Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 148

‘I can’t wait to see him,’ Sophia mumbled dreamily as she looked out the car window.

Even though it hadn’t even been a couple of days since she last saw him, she missed him. A lot.

So as the car pulled up to the Sanguisian palace, she was delighted to see her boyfriend waiting for her.

She exhaled relievedly once she saw him.

Once she stepped out of the car, she rushed towards him and threw her hands around him.

“Have you been eating okay?” She asked him worriedly.

Nicholas embraced her in return, “Of course I have.”

“I wouldn’t want to worry you, honey,” he chuckled.

They separated from the hug, gasping for air.

Sophia wondered, “So, are you free for the rest of the afternoon or…”

A sly grin made its way to Nicholas’ face.

“Why of course I am, milady,” he kissed the back of her hand.

“I had my assistant clear out my entire schedule for me to spend the whole day with my amazing girlfriend.”

Sophia nearly jumped with excitement before she stopped herself.

Future queens didn’t jump with excitement, they acted gracefully and planned every move with poise and elegance.

Then she reminded herself there was no need to act queenly in front of her boyfriend.

She squealed before they entered the palace, their hands intertwined.

It seemed like nothing much had changed in Sanguis, but it was her turn to visit since Nicholas had last visited Beldovia.

They rotated turns, making sure to free up time to spend with each other since they needed some time to themselves as well.

Whilst Nicholas was piled with work, and Sophia was busy fighting for her birthright, they never once were too busy to see each other.

“What do you have planned?” Sophia asked curiously to her boyfriend, who seemed to have a cheeky if not sly grin imprinted on his handsome face.

“Mmm, I suppose you’ll have to see for yourself.”

“Later, of course.”

Sophia blinked, “So where are you taking me?”

Nicholas opened the door.

“To the dining room, you need to eat something.”

Sophia moved her hand from his, crossing her arms.

“I’m not hungry,” she insisted, before her stomach betrayed her, grumbling loudly.

She uttered, “Okay, maybe I’m a tad bit hungry after all.”

Nicholas nodded, “So that’s why I had the kitchen prepare a meal for you.”

Sophia’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Oh?”

“So we’re starting this off with late lunch?” She asked, a smile tugging at the corner of her rosy lips.

Nicholas winked at her, “You know it.”

He walked in the room without her, pulling a chair for her so she could sit.

“A gentleman, as always,” Sophia complimented.

Things hadn’t changed over the year, her feelings were as strong as ever for him, and they’d adjusted to all the slight changes they faced – especially when Nicholas started to spend more time in Sanguis to fulfil his own royal duties.

Sure, Sophia missed the olden days, where she and Nicholas could see each other without having to spend hours in a car prior, but so long as she saw Nicholas… it didn’t matter if she had to do that. She was content.

They were going strong, and Sophia was glad Nicholas wouldn’t be spending too much time around Raymond too.

It was clear Raymond didn’t enjoy having Nicholas around, which was funny since he never seemed to care about his own daughter. So why would he mind having her boyfriend around?

Sophia shrugged it off, continuing on with dinner.

“How are things in Beldovia, the council still as bullheaded and biased as ever?” Nicholas inquired.

Sophia narrowed her eyes – Nicholas had predicted they would have a bias on her father, she didn’t want to admit he was right.

She began, “I suppose they take a liking on my father.”

Nicholas raised his brows.

“Oh?” He tried his absolute best not to smile.

“So I was right then,” he mused.

Sophia groaned, “I wish you weren’t.”

Nicholas took her hand and squeezed it lightly.

Sophia looked down at her lap, knowing this would likely be a harder fight to win what with the council’s obvious partiality to her father.

“Listen, you and I both know you don’t need a fair council to win against your father. With or without a fair council, practically everyone knows it won’t be your father on the winning side, if so, that’d be preposterous,” Nicholas reasoned with her.

“I just…”

“He’ll find a way. He always does,” Sophia sighed dejectedly.

“You’d think he wouldn’t even be given a chance to plead your case after leaving everything behind, but no. He’s given another chance, and it’s handed to him on a silver platter,” Sophia mumbled.

‘And what’s worse is, if I were a man, I wouldn’t be doubted or doubted as much as I am,’ Sophia thought, deciding to keep it to herself.

Having to have a spouse beside you to guide you during your rule was a preposterous idea. Although Sophia had Nicholas, they hadn’t discussed the idea of marriage yet, among many other things.

She didn’t need someone to help her, she was capable of doing everything herself – or so she used to presume.

Before Nicholas came along, she thought she was capable of doing everything herself. Not to say she felt she needed help, but there were times she needed someone to tell her if she was doing the right thing at the right time. Ruling a kingdom wasn’t one person’s job, it was the whole kingdom’s job, she learnt from Nicholas.

Even though that wasn’t what the law meant to be taken as, that was what she assumed it did.

“How could I do this without you?” Sophia asked him.

Nicholas shrugged, “You always could.”

“I’m just here to cheer you on, is all,” he answered before taking a bite out of his entree.

Sophia frowned, “That’s downplaying your importance.”

Nicholas blinked, “It’s the truth.”

They continued arguing before it turned into witty banter, before ending in flirting.

It seemed like they were still at the early stages of dating, they were still lovey-dovey as ever.

Meanwhile… in Beldovia, with Clarisse and Blaine.

“Hey babe,” Clarisse greeted.

Blaine faked a smile, “Hello dear.”

“How’s work?” She questioned.

Blaine shrugged, “Same, as per usual.”

“What about you, Sophia’s with Nicholas in Sanguis.”

Clarisse nodded, “I do feel slightly lonely, but it’s alright.”

“Besides, Oliver’s still here.”

Blaine tensed.

Oliver.

A name that had been popping up in his and Clarisse’s conversations more frequently these days.

“And what about him?” Blaine raised his brow.

Clarisse realized she shouldn’t have brought Oliver up.

Blaine always seemed to tense and get all upset whenever she did. She wondered why when he knew she only had eyes for him.

“He’s great company,” Clarisse said, observing Blaine’s face.

She was testing out the dangerous waters, wondering what would come as a result.

And boy, did Blaine deliver.

“Great company?” He asked, trying to remain calm.

Had this been Nicholas, or any other man, he would’ve closed his eyes and not minded it.

But Oliver. This was Oliver she was talking about.

She hadn’t resolved his and her arranged marriage yet. Things were still being sorted out – something usually common in arranged marriages. It took years before anything actually happened and Blaine was somewhat grateful he didn’t have to worry about the arranged marriage snatching his own girlfriend away, as far-fetched as it seemed.

He was still a commoner compared to the royals.

Never mind the fact he was a CEO, he was not a royal.

He wasn’t as powerful as a royal – say, Sophia or Nicholas, or even… Oliver.

As much as it annoyed him Oliver was a duke and the man Clarisse was meant to marry, it wasn’t that that annoyed him. It was how Oliver seemed to hover around Clarisse.

Another man hanging around his girlfriend.

Blaine never got jealous in the past, he was usually calm. He never got infuriated over hearing Clarisse talk to him regarding them either.

However, Oliver was an exception, and Blaine wondered how Clarisse hadn’t figured that out.

Oliver had some sort of intentions.

He was interested in Clarisse – Blaine had figured that out months ago.

Oliver had made it far too obvious, and yet Clarisse didn’t have a single clue to the fact he did.

“Do tell me more,” Blaine coaxed.

Clarisse knew she shouldn’t have continued discussing how great of company Oliver was. That was signing a death note. It’d end up in a fight – potentially.

She shut her mouth, racking her brain for anything else to say other than Oliver, and more about him.

“Would you look at the time,” Clarisse glanced at the clock, thankful it was time for lunch.

“Instead of talking about Oliver, why don’t we go and have an impromptu lunch date?” Clarisse offered.

A grin formed on Blaine’s face, “That’s a great idea actually.”

He got up and dusted his suit.

“Let’s go.”