculous as this. The three women whispered and laughed before leaving the ballroom.

“Meow!” Bastien made his way over towards her, grabbing her arse discreetly.

“Do you want to become single Bastien?”

“No, your grace.. but I do believe we could sneak away for a bit. Glen can keep an eye on everything with the other guards... Riley used to do it with Liam and Drake all the time, even though they didn’t realise that I was watching them like a hawk.”

“Liam’s study- five minutes. You owe me for this.”

*****

Arriving in Liam’s study, she cleared his desk for obstructions- hoping that her photographic memory would remember the exact location of each item- or hoping that Liam wouldn’t realise. Removing the bobby pins from her hair, her red loose curls flowed effortlessly down her back.

Hearing the door open, she immediately sat on the edge on the desk in a seductive position with her legs crossed.

“I am catwoman, hear me roar.” Bastiens eyes widened, feeling his trousers instantly tighten. Retrieving the perfume out of her bag, she stood up and sprayed it all around him- providing her with a perplexed expression, she smirked knowing he was clueless as to why she did this.

“I’m marking my territory, dur. You’re mine Bast. All mine. Female cats usually mark their territory using scent glands. For now I’ll spray my Chanel over you.... but soon I’ll be rubbing a personal ‘scent’ onto your hard cock...”

Smirking, he noticed her get into her role as a cat- even if it had taken a while. Rubbing her nose against him, then her cheek against his- she then returned to Liam’s desk. Stealing his bottle of scotch, she drank from it before placing it in her bag.

“What are you doing? He’s going to know.”

“Catwoman is a highly skilled burglar... he’s a king. He won’t notice. Do you know what else Catwoman is good at?” Shaking his head, he knew he would have to replace it before Liam realised. “She’s good at martial arts, self defence. As am I. So if you tell him, I’ll knock you out...” Bastien gulped, he knew that she wasn’t threatening him- it would become a reality. After all, he had taught all of them extra self defence techniques as teenagers, so he knew how feisty she could get even back then.

“So... are you coming here or what Bast?” Without hesitation, he took only a few strides towards her. Unzipping the outfit, she soon slipped out of it as she removed herself from the desk- grateful as she was sweating cobs, not knowing if it was due to the material or the humiliation for wearing it. "Unzip or remove your pants, now" she demanded before facing him. Sliding out of her underwear, he followed suit. She glanced down before meeting his gaze. "Oh, Bastien…" Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she eyed his manhood spring out once his boxers were removed.

Sliding his hand between her sex before slipping his finger inside of her, Olivia was immediately soaking- unable to contain herself. Stopping his movements, he removed his finger out from her, before pulling her flush to him. Her head fell back as she arched her body, feeling Bastien kiss his way down from her lips, to her breasts. Yanking at his hair, he groaned loudly and continued to roam her bare skin with his hands. Unable to prevent himself from touching her smooth delicate skin. Both eyes were full of lust and desire. Olivia pushed him away from her, creating a slight bit of distance.

“Liv?” Bastien questioned as she lift one leg up and rest it on his shoulder.

“Catwoman is also flexible, a good gymnast... do you think you could fuck me hard like this?”

“Your grace, I most certainly can...”

Olivia managed to stay balanced on one leg, keeping it straight- allowing Bastien to take control. “You ready?” He asked making sure that she was comfortable. Bending his knees slightly, he forced his cock straight into her, they didn’t have time for foreplay due to this position. As well as the fact that they had disappeared from the Crown Princesses ball. He began to thrust gently inside and out- his eyes never leaving hers. Holding onto her lower back, he pulled her closer towards him with every thrust. Pumping his penis deep inside of her- every so often he would pull out and rub his cock against her clitoris. Loving the feel of her skin against his, he began to kiss her hungrily, urgently as their bodies continued to crash against each other. He had lost himself once again, every moment he wasn’t with her, he starved for her. Craved her. The scent of her perfume always lingered around him. The taste of her tongue against his also lingered throughout his mind. The whimpering moans she made whenever they had sex, made him get through his work day knowing he would be returning to her once he had ‘clocked off’. Their combined breaths filled the room, as they both enjoyed the pleasure. Both ready to climax one final time.

“I think we better return... we’ve been longer than I said we would.”

“It was worth it though? You’re not always going to be head guard Bast, live a little. Before that ticker of yours explodes...”

“Are you calling me old?” Raising his eyebrows, he knew she was only joking about his age. She didn’t care about the age gap. If anyone had an issue regarding their relationship she would tell them straight out to mind their own business.

“Yes. But I love you. Zip me back up.” Winking at him, he kissed her on the forehead.

“I love you too Duchess.”

*****

Returning to the ballroom, both feeling slightly flustered- Olivia was suddenly more annoyed with the night than she was when she was announced in. The three women noticed their friend scowling, biting their lips they knew their mischievous plan would irritate her.

“What the actual fuck? You’re all wearing my colour! Red is my colour!” Causing more attention to herself, Olivia hoped that the next few hours would come around quickly.

“As Queen I believe I am allowed to wear whatever colour I want - Duchess Olivia.”

“You and I were like twins growing up Liv- Elivia. Besides Drake likes me in red. Would you really want to hurt him, after all your cunning plans to get us together?”

“You’re not wearing red tonight, so we all believed that for one night only we could ‘steal’ your colour.” Hana giggled, knowing if it was just her she wouldn’t dare cross the line.

An hour went by, and the ball was soon drawing to a close- Olivia was thankful for this. Everywhere she turned, echoes of laughter and whispering filled the room- wishing now that she had kept her relationship with Bastien still hidden from the nobles, as she did the few years before Evie returned.

“Never have i ever slept with Bastien.” Olivia scowled at her intoxicated friend, refusing to take a drink. Drake bit his lip attempting not to laugh, during her first day back in Cordonia she had let slip to him that his father figure and worse enemy were in a relationship.

“Go on Liv, take a shot.”

“Evie you told him?”

“Yup. Like you’ve just confessed to everyone else.”

Bastien pulled Olivia to the side, as the guests were leaving- knowing that he was in the doghouse for persuading her to complete the challenge- even though the sex had been beyond brilliant.

“Are you ready to leave?”

“Damn fucking right I am. My newborn niece cried when I held her. Everyone’s talking about me. I hate you and Maxwell.”

“I’ll make it up to you- again.” Shaking her head, she stormed up to her room. Two hours to go. Fuck this. Removing her mask, and outfit, she was tempted to throw it in the bin- the reminder of it would haunt her for the rest of her life. She had even considered just avoiding fancy dress in the future and sticking to normality- red outfits.

Bastien pined her up against the wall, not giving her the opportunity to react. No matter how angry she was towards him, she couldn’t resist him.

“If you want sex Mr Lykel, you have to do something for me...”

“What’s that?” He whispered, as his hands roamed her body and he kissed her neck in an urgent manner.

“You have to.......”

*****

After the council meeting the day after the ball, Maxwell asked how everyone’s kinky cards went- not being able to speak to each couple in full detail. The friends all agreed that they enjoyed doing it, all agreeing to do another card at the next gathering. Making a beeline towards the Scarlet Duchess, he knew that she was the least impressed.

“Duchess Olivia, I didn’t recognise you without all that Lycra.” Maxwell impersonated a cat, purring at her as well creating claws with his fingers.

“Shut it Beaumont before I claw you to death!”

“Ouch Liv! Live a little will ya? I’d have loved to see what would have happened if Bastien had to dress up instead...”

“Maybe you will one day, now leave me alone...”

“Yes ma’am...” Maxwell had always been slightly intimated by the Duchess, so decided it was for the best to leave her- after all they did make a laughing stock out of her.

Liam, Leo and Riley were all pulled into a corner by unknown people, the King scrutinised the room wondering where his guard was in case this was an emergency. Retrieving his phone, he sent a quick ‘SOS’ text to Bastien- noticing that he wasn’t with Olivia, he had no idea why his guard had gone awol.

“Sir? What’s up?” Everyone heard Bastien’s voice shout as the doors swung open but couldn’t see him- seeing a man in a cape run towards them, everyone’s eyes widened.

“Bast?” Liam and Leo said in unison both shocked, before both bursting out in an hysterical outburst of laughter.

“Holy shit! It’s Bat-sein, Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, BATMAN!” Leo fell to the floor in hysterics. Bastien took a deep breath, biting his lip- he attempted to remain professional as he turned to face the King and Queen.

“Your Majesties, do you need me?”

“Erm, I was just wondering who these people are. Where’s Robin? Is the Penguin about to make an appearance too? Or maybe the Riddler? The Joker? Mr Freeze? Harley Quinn?” Leo stood up, still unable to catch his breath. High five, he said to his younger brother- before they both eventually painted a stoic expression on their faces.

“These people Sir, are the civilians that are for the proposal that was mentioned in the meeting. No danger, don’t worry. And no your Majesty- those fictional characters are not going to make an appearance- not that I’m aware of anyway.” Olivia walked over, smirking along with Maxwell. “Paybacks a bitch! Beaumont, next time make sure we get a better Kinky card- something that doesn’t involve fancy dress or something that isn’t twenty four hours long. Enjoy your twenty four hours Bastien. Life’s a bitch. Now so am I.”

#trr #trr fanfic #kinkycards2020 #bastien x olivia #theroyalromance #choices #trr bastien #trr olivia #liam rhys #leo rhys #maxwell beaumont #drake walker #trr evie bruley #hana lee #riley brooks #catwoman #batman #dc comics

38 notes · View notes

tornbetween2loves · 6 years

Text

Perfect Birthday Surprise

This is a special birthday request for my good friend @bobasheebaby It fulfills prompt 3 of @meeraaverywalker ‘s March challenge list “fluff”. She requested some fluffy Baslivia and I hope I delivered. I couldn’t resist going a little smutty at the end. After all, this is one of the hottest pairings around, am I right? I would like to say this fic takes place in my Shifting Focus AU, but it is obviously further along in the story. So for now we’ll just call this a fluffy one-shot for that AU.

I have to give a shout out to the queen of the Bastien slow burn, @stopforamoment for proofreading this for me. I had to make sure my characterization was on point. Thank you so much for your time and for the pointers you gave me. And of course I have to thank my bestie @kennaxval who also proofread. I have to say, it was difficult not being able to ask @bobasheebaby for insights on this fic. But I wanted to make sure everything about this fic was a surprise for your birthday and I hope you have a great day!

Pairing: Bastien x Olivia

Warnings: This fic contains erotica and should not be read by anyone under the age of 18. All characters belong to Pixelberrry. I am simply borrowing them.

Word count: 2,124

Olivia walked in the front door of the Nevrakis estate main house and was immediately struck by the wonderful smells wafting into the foyer from the kitchen. She took a deep breath as her stomach grumbled. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she smelled dinner. She took off her coat and hung it on the coat rack next to the door. She wondered what was going on. She hadn’t made any dinner plans or given the kitchen staff any instructions on dinner preparation. She looked around and realized that there was no staff around. Her brow furrowed as she checked the time on her phone. It was 5:30 pm. Way too early for her staff to be gone for the night already. Something strange was going on, that’s for sure.

Bastien pulled the leg of lamb out of the oven and set it on the counter to rest. He then started mashing potatoes at the same time the timer went off on the vegetable steamer. It was all coming together nicely. “What’s all this?” He heard a voice say behind him. He flashed Olivia a smile over his shoulder as he added more butter to the potatoes. “All this is dinner, my love,” he said as she walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. “You made this all yourself? How wonderful. It smells delicious.” Bastien nodded. “I sure did. I made it for you.” He turned to face her, pulling her close for an embrace. “Happy birthday Liv.” She hugged him tight and rested her head on his chest. After a moment she pulled back to look into his eyes, keeping her arms wrapped around his waist. She smiled and took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of the lamb. “You know lamb is my favorite?” Amusement danced in her eyes as he smiled and nodded. “Yes. It pays to be close to the king. He knows quite a few of your secrets.”

Olivia chuckled and reluctantly pulled out of their embrace. “Do I have time for a quick shower?” He nodded with a smile. “Of course. Take your time. I sent the staff home early so it’s just the two of us.” He kissed her softly. “Just the two of us, huh?” She raised an eyebrow at him with a sexy smile on her lips. Bastien shifted as his cock twitched. Even after all this time together, she still had that effect on him. She winked at him and went to change.

********************************************

“Wow, you really outdid yourself.” Olivia took a big gulp of her wine and surveyed the remains of the meal on the table in front of them. Bastien smiled and brought her hand to his lips. “I’m so glad you liked it. I have one more thing I want to show you.” He stood up and held out his hand. Olivia smiled as she placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. They walked hand in hand back into the large foyer, then Bastien led her to a hallway in the back of the foyer. She raised an eyebrow at him as she realized where they were headed. “Are we going to the armory?” He shot her a small smile in response. “You’ll see.” They stopped in front of the double doors of the armory, the Nevrakis crest carved into the doors. Bastien put his hands on the handle of each door and paused for a moment. “You always said you wanted to give me a personal tour of the armory. Share some of your favorite weapons?” Olivia nodded. He smiled as he pushed open the double doors.

“Oh my god.” Olivia’s mouth dropped open as she looked around the room. There were flowers everywhere. In vases, lying on tables, rose petals were even scattered on the floor. There were so many flowers that the floral scent wafted to the door as soon as it was pushed open. In the middle of the room was a table with two champagne flutes and a bottle of champagne on ice. There was also a glass display case sitting next to the champagne. The room was lit only by candles and torches. Olivia walked into the room and approached the table. She turned to Bastien. “How did you know this is my favorite weapon? I don’t recall ever telling you.” Bastien shrugged. “Why don’t you tell me a little about the history of this weapon?” Olivia ran her hand along the smooth glass of the display case. “This dagger belonged to Zenobia Nevrakis. She carried it everywhere. She had a sheath for it that wrapped around her upper thigh. She had all her dresses made with slits far enough up the leg to allow for easy access to the sheath. It is rumored that she killed close to 500 people with this dagger alone.”

Bastien’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s a lot of blood shed with such a small weapon.” Olivia nodded as she lifted the lid off the case and gingerly removed the dagger. The blade was so shiny it gleamed in the candlelight. The handle was encrusted with emeralds and diamonds. As she turned the dagger over in her hands, she noticed some jewels on the handle that didn’t quite fit in. Her eyes widened and she gasped as she realized what it was. She turned around to place the dagger back in it’s case as she slipped a ring off the handle and turned it over in the palm of her hand. It had a large diamond in the center and was surrounded by smaller clusters of emeralds and diamonds. Just like the handle of the dagger. It was perfect.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned around. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand when she saw Bastien down on one knee before her, smiling brightly as he looked up at her. He took her hand. “Olivia Nevrakis, you have changed my life. I used to think I could be happy devoting my life to the service of others. Never really having a life or family of my own. I never would’ve guessed that the spunky red head I watched grow up would one day show me what I had been missing my whole life.” Bastien took the ring from her hand and held it before her. “Marry me, Liv. I want nothing more in this world than to make you my wife.” He looked up at her expectantly, his face full of love and hope.

For once, Olivia had no words. All she could do was nod and cry. He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up. Bastien wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, placing a hand on each cheek and pulling her lips to his in a passionate kiss. They pulled apart after a few moments. Bastien stroked her cheek gently and smiled. “Champagne?” Olivia smiled and nodded, still at a loss for words. She looked down at her hand and admired the ring while Bastien popped the cork and poured the champagne. He handed her a flute and raised his own.

“To my beautiful fiancée.” She smiled and clinked her glass on his. “To the most amazing man in the whole world.” They drank down their champagne then crashed their lips together, the flutes in their hands forgotten as they hit the floor and shattered. Olivia pulled away and smiled seductively as she grasped Bastien’s tie and led him over to a plush red settee that was pushed up against the far wall. She loosened his tie and slipped it over his head then unbuttoned his shirt. Her mouth was on his neck as she trailed her tongue along his jawline down to his collarbone and back up to his earlobe. She nibbled gently then whispered, her voice husky, “Take off your clothes.”

Bastien quickly complied, a grin on his face as Olivia turned around and and peered at him over her shoulder. “Unzip me please?” He slowly unzipped her dress, his mouth pressed to the back of her neck. He slipped the dress off her shoulders and it slid down her body to pool at her feet. He took a step back to admire her ass in her lacy red thong and he let out a primal growl as his eyes travelled down her shapely legs. She was wearing back seam thigh high stockings and she knew how much it drove him crazy. He reached out to grab her ass, but she turned around at the last minute and grabbed his arm.

Olivia kissed him softly then gave him a light push. His legs buckled when they hit the settee behind him and he unintentionally sat down. Before he could react Olivia was on her knees before him, her hand wrapped around his hard length as she took the tip in her mouth. She made slow circles across the tip with her tongue as she looked up into his eyes. Bastien gasped as she slid her mouth down the length of his shaft, the movement so slow it was almost agonizing. He moaned as he slid his fingers into her fiery hair and attempted to quicken the pace. She allowed it for a moment, then abruptly stood up in front of him. She took a step back and looked him up and down. She wondered how she got this lucky. His steel-grey eyes were dark with lust as he watched her turn around to show off those stockings again as she slowly removed her bra and underwear.

She turned back to face him again, a look of pure desire on her face. Her hands brushed across her collarbone, down to her breasts, then across her stomach. Bastien’s breath hitched as she slid her hand between her legs. “Tell me how wet you are for me,” he said huskily. Her lips parted as she traced them with her tongue and slid a finger inside herself. “I’ll do better than that. I’ll show you.” She gasped as she pumped her finger in and out a few times, then moved closer to Bastien. She straddled him as she brought her finger to his lips and traced an outline of his lips with her juices. He licked his lips and moaned as he felt her sex pressed against his and tasted her on his lips. He panted as he fondled her breasts. “Please, Liv. I need to be inside you.” She smiled and reached between them to line his member with her entrance. Then they crashed their lips together as she sunk all the way down on him.

Bastien pulled away from their kiss and pressed his forehead against hers as she rode him. She started slowly then increased her speed in intervals. Bastien groaned as he felt his desire building in his core. He reached down between them to find her swollen nub and made slow circles. They lost themselves in each other as they continued to move together, the only sounds their moans and skin slapping skin. Olivia felt so much love as she came undone, her emerald eyes wet with tears. She pressed her chest against his and whispered, “I love you.” He buried himself deep inside her as he found his own release. “I love you too, Liv.” They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms as their heart rates slowed and their breathing returned to normal.

Olivia slowly climbed off Bastien’s lap and they both stretched out on the couch wrapped in each other’s arms. She held up her hand as she admired the ring. “Will you ever tell me how you managed to pull this off? I can’t believe how utterly perfect this evening was.” Bastien shrugged and kissed the top of her head as he laced his fingers with hers.

“Let’s just say I’ve done my research. And my mind is like a steel trap.” He smiled and tapped his temple. “Once a piece of information gets in here, it never escapes.” She giggled as she propped her head up on her elbow. She kissed him softly on the lips, then a look of realization came over her face. She smiled slyly at her fiancé. “I know how you did it. You even admitted it yourself earlier. You said it pays to be close to the king. Liam fed you all this information, didn’t he?” Bastien grinned as he shrugged again. “I’ll never tell.” Olivia kissed him softly and smiled. She snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes, thinking she would have to remember to thank Liam for helping make this the perfect birthday surprise.

Tagging: @kennaxval @indiacater @carabeth @bella-ca @boneandfur @bobasheebaby @stopforamoment @alesana45 @debramcg1106 @speedyoperarascalparty @drakewalkerwhipped @femmeshep @hhiggs @lizeboredom @pb-boeboe @klaudiana-beaumontkkreal @tmarie82 @katurrade @lodberg @hopefulmoonobject @missevabean @walkerismychoice @eileendannie @museofbooks @jared2612 @h3llostrang3r @ooo-barff-ooo ooo @cora-nova @jovialyouthmusic @gardeningourmet @innerpostmentality @furryperfectionlover @sirbeepsalot

#long post #choices fandom #Bastien x olivia #baslivia #happy birthday bobasheebaby #ns*w #choices march challenge

30 notes · View notes

lorirwritesfanfic · 6 years

Text

Falling For You (Baslivia)

Note: It’s 6 AM, I’m drunk and I can’t stop editing. Send help! Well, at least this means I’ll finish the challenge in time, right? lol

Gift: Bastien x Olivia edit for @bobasheebaby Because you’re one the most interesting writers in this fandom, your edit was carefully made as a tribute to my favorite crackship story of yours. Happy holidays!

transparents and background: @kaitlyn-liao and @abookishcreative

#trr edit #bastien lykel #olivia nevrakis #bastien x olivia #choices edits #choicesbyjade #christmas gift challenge

10 notes · View notes

justcallmefox89 · 3 years

Text

The Royal Romance: Cinderfella’s Adventures in Cordonia - Chapter Four

An AU of The Royal Romance with a male MC and a bisexual prince.

Callum sees Liam for the first time since the conversation in the garden, Bastien keeps a close eye on the American, and Constantine reveals how he truly feels about some of the suitors.

TW: gay slur

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

The insistent buzzing of my phone rouses me from a fitful sleep early the next morning. I fumble under my pillows for a few moments with my eyes shut until I close my hand around my phone.

“Huh?” I answer sleepily.

“Callum Ioan MacKenzie, please tell me you didn’t fly halfway around the world chasing after some boy.” The deep bass of Niall MacKenzie’s voice rumbles over the phone line.

I groan, pulling a pillow over my face. “Hey, Pops.”

“Holy Mother….” My father mutters a string of curses under his breath before inhaling heavily, no doubt taking a deep drag from a cigarette.

I stay quiet, anticipating a lecture about learning lessons and getting my hopes up.

“Do you have someone looking after your apartment?” he finally inquires.

Huh?

“I told the Jamie before I flew out. She’s going to collect my mail and keep an eye on the place,” I say, naming one of my father’s most loyal employees.

“You better be payin’ her for that,” my father grumbles.

I sigh. “I am, Pops. I know she needs that extra money for Karlie’s therapy.”

After a tense moment of silence my father finally says what’s on his mind. “What the hell are you thinkin’, Callum?”

“I don’t know.” I close my eyes and burrow further into the bed. “I just…got caught up. Using my heart instead of my head again…you know me.” I chuckle sadly.

He makes a quiet sound of acknowledgement. “There’s nothing wrong with loving hard. Your capacity for love is one of the best things about you, Callum. Sometimes you just give that love to people who don’t always deserve it.”

I bite back a sob, knowing that he’s right.

“And you know sooner or later they’re going to figure out who you are, who I am. And when they know that they’ll know about the Cunningham boy.”

“I know, Pops,” I rasp.

My father sighs. “Is this boy worth it?”

Before last night I would have said yes without reservation, but now I’m not so sure.

He takes my silence as the answer it is. “Fine. I won’t say anything else about it. But you’ll call me if you need something, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I promise.

“I love you.”

“Love you too, Pops.”

I languish in bed for a while longer before getting into the shower. Once I’m out I quickly dry my hair and get dressed, then make my way to the palace boutique. Olivia is picking out her dress for the Derby when I enter.

“Oh! I’m surprised to see you here. I thought you would have gone home by now.” She looks genuinely shocked.

Jesus take the wheel.

“Surely you’ve realized you don’t have a chance at winning,” she continues with a catty smirk.

“Smoke Show, surely you’ve realized by now…” I trail off with a sigh. “Never mind. I don’t have the heart to banter with you right now. Hit me up later.”

I wander over to the racks and listless peruse the offerings of tasteful suits while my soul shrivels and dies.

“Huh?” Olivia flounders in confusion. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, Callum, but you’re not going to fool me.”

I shrug and turn back to the racks, listening to her high heels click against the floor as she exits the boutique. I eventually settle on a slim fitting, wine colored three piece suit, a pale lavender shit, and a deep navy silk tie matched with a pair of cognac colored brogue oxfords.

An hour later I’m putting the finishing touches on my outfit as Maxwell lectures me on etiquette.

“So, let’s review. At the lawn picnic you’ll have to eat with perfect civility…”

“I know how to eat, Maxwell,” I snap irritably as I straighten my tie. “I’ve been doing it on my own with great success for over twenty years now.”

“Well, Bertrand told me to go over everything,” he retorts. “Speaking of, how would you address Bertrand?”

“Hey, Fuck Face!” I pull my hair up into a neat bun as I look at him in the mirror.

Maxwell closes his eyes, no doubt praying for strength. A knock on the door interrupts us.

“Maxwell. How’s progress?” Bertrand asks once he enters my room.

“Great,” he grinds out through gritted teeth. “We’ve got all under control.”

I ignore the brothers, looking longingly at the makeup sitting on top of my dresser. I’d gone barefaced today, even forgoing my usual lip gloss. I do however, leave my jewelry in as a small act of rebellion.

“What on earth is that?!” Bertrand’s outraged exclamation jerks me back into the moment.

“Dude, personal bubble. Respect it.” I step away from him as he examines the tattoo on my neck with disgust.

“We have to get rid of this,” Bertrand mumbles. “Can’t you do something about it?”

I scowl at him. “No, I cannot “do something” about the very permanent art on my body. If it’s that big of a problem I can just go back to New York.”

“No!” Maxwell darts in between us, holding up his hands placatingly. “You can’t leave. We need you. Besides, you’re in the competition, you can’t just drop out. You have to see it through til the end.”

Bertrand and I both glare at him then at each other.

“Ok, then! Who’s ready to go to the Derby?” Maxwell rubs his hands together gleefully and herds us out of my bedroom.

The majority of the rid to Honeyhill Downs is spent in stony silence. Bertrand only speaks when we’re a few minutes from our destination.

“Remember, how you come across to the Cordonian people is very important, and the press can make you or break you. What the press writes, the people read. If the people love you, then it will be easy to convince them that you deserve their prince.”

I slouch back into my seat. “But does their prince deserve me?” I grumble in irritation.

Survey says… no, not currently.

“What’s that?” Bertrand snaps at me.

“Nothing.”

“So you’ve got to impress the press, so to speak,” Maxwell says. “They’ll surround you as soon as well pull up to the Downs.”

“What kind of questions should I expect?” I stare out the car’s window, wishing I was anywhere but here.

“It will depends on who’s doing the interview,” Bertrand replies carefully. “They’ll start slow, asking you who you are, where you’re from, that sort of thing.”

Maxwell chimes in. “People will want to know everything about you so think about how you want the public to see you.”

“Then come the hard questions… I don’t know what they’ll ask but…”

“Be myself?” I sneer at Bertrand.

“Oh good God man, no, absolutely not. Be a future consort who loves Cordonia and acts with grace and poise.” Bertrand looks horrified.

Gross.

“And for the love of all that is holy, if they ask you about Cordonian apples, makes sure you take the question seriously,” he continues.

“Apples?” I look at him, aghast.

“It’s our national fruit, and one of our most important exports,” Maxwell says.

“But I’m allergic to apples.” I look at them with wide, slightly tearful eyes.

The Beaumonts’ skin turns ashen.

“You are?”

No, not even remotely, but I’m feeling a bit petty today.

“Yes.” My lower lip quivers. “I can be around them, but if I ingest anything that has even a hint of apple in it my digestive system is thrown all out of whack. I’m talking serious, projectile body fluids from both-”

Bertrand holds up his hands in defeat. “Thank you, that’s enough. We get your meaning.”

Callum – 1. Cordonia – 0.

“It’s ok,” Bertrand finally mutters, rubbing his forehead. “We can work with this. Somehow.”

Maxwell squeezes my shoulder and smiles. “You’ll be fine. I believe in you.”

The limo slows and we pull around to the racetrack. Men and women wearing bright colors and large hats parade through a gaggle of press reporters jockeying for interviews behind a line of velvet ropes.

I grunt at the sight, not excited to take part in the feeding frenzy.

Bertrand glares at me. “This is the social event of the season… do try to behave yourself.”

I show him my middle finger as I climb out of the limo. “Where do I go after I talk to the press?”

“The suitors have their own space. Just keep following the red carpet and keep an eye out for the pink tent,” Maxwell answers.

I barely have the limo door shut before a swarm of reports descends on me. I dodge a stray microphone, barely remembering to keep my face neutral.

“Over here! Donald Brine from the Cordonia Broadcasting Center. We’ve heard about the new man on the social scene. What’s your name?”

“Callum MacKenzie from House Beaumont.” I give him an easy grin, calling upon all my experience with the American press from my time with Brody.

“Our viewers care about the real story! Tell us about yourself!” he prompts me.

“I’m a classically trained chef from New York. I met Prince Liam during his last visit to my country, and I felt a connection to him. Now here I am.”

“And how’s that been working out for you?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Cordonia and her people have been nothing but welcoming and kind. And Prince Liam is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. It’s like a dream.” I smile blandly.

A fucking nightmare.

“Now, I’ve heard early rumors you’re the prince’s favorite,” Donald continues. “What do you think makes you stand out?”

I gesture from my head to my toes. “I’m six foot six Mr. Brine, I’m always above the rest of the crowd,” I say with a cheeky grin.

He chuckles appreciatively and raises his camera. “Can I get a photo of you?”

“Absolutely.”

“Throw me your best look!”

I casually tuck my hands into my pants’ pocket and tilt my head a little to the side, giving him the barest hint of a smile.

“Perfect.” Donnie beams at me. “You’re very photogenic.” He types some notes into his phone. “Charming mystery man sweeps Derby red carpet…”

A blonde in a black suit raises her hand to catch my attention. “Mr. MacKenzie, Ana de Luca here on behalf of Trend, fashion and celebrity news magazine. Let’s get into it… as an outsider, what do you think of Cordonia?”

It’s a hellhole with too few taco trucks and your king’s a bigoted ass.

“It’s an incredibly charming country,” I force myself to say. “I’ve never been anywhere quite like this. New York has always been home to me, but this place…I could see this as my forever home.”

My Lord, I can spout some bullshit when I want to, can’t I?

Ana smiles at me proudly. “The people will be happy to hear it. Mr. MacKenzie, if you marry Prince Liam, you’ll be our next consort. What qualities make you fit to rule Cordonia?”

My high school counselor said I was clever once.

“I’m a compassionate and accepting person by nature. The people of Cordonia can count trust me to always have their best interests at heart and to be composed in times of crisis. I also consider myself to be someone who thinks outside the box and is honest to a fault.”

“That’ll be a nice soundbite,” Ana murmurs. “Last question…hypothetically, how would handle news about low crop yields from the Cordonian apples orchards?”

“My first act would be to reassure the people. I know how important the apples are to the country and its people and they deserve to know I’d take their problems and concerns seriously. Then we’d talk about ways to deal with the crisis. Together.”

Goddamn, I’m impressive when I want to be.

A new wave of people start making their way down the red carpet.

“Looks like that’s all our time,” Donnie remarks.

“Glad to have someone interesting like you in the running.” Ann smirks.

“Thanks, beautiful.” I give her a coy salute and a grin as I move away.

I move down the red carpet, inching closer to the field and the pink tent. I also see another tent set up as an open bar.

Decisions, decisions.

Mimosa in hand, feeling like the bad bitch I am, I wander around the racetrack and deliberately ignore the pink tent. I wind up by the stables, breathing in the scent of horses and fresh hay while I soak in the blissful silence.

“Hello, Mr. MacKenzie.”

Well, shit.

“I would’ve thought you had more important people to worry about than little old me.” I take a sip of my drink and gaze at Bastien over the rim of my champagne glass.

His grey eyes meet mine, unflinching. “I noticed you weren’t among the suitors, then I saw you slipping away from the crowds. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“I used to be better at sneaking around,” I sigh. “I’m stuffed into a suit I wouldn’t wear to be cremated in, and being forced to interact with people I can’t stand while pretending to be someone I’m not.” I raise my glass to him in a toast. “I’m just fucking peachy.”

“You look gorgeous,” Bastien murmurs, his eyes sweeping over me from head to toe.

“Excuse me?” I sputter around my mouthful of champagne and orange juice.

His cheeks turn pink, and his eyes widen as he realizes what he said. “I meant, nice. The suit is nice. You’re nice. You look nice in it. In the suit.”

I hide my smile behind another sip of my drink, covertly studying the older man. I hadn’t been in the proper frame of mind to appreciate it the night before, but he really is a stunning specimen of masculinity. The dark hair shot through with silver, those penetrating grey eyes that don’t miss a thing, and I can tell he’s in fantastic shape, even beneath that suit.

Silver Daddy.

We stand in silence for a minute as he slowly gets control of himself once more.

“Is someone bothering you?” he finally asks.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise.

“Just now, you said you were surrounding by people you couldn’t stand…and I just thought, if someone was bothering you, or making things difficult for you, I could do something about it.” He rubs the back of his neck shyly.

“You’d give them a stern talking to on my behalf, sir?” I smirk at him, enjoying the way he squirms under my gaze.

“I just…” Bastien hesitates. “You’re someone worth protecting.”

I frown, confused. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know you’re worth protecting,” he repeats firmly.

Cue my inner squee-ing.

“Oh, well then. Thank you,” I mumble, suddenly shy.

He nods briskly, studying me for a moment before his eyes dart away. “Did something happen between you and Prince Liam last night?”

I cut my eyes over to him as I drain my glass.

“In the gardens?” he prompts.

I shoot him a half-hearted smile. “He’s not going to get into trouble because I convinced him to sneak out, is he?”

Bastien shakes his head and chuckles. “Liam is a dream to guard compared to his older brother. Leo was a holy terror to keep track of.”

Pretty smile.

“Leo was the one who gave up the throne?” I inquire, eager to keep our conversation flowing.

“He did.” Bastien falls silent, thinking. “He fell in love on one of his adventures. He wouldn’t have been able to marry her… he’d known for a long time that he wouldn’t be happy trapped by all of the confines of being a monarch. Falling for her, that was the thing that finally gave him the courage to leave.”

“Liam’s not like Leo, is he?” I ask, feeling like a shard of glass has worked it’s way into my heart.

“No. No, he’s not.” A pause. “Liam has always put his duty to Cordonia before anything else.”

“He asked me to change so his dad will like me better,” I admit, rubbing my fingers over the rose tattooed on my neck in a self-soothing motion.

Bastien’s face darkens momentarily before he manages to re-arrange his facial features into a placid expression. “What did he ask you to do?”

I shrug and look at the ground. “Told me I needed to butch up. Apparently King Constantine doesn’t appreciate my style.”

He reaches out and grabs one of my hands. I shiver as his cool fingers graze over my palm, the roughness of his callouses a contradiction against my smooth skin.

“Is that why you’re not wearing fingernail polish anymore?” he asks softly.

I shrug again, embarrassed. “It’s stupid, right? Being upset about something like that?”

“It’s not stupid to want respect from someone you care about,” he murmurs, squeezing my hand softly before releasing it. “For what it’s worth, someone who truly cares for you wouldn’t ask you to dull your shine for anyone.”

I look down into his eyes, my breath catching when I realize how close we’re standing.

“Bastien,” I whisper, reaching out and touching the sleeve cuff of his suit jacket, rubbing the soft fabric between my fingers.

He moves forward another inch, our chests brushing together.

“MacKenzie! Shit, there you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

We spring apart as Drake jogs towards us, giving me a dirty look.

“Been missing me, Brat?”

Bastien side-eyes me. “Brat?”

“Just a nickname between friends,” I answer easily.

“You weren’t with the other suitors,” Drake accuses.

“You’ve met them right?”

I hear Bastien attempt to smother a laugh on my left.

“Liam got worried when we didn’t see you with the others,” Drake informs me.

I snort. “I bet he did.”

“Either way you shouldn’t be wandering around on your own,” he insists.

I glance over at Bastien, and he gives me a subtle nod. “Fine,” I sigh heavily. “But I want another drink before my descent into hell.”

“Oh, uh… Liam would like you to join us in his tent.” Drake fidgets at I stare at him.

“I’m going to need more than one drink.”

Drake takes off, expecting me to follow him. I hesitate for a moment, turning back to Bastien. “Thanks for this.”

He raises his eyebrows at me questioningly.

“Taking the time to talk to me and help me feel normal for a minute. For just being you.” I bite my lower lip and smile at him coyly.

Bastien ducks his head, his cheeks flushing. “You are very welcome, Mr. MacKenzie.”

“Call me Callum. Please.”

“Callum.” A shudder runs through me at the sound of my name on his tongue. Deep and resonant with a musical, lilting Greek accent, his voice turns my name into something heavenly, and the almost reverent way his whispers it makes my knees a little weak.

“Um, yeah, well. I go. Should go. I should go. I’ll see you around.” Suddenly nervous, I dart after Drake, hyper-aware of Bastien’s dark eyes on my retreating figure.

Sweet Cthulhu in a tutu…. what is wrong with me?

I tag along after Drake in search of my promised beverages, only to stop short when he pauses in front of a private tent.

“This doesn’t look like the bar.”

He rolls his eyes and motions for me to go inside. “Liam’s waiting for you, I’ll go grab drinks for everyone.”

I make no move to enter, and he gives me a little push. “Hey! Lookin’ is free but touchin’ will cost you, Brat.”

He flushes red and gives me a dirt look. “Just get in there.”

I duck into the tent, pausing when I see Liam, his back to me, surveying the racetrack. I clear my throat to get his attention, noting how his face lights up into a smile when he first lays eyes on me, then settles into something closely resembling apprehension.

“Hello, Callum. I was concerned when I didn’t see you with the other suitors earlier.” He takes a few tentative steps towards me.

I bow stiffly. “Your Highness. As you can see I am perfectly fine.”

“You look fantastic,” he murmurs, his eyes roving over me lustfully.

I grunt in annoyance. “Figured I better butch it up for Daddy. Wouldn’t want him to be unsettled by my lack of gender norms.”

Liam’s gaze hardens and he sighs heavily. “We are responsible for a country, Callum. And that means projecting a certain image and pandering to certain groups to get things done. This isn’t personal.”

“Feels pretty fucking personal from where I’m standing, Liam. You’re asking me to stop being myself, to give up so much of what makes me…me.” I don’t raise my voice, but I can’t keep the hurt from creeping into my tone.

“I’m not asking you to stop, just…”

“Just pretend to be something I’m not?” I quirk an eyebrow at him and laugh sadly. “I think we might both have been deluding ourselves, darlin’. This place…this isn’t me.”

“No!” Liam steps forwards and wraps me into a crushing hug. “I can’t lose you, not when I’ve just found you.”

I hesitantly return his hug.

“I was being selfish; I can admit that. I just…I worry about you so much. Every minute I’m not with you drives me crazy, and I want to protect you from the powerplays, and the gossip, and the judgement.” He leans his head against my chest. “I shouldn’t have asked you to do that. But for the first time, I feel like maybe I can marry someone I care for and keep the crown. And thoughtlessly, I wanted to do everything I could to make that a reality and keep you sheltered, without considering how it would make you feel.”

I rest my chin on the top of Liam’s head. “You’re really that serious about us?”

He nods, rattling my head a little.

I chuckle and squeeze him tightly for a moment before falling serious once again. “Look, Liam…I don’t know how it was for you, but I didn’t just come out of the closet, I kicked my way out screaming and covered in glitter. I care about you…but I’m not going back in, not an inch, not even for you.”

Liam doesn’t move, but I feel his body stiffen against mine.

Fuck. Story time.

“There was a guy once. I was so fuckin’ crazy about him. The kind of love that has you losin’ sleep and it hurts to breathe without them around.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous?” Liam’s voice is muffled against my suit jacket.

I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me. “Hush and listen, boy.”

He presses in closer to me and I have to bite back a grin.

“His family was a lot like yours…prominent, conservative, you get the idea. I was already on his parents’ shit list because I was from the wrong type of family, had the wrong type of background. They struggled enough having a gay son, but for him to be with someone like me…” I trail off. “He asked me to make more of an effort to see things their way, to try and do all these different little things so they would like me better. I quit wearing makeup, quit dying my hair, didn’t wear my kilts or my skirts anymore. I cut my hair short.”

“Callum.” Liam sounds pained.

“It worked…for a while. Until it didn’t anymore. And the whole time I was just miserable, dying inside, just living for the days when I could steal some time to myself and just be. I did that for five years. Five years, Liam. I was prepared to live like that for the rest of my life just so I could be with him. I thought if I played my part and I just loved him hard enough, everything would be ok. But it wasn’t, and I’m never going to do that to myself again. I can’t, darlin’, I just can’t.” My voice cracks on the last word; this is the most I’ve ever talked about my relationship with Brody.

“I am such an ass,” Liam whispers. “I am so sorry. So, so sorry.”

I don’t say anything, content with running my hands up and down his back, soothing both of us.

“Why did you two break up?”

I laugh, the sound hollow to my ears. “That darlin’, is a long, sad story for another time.”

“Callum-”

“Hey guys I got… drinks?” Drake slowly walks towards us holding out two beers. “Everything alright?”

Liam and I slowly separate and reach for our drinks.

“Everything is fine, Brat. You ready to watch the races?” I plaster a smile on my face and ignore the tiny fissures threatening to crack apart my composure.

Drake eyes us both suspiciously, clearly not believing me. “Suuure,” he says, drawing out the word.

We take our seats, watching the races in a subdued silence, Liam cuddled into my side with my arm around his shoulders. When the final race is over Liam turns to me with a regretful look.

“You should probably join the other suitors now,” he says, tucking his head beneath my chin.

“Nuh-uh,” I mumble before pressing a soft kiss into his hair.

He pulls away from me with a rueful smile. “Drake,” he looks over towards his best friend. “Would you mind?”

Drake heaves out a put upon sigh and lurches to his feet. “Come on MacKenzie, I’ll take you to the others.”

Liam grabs my hand before I leave the tent. “I’ll see you later at the picnic?”

“Of course, darlin’.” I lean down to feather a gentle kiss over his forehead. “Be good until then, yeah?”

He blushes a pretty shade of pink before popping up on his toes to kiss my cheek. “Yes, sir,” he murmurs.

I flash him a coy wink before following Drake out of the tent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The king and his bodyguard watch the two commoners leave the prince’s viewing tent.

“Have you learned anything new about the American?” Constantine asks.

“Nothing yet,” Bastien answers evenly, willing himself not to flinch under the king’s stare.

“How is that possible?” Constantine growls.

“We’ve confirmed all his basic details. He is a classically trained chef. He did grow up in Hell’s Kitchen with his father as his primary caretaker. He worked and volunteered on his days off. By all appearances he lived a rather unremarkable life before arriving in Cordonia.”

“And you’ve got no other information on the father?”

“Just his name,” Bastien confirms. “We also found out that Callum owns his apartment in New York.”

Constantine raises his eyebrows in surprise. “And you don’t think that’s odd? A twenty- seven year old owning an apartment in a city like New York? While working in a dive bar? And if he is a trained chef, why is he in a dive bar in the first place?”

His bodyguard avoids his gaze, uncomfortable with the way the king is focusing on Callum.

“Bastien, I want your team to find out everything about Callum MacKenzie.” The king is pacing now, agitation making his steps quick. “Anything that may be of use to me, I want it.”

A sliver of dread trickles down Bastien’s spine. “May I ask why you’re so concerned about the MacKenzie boy, Your Highness? Surely the Nevrakis girl-”

“The Nevrakis girl will be dealt with in time.” Constantine glares at him. “The American is the greater threat.”

“I truly don’t believe Callum is a threat, sir.”

“That boy is a threat to my family and the monarchy!” Constantine roars, drawing looks from a few nearby Derby goers. He lowers his voice. “I will not allow my family line to end just because Liam has become infatuated with some fairy from America.”

Bastien recoils at the king’s use of the slur.

“I will not allow Liam to endanger Cordonia or the monarchy because he’s being led around by his dick.”

“With respect Your Highness, I don’t think-”

“I do not pay you to think, Bastien. I pay you to eliminate threats. And I say that the MacKenzie boy is a threat. Have I made myself perfectly clear?” Constantine stares down the other man, his tone cold.

Bastien grits his teeth and bow his head. “Yes, sir.”

“And as a loyal servant of the crown you will do whatever it takes to eliminate this threat, correct?”

Bastien keeps his head down and closes his eyes in pain. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Callum, forgive me.

20 notes · View notes

tessa-liam · 10 months

Text

Turning the Page

Because I Love You - 7 -

Choices, The Royal Romance, AU

Series Premise: As Riley Brooks journeys through life as a single parent in New York City, an epiphany strikes as she contemplates the future for herself and her two-year-old son.

Turning the Page Series Masterlist

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!OC Riley Brooks

All characters belong to Pixelberry Studios, except William Brooks (Rys) and Matteo Magro, who belongs to this series.

Category: On-going series, contains angst/fluff/depression. Cross-over fic with Choices, Perfect Match.

Rating: M🔞Warnings - Series will contain crude language, NSFW material – not Beta’d - please excuse all errors.

Words : 2450

Because I Love You – 7

Chapter Summary: Liam and Riley spend their first day as a family with William. A threat is revealed in Cordonia, while security is tightened in New York. Liam is called back to Cordonia.

Music Inspiration: When You Say Nothing at All, Alison Kraus & Union Station

A/N2: My submission for @choicesflashfics, Week#62, prompt #1 - “Forever means nothing to me if I don’t get to spend it with you.”

A/N3: My submission for @choicesflashfics, Holiday Prompt #18 - “If you throw that snowball, you’re declaring war.”

A/N4: My submission for @choicesdecember2023, prompt, Food and Feasts - ‘National cocoa day.’ #choices monthly challenge

A/N5: My submission for Choices Holidays Prompt Event, @angelasscribbles @choicesholidays, Week 3, “This is definitely going to land me on your naughty list.”

A/N6: My submission for Holiday Prompts 2023, prompt – Snowball Fight – Building a snowman.

Brooklyn Heights, New York City

The snow had drifted up against the patio door throughout the evening and continued to pile up as the new day began.

William looked up and gasped. "It's snowing! Look, Mama, ... loooooooook!"

Riley sauntered over to the glass door and gazed out at the beautiful sight. "It is snowing, LiLi. You are so right!"

"Can we go outside and play, Mama? ...Pweeeeeze?"

"Not yet sweetheart, it's still too early. But, maybe later today, the snow should still be falling."

William grinned, his eyes lighting up. "Yay!"

"You can show me all your favorite places outside in the snow." Liam chimed in, walking up to stand beside Riley with his coffee.

"Daddy, can you make a snowman with me?"

"Yes, I can. In fact, I'm a snowman-making expert." Riley's eyebrow shot up quickly turning to see a smirking Liam beside her.

"Really? Wow." William excitedly clapped his hands. Riley smiled warmly at William's reaction, which mirrored closely with Liam's expression of delight.

"Yes, I have a special way of making them. Do you want me to show you how?"

"Yes, Daddy, please!"

Riley giggled, shaking her head. “Snow in the Capital?”

“Not the Capital, but it was always snowing in Lythikos.” Liam quipped back with a grin.

Liam whispered, “... and Mama can help too.” Liam smiled affectionately at Riley, softly stroking her cheek with his thumb.

“But first, I would like to show you a train set at the toy store in the city! Would you like that, William?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I want to go see the train." William excitedly bounced in his chair. Liam grinned, captivated by the joy in his son's expression.

"Alright, let's finish our breakfast, and then we can get ready to go. We can also pick up some hot cocoa and marshmallows along the way."

William squealed in delight. “Oh yes, Daddy.”

Riley’s shoulders shook uncontrollably, with her laughter barely held.

“You are having way too much fun, Li.”

Liam bashfully looked at Riley and winked. “I will have Bastien prepare the car. We can go as soon as it gets here.”

“Okay, little man. Let’s get you ready to go.” Riley walked to pick up William from his toddler chair as Liam made the arrangements.

***

After visiting F.A.O. Schwarz in Rockerfeller center, as promised, Liam took Riley and William for a hot cocoa treat while admiring the huge Christmas tree in the center court.

As they walked along the bustling streets of New York, Liam could not help but smile at how much fun his son was having, and truth be told, so was he. They had visited the toy store, where Liam had bought him a set of toy trains, and stealthily selected more toys for Christmas morning for William.

William was in awe of the trains, and he had insisted on carrying the bag personally all the way to the café by himself.

As they entered, the waitress smiled warmly at them, and Riley was grateful for the privacy that being with the King afforded. She did not need any extra attention from onlookers.

"Good afternoon, folks. What can I get for you?"

Liam turned to Riley, "we will all have hot cocoa, with whipped cream and marshmallows."

“That sounds delicious …yes, please.” Riley agreed.

The waitress nodded, "you got it."

As she walked away, Liam turned to Riley, "thank you, Riley."

"For what?"

"For letting me be part of William's life. I now know that I can't imagine not having him in my life."

"I'm glad, Li. He's a very special little person."

"He is. Just like... his mother."

Riley blushed, "you're sweet."

"Not as sweet as you."

"Stop, Li," Riley laughed, shaking her head.

"Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we go to the park after this? We can build a snowman."

"That sounds wonderful. LiLi will love it."

"… and later, I was thinking just the two of us," Liam suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

"Oh...that sounds nice too." Riley smiled coyly.

The waitress returned with their drinks, and they spent the next hour talking and laughing, enjoying each other's company. When they were done, Liam paid the bill, and they headed out into the crisp, winter air.

"It's a date then?!" Liam continued to watch William.

"It's a date." Riley confirmed. “Oh, yeah?” Liam beamed.

“Yeah,” Riley confirmed, squeezing his hand.

"I meant what I said earlier, Riley. I want to be a part of your lives, both yours and William's.

As they continued to stroll, Liam reached out and took Riley's hand in his, a feeling of contentment washing over him.

"I know, Li. And we want you in our lives too."

"Good. Because now that I have you back in my life.... I want us to be a family."

"I love you too, Liam."

"Forever means nothing to me if I don't get to spend it with you."

Central park was beautiful, covered in a blanket of fresh, white snow, and Riley could not help but smile as she watched Liam playing with William. The two were building a snowman, and William was giggling and squealing with delight.

"Do you like it, William?" Liam asked, grinning.

"I love it, Daddy."

Liam's heart warmed at the sound of the word, and he scooped up his son, twirling him around. "I love it, too, LiLi."

"Daddy, look, the snowman needs arms."

"It does. What should we do?" William picked up two twigs and poked them in to its sides.

"Can we throw snowballs at the snowman nowe, Daddy?" Liam laughed.

"Of course, we can. Whatever you would like."

Liam put William down and helped him scoop up a handful of snow, showing him how to shape it into a ball. Then, they began to throw the snowballs at the snowman, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

As they played, Riley couldn't help but feel her heart swell with love and happiness. It was a sight she would never forget, and she knew that their lives together were just beginning.

"Riley, watch out!"

Riley turned to see a snowball hurtling towards her, and she ducked just in time, laughing. "Hey, that's not fair, you two!"

Liam and William looked at each other, trying to hide their giggles, and Riley picked up a handful of snow, forming a snowball.

"If you throw that snowball, you're declaring war."

Liam ducked as her snowball flew past him.

They shrieked with laughter, running around and chasing each other. As the sun began to set, Liam picked up his son and kissed his forehead and pulled Riley close.

“This is definitely going to land me on your naughty list.”

"Would that be a bad thing, Li?"

"God, no!"

Liam put William down and held his hand out for Riley, pulling her in close to his side.

"And I love you, my love," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

Riley melted into his kiss, savoring the moment, knowing that this was only the start.

Liam stood up and turned away from the fireplace after starting a warm glow, heading into the kitchen. Riley had prepared a feast of pasta, meatballs, and salad.

"Dinner's ready," she called out.

"Smells delicious."

"Hopefully, it tastes as good."

"William is fast asleep on the sofa. Let me get him into his bed."

"Okay, Liam, thank you."

They sat down and dug into their meal, both enjoying the warmth of the fire and the comfort of being together. Liam couldn't help but marvel at how normal things seemed.

As they ate, Liam cleared his throat, "I spoke to Leo earlier."

"Oh?" Riley's heart started to race, knowing that Liam will eventually have to go back home to Cordonia.

"We need to get back to the Capital."

Liam looked at Riley, his heart filled with love and sadness. "I wish I didn't have to leave you and William."

As Liam looked st Riley, his heart tightened.

"Liam, is something wrong?"

"No, everything 's fine. Just a lot on my mind."

"Me too, Li. But we'll be waiting for you here."

"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise."

"I know."

"Wait!" Riley untangled her arms from Liam and ran to the kitchen.

When his guard appeared at the door, Liam leaned in to kiss Riley goodbye, he could not help but think about all the moments they had shared together over the past few days. It was a bittersweet moment, and he couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart.

"Ri, what are you doing?"

"Just wait, you’ll see, Li."

A few moments later, Riley returned, carrying a twig of mistletoe.

“Ahhhh, I see.” Liam watched Riley with amusement as Riley was trying to figure out a place to attach it.

"There. Now we can have our Christmas kiss."

Liam laughed, "You' dont have to bribe me, love." ...as the mistletoe twig fell to the floor.

"I know. You've mentioned it a few times."

"Well, it's true."

Liam picked up the mistletoe and held it over their heads, grinning. "My future queen."

"My king."

Liam gently wrapped his hand around her cheek as he tugged her close. They shared a passionate kiss, both of their hearts aching with the thought of separation.

"I love you, Riley. With everything that I am."

"And I love you, Liam. ....so much."

As they pulled away, Liam tucked the mistletoe in his pocket, determined to bring a piece of their love story back with him to Cordonia.

"Take care of yourself, Riley. I will be back as soon as I can."

"Stay safe, Liam."

With one final look, Liam left the brownstone, his heart heavy.

Moroccan Royal Palace

The heat from the Moroccan sun was stifling, as Madeleine sat on the outdoor terrace reading the latest news from Cordonia. Looking up, she saw a familiar face walking towards her.

"Father ..." Duke Godfrey had a grim look on his face.

"The council has just received word that King Liam has been spotted in America with a woman and a child. He has a son."

Madeleine's eyes widened, "with her? That cannot be true."

"Apparently, it is. You know what this means, Madeleine."

"Yes. Our plan has failed. We must change course.

"How do you propose we do that?"

"Liam has made his choice, and now we must make ours. There is only one way forward."

"And what is the next step in our plan, father?"

Madeleine smirked, "I couldn't agree more."

"We must ensure that no one stands in the way of the succession of the true heir, your son."

"How do you suggest we do that?"

"It seems we will have to remove them from the equation. Permanently."

Madeleine smiled coldly, "I've been waiting a long time for this. Let's get started."

As the sun set over the Moroccan desert, Madeleine stood on the terrace, surveying the landscape, thinking.

Brooklyn Heights, New York City

Riley was startled when Bastien showed up at her door, but she couldn't say she was surprised. After everything that had happened, she had expected Liam to take extra precautions.

"Your Majesty has sent a team of security personnel to protect you and young William."

"Oh. I see.

"I apologize if it's an intrusion, but the King wants to ensure your safety and that of the Crown Prince.."

"It's not an intrusion, and I appreciate the gesture. Thank you, Bas."

What Riley wasn't expecting was the added security of Interpol.

Leo had also arranged for his Interpol contact, Damien Nazario, to oversee Riley and William's security when Liam has to return to Cordonia as an added precaution.

When Riley opened the door, she was greeted by a tall, muscular man with dark hair and a serious expression.

"You must be Riley. I'm Damien Nazario. Your security detail."

Cordonian Royal Palace

He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. He had a lot to discuss with Olivia, and he didn't have time to get lost in his thoughts.

As Liam stepped off the plane, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had missed Cordonia, but there was a big part of him that wished he could have brought back Riley and William with him.

But it was too early for that.

Something felt off.

As he entered the palace, he was greeted by a familiar face.

"Your Majesty, it's good to see you," Olivia said, smiling.

"Likewise, Olivia. Shall we head to my office?"

"Of course."

As they entered his office, Liam's eyes landed on a letter that had been placed on his desk.

As they walked through the halls of the palace, Liam could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. It was a strange sensation, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"What's this?"

Olivia's eyes widened, "I have no idea. I didn't see anyone leave anything."

Liam picked up the letter, and as he read its contents, his blood ran cold.

"What is it, Liam?"

Thanks for reading!

📌Liam x Riley, MC /OTP @jared2612 @irisk12 @thesvnsins @walkerdrakewalker

📌Liam x Riley, OC @emersyn-in-cordonia @mainstreetreader @belencha77 @walkerdrakewalker @iluaaa @mysticalfangirl @queenwalton @bascmve01 @umccall71 @choicesfrog @amandablink

📌Liam x Sophie @charlotteg234

📌Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @choicesflashfics @choicesdecember2023 @choicesholidays

77 notes · View notes

kristinamae093 · 1 year

Text

Ghosted

Ghosted - Let You Go (Chapter 3)

Book/Pairing - TRR- Liam x MC (Riley Brooks), hints of Liam x Madeleine

A/N1: This AU starts right before the beginning of the engagement tour. There is a two-month lapse between the coronation and where we pick up, but we will stray from canon. Please excuse any errors found.

A/N2: This is the last flashback chapter, for a while at least. If you've stuck around thus far, thanks a million! I really appreciate it! 💚🥹💚

Some dialogue borrowed directly from canon this chapter, but not much.

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Chatter filled the crowded ballroom, mixed with the soft notes from a full orchestra. The golden hue from the overhead chandelier shone across the ballroom floor as nobles twirled each other about. Excitement filled the air as everyone awaited the start of the ceremony, where they would witness the crowning of a new King.

However, Liam did not feel as happy as he was supposed to be. He stood in a corner with Drake and sipped on a scotch as he awaited the inevitable. With Riley gone, he had to choose a different suitor. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind much, as he continuously thought about Riley since she had left; where she could have gone, and why. But his father finally forced an answer out of him early that morning.

The conclusion was that Liam would pick Olivia. He knew she was the only suitor left he could trust. There was no other choice; he had to pick someone in only a matter of moments. Olivia was the perfect solution; he could choose her and still continue his search for Riley.

But Liam hadn’t seen Olivia since he had greeted her in the receiving line earlier. He mentioned they needed to speak, but he hadn’t been able to find her since.

“Drake, have you seen Olivia?” Liam asked as he scanned the room.

“Heh, you know, now that you mention it, it has been rather warm in here without her icy presence.” Drake replied with a lopsided grin.

Liam gave Drake an annoyed look. “I’m serious, Drake. I need to speak with her.”

“Sorry…” Drake responded with a shake of the head. “I saw her getting a drink at the bar a while ago, but I haven’t seen her since…” He turned and regarded Liam closely, as he continued his frantic search. Drake quickly changed his face to a serious expression. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I have to pick someone, even if only to buy myself time to find Riley. That someone has to be Olivia; there’s no way around it,” Liam answered as he continued to look through the mass of people before them.

Drake rolled his eyes. “... But Olivia? Seriously?”

Liam quickly cut his head over to Drake. “Would you rather me choose Madeleine? Because she’s next on the list.”

“Ugh, God no.” Drake shuddered, but started a search of his own alongside Liam. “I don’t know, man. Maybe she went outside or something?”

“I have to go check. Cover for me if anyone asks?”

“You got it.”

Liam turned from Drake and headed toward the exit. He did not make it far, however, as he felt a hand touch his arm; he turned to see Bastien. “Sir, it’s time.”

Liam let out a breath, but shook his head. He quickly glanced at Drake, who already knew what Liam wanted, as Drake gave him a subtle nod and took off to go check for Olivia outside.

As they made their way over to the stage, Liam felt his anxiety spike. He wasn't sure if it was the upcoming kingship, Riley's disappearance, or not speaking with Olivia that was causing his trouble. He had an incredibly uneasy feeling in his stomach as Bastien led him to the stage where his father and stepmother awaited. The closer they got, the larger the bad sensation in his gut grew.

Liam reached the area and stood at the steps, but couldn’t climb them. The anxiety and dread had peaked; his legs suddenly weighed hundreds of pounds, and he could not gather the strength to lift either. His breathing became shakier, labored, even. He tried his hardest to steady his pulse, but it continued to increase, despite his efforts. To calm the various thoughts racing through his mind, he closed his eyes and counted to ten multiple times.

“Son?” His father spoke from the top of the stairs Liam was stuck in front of. “Are you alright?” He asked with a concerned face.

Liam cleared his throat and replied, “Of course,” and finally lifted his feet to join his father and Regina.

Constantine patted Liam on the back as he made it to him, and Liam gave him the best smile he could muster in return. He crossed the stage and stood by himself with his hands clasped tight in front of him, as his father and Regina took their positions a little ways away from him.

As the crowd hushed, Constantine started his monologue. “The moment we’ve been waiting for all season has finally arrived. It has been my great honor to serve Cordonia these last few decades. We’ve had turmoil, but Cordonia has pulled together even during our toughest times.”

As Constantine rambled, Liam turned his attention from his father to the crowd in front of him, desperately scouting for Olivia. He skimmed through every person he could see from his new vantage point; he saw a crowd of recognizable faces, but not a single one of them was the Scarlet Duchess.

Liam’s eyes landed on Drake, who found himself towards the back of the crowd. He read the silent question in Liam’s expression as they made eye contact, because he shook his head; Drake had not spotted her either.

Their search was interrupted as Liam felt his phone vibrate. He obviously thought to ignore it, but then he heard more devices around him chime with an alert. He glanced back at Drake, who must have gotten one as well, as he stared at the screen in his hand with an astonished expression.

Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone; coronation ceremony be damned. He saw a link to an article and opened it. As he did, the broken crumples that remained of his heart disintegrated as he gawked at the text in front of him:

“Mystery Solved! American Ditches Prince For Lesser Nobleman!”

Liam felt his face flush, and his breaths intensified as he glared at the images on the screen in horror; Riley, in her underwear, in multiple photos with a set of hands on her body in inappropriate places. His pulse thundered in his ears as he scrolled the rest of the column with trembling hands.

“Suitor mysteriously left…”

“Infidelity in Applewood…”

“Lord Tariq and Lady Riley…”

“What the fuck?!“ Liam shouted.

Nothing else mattered at that moment. The coronation was long forgotten, along with the judgemental eyes that watched as Liam completely lost all sense of stoicism. He was no longer a Prince, but only a man; and the man who stood before them was quickly being enveloped by a whirlwind of emotions. There were no words to describe what Liam felt at that moment; devastated wasn’t strong enough, enraged didn’t come close, conflicted only grazed the surface.

The entire court observed their future King with utmost attention, but Liam continued to stand cemented in place; mouth still agape, phone still in hand, hypnotized by the images before him. He was completely unfazed by his surroundings at that moment; but he felt his heart physically aching in his chest the longer he stared.

Constantine was quick to pull Liam aside. Regina addressed the crowd, “If you would all excuse us for a moment,” with a polite smile.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!“Constantine growled as he got Liam off of the stage.

“I- “

“First you pull your phone out during a Royal ceremony, your own coronation, at that! Then, you scream profanity like some kind of foul-mouthed sailor!”

“Father I- “

“What has gotten into you, Liam? Is this all because of that… that girl?”

“She- “

Constantine scoffed. “You let that pesky American into your head, then suddenly you lose all common sense?!” He shook his head and started pacing in front of Liam.

“I-I love her!”

Constantine stopped dead in his tracks and moved to stand directly in front of Liam. “Oh, do you?“ He asked in a low growl.

Liam nodded. “I do, and I know she wouldn’t do that- “

“Then where is she, Liam?! She. LEFT. Now you know why.”

Liam furrowed his brows. “What? That-that’s preposterous!”

“Is it? Because these say otherwise.” Constantine retorted as he pulled his own device from his pocket. He opened the article and shoved it in Liam’s face. “Does that look like she loves you?“

Liam once again lost himself in the images before him with heavy breaths. He found himself to be indigent at that moment; his heart told him not to jump to conclusions, that there could be more to this. But that lingering voice in his head kept asking, where is she? That has been the question for the past two days, but Liam received no answers. The longer he stared at the pictures in front of him, the more turbulent he became.

Constantine pulled his phone away and scoffed at Liam’s reaction. He turned his attention to an advisor who stood close-by. “You! Begin working on a media response now! We have to control the narrative before this can get out of hand!”

Regina cautiously approached Liam. “Don’t let this throw you off, Liam. We still have to conclude the ceremony, and then you are free to react in whatever ways you see fit. But right now, you must choose your bride.” Liam looked at Regina with a wretched expression, but she continued, “I know… But this is your duty, Liam. You know that,” in a tender voice.

Constantine rejoined them. “Make the best decision for the stability of the Crown, son. Especially now, since you’ve blatantly ridiculed decades of hard work by your forefathers.” He took a step closer to look Liam directly in the eye. “And don’t think we’re finished with this conversation either, son,” he hissed. He turned away from them and stomped back out onto the stage and stood where he had been prior; hands clasped tightly in front of him with a blank expression on his face.

Regina gave Liam a pitiful glance, but followed behind Constantine. Although Liam was still in a completely desolate mind frame, he rejoined them.

As Liam took his spot back up on stage, he looked out at the crowd. He saw a various number of different expressions that stared back at him; some appalled and enraged, others judgmental and critical. But most seemed to be filled with pity. Whispers spread throughout the room, most amused by their soon to be King’s unfiltered reaction over being duped by a commoner.

Constantine finished his speech, although it seemed much curter than before. His agitation was clear, and considering everyone had witnessed Liam’s little stunt, he saw no reason to hide his disapproval.

Liam knew his father was right to be upset with him. But at that moment, he couldn’t control his outburst. It’s as if everything he had learned on forbearance completely vacated his mind. The only thing that mattered at that moment was the overwhelming pain he felt in his chest.

Liam took the signet ring to the sound of deferential applause. When he dreamt of this moment a few weeks ago, it was a joyous and happy occasion; he was fulfilling his destiny, even if it wasn’t originally his to inherit. And he would get to marry the woman of his dreams as a bonus. But instead, Liam felt completely confused and despaired as the jewelry slid down his finger, cementing his future in place.

“And now King Liam will choose his bride.” Regina announced to the crowd.

Liam knew Olivia would still be his choice, she was the best option. He knew there was no way she would miss this. If she was there, she would come. He cleared his throat and stood up straight. “I choose Lady Olivia.”

Liam heard his father let out a huff of air behind him and briefly turned to study him. Liam knew he was furious, but he almost looked irater than he had been prior. Constantine was good at his stoicism, but Liam could read right through it.

The crowd broke out into another bout of polite applause. Everyone looked throughout the room for the fiery redhead to make her way to join Liam. The claps filled the air for a brief period before it slowly died down, and a deafening silence overtook the large room.

“I choose Lady Olivia.” Liam repeated with more force. He hoped she couldn’t hear him and would come upon his louder repetition.

A few applauded once more, but the silence quickly returned. Liam fought to keep his face steady, but it was to no avail. Everyone could see his turmoil happening within; it was clearly illustrated all over his face. He frantically tried to decide what to do next but received very little time to decide.

“It would appear as though Lady Olivia is not here. King Liam will now choose a different bride.” Constantine addressed the crowd.

Liam closed his eyes at his father’s words. He found himself backed into a corner. Olivia was obviously not there, but he had to choose a suitor; there was no way around it. Of all the ladies left, he knew who the third most favorable option was, and certainly who his father wanted him to pick.

Liam opened his eyes and let out a heavy sigh before he quietly said, “... I choose Lady Madeleine.”

Liam sat by himself on his mother’s bench inside the hedge maze, lost in reflection. The court gathered inside the palace just a couple hundred yards from where he sat for the first official event of the engagement tour; a formal dinner hosted by the ‘happy couple’ to thank everyone for joining them along their route. Liam found himself to be struggling, however, and had to excuse himself for a few moments to get some air. He told those around him there was an urgent matter needing his attention, and quietly slipped out the front door of the palace.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation he had with Drake and Olivia a few days prior; he had tried and failed to push it out of his mind. Olivia's assumptions that Riley could have been forced out of the running along with her had not truly seeped in until he retired to his quarters that evening. Although he tried to stop it, he couldn't control the flicker of hope that ignited within himself at her accusations. It seems the more he thought about it, the more his heart wanted to believe it.

He had so many questions after the scandal came to light but put them aside to focus his attention on his country. After the fiasco at his coronation was broadcasted on nearly every news outlet globally, he knew he had to step it up and prove that was merely a lapse in judgment. And thus far, he had. People were thriving under his rule, and the nobility seemed content with his leadership thus far.

He thought he had moved past these feelings of doubt with his conclusion that Riley had left to be with Tariq. But as Olivia, and then Drake, questioned things, he felt his certainty waver with added vigor. It’s almost as if his heart took that first little spark of hope and clung onto it for dear life.

But he also vividly remembers being completely and utterly humiliated. Although he had tried to be fair to all the ladies throughout the social season, he could not hide his feelings for Riley. Everyone knew Liam favored her, the press even labeled her the frontrunner to win his hand shortly before she left. The nobles and people alike knew he was going to choose her to be his Queen.

Instead, he found himself angry, broken, alone, and embarrassed. He probably would have felt all of those things had he found the article alone, but being on such a public platform made it that much worse for him. Looking back, he felt a fool for allowing himself to react in such a way. He knew better, yet he still let himself get caught up in the moment. Liam the man had taken over, and Liam the King was powerless against it.

He held sideways feelings toward Riley and Olivia both for their sudden departures, but held no animosity toward Olivia, now. Before she came to his study that day, Liam was furious with her as well. He wanted to make a trip to Lythikos to confront her, but the Crown called him elsewhere. But ultimately, she had shown up and proved her case to him. Although he wished she would have immediately told him about her situation, he understood why she fled. He had his own load of information dropped on him and reacted in his own way; he could not fault her for doing the same.

But he was not granted that same clarity with Riley. He didn’t want to believe that she had left to be with Tariq, but she disappeared; not a word to anyone, aside from her vague note. That’s what hurt Liam the most. If she was doubtful, she should have told him. If she had feelings for another, she should have communicated that to him. More than being in love with her, he had found a best friend, a confidant in her. Sure, he had Drake and a few others, but nobody understood him the way she did. He told her things he wouldn’t tell anyone, not even Drake. Her abandoning the friendship they had established killed Liam a little more inside with every passing day.

And Liam felt reliant on her as a crutch during their brief time together. When his father, or the pressures of the Crown, would become too much, he would look for her. Just seeing her across the room would calm him. Her presence set his soul ablaze and made him feel like he had a better purpose than only being Royalty, secured to a life of duty. He felt like he could have it all: the perfect Queen, his dream wife, and one day, the best mother to his children. For her to disregard him without a second thought, and so abruptly, completely changed who he was as a man.

But Liam still often caught himself thinking about Riley; regardless of the humiliation and turmoil he had faced after her scandalous departure, although he wouldn’t admit that to anyone. He wanted to know what happened, what went wrong. The world was being offered to her on a silver platter, and although he knew she wasn’t a material person; he thought he was enough. He genuinely believed they were in love and would rule the country he had dedicated his life to serving together.

But beginning the engagement tour without Riley really put it into perspective, she was truly gone, she really wasn’t his bride. A small part of himself had thought that he had been asleep in some kind of long, alcohol induced delirium this whole time; he would wake up soon, and realize it had all been a nightmare.

But this wasn’t a dream, it was his reality. And although Liam knew he needed to accept it and move on, he couldn’t stop the unending dread he felt from truly continuing his life without her.

Liam heard footsteps behind him and turned to see his father as he made his way toward him. Liam turned his vision back to the fountain in front of him as his father took a seat beside him. The two remained silent, aside from the sounds of the calm night around them and the trickling of the fountain.

The silence stood for a long while before Constantine broke it. “I haven’t been out here in, oh, probably ten years.”

“Mmm.”

“It’s a beautiful night.”

“Sure is.”

Constantine continued, despite Liam’s lack of interest. “I see we’re adding Portavira to the list of stops on the tour. That will be good for morale, given their disadvantaged time.”

“Yep,” Liam responded in a flat tone. He was not in the mood for Constantine’s futile attempts at small talk.

“You know, there’s a celebration going on inside…”

“I needed some air.”

Constantine sighed, “Son, I know this isn’t the outcome you had hoped for-”

Liam scoffed. “That’s an understatement.”

“-but this is the hand you’ve been dealt. You can’t continue to do this to yourself. It’s not healthy, and people will soon notice. You’ve done well since your ascension to maintain your image, I’ll admit. But excusing yourself from your own engagement functions does not project a good image to those around us.”

“I said I just needed a minute. I fully intend to go back.” Liam bit out.

“I need you to understand that anything and everything you do is now on the world stage, and people notice even the smallest of things. Not only did you abandon your own gathering, but you also left Madeleine in there.”

“And?” Liam snapped.

“And? Do you not see how improper that is? It looks as if you are trying to get away from her, when you should be by her side the entire night. Everyone already knows Madeleine was your third choice, so you have to work harder to maintain your image together! I know you have ill feelings toward her, but she is your fiance now.”

Liam let out an exasperated huff and nonchalantly rolled his eyes. “I know all of this, father.”

“She is a remarkable woman, if you would only give her a chance.”

Liam laughed sardonically. “No, thanks.”

“Liam, you must let that American go! She chose another, and left! It’s time to stop pining like some teenage school girl!”

“You think I don’t know that?!” Liam exclaimed. “I’ve been trying! I can’t control what my heart feels!”

“You had tutors and instructors teaching you how to do so your entire life, Liam. You know how to control yourself, but you’re choosing to let your emotions run rampant! That’s how people get hurt! As soon as you show even the smallest bit of weakness, our enemies will swarm us!”

Liam cut his eyes over to his father. “What are you getting at?”

“I’m trying to project to you the long-term effects of your careless emotional rampages. What you believe to be small and minute, our enemies see vulnerabilities.”

“All because I needed some air? Doesn’t that seem a little extreme?”

“It’s not extreme,” Constantine huffed. “due to the… situation at your coronation, everyone already recognizes your engagement to Madeleine as weakened. If you are excusing yourself from events, individuals will notice and question your union, and ultimately the stability of the Crown. Unrest leads to unruly people, and that leaves us open to coups and various other threats. We know these enemies have never disappeared, but only lay in wait for their opportunity to strike. You can not openly give them that opportunity, Liam!”

“I’m not giving anyone an opportunity for anything.” Liam retorted, “I simply came outside for some air, that’s it!”’

“No, you came out here because you’re in your head over that… woman. Enough is enough, Liam. It’s time you put aside your feelings and focus on the bigger picture.“

“I am focusing on the bigger picture. I’m here, aren’t I?“

Constantine remained silent for a long while to calm himself down. After a few moments, he spoke in a soft tone, “I know this can’t be easy for you, son. But you cannot let these feelings run your life. It will only end badly for you. Lady Riley is gone; it’s been two months. We’re here celebrating your engagement, but you’re outside, alone, thinking about her.”

Liam opened his mouth to respond, but Constantine spoke first. “I’m not trying to be cruel to you, son. But you have to move on…” he trailed off as he put a hand on Liam’s shoulder.

Liam let out a heavy sigh as his annoyance subsided. “I know…” He shook his head. “It would be so much easier if I could hate her, but…”

“She is not worthy of your thoughts, nor your emotional turmoil, Liam. You need to start fresh and move forward with your life. I hope in time it will get easier for you to deal with, but you must remember you are no longer just thinking about yourself. Your country should be foremost in your mind at all times. Stability, above all else.”

Constantine could see Liam weighing their conversation as he stared at the fountain in front of them. He removed his hand from Liam’s shoulder and rubbed the name etched into the bench they sat upon. “Your mother wouldn’t want to see you in such a state. She was always one to encourage you and your…emotional needs… but even she would put a stop to this madness...”

Liam nodded his head, but didn’t respond, as his vocal chords were suddenly incredibly tight. His father patted him on the back, stood from his seat, and walked out of the clearing.

Liam sat and stared into the fountain for a long while in an emotional battle with himself. He knew he had to get it together, even if only for the sake of his country. Too many people needed him to be stable and rational; this was no time to spiral. His country needed a King, and that meant he had to step up and put his personal affairs aside with a smile on his face.

His duty was to Cordonia, not to himself.

And ultimately Liam knew his father was right; it was time to move on, regardless of the ache he felt in his heart. Riley left, not to be heard from since. If she wanted to be found, they would have done so by the time he took the Crown. But she vanished, like a ghost; she packed her things and escaped into the night, fleeing away from him and the future they could have shared.

Liam sighed and stood to approach the fountain in front of him. After fishing through his pocket, he pulled out a coin. He held it in his hands for a moment as he contemplated a wish. He clutched the silver with a white-knuckle grip as he turned his head to the sky above him. The bright full moon and a star filled sky stared back at him as he heaved a heavy breath; a light breeze rustled through the hedges around him and filled the air with a fragrance of roses and peonies.

Every single smile, laugh, and memory Liam had with Riley flashed through his mind; almost as if it were a slideshow made to torment him of happier times. His hopes and dreams for a life with her burned to the forefront, taunting him mercilessly with what could have been, what almost was.

He finally returned his attention back to the fountain in front of him. He breathed in a deep, shaky breath before he whispered, “I wish I could move on,” with tears in his eyes. He tossed the coin into the water and put his hands in his pockets as he watched it sink to the bottom.

Rationally, Liam knew it was silly, but he hoped the wish would grant him the strength he needed to move forward for the greater good of his country.

The battle within still raged onward, despite his futile attempts to push it aside. Liam knew how to control himself with others around, aside from his coronation; but also realized he was powerless to stop his mind from wandering once he took the Crown off for the day.

And with Drake and Olivia around asking questions, he knew he was going to need all the help he could get.

Tags (If you would like to be added or removed, please let me know):

@choicesficwriterscreations @ao719 @txemrn @imashybish @emkay512

@queenrileyrose @kingliam2019 @riseandshinelittleblossom @dcbbw @tessa-liam

@twinkleallnight @amandablink @cordonia-gothqueen @sfb123 @jared2612

@harleybeaumont @bebepac @charlotteg234 @aussiegurl1234 @busywoman

@malblk21 @angelasscribbles @bascmve01 @iaminlovewithtrr @hopelessromanticmonie

@mysticalfangirl

#the royal romance #king liam #liam rys #liam x riley #trr #choices the royal romance #choices trr #trr au #ghosted #choices fic writers creations #pixelberry #choices #prince liam #liam x mc #trr au fanfic

92 notes · View notes

angelasscribbles · 1 year

Text

Hinge: Reconciliations

Series: Hinge.

Fandom: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Pairings: Drake x Riley x Liam

Word count: 3,505

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

A/N: A place where I feel canon failed us was never really letting Liam truly confront Constantine about his hand in the setup, nor Drake with Bastien. So I wrote it. This would take place not long after Homecoming Part Two.

Everything else: Master List.

Liam x Constantine

“Finally, you come to see me!” Constantine struggled to sit up. A nurse hurried over to adjust his pillow then retreated quickly to give them privacy.

Liam felt so many emotions pull through him as he stood in his father’s presence for the first time since he’d learned that Constantine was behind the setup that had almost cost him the woman he loved.

He had been prepared with anger, hurt, righteous indignation, and condemnation. He would be well within his rights to express all of the above. But it lodged in his chest as his eyes took in the sight before him.

The hale and hearty man Liam had known all his life had been replaced. Constantine had gone downhill rapidly in the scant few weeks since he’d last seen him. The man in front of him now was frail, weak, and puny. He barely looked like the father Liam remembered from a month ago as he lay, pale and listless, against the stark white hospital sheets.

“You’ve been home for days!” A thread of his usual regal demeanor showed through as Constantine glared at his son.

Just like that, the anger was back as Liam returned his father’s glare, “I’ve been busy repairing what you tried to destroy!”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Riley! You were behind the setup!”

A sliver of regret flitted through his eyes, before demanding, “Is that what all this is about?”

“All what?”

“This!” Constantine gestured around the palace’s private hospital room, “Do you think I haven’t noticed that I’m practically a prisoner in my own home? That my personal guards have been rotated out and replaced with men that I never chose? I may be dying but I am neither stupid nor blind!”

“I can’t trust you, Father!”

“I was trying to protect you, son!”

“From what? Being happy?”

“From being hurt and from being perceived as weak! And I was right! Look what happened! You broke an engagement, something that is unheard of for royalty, and a day after you announced your engagement to a non-council-approved commoner, the palace itself was attacked! You were attacked! She was attacked! Your best friend was shot and almost killed! Can you really tell me that you don’t believe those things are connected?”

“Yes, Father, I can! And I’ll tell you why! The attack on the palace was well coordinated and executed with precision. That took time to plan. Definitely more than a day. More than the few days between my broken engagement to Madeleine and the Homecoming Ball. That attack would have taken place regardless of who my fiancée was!”

“Hmph!” Constantine scoffed but he looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, “I’ll concede that might be true but Liam…son…I know you don’t want to hear this, but that girl isn’t trained for this! She-“

“She can learn everything she needs to learn! She’ll have advisors, friends, and plenty of support, she’s not like Leo’s mother who came here with nothing and nobody! She has the Beaumonts, she has Lady Hana and Olivia, she has Drake-“

“Drake!” Constantine snorted, “If you’re smart, and you really intend to marry this girl, you’ll send Drake Walker far away from here!”

Liam’s mouth fell open, “Why would you say that?”

“That boy’s in love with her and if you can’t see it, you’re a fool!”

“I’m aware of his feelings,” Liam scoffed.

“Yet you still plan to make him her cultural attaché?”

Liam laughed but there was no humor in it, “I see being confined to that bed under armed guard hasn’t kept you from your intelligence network.”

“Liam,” Constantine paused to catch his breath before continuing, “I’m not your enemy.”

“You certainly feel like my enemy right now,” Liam said brokenly as he finally sat, taking the chair next to his father’s bed, “Of all the people in the world, I never imagined it was you that tried to destroy me!”

“That wasn’t my intention, I love you! Everything I did, I did to protect you!”

“I want to believe that, to believe you, I really do,” he released a slow sigh as his fingers pinched the bridge of his nose, “please explain your reasoning. I’m listening.”

“Thank you. I just need a drink first,” Constantine reached for the water on the bedside table with shaking hands. Liam leaned forward and helped him steady the cup. When he was done, Constantine replaced the cup, took a deep breath, and began, “You know what happened with Leo’s mother, Helena.”

Liam nodded.

“I loved her. I was devastated when she left me. And weakened. It’s hard to rule from a place of heartbreak. I didn’t want to see that happen to you! I promised your mother, as she lay dying in my arms, that I would always protect you! I couldn’t watch history repeat itself, I couldn’t break my promise to Eleanor!”

Liam watched in astonishment as his father dissolved into tears. He had only seen his father cry once before, the night his mother had died. He shook his head as confusion spilled through him, “But why would you assume that history was going to repeat itself?”

“Because if a noblewoman from Cordonia, who was raised for it, couldn’t handle the pressures of the throne, I didn’t think that a waitress from New York could!”

“Even if that had been true, it was my mistake to make! But it wasn’t a mistake! Riley is not a mistake! She can handle it; I wouldn’t have proposed to her if I didn’t believe that. How can you entrust me with an entire country, but not my own love life?”

Constantine slumped against his pillows in defeat, “I thought I could save you pain down the road by breaking the two of you up before you got too attached. I didn’t realize that it was already too late. When I saw you after the coronation, I…I regretted my actions, but then the morning the engagement tour kicked off, you seemed in good spirits, so I thought maybe-“

“I was in good spirits because I had found the loophole! From there it was a matter of winning her trust back and finding Tariq so her name could be cleared. Neither of which was an easy task! Both of which pulled time and attention away from the very duties you wanted me focused on! All the pain and anguish I suffered was at your hands, not hers!”

“I know,” he croaked out, “I’m sorry son. I was wrong. Can you ever forgive me?”

“I want to,” Liam’s voice cracked, “but I don’t know if I can! I need a little time…”

Constantine’s voice trembled, “Time is something I find myself in short supply of these days.”

“I know,” Liam reached for his father’s hand, “that’s why I’m here. I’m not leaving until we’ve hashed this out.”

Tears streaked down the old man’s face as he squeezed his son’s hand and whispered, “Thank you.”

Riley x Regina

Riley pushed the food around on her plate disinterestedly. Her eyes flicked to the woman sitting across from her before dropping back to her plate.

Regina noticed, “I know you only agreed to this luncheon because Liam asked you to.”

Riley carefully placed her fork on the plate in front of her then leaned back in her chair, bringing her eyes up to the older woman’s face, “I would do anything for Liam.”

“Is having lunch with me really that bad?”

“I’m not sure,” Riley lifted the linen napkin from her lap to her mouth then dropped it onto the table before continuing, “Were you involved with, or did you have knowledge of, the conspiracy to set me up and cause a false scandal?”

Regina raised her eyebrows in appreciation as she lifted her glass, “Direct and to the point. I like it. That’s a good quality in a queen.”

“A position you never wanted me to assume.”

“Oh, my dear, that’s simply not true,” Regina waved one hand in the air as she sat her drink down with the other, “Yes, I advocated for my niece because she was better prepared for the actual job. But anyone with eyes could see how Liam felt about you. I was prepared to take you under my wing and guide you into the role. Then the scandal broke. Are you telling me that was a setup?”

“Are you telling me that you didn’t know that all along?”

“Yes, dear, I am.” Regina waited patiently while staff cleared the plates and then sat desert in front of them, “Who would do that, and why?”

Riley kept her eyes locked on Regina so she could gauge her reaction, “You should ask your husband that question.”

Regina’s fork faltered halfway to her mouth, “What?”

Riley noted to herself that Regina’s surprise seemed genuine as she replied, “Constantine decided that I wasn’t fit for the throne and took it upon himself to have the lock on my door disabled and to send a drunken man into my room under the mistaken impression that I wanted to sleep with him.”

Regina closed her eyes briefly then fixed Riley with a level stare, “Well that explains your chilly attitude toward me. I can assure you that had I known about any such plot, I would have intervened and put an end to it.” Precisely why her husband hadn’t told her. “My husband can be misguided and pigheaded, but he loves his children. Whatever he did, I’m sure he thought it was in Liam’s best interests.”

“But he-“

The queen mother held her hand up to forestall Riley’s protests, “I’m not excusing his behavior. I’m telling you that he’s old, dying, and terrified of not being there to guide his son into his new role. Do you know how long a new Cordonian king traditionally has the counsel of the former monarch?”

Riley shook her head no.

“Ten to twenty years. That’s a decade or two of having the advice and guidance of the last person to do the job. Liam is going to have his father for months, maybe weeks at this point.”

“I’m not insensitive to the fact that he’s dying,” Riley shook her head, “but he didn’t just hurt me, he hurt Liam and that’s the part that I’m having a hard time forgiving. I don’t care that he went after me. I understand that my credentials are not up to what he had expected and wanted for his son.”

Regina smiled approvingly as she turned her attention back to the apple pie in front of her, “You do love Liam, that’s clear.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, that gives us some common ground, then, doesn’t it?”

Riley studied the other’s woman’s face for a moment before begrudgingly conceding, “Yes, I believe it does.”

The rest of their time together was spent discussing matters of court, governance, and decorum.

When the meal was over, Riley pushed away from the table, “This has been illuminating, but I need to get back to the hospital now.”

“Do you really think that’s wise, dear?”

Riley paused, turning back to look at her future mother-in-law, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“People are going to notice your devotion to your…guard.”

“I don’t care if they do! He took a bullet to save my life! And not just because he’s my guard, but because he loves me, and he loves Liam! Drake is not a liability and I think any monarch that seems indifferent to the health of the person that took a bullet to save them would be viewed by the public as cold and heartless!”

Regina took in her expression as Riley’s face darkened, “I can see you’re very passionate about both of them. Just…be careful. The press can be relentless. As you’ve already discovered.”

Was Regina tacitly acknowledging, and accepting, the arrangement between Liam, Drake, and herself?

“Yes, I have. Don’t worry, I will.”

Drake x Bastien

Drake looked up when the door to his room opened. He had been expecting Riley, but it was too soon for her to be back from her luncheon with Regina.

The last person he had expected was Bastien.

“How are you doing?” the older man asked as he made his way to Drake’s bedside.

“What are you doing here?”

“I guess I deserve that,” Bastien sighed as he sat in the chair next to the bed.

There had been a time when he would have been at Drake’s side the moment it was safe to do so. A time when he would have been in that ballroom to protect Liam. Instead, he’d been in bed asleep when his king, his country, was attacked. He was no longer in the loop so he found out like everyone else, on the news. He would have come to see Drake sooner, but the hospital was locked down in the immediate aftermath of the attack and he was no longer on the ‘let through security’ shortlist. He still wasn’t, but the entire hospital was no longer on lockdown, just the floor Drake was on and the guard at the top of the hallway had recognized him and let him through.

“You deserve a lot worse, Bas,” Drake was angry, and hurt. He felt betrayed by the man he thought of as a father.

“I understand why you’re mad, and you have every right to be…but….I just had to see for myself that you’re okay. I know I’m not great at showing my feelings, but I love you and your sister-“

“If you love me, how could you do what you did, huh? You just sat there and watched me go out of my mind trying to clear her name, the whole time knowing you had all the answers!”

“Constantine ordered-“

“I don’t care what Constantine did!” Drake roared as he sat straight up in the bed, causing pain to shoot through his shoulder, “Fuck!” His hand flew up to cover the wound as he slumped back against the bed.

“Are you okay?” Bastien moved closer to the bedside, reaching for the wounded shoulder.

Drake shoved his hands away, “I’m fine! Stop deflecting! I understand that you had to follow orders, but the moment Liam was crowned, your loyalty should have shifted. The Guard serves Cordonia and its leader, not any one individual man. You taught me that!”

“That is true. My only defense is that I was ashamed of what I had done, I truly believed what I had been told, that Liam was better served married to Madeliene, and I didn’t know there was a loophole. I thought it was too late anyway, that there was no way out of the engagement for him, so what was the point? And I swear, I honestly had no idea where Tariq had gone!”

“But you didn’t really look for him either, did you?”

Bastien dropped his head into his hands with a deep exhale, “No. I did not.”

“You could have at least given us a head’s up, Bas.”

The older man’s head swung up at the notes of hurt and betrayal in his godson’s voice, “You’re right. I could have. But I thought the girl was on a plane back to America that night. I had no idea until she showed up at Fydelia that she was still even here and if you’ll remember, no one bothered to tell me that an investigation had been launched to clear her name!”

“Yeah, well, turns out we were right not to trust you!”

Bastien stared at him in astonishment, “Had my king questioned me, even once, I would have come clean immediately. In fact, I did, once the question was asked. How can you doubt my loyalty?”

Drake’s anger faltered a little. Bas had a point. He had come clean the moment he was questioned about anything relating to the investigation, and he hadn’t known about it before then. But he had known Riley wasn’t on that plane that night.

“But you did know, Liam told you to release the Beaumonts and send them after her!”

“But that was the last time I was privy to anything regarding her! When she didn’t show back up at court in the days following the coronation, I assumed she had chosen to leave the country. When Constantine ordered me to track her down and ensure she had left the country, I refused, as I’ve already told you. Furthermore, I have never refused a direct order from Liam. My volunteering information would have moved up the date that you had all the information, but it wouldn’t have helped you find Lord Lambros any faster because, as I’ve said, I didn’t know where he had gone.”

Drake considered that. Normally he’d call bullshit, Bastien knew everything that went on under his watch. But he and Liam had gone to great lengths to ensure that no one had known where she had been until that night in Fydelia.

At most, Bastien was guilty of not voluntarily disclosing information about orders given, and carried out, under the previous regime. Not exactly treason but also not exactly trust-inspiring. “You knew she was innocent.”

“What does that matter? Neither the press nor the royal council care what I have to say, unless I were to divulge the former king’s role in the setup, a scandal that the crown can ill afford.”

Again, it was a fair point. But Drake wasn’t ready to let him off the hook just yet, “You knew how Liam and I both felt about her though! You could have helped-“

“No!” Bastien leaned forward as he hissed, “I told you I didn’t know about the loophole! Knowing that his father had been behind the setup would have only hurt Liam, I didn’t see how it could help him in any way! So, it’s not that I maliciously withheld information, it’s that I didn’t see the point in disclosing it! Tariq was gone, the damage was done, and Constantine was dying! Liam was weeks away from his wedding to Madeleine! I didn’t see the point!”

“But she was innocent-“

“And there was no way to prove that without either Tariq’s statement or revealing Constantine’s role in it, something that even Liam wasn’t willing to do! So, again, I didn’t see the point!”

Drake had run out of objections. Everything Bastien said made sense. He had only one question left, “But what about me? You knew how I felt about her, you knew she was important to me!”

“But she didn’t need her name cleared to be with you....”

Drake stared at him in stunned silence before whispering, “Please tell me that you did not withhold this information because you thought you were helping me!”

“I-“ his eyes dropped to his lap.

“Bas! No! I didn’t want her by default! I wanted her name cleared so she could make an actual choice and because she doesn’t deserve to have something like that hanging over her for the rest of her life!”

Bastien shook his head, “You deserve to be happy, too, Drake but that wasn’t why, I swear! I did consider that it might be a fringe benefit if it opened up the possibility for you to have the woman you loved, but again, if I had known about the loophole, and the investigation and thought that my input would have helped clear her name, I would have spoken up sooner. I promise on my friendship with your father!”

“Fine,” Drake huffed, “I believe you. I’ve made some stupid mistakes in my time so I can’t judge you too harshly. I just need to know that I can trust you moving forward.”

“You can. And for what it’s worth, I am sorry for the rift I’ve put between us.”

“Me too, Bas. Me too.”

The two men locked gazes, both with the same thought in their heads. Perhaps this was a start at mending that rift.

Drake hoped so. The scandal had been cleared, things had been set back to right and the future lay spread out in front of all of them.

Now all he had to do was catch the would-be assassins and shut down whatever this new threat was, help Liam reassure the public that Cordonia was still a safe place to live, and keep their allies from deserting the ship all while planning and executing security for the royal wedding, an enormous undertaking under the best of circumstances, much less while he was functioning at a deficit, Liam and Riley were being targeted and his faith in whom he could trust had been shaken to it's core.

The door opened again and this time it was Riley. He looked up, his breath caught in his throat, and his heart skipped a beat, just as it always did when he looked at her. Determination swirled through him. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t lose her! He’d find a way to fix it all and keep her safe.

He had to.

#trr au #trr poly #the royal romance #liam rys #drake walker #hinge #the royal romance fanfic #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #angelasscribbles #trr #choices #choices stories you play

36 notes · View notes

lolablackwrites · 1 year

Text

MC Mixer #3--Alice x Bastien

Here is my submission for week 3 of @choicesmcmadness ‘s MC Mixer!

Hello, Trend readers! Check out this online exclusive sneak peek from our intrepid arts and lifestyle reporter, Aisha Levins, and her interview with Lord Maxwell Beaumont about his upcoming book, The Royal Romance.

—Ana de Luca

***

Aisha: Lord Beaumont, thank you for taking the time to sit down with me to talk about your upcoming book.

Maxwell: Please, call me Maxwell, and thank you for having me.

Aisha: Your book, The Royal Romance, is one of the most hotly anticipated books in the last few years and from what I understand, preorders are through the roof. What inspired you to write this book?

Maxwell: In a word—Alice. She’s one of my favorite people and she’s really become a sister to me. And her story is a literal fairytale, starting as an American bartender only to rise to become the Champion of the Realm and a duchess, married to the love of her life.

Aisha: The Cordonian public has been fascinated by her from the beginning, and then the tumultuous stories in the press…can we expect to hear the truth behind the tabloids?

Maxwell: Absolutely. And trust me, the real story is even more exciting than what the public knows.

Aisha: How does Duchess Alice feel about you writing this book?

Maxwell: I think she was a little surprised at first because no one knew I was working on a book. (laughs) But she’s been incredibly supportive and at her request, a portion of the proceeds are going to Voices Unsilenced.

Aisha: That’s Duchess Rashida Masih’s organization for victims of sexual violence, correct?

Maxwell: Yes, and if you remember the tabloids, you’ll know why it’s so important to Alice, too. She, Rashida, and Olivia have been doing a lot for that foundation and I’m glad to help in my own way.

Aisha: That’s wonderful to hear. If I can, I’d like to switch gears a bit. Now I know you can’t reveal too much about the book—

Maxwell: Hey, I’ve gotta have a few surprises for you!

Aisha: Of course, of course. But despite being in the tabloids so often, Duchess Alice and Duke Bastien remain a bit of a mystery to the general public as they don’t often give a lot of personal interviews outside of the standard press conferences.

[Editor’s Note: Check back in next month’s issue when Ana de Luca sits down for a rare, exclusive interview with the Duke and Duchess of Valtoria!]

Maxwell: It’s true, I’m really the party face of the family. And I have the best dance moves!

Aisha: That’s certainly uncontested. Speaking of parties, I was hoping to ask a few questions about the duke and duchess and their party habits since the press is not often invited into many of the court events.

Maxwell: Sure, fire away!

Aisha: Tell me—do the duke and duchess arrive on time or fashionably late?

Maxwell: Bastien’s as punctual as all get out, probably from his time as the head of the Royal Guard. Alice is…well, not, but Bertrand would kill all of us if we weren’t on time so between Bertrand and Bastien, they’re usually on time.

Aisha: And what are their drinks of choice?

Maxwell: Bastien…well, he doesn’t usually drink much at court functions. Sometimes a glass of champagne or wine with dinner, but otherwise not much. Now, at private parties…oh, the stories I could tell about Bertrand’s bachelor party…

Aisha: I know our readers would love to hear them!

Maxwell: (awkwardly clearing his throat) I’d better not, I don’t know how happy Bertrand would be with me sharing those. Let’s just say there was beer and a bear and we all survived.

Aisha: As always, no one parties like the Beaumonts. Maybe in the sequel?

Maxwell: Most definitely.

Aisha: And what about Alice’s drink of choice?

Maxwell: Well since she’s pregnant, these days she just sticks to water. But as everyone knows, she was a bartender before we all came crashing into her life, so she has a refined whiskey palate. Red Spot was always one of her favorites.

Aisha: I imagine her bartending skills aren’t often needed at parties anymore.

Maxwell: Not at court functions, but I love having dinner at her and Bastien’s place because he’s an amazing cook and Alice always whips up the most incredible cocktails.

Aisha: Any chance for a recipe or two to end up in the book?

Maxwell: I could probably convince her to let me add a couple to the appendix. The one she made for my last birthday was amazing. I have no idea what was in it, but it was delicious. I had four.

Aisha: What are they like at court functions—are they wallflowers or social butterflies?

Maxwell: Bastien is definitely the more reserved of the two—he’s the strong, silent type, you know—but Alice is definitely the one befriending everyone. I mean, she managed to befriend most of her competitors during the social season, she won over Cordonia after she was unfairly maligned by the press after the social season, she’s raising a ton of funds and positive press for Voices Unsilenced, and she inspired the book I wrote that you’re interviewing me about today. Like I said before, she’s the best.

***

The full interview with Lord Maxwell Beaumont will be available in our next print issue.

#mc mixer #party time #Alice Ayers #Bastien Lykel #Maxwell Beaumont #The Royal Romance #Bastien Lykel x MC #Guarded Hearts #The Guarded Heir

11 notes · View notes

bobasheebaby · 4 years

Text

Tour-NO-ment Woes- Cordonian Ruby chapter 3

Pairing: Olivia x Bastien; Ruby Rys

Word count: 1,042

Warnings: angst, no real warnings

Summary: Ruby’s tenth birthday comes with a surprise.

A/N: A major thanks to my prereaders @sirbeepsalot and @lolablackwrites for reading it over and giving me advice.

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist.

Disclaimer: I only own my OC’s, the rest I’m borrowing from PB.

Ruby looked down at her birthday pancakes in thought. She still had time to convince her parents to let her compete. It wasn’t like it would be her first tournament, she couldn’t understand why they had said no this time.

She needed to compete. She was the youngest, just turning ten and already the best in her studio. All she needed was the yes, she already laid her gi and belt out on the bed, all her guards and pads including her hogu packed away in her gear bag. She just wasn’t sure how to get them to say yes.

She looked up as her mama walked into the kitchen, her nose scrunching in distaste as she looked at all three of her children eating the strawberry and chocolate filled pancakes. “I thought the birthday pancakes were only for the kid celebrating.”

Bastien chuckled as he placed a plate of pancakes in front of her. “Galen asked for them and then I couldn’t deny Lovett.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Galen only had to wait a week.”

Galen looked up with a chocolate ring around his lips. “But they are so good Mama!”

Olivia bit back a sigh. She could tell him he was too soft with the children, but the truth was she was too. After all that Ruby had lost, all the moving they all had to endure they tried to give them as much joy when they could.

“These don’t have strawberries in them do they?” She eyed the stack of golden pancakes topped with fresh strawberries.

“No mon coeur, I know how you don’t like fruit pieces in your pancakes, no chocolate chips either.”

“Mine have extra chocolate chips, and Papa added bacon too!” Ruby exclaimed before shoving another large bite into her mouth. “It’s so good!”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

“Sorry, Mama,” Ruby replied shielding her mouth with her hand. She swallowed, leveling her mother with a hopeful stare. Now or never.

“Mama, can’t I please compete today?”

Olivia paused, her scarlet lips pulling into a thin line. She knew this was coming, Ruby didn’t understand they said no for her safety. They had no issues with her competing in tournaments, but this one was too large, too televised for her to participate.

She froze as her daughter stared at her with her father’s, Liam’s eyes. Every day she looked more and more like her parents. Her mother’s golden waves and smile, her father’s nose and sapphire eyes. It was too risky to allow her to participate in a televised event. If footage were to make its way into the wrong hands it would be nearly impossible to deny who she was.

“I’m sorry Ruby, not this time.”

“Mama!” Ruby cried.

Olivia flinched at her shrill tone. It’s for her own good.

“It’s my one thing I want to do!”

“Goose …”

Ruby’s face contorted as tears rolled down her cheeks. She failed. She didn’t want to admit defeat, she wanted to continue to argue until she was granted permission to compete. Her parents’ stern looks told her that there was no winning.

- - -

Ruby aimlessly scrolled through the search results. She was fascinated by politics ever since the subject was introduced to her at school. She could spend hours on end reading about the different countries and the types of governments they each used.

Her eyes paused on a link she’d crossed before but never checked. She couldn’t explain the sudden draw to read this page that she’s overlooked countless times before.

She waited with bated breath as the new page slowly loaded. Her eyes drifted over a diagram of the country.

Cordonia- a once free and prosperous nation in the Mediterranean located near Greece. It was the last functioning monarchy in Europe until it was taken over by a neighboring country. Cordonia is now considered a region of Auvernal and is under the rule of King Bradshaw who many compare to a dictator.

Before falling to another country it was ruled by the Rys family. The royal family could be traced back more than 500 years. The country known as Cordonia was once five kingdoms before being united under the rule of Kenna Rys, the first monarch to rule all five kingdoms that would be known as Cordonia. Liam Rys was the last of the line to rule Cordonia, falling just over a year after taking the throne. King Liam, his queen, and future heir were all claimed in a fatal crash.

Ruby blinked back the forming tears. She had no connection to these people and yet she felt an overwhelming sadness as she read the words. Pull it together, people die all the time. Your parents died and you haven’t shed a single tear for them.

By the time she was six, she had noticed she didn't resemble her parents the way her friends did. Her baby brother looked more like them and he wasn’t even a year old. When her mama and papa sat down and carefully explained that she was adopted and her parents had died she hadn’t even flinched. She didn't know why, she just hadn't. So why now?

She skimmed the remaining facts, skipping over a section dedicated to the former nation's love of apples. She finally paused at an image of a man standing in full regalia. She’d never seen him before, but his wavy blond hair, strong jawline, and striking blue eyes seemed eerily familiar. King Liam at his coronation.

“What country are you reading about today Goose?”

“Cordonia,” she held up the tablet showing her father the portrait of the fallen king.

Bastien’s throat constricted and his hearing faded out as he stared down at the piercing blue eyes of the man he’d failed. He struggled to focus on his daughter’s words. Even with her love of politics they had never expected her to learn of Cordonia like this. Why didn’t they expect it?

“Isn't it sad Papa? The king, queen and their baby all died and the other country just took over. I didn’t know countries could do that.”

He struggled to stay composed, if he reacted too strongly more questions they weren’t ready to answer would surely follow. “It's very sad Goose, very sad indeed.”

Masterlist can be found in my bio.

@speedyoperarascalparty @liamxs-world @annekebbphotography @hopefulmoonobject @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @ao719 @blackwidow2721 @stopforamoment @akrenich @gardeningourmet @daniv2278 @bella-ca @gibbles82 @choiceslife @blackcoffee85 @sirbeepsalot @mrskamilxh @dcbbw @alicars @desireepow-1986 @mfackenthal @bhavf @indiacater @drakesensworld @kingliam2019 @walkerswhiskeygirl @ladyangel70 @jovialyouthmusic @edgiestwinter @rainbowsinthestorm @janezillow @sleepwalkingelite @texaskitten30 @traeumerinwitzhelden @bbrandy2002 @jared2612 @blackcatkita @darley1101 @innerpostmentality @lolablackwrites @endlessflame @fullbeaumonty @hhiggs @itsalliepg @smalltalk88 @littlegreenmoo @mynameiskaylabella @bobbersb @imma-winchester-addict @cordonianroyalty @loveellamae @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @katedrakeohd @forthebrokenheartedthings @super-secret-fandom-blog @burnsoslow @queenjilian

56 notes · View notes