Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 29

Nicholas’ cheeks reddened once he realized what Sophia had said and done.

One journalist, in particular, was taking note of everything the two royals had done the entire dinner dance. Sophia refusing to dance despite Nicholas wanting to, Sophia and Leonard leaving the ballroom to talk in private, etc.

“Why am I acting this way,” he wondered.

“I’ve to stick to the plan, I can’t – in any way – be derailed,” he reminded himself.

He had a mission to do. He couldn’t – by any means – let the plan go awry.

What he wanted was immaterial, it was what his kingdom needed that was the priority.

He couldn’t let himself go unbalanced and distracted due to what Sophia was doing or did, and he himself knew it.

He looked at her woefully, watching as she and Julia engaged in conversation.

Julia nodded, and Sophia smiled, likely thanking her grandmother as she made her way back to Nicholas.

“Good news, Julia agreed, we’re free to leave,” Sophia declared mirthfully.

Nicholas smiled ever so slightly.

“And where might our destination be?” He asked curiously.

Sophia already had something in mind.

She grinned, “For you to find out, you’re going to have to follow me.”

Nicholas looked at her.

“Duchess, you’re not possibly asking me on a date, are you?” He asked.

When he’d gotten no answer, he then asked, “I’m not to suffer the same fate as Louis’ ex-lover now am I?”

Sophia rolled her eyes at the joke, stifling a smile.

“Just follow me already, and quit with the jokes,” she ordered.

“Yes ma’am,” Nicholas said almost instantly, despite knowing Sophia had succeeded at dodging his question. Whether or not she was asking him on a date was something only she’d know.

Sophia stared at him, wide-eyed.

“Don’t call me that,” she said insistently.

“Would you rather me call you taxi-thief?” Nicholas then asked, testing Sophia’s patience.

“Don’t. You. Dare,” Sophia said, glaring at him.

Nicholas tried his best not to laugh. If he had it his way, he’d never let her live it down. Ever.

By then, Sophia and Nicholas had left the ballroom and was currently making their way to a spot Sophia was guiding Nicholas to. It was one only she and Louis knew of, although Nicholas would soon be one of the few that knew of its existence.

“Should I be worried regarding where you’re taking me or are you always this mysterious when you’re bringing people to places?” Nicholas asked Sophia.

Sophia shot him a look that he clearly understood.

‘Shut up.’

Sophia and Nicholas made their way to the palace gardens, and Nicholas furrowed his brows. But things weren’t as they seemed.

“You might be wondering why I brought you to the palace gardens,” Sophia said, before she walked towards a wall of shrubbery.

She seemed to look for something before her eyes lit up.

“It’s been quite a while since I was last here,” she said whilst unlocking something before pushing a hidden fence open.

“After you,” she told Nicholas, who looked around curiously whilst passing the threshold.

He didn’t fathom what he was supposed to be looking at before he got to the perfect viewing spot.

“What is this place?” Nicholas asked in amazement.

It was as if the scenery he had the opportunity to lay his eyes on was taken straight from a fantasy.

Sophia smiled, in her own world. She answered Nicholas’ question.

“This, your royal highness, is the place I’d go to when I was a mere child living out my childhood with royalty, an uncaring father and a deceased mother,” Sophia answered.

Nicholas raised his brow.

“Are you trying to gain pity from me?” He asked.

Sophia asked, “Was it meant to be a competition?”

“I’d rather not go down that road,” Nicholas said truthfully. Not out of fear for Sophia’s traumatic childhood, but rather out of fear Sophia would discover the truth out of the kind of life he grew up living. Unloved, unwanted, and burdensome.

Of course, he had Julia, but she was rather occupied, taking care of her grandchildren as well. She’d spare time for him, but that was all it was. Something done out of mere pity for someone else.

He admired the small, scenic lake spread out in front of him, with lush greenery which were the trees providing shade, the sweet-scenting flowers and the small patches of shrubbery. The water was a clear greenish-blue colour, close to that of turquoise shade. No one but the two royals were there and everything was calm and serene.

“Rather than debate about who’s had a more traumatic life, why not admire the view?” Sophia reasoned, not fully referring to the stunning and astounding scenery of the secret lake.

“Why’d you bring me here?” Nicholas asked.

Sophia took a seat close to the water. She sat far enough to stay dry but close enough to observe the small ripples of water that formed from the falling leaves.

“Because, we’re friends, and who wouldn’t appreciate a bit of privacy every now and then after being put in the public eye against our will,” Sophia said, her voice sincere and genuine.

She stayed quiet afterwards. Something about her saying she and Nicholas were simply friends didn’t sit right with her. Was it because of the fact she and him had barely known each other for her to call him a friend, or the fact that they had no reason to be friends other than their one shared interest, Julia’s happiness?

Nicholas kept quiet and took a seat close to Sophia, who didn’t seem to mind the little to no distance between her and Nicholas.

They sat, in silence, watching the scenery and observing every other sound and detail.

The birds chirping, the water running, the leaves falling down the tree that provided the both of them some shade.

Sophia nor Nicholas didn’t feel the need to start up a conversation. They’d rather stay in silence, enjoying each other’s company without speaking. Nicholas wondered if this was what it’d be like for the rest of their ruse.

By then, he’d also realized that this wasn’t a date. Or was it and Sophia was too nervous to say anything?