Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 108

“I’ll miss you,” Clarisse mumbled.

Blaine smiled, “It’s only for a couple of days, and you’re free to come down and visit my headquarters.”

(Author’s Note: In this novel, there’s both royalty, CEOs, COOs, etc. It’s fantasy, meaning it’s not meant to make logical sense.)

They shared an awkward hug before he shot her an affectionate look and walked away.

‘Ugh,’ Oliver – who’d been watching everything from afar – mumbled.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the lady of the evening, Queen Emilia Iris Edith Windsor of Beldovia!” The herald announced from above.

Emilia looked decently for the occasion, dressed in a sleeveless, floor-length yellowish green gown with matching heels and dangly earrings.

Unamused, everyone looked above, the audience didn’t bother to clap.

The doors swung open, a hush fell over the entire ballroom as they all gawked and gasped.

Sophia walked into the ballroom hand in hand with her grandmother.

“See, you look amazing in royal blue as I told you you would,” Julia whispered to her granddaughter.

Sophia sighed, she only wore this because Julia had persuaded her to match outfits for the ball.

“You should wear blue more often,” Julia suggested.

Sophia nodded, not listening to anything Julia was telling her.

Julia nudged Sophia gently, “Your tiara’s slightly slanted, dear.”

They made their way down the flight of stairs.

Sophia adjusted her tiara that went with her sexy, royal blue sleeveless and strapless evening gown she paired with stilettos.

“What’s it like?” Nicholas asked her.

“Excuse me?” Sophia asked him.

“What’s it like walking down the stairs of heaven like that,” Nicholas blurted out of nowhere.

He blinked.

‘Where did that come from?’ He thought confusedly.

He played it off cool, “I didn’t mean to say that.”

Sophia chuckled.

“It’s sweet.”

“I didn’t,” Nicholas insisted.

Sophia saw Emilia pass by.

She cursed.

“Of all places step-mommy dearest could’ve chosen to celebrate her damn birthday, it’s in one of the hundreds of ballrooms in Beldovia palace when she could’ve chosen anywhere else. Why should I be surprised?” She growled.

“She has absolutely no sense of taste,” Nicholas stared at her dress. She was a walking, unfashionable disaster.

“And she’s the one ruling Beldovia,” Nicholas shook his head.

Sophia stared proudly at Nicholas.

“Ambrose, you have a catty side to you, consider me impressed,” Sophia said in utter awe.

Nicholas raised his brows.

He’d merely been honest.

“Only by my catty side?” Nicholas asked pouting.

“And I thought you liked me for who I actually was,” Nicholas said dejectedly.

Sophia blinked twice.

She inhaled sharply.

“Nicholas, you know I do,” she answered seriously.

“That goes without question,” she said.

“Who else did you think I was looking at on my way down those stairs?” She questioned curiously.

“I do like you, a lot,” she said.

“In fact, I lo–”

She halted. It was too soon. He’d think it was too soon.

She moved back a step.

“Never mind,” she mumbled to herself.

“What did you mean to say?” Nicholas furrowed his brows.

“I… uh…”

“It’s nothing, really it’s nothing,” Sophia shrugged it off.

She scanned the ballroom, “Champagne?”

Nicholas was sceptical but nodded anyway, “You know it.”

“I’ll be back then.”

Oliver walked towards him.

“And you’re the one giving me advice,” he said judgingly.

“She was about to say it,” he said to Nicholas.

“You overheard our conversation?” Nicholas’ eye twitched.

“This is why we didn’t grow up close.”

“Quit minding my business,” he crossed his arms.

Oliver shrugged, “Just saying, she was about to.”

“And I came here to ask you what to do,” he declared.

“You did?” Nicholas asked.

“You’re kidding,” he said.

“I’m not, brother, I’m not,” Oliver said with sincerity in his voice.

“How do I know you’re not?” Nicholas asked.

“What’s inconvertible proof that you are?”

Oliver looked taken aback, as though he’d expected Nicholas to accept that as enough.

He blinked, “You want proof?”

“I’ll give you proof,” he said confidently.

He walked up to Clarisse.

“He’s not actually going to do it,” he said.

‘Is he not now?’ A voice in his head asked.

Oliver greeted Clarisse who looked like she was trying to keep herself together.

He neared the two of them, overhearing their conversation.

“Who was the uh man you were talking to?” He asked Clarisse.

Clarisse didn’t trouble herself to lie.

“My ex-boyfriend,” she told him.

Oliver acted as though he just discovered the man was her ex.

“Your ex,” he said, shocked.

He studied her face.

“You alright?” He asked her.

“Why’d you want to know?” Clarisse asked.

“Because you look overall distraught,” Oliver answered. It was obvious.

Clarisse sighed, “If you must know, he’s leaving for a while.”

Oliver didn’t believe it to be true.

He asked, wanting to confirm his suspicions, “And you’re distraught your ex is leaving because…?”

Clarisse shrugged, “I don’t know.”

She laughed, thinking to herself, ‘Why am I talking to you regarding my problems with my ex?’

She decided to grab a drink.

“Bye Jax,” she waved Oliver a swift goodbye before she left.

Sophia had returned by then, and Nicholas had filled her into what was going on.

Luckily she’d brought three drinks, one for her, one for Nicholas and the other that was meant to be for Clarisse before she decided to grab her own drink.

“Sophia,” Oliver greeted.

Sophia tilted her head, “Didn’t know we were on a first-name basis, Jaxson,” she said to Oliver.

“You overheard me and Clarisse’s entire conversation,” Oliver reasoned.

“Mm,” Sophia handed Nicholas a glass before handing the spare to Oliver, keeping the last glass to herself.

She took a large sip from her champagne glass.

“Don’t take it personally, she’s just,” Sophia sighed before continuing, “…exhausted.”

“Besides, you’re you and she’s her.”

“What do you mean by that?” Oliver asked ignorantly.

Sophia tilted her head, “You’re a Sanguisian duke, and she’s a Samarisian countess.”

Oliver said defensively, “I’m not the only royal from Sanguis,” looking directly at his brother.

Sophia facepalmed.

“Yes you aren’t.”

“But there’s a difference.”

“You’re the man she’s being set up in an arranged marriage with.”

“Nicholas is… aside from the man I’m courting, an acquaintance,” Sophia explained.

“If I were in Clarisse’s position, I’d resent you, and that’s saying something.”

“Give her some space,” she said to Oliver.

Nicholas looked proudly at her.

“Never knew you were this wise,” Oliver said, acting the part.

Sophia shot Oliver a dry look before she headed towards Clarisse.

Oliver’s eye twitched. He blinked.

“What’s she–”

He took a step forward.

Nicholas held him back.

“Don’t,” he warned.

Oliver sighed. He knew Nicholas was right.

“Like what Sophia said, you’ve got to back off,” Nicholas said to him.

Oliver admitted defeat. He raised his hands in frustration.

“I just want to talk to her, that’s all.”

Nicholas scoffed, “Did you not remember what she said to you last time you talked to her or did you forget already?”

“You’re not helping,” Oliver said glaringly.

“Just stay here,” Nicholas ordered.

__

Sophia tapped on Clarisse’s shoulder.

“Who is it this time?” Clarisse asked frustratedly, whirling around.

“Ohhhhhh, it’s youu,” she said once she saw Sophia.

Sophia nodded, “Saw little Ambrose approaching you before to talk, what’d he say?”

Clarisse rolled her eyes.

“He just went up to me and asked me if I was–”

She stumbled.

“…alright,” she finished her sentence.

Sophia’s eyes widened.

“Wha- are you drunk?”

Clarisse immediately placed a hand on her chest. She gasped, acting shocked.

“Am I?” She asked.

“I’m not,” she tried denying it, despite it being painfully obvious she was indeed drunk.

Sophia wrapped her arm around Clarisse’s neck.

Clarisse hiccuped.

She brought Clarisse over to Oliver and Nicholas.

“She’s drunk,” she explained.

“That why she was grumpy earlier when she was talking to you,” Sophia stifled a laugh.

“I’m not grumpy when I’m drunk,” Clarisse shot Sophia a dirty look.

“You always say that,” Sophia said to her, patting her on the back.

Oliver pointed out, “Why’d you bring her here?”

Sophia narrowed her eyes, “Because, someone’s got to bring her to her quarters.”

“And that person isn’t going to be me.”

“Yes I’m her friend, but I’ve got to stay here since it’s my stepmom’s birthday.”

Oliver opened his mouth, wanting to say something albeit nothing came out of his mouth.

“You want me to take her to her quarters?” He asked.

Sophia smacked him on the head, “Who else do you think I’d ask, Nicholas?”

“She’s not going to remember this and you know what I’d do to you if you try anything,” Sophia warned.

Clarisse hiccuped.

“I’m kidding,” Sophia said.

“I’m asking Louis,” she patted Oliver on the shoulder.

“But if you’d still like to talk to her, you’re free to try,” she said.

Once Oliver, Louis and Clarisse left, Nicholas went ahead and asked her, “Do you really have to stay behind since it’s Emilia’s birthday?”

Sophia scoffed, “No.”

“I just refused because whenever Clarisse is drunk… she…”

“You’ll see,” she said vaguely.

Nicholas raised his brow.