Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 156

When she saw Nicholas, relief flooded her. He was alright, the love of her life was alright.

“You’re okay,” she said relievedly, her chest heaving up and down.

Saying she was relieved would be a complete understatement.

She hadn’t realized she’d begun crying when she saw him looking back at her.

Nicholas – although confused and dazed as to what was up with her – brought her closer to him.

He took her in his arms, embracing her tightly before constantly reassuring her he was okay, and right here.

“I’m here, I’m alright,” he rubbed her back soothingly.

“There’s nothing to be cry over,” he reassured.

Sophia didn’t say anything, instead choosing to hold Nicholas more tightly.

Those nightmares had returned.

The same nightmares where Nicholas was stabbed and died bleeding out.

One she thought she’d never have to relive until that night.

Like before, she thought it was real. Like something had happened to her boyfriend. She’d been beginning to panic ever since she saw him lying there dying, until she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. Someone was there with her.

She woke up relieved, once she made sure Nicholas was perfectly okay and that her dream was just that. A dream.

“What happened?” Nicholas asked, his voice barely audible.

Sophia bit her lip.

She hesitated to tell him – she refused to worry him by telling him this.

Shaking her head, she pleaded, “Can we just stay here till I have to go?”

Nicholas stroked her hair, “Of course.”

Sophia calmed herself down. Nothing was wrong – Nicholas was okay.

Guards were patrolling the palace 24/7. Not to mention the staff that worked there were on the lookout for intruders too. They’d make sure nothing happened to them – she assured herself.

Then again, she was capable of defending herself as well.

And yet she still dreaded the possibility of something happening to him.

Nicholas had been thinking of the same thing.

The mere chance of Sophia getting hurt, even if it was from a dream scared him.

“Do you want a glass of water or anything?” Nicholas offered.

Sophia nodded, “That would be great.”

Nicholas poured her a glass of water – the pitcher at his side of the bed.

The minute he moved away from her, Sophia trembled.

She asked herself what was up with her.

It was a dream, nothing more. Sure, Nicholas had… died, and yes it’d happened during their imaginary wedding, but who knew what this dream meant.

Was it some sort of warning?

Nicholas thought about it, suddenly realizing what the dream she’d gotten could’ve entailed.

He handed her the glass of water.

Sophia took a sip from it before placing it down on the nightstand beside her.

Nicholas asked quietly, “Was it the dream you told me about?”

Sophia blinked.

She’d forgotten she told Nicholas of her dream.

She nodded slowly, studying his face to see his reaction.

Nicholas placed a hand on hers, squeezing it gently.

So that was what happened.

She’d lost him.

That was what scared her out of her mind and made her want to stay in bed with him until she hadn’t any other choice but to leave.

__

“Your majesty, sire is requesting your presence for a meal,” the maid informed after she showed her respects to Emilia.

Emilia raised her brow, “Oh?”

“Do tell me more,” she said, looking uninterested – although that was far from it.

“He mentioned it was urgent,” the maid added.

From behind the newspaper she held in her hands, she rolled her eyes.

It was Raymond exaggerating things for her to come running to him.

She shook her head, “Tell him I’m preoccupied.”

The maid trembled in her spot.

Tasked to return with Emilia’s word that she’d join him for that meal, she couldn’t leave empty-handed. Yes, she was queen, but Raymond was still a royal by blood. He had the power to make her life in the palace a living hell if she failed.

The temptation to get on her knees and beg Emilia to attend grew.

Returning knowing she could’ve done more to sway Emilia or change things wasn’t an option for her.

Even if it was Emilia’s decision, this was her job on the line.

Now that she thought of it, Raymond could’ve easily gotten her fired.

Albeit it was Emilia who hired her, he was still her husband.

“What are you doing, standing there? Leave me be, as you see I am busy,” Emilia said.

Truth be told, Emilia wasn’t as horrible as Sophia had made her out to be.

Yes, as a stepmother, Sophia’s words had some form of truth to it, but Sophia had a habit of exaggerating things.

But now, where did she possibly get that habit from? One could only presume.

Emilia did a fairly good job at ruling a kingdom she wasn’t prepared to rule.

Not as good as any of her predecessors, but she was what kept Beldovia going strong. Her, and Julia – who she didn’t want to admit helped in it.

Julia despised her, and of course she had perfect reason to but Julia still hadn’t known the truth.

That this would’ve never happened had Raymond not decide to feign his death and run, all because he decided he needed a decade long break.

What would Julia had said about it?

She wouldn’t have allowed Raymond to come even a step close to the throne.

She would’ve had him exiled to the dungeons, never to see the light of day again and place a hand on his children. Not after what he’d put them through, and certainly not after the influence he’d been. Without Julia, they would’ve needed therapy and would’ve ended up facing multiple problems trying to function and behave like everyone else.

“Your majesty,” the maid bowed once more.

She gulped once she saw the look Emilia was giving her.

Emilia recognized the look of determination in her eyes.

“What did he ask you to do?” Emilia asked, raising her brow.

“Your majesty?” The maid blinked.

“I’m asking you what my husband’s intentions were by sending you here,” Emilia clarified, surprised she hadn’t gotten the memo.

“Oh.”

“A free pass. So tell me,” the queen narrowed her eyes at the maid.

The maid sighed, “He ordered me to return with your word.”

“That you’d have a meal with him.”

She then resorted to begging Emilia to come.

“In all respect, I can’t return empty handed, I could lose my job, ma’am.”

“And if I didn’t lose my job he’d make everyday torture for me,” she hung her head in embarrassment and shame.

Emilia tilted her head, pursing her lips.

The lengths he’d go to.

“You’ll be fine,” Emilia said in a monotone.

The maid nearly jumped back in fright.

Was she really going to…

“He’s essentially powerless, now that he’s no longer king.”

The maid began, “Ma’am–”

Emilia promised, “I’ll talk to him and make sure nothing happens to you. If anything does happen, then report back to me.”

“Deal?” Emilia inquired, peering at her.

The maid nodded instantly.

“Yes, ma’am,” she got on her knees and bowed.

She was filled with gratitude for the queen.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Emilia was known to be cold and unfair. She did things without warning and she was never known to give opportunities like this, much less to a maid.

Reporting whatever he did to her… she was grateful Emilia had allowed her to do such a thing.

Looking at Queen Emilia in a new light, the maid – her name Taylor – bowed once more, thanking the queen before she left her study and headed to where Raymond was awaiting her return.

With a skip to every step of hers, she knew she was invincible now – or had some protection at the very least. Raymond wouldn’t be able to do anything without Emilia finding out about it.

She knocked on Raymond’s quarters.

“Your majesty,” she called.

She heard some shuffling before the door finally opened. There stood Prince Raymond.

(Author’s Note: Yes, I referred to him as king. Raymond is still entitled to the title of King, only once the council deems him fit to rule again. For now, he’s left with the title of prince even though he’s called your majesty. Think of it as a prince with influence of a king but powers of a prince which was no match to the power of the current queen.)

“So, any good news?” He asked enthusiastically.

Not even letting Taylor in, he’d asked her the big question immediately, awaiting answers from her.

What did his wife say to her?

Did she agree to have another meal with him?

Did she refuse?

Frowning, he growled, “Give it to me, her response.”

Taylor answered his question, “Your majesty.”

“The queen refused your invitation, sire,” she answered, taking a small step back – which went unnoticed with Raymond.

It took him a while to process what Taylor had told him.

‘Refused your invitation.’

‘Refused your invitation.’

‘Refused your invitation.’

Those three words rang in his head.