Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 147

A year later…

“Out of the way!” Sophia yelled as she headed for the conference room in a mad rush.

An important meeting had been called, and everyone was waiting for her to arrive.

She slowed down her pace once she reached the conference room’s doors.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her skirt before she entered the room.

There, waiting for her was her father, Louis, and the council.

The council were a group of people who decided who was fit to rule, and currently? Things weren’t looking good for her.

They were pitted against each other, and yet it wasn’t taken into account the fact that Raymond and Sophia were father and daughter.

It’d been horrible from the start. Sophia had tried being civil, but things turned ugly real fast.

The reason Raymond had returned was now made apparent. It wasn’t to spend more time with his family, or anything as sweet as that. He was there to reclaim his throne. The birthright he’d given away like nothing and wanted back.

Despite Sophia’s efforts to prove he was unworthy, Raymond was still listened to and respected.

However, Sophia didn’t back out from the fight. If her father put up a fight, then so would she. She wouldn’t let him get in the way of what she deserved.

Julia would have been proud.

(Author’s Note: Since this chapter contains a one year time skip, keep in mind many things have changed. Raymond had become more comfortable in his home territory, Sophia, Louis and Nicholas had somewhat finished grieving Julia’s loss. And on the other hand, was Emilia and Clarisse.)

Sophia sat across from her father, and next to Louis, who was a welcoming sight to see in a room of strangers – Raymond included.

Emilia was nowhere to be seen, she’d gone off the radar these days.

Something was off with her, she’d been refusing to see anyone these days other than people who she had to meet for work reasons.

Things were going as per usual, except for the fact that Raymond was challenging her throne, and he was going against his daughter – something he didn’t pay any mind to.

Proven that he didn’t make a great father, all that was left to prove was that he wouldn’t make a good king.

The fact of the matter was, Raymond had left his kingdom for nearly a dozen years. He’d vanished without leaving any trace left. Even if he made a wonderful king before, that affected what others thought of him – or most importantly, what his people thought of him. And besides, he was no match for his mother when it came to ruling.

His mother. Julia.

The reason he went away in the first place.

He knew if he returned, Julia would pull all the stops and go to great lengths to make sure he stayed far away from the throne.

So that was why he came.

Not for his family.

Not even for his wife.

Not for his people.

But for the power he had when he ruled.

It was greed that brought him back, and nothing else mattered to him as much.

But Julia was gone now, and the council was clearly biased in their case.

Raymond had prior experience on his hands, he was a sight most recognized.

His daughter, on the other hand, still hadn’t fulfilled the one requirement to ascend the throne.

One would assume Sophia was glad she had someone rule over Beldovia for the mean time, so she wouldn’t feel pressured to get married, but that wasn’t the case. It was far from it.

Emilia was still ruling, the interregnum kept being stretched and stretched and stretched, something that’d never been done before up until recently.

Sophia didn’t feel comfortable with Emilia ruling, and especially if Raymond ruled, that’d simply be catastrophic.

She wasn’t fighting for herself, she was fighting for the people of Beldovia who deserved a ruler that knew what she or he was doing. Not one who ran away at the slightest of danger like the cowardice person he was.

“Alright, let’s begin,” a council member began.

They discussed everything that’d happen, and how the people got to choose who became the ruler of Beldovia, since this had never happened before – father and daughter fighting for the throne.

Supposedly, Emilia was to abdicate and hand over her crown to Sophia.

But Raymond wouldn’t allow that.

And Emilia…

No one knew who’s side she was on. She certainly wasn’t in Raymond’s corner, but neither was she in Sophia’s, she’d made that clear enough.

Sophia was glad that Emilia wasn’t biased, but she hadn’t bothered trying to win her over.

She’d do this fair and square. This was her birthright, and despite the fact she didn’t want to rule, it was either her or Raymond.

Julia wouldn’t want this. She wouldn’t have wanted her son on the throne. He was unfit to rule, and unfit to be forgiven.

He was ungrateful regarding what he had. Selfish even.

Never did he think to look back when he feigned his death, he wanted a break.

And afterwards, he assumed there wouldn’t be any repercussions simply because he was born into this. Even if it meant he had to go head to head with his own daughter!

Standing up for herself and doing what she needed to do was her most important priority – that, among other things.

Nicholas had his own matters to resolve in Sanguis, matters regarding kingship. He could possibly become king, she could possibly become queen.

They barely had time to see each other, but they were still making do.

They discussed Raymond’s and Sophia’s respective cases. How Raymond had abandoned his kingdom in their time of need and left it to his wife – someone unfit to rule.

Meanwhile, Sophia’s case was only that she had no spouse to rule with.

Until…

Raymond begged to differ.

“She’s a child,” he reasoned.

“She’s unfit to rule, she hasn’t the experience, neither does she want to rule.”

Sophia stared incredulously at her father. Never in her life had she thought she’d hear those words from his mouth.

“Excuse me?” She demanded.

“Did you just disregard me because I have no – as you call it – ‘experience’?” Sophia got up to her feet. She banged the table with her knuckles, startling the council.

“You’re one to talk,” she hissed.

“Do you think I’m going to let you rule Beldovia after what you did?”

“You left, Raymond. You left this kingdom behind when you decided to go wherever you went. And now you’re telling me I’m the one that’s unfit to rule?”

“So you’re my father, that doesn’t mean you get to walk around and disregard me simply because I have no experience. I worked my ass off learning how to rule. I watched you rule ever since I was a child and never did I do something as irrational as you that affected the entire kingdom!” She yelled, pointing a finger at her father.

Raymond watched Sophia yell at him in front of the entire council, finding himself incredibly amused by her show.

“Calm down,” he said, his composure still intact after Sophia’s words.

“Ms Windsor, I implore you to take a seat.”

Sophia took a deep breath before taking a seat, crossing her arms and huffing in annoyance.

Never would she let this type of behaviour go on, whoever told her this.

The council seemed amused by what she’d said to him.

She’d go as far to say they were impressed even.

Watching as they stated everything that’d happen, going through all the details… She realized one thing. They were clearly on Raymond’s side.

They sound biased, they’d make it painfully obvious at that point.

Sophia narrowed her eyes, studying Raymond carefully.

‘Never underestimate your opponent,’ Julia once said to her.

‘It could just be a facade to trick you,’ Julia added.

‘How they act on the surface may not be how they behave when they’re not around you, so be cautious. Never let down your guard unless you’re dead certain you trust the person.’

“That’s all for today,” the head of the council declared.

“You may leave, your grace, your majesty,” he greeted, bowing his head.

“Why thank you,” Sophia gazed thoughtfully at him, taking her purse before she winked at Raymond, causing him to get confused.

‘What is she doing?’ He thought to himself.

Sophia walked out of the conference room, blissfully calm. Not letting bullshit get to her head was sort of her speciality. Besides, she had plans with her boyfriend.

“Where are you heading, Windsor?” Oliver asked, passing by.

Sophia flipped her hair nonchalantly, “Your brother and I have plans together.”

“Isn’t he over at Sanguis?” Oliver creased his brow.

Sophia shrugged, “That never stopped us from spending time together.”

She explained, “Since I don’t have any meetings till Monday, I get a three day stay at Sanguis without any interruptions – hopefully.”

Oliver looked amazed, “You’re really living your best, huh.”

Sophia entered the car and rolled down the window.

“Of course I am, I’m Sophia fucking Windsor, I’m not going to let my father ruin my life simply because he thinks he has a shot at ruling.”