Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 49

For yet another change of scenery, Sophia and Nicholas decided to take a stroll in the palace gardens, which offered both privacy and pleasant views. That, and how Sophia gave Nicholas no choice, finding the donating part of the charity gala unamusing and incredibly boring and insisting they move, after Nicholas made a generous donation, of course.

“Your sister’s adorable, delightful as well,” Sophia praised.

Nicholas nodded, “Yeah, she’s amazing.”

“And the only member of my family who missed me,” he added.

Sophia pursed her lips, “Well that’s not at all depressing.”

Nicholas chuckled at the joke.

‘Depressing is my go to,’ he muttered soft enough for it to go unnoticed by Sophia.

Sophia fumbled with her dress absentmindedly.

Nicholas and her walked past a patch of gardenias, tall, not to mention, thick hedges on their left and right, making the two royals feel as though they were in some kind of hedge maze.

It was a windy day, but neither Sophia nor Nicholas paid that any heed.

As though Sophia had been cursed with a sudden interest in other people’s lives, she’d wondered if Liv was undergoing what Nicholas had went through. She’d also been wondering if she should ask Nicholas of what Angelica had told her and stick her nose in to something that was strictly Nicholas’ business. Eventually, she wisely chose to keep quiet.

But, what the two hadn’t noticed was one familiar figure, following the both of them with utmost stealth. His main goal was to sneak up to them undetected, and so far, it was working, Sophia and Nicholas hadn’t caught notice of anything.

Nicholas tried to strike up a conversation, wanting to break the awkward silence between him and Sophia.

“So… how’d you spend your first official day in Sanguis, aside from the charity gala?” Nicholas asked.

In an instant, Sophia answered, trying to hide her excitement from the day she spent at THE Sanguisian palace, and what she was fortunate enough to see, although the fact Sanguis was in the midst of a war did contribute to her excitement, strangely enough.

“Angelica gave me a tour of the Sanguisian palace, ‘is all.”

Nicholas nodded slowly, his governess gave Sophia a tour. He couldn’t help but feel skeptical over it.

But, that wasn’t what he was most focused about. His gut instinct told him to turn around, although he thought of it as mere paranoia.

Sophia had chills up her spine which she blamed on wind. She hadn’t considered another, far more dangerous option.

Not until a small, timid voice whispered in her mind, ‘He’s following you.’

Once Sophia did nothing about it, ignoring what she assumed were random voices she heard in her head, the voice increased in volume, repeating what it’d said before, ‘He’s following you.’

‘TURN AROUND!’ It warned.

Sophia blinked, whipping around, expecting to see… something.

She skimmed the area; no one else was there with her and Nicholas. They weren’t being followed, as she’d originally thought.

She looked dazed, and lost, causing Nicholas to ask, “You alright?”

Sophia shook her head. She felt tingly.

She murmured, “I’ve got this weird feeling someone’s been following us.”

Nicholas narrowed his eyes.

“The lady’s not wrong,” a masculine voice came from behind the two royals.

Instinctively, both Sophia and Nicholas whipped around to a see a sight they’d never forget.

Sophia’s heart dropped. Nicholas’ eyes widened. He immediately moved, now in front of Sophia.

“You!” Sophia exclaimed, looking as though she was ready to rip him apart.

It was the same king that’d proposed to her. The same man that Nicholas had humiliated during Julia’s dinner dance. One that hadn’t left with the best impression of the Duchess of Beldovia.

Previously, he’d been alone in his endeavours, but this time, he hadn’t followed Nicholas and Sophia alone.

But this time, he hadn’t followed Nicholas and Sophia alone. He’d brought company, and no, it wasn’t an entourage, other humans, but a trusty revolver.

Sophia kept calm, since panicking on the outside wouldn’t do her any good at the moment.

“Why hello Ms. Windsor, we meet again,” the king greeted, a smug smirk plastered on his face as he pointed his revolver at her face.

Nicholas remained silent, figuring out how he’d get Sophia to safety. She was his number one priority… at the moment, he himself exiting the scene without getting shot be damned.

Sophia on the other hand, was too calm it was frightening. All she was trying to do was calm the king down.

[Author’s Note: Keep in mind, the king is 3-4 meters away from Sophia and Nicholas.]

“Put the gun down, and we’ll talk,” Sophia said convincingly. It was moments like these she was thankful she could sound extremely convincing.

He exclaimed, “Don’t you dare try to talk me out!”

“You, you humiliated me!” He said matter-of-factly.

He then glared at Nicholas.

“Whilst you, you broke my arm!” He said, visibly enraged.

Sophia and Nicholas glanced at his right arm’s cast.

There was no talking him out of this one.

But, Sophia being Sophia, she decided to prod him on.

“And what, pray tell, was your big plan by following us?” She asked boldly.

“You assume bringing a revolver would change things?” Sophia asked.

Nicholas subconsciously glared at Sophia, what was she trying to do, get him purposely killed?

The king was furious, pointing his gun at Nicholas, who stood still. He didn’t seem to care if he’d get shot.

Sophia heard her heart pounding loudly in her ears, seeing the king pull the trigger.

Time seemed to stop for a split moment, as though the bullet was moving in slow motion before Sophia snapped back to reality. A bullet was heading for Nicholas.

Sophia shut her eyes, before she hurled herself in front of Nicholas, placing herself in between him and the moving bullet.

She braced herself, and right before she hit the ground… she heard one last sound, the sound of bullet piercing…

Flesh.

Her vision blackened, as she succumbed to darkness.