Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 52

Sophia told Bartholomew, “Alright, a couple of last words then.”

Bartholomew narrowed his eyes, she was up to something he couldn’t quite determine.

“Fine,” he harrumphed.

He reasoned to himself, she was about to die, the least he could do was give her the chance to utter her last words.

“The bullet that nearly pierced my skin’s the closest thing you’ll ever get to penetrating me, you plonker,” she insulted.

“Oh and also, that crown you wear eighty percent of the damn time, it’s overkill,” Sophia scoffed.

Bartholomew laughed maniacally, “So you have chosen death, my ladyship!”

Sophia didn’t answer, the pain she’d felt had intensified. She winced.

Bartholomew was seconds away from pulling the trigger before he was punched in the face and knocked out cold, his head hitting the pavement.

Nicholas mumbled something incomprehensible under his breath before he turned to Sophia.

“You alright?” He asked, his tone etched with worry.

Sophia shrugged it off. She ran a finger through her hair, “Peachy.”

Nicholas didn’t seem to be convinced by her blatant lies, but he nodded, subconsciously sighing.

He could see right through her. She was acting tough, it was obvious.

Sophia forced a smile, reassuring him she was perfectly fine before she mumbled an excuse and left mere minutes later, leaving Nicholas still as sceptical as ever.

He sighed, “She’s hiding something.”

He glared down at the unconscious Bartholomew, who was bleeding out on the pavement. He figured he’d deal with him first.

Rushing in the palace to order the guards to apprehend him, he’d made sure Bartholomew would be escorted and placed in the worst cell the Sanguisian palace dungeons had to offer. He’d face his punishment sooner or later.

Relieved he’d dealt with Bartholomew already, he was off to find his partner in crime – of sorts; he returned to the scene of the crime, picking up Sophia’s fallen masquerade mask off the pavement to return it to her before he went off to find her.

He stared at it, before he decided to search the gardens. She couldn’t have gotten too far.

If she’d actually thought for a second that she’d escape without being highly suspicious, she was less intelligent than Nicholas thought her out to be.

“Windsor?” He called.

He heard a rustle nearby.

‘Sophia,’ he immediately thought.

He neared where the sound had come from.

And there she was, sat on the grass, staring at a patch of pale yellow gardenias.

She seemed dazed.

“Seems like you dropped something on your way here,” Nicholas said.

Sophia glanced at him and the mask he held before returning her gaze back to the gardenias.

She remained deadly silent. She hadn’t explicitly told him she’d wanted him to leave, so he took it as an opportunity to stay, taking a seat beside her on the grass before handing Sophia back her mask.

“So,” Nicholas started.

“You certain you’re alright?” He asked her once more.

Sophia had her head on both her hands, she gave him a curt nod.

“I assure you I’m fine.”

‘Mentally, that is,’ she added.

Rather than get help, she chose to stay and observe the gardenias. She was fortunate to be alive.

“I should be asking if you’re fine,” Sophia said, changing the subject so she’d seem less exposed.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes.

“Seriously?” He asked. So that was how she wanted to play.

Sophia shrugged, before she faced him.

“For what it’s worth, thanks for shielding me when Barry was to shoot me a second time,” Sophia said with a small smile.

Nicholas was astonished at Sophia’s sudden words. Her thanking him was unaccounted for.

He responded, averting her gaze, “I should be thanking you.”

“You took the shot in the first place,” he said, glancing up at the terrestrial night sky.

A thought crossed his mind and he cleared his throat.

“Speaking of.”

Sophia already knew what was coming, or rather, what he’d ask.

“How’d you survive the bullet?” Nicholas asked.

Sophia chuckled.

“Louis,” she answered.

“Once I told him I was leaving for Sanguis, due to the harsh conditions Sanguis previously faced, he insisted I bring along a certain piece of clothing made of a fine material that’s impenetrable and extremely thin,” Sophia said, adding, “In the unfortunate case anything happened.”

She sighed deeply. She wondered if there was a possibility Louis wouldn’t be told of this, but that was extremely, extremely unlikely.

“And once he soon discovers his persistence… and overprotectiveness was what kept me alive… he’s definitely never letting me live this down, ever.”

Nicholas laughed softly in amusement.

“Wow,” he said in amazement, “Who would’ve thought.”

Sophia inhaled sharply, “Yeah.”

She then asked, “Hold on, what happened to Barry anyway?”

“He’s locked away at the Sanguisian palace dungeons.”

“Ah,” Sophia fathomed.

“Well I suppose that’s the least that damned bastard deserves,” she said, clenching her fist. She should’ve killed him when she had the chance to.

If not for her hesitation she wouldn’t have been seconds away from death. Had Nicholas not been there, she’d be bleeding out the pavement just like Bartholomew had, or possibly dead. She’d rather not think about it.

With Sophia silent, Nicholas cleared his throat. It grabbed Sophia’s attention, as it was meant to.

As though Nicholas read Sophia’s mind, he asked, “Why’d you hesitate?”

“When you were about to stab him,” Nicholas pointed out.

Sophia looked ashamed, and felt somewhat embarrassed, a feeling she hadn’t felt in quite a long time.

She was about to answer Nicholas’ question before a familiar, loud ringing sound filled her head. It was then the world began to spin; when she began feeling dizzy and slightly faint.

She felt immeasurable pain in her chest, right around the spot where Bartholomew had shot her. She had difficulty breathing too.

Her vision blurred, and simply put, she felt like complete hell. She felt sore all over.

She winced, shutting her eyes as soon as she saw black and grey-ish specks enter her vision… before she allowed darkness to swallow her whole.