Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 50

The royals were carefree, enjoying the entertainment the charity gala had to offer, left unaware of what was happening right outside the ballroom, thanks to the soundproof walls of the ballroom.

Oh, if only they knew. But for now, it seemed like they’d be left in the dark and feign ignorance.

Well, back to our two protagonists that were duelling with death, so to speak.

The minute the sound of a gun firing was heard, and Nicholas hadn’t felt the bullet piercing his skin and a round of excruciating pain, he realized what’d happened.

She’d taken the bullet for him. Despite the fact that it was meant to injure if not kill him and take his life.

The king smirked at the sight of Sophia unconscious, he hadn’t bothered checking whether or not he’d missed, or anything of the sort.

He watched as Nicholas noticed Sophia in front of him. He remained silent, his eyes filled with sorrow and guilt before he crouched down.

‘You’re dead to me,’ he mumbled incomprehensibly.

Oh, the things he’d do once the king hadn’t a gun in his possession. The thought of it made Nicholas nearly smile.

‘You’re going to pay,’ he mumbled next.

He subconsciously glared at the king, who’d gotten sceptical as to what Nicholas was doing.

Nicholas got up calmly.

But, as soon as it looked as though Nicholas was to attack, the king fired another bullet, although it turned out Nicholas merely meant to stand in front of the unconscious duchess.

He fully knew if he were to take one more step forward, he’d likely get shot without any further hesitation, meaning Sophia would be left for dead.

She’d be killed. He couldn’t let that happen.

She had a whole life ahead of her. She, of all people, deserved to live it.

“Whatever you do, don’t shoot her,” he said, trying to keep calm although his urge to smite the king was increasing by the minutes that passed by.

The king scoffed, “No can do, Nicky.”

Nicholas gritted his pearly whites, “Don’t call me that.”

The king cocked his head to the side, grinning from ear to ear, that was before his grin faded away, turning into a scowl.

“I’m the one to tell you what it is you have to do, after all, I’m the one determining whether or not your girlfriend survives,” he said.

“And also, I get to determine whether or not you survive this encounter as well,” he smirked.

He added unhelpfully, “That is if she doesn’t die from bleeding out on the pavement in the first place.”

Nicholas inhaled sharply. If he could, he would’ve killed him by now.

Nicholas hadn’t even bothered to correct the king when he called Sophia his girlfriend, which wasn’t too far off the charts.

Besides, there wasn’t anyone currently there aside from the king, Nicholas and Sophia – who happened to be laying on the pavement, likely unable to listen into Nicholas and the king’s conversation.

It is to be noted this king had a name – Bartholomew – one he resented being called.

Nicholas retorted, “So, your plan is to leave the both of us dying here in the palace gardens and to escape without being detected and or accused?”

Truth be told, he was stalling. What else was he to do? Break into song?

He hoped for a miracle to occur. The royals taking notice of the fight in the gardens, and rushing in to bring Sophia to safety, for one. Or guards doing routine security checks passing by. Anything. Sophia needed medical attention. Whether or not he survived, he couldn’t care any less.

To think, none of this would’ve occurred had Nicholas refused to go outdoors despite Sophia’s persistence.

“I see what you’re doing here, Nicky,” Bartholomew said with a tone of fathom.

“You’re trying to get me to talk and reveal to you my master plan,” Bartholomew realized.

He then shrugged, “Since I’m killing you right after we have this chat, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you.”

Sophia twitched. Neither Nicholas nor Bartholomew noticed.

To Nicholas’ relief, Bartholomew had fallen for his… trap of sorts. It bought him time for now.

Nicholas raised his eyebrow, “And how exactly am I to know whether or not your gun hasn’t run out of bullets already?”

Bartholomew rolled his eyes, he fired another two bullets, purposely missing Nicholas so as to prove a point. He moved the gun down so it now faced the pavement.

Nicholas then taunted Bartholomew, saying, “So, you’re to shoot me solely because you assume I ‘got the girl,’ and you didn’t.”

“And you’re supposed to be king?”

“Your kingdom must be doomed,” Nicholas said snarkily, embracing his inner Sophia.

What was his main objective, taunting Bartholomew like so? He too hadn’t the slightest inkling. He just instinctively thought it was what was best to do.

Bartholomew glared at Nicholas, and Nicholas knew he was to pull the trigger yet another time.

There was no one left to sacrifice themselves for him.

“Keep on talking and I’ll have you beheaded!” Bartholomew threatened non frighteningly.

Nicholas didn’t seem bothered at all, for some strange reason. At the very least, he’d be thinking of a plethora of different ways to escape this horrid situation, but he remained there, glued to his spot, completely unbothered. That infuriated Bartholomew to his very core.

He should’ve felt threatened. He should’ve felt death nearing him with every single step he made. He should’ve known that he was no longer in control, but that wasn’t the case either.

It was then a low chuckle emanated from behind Nicholas. One he too hadn’t been expecting.

From behind him, the duchess had already gotten up to her feet and was currently brushing off any stray leaves off her crimson evening gown calmly as if she hadn’t just been shot and had just finished high tea and were to leave.

“That’s a traditional revolver you’re holding there, is it not, and you’ve already fired… What, 4-5 bullets?”