Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 63

“Are you still drunk?” Sophia asked, her eyes narrowed.

Clarisse inhaled.

“Of course not,” she answered.

“I’m on edge, Soph,” she said, looking around nervously.

Sophia inwardly groaned.

She then exhaled deeply.

“Want to talk about it, Claire?” She offered, wondering if what Clarisse was thinking was up for discussion in the first place.

Clarisse felt herself recoil at the thought.

She lowered her head, shaking her head.

“I guess not then,” Sophia nodded understandingly.

Clarisse choked back a sob.

Sophia had been preparing for something like this. Life being a royal wasn’t easy, despite all the perks it had, and all the luxuries royals had access to.

With the room already dreadfully quiet, and Clarisse seated on the sofa, Sophia took a seat next to her.

She thought to herself, ‘Step one accomplished, sitting with your friend in a designated and quiet spot.’

She wasn’t one to do things by the book, but it was Clarisse, her one friend.

Sophia muttered to herself, ‘Step two’s to face Clarisse and make eye contact.’

Sophia decided facing her was enough. Eye contact was definitely not needed.

“You know you can talk to me,” Sophia said to Clarisse sweetly.

“Seriously?” Clarisse asked, wondering if this was an act Sophia was putting up for her sake.

When it came to Sophia, it was always give and take. There was no give and take nothing in return. But it seemed not to be the case this time.

“Seriously,” Sophia replied.

Sophia suspired.

“Look, I know where you’re coming from.”

“I’m not the best when it comes to sharing news or important pieces of information being kept secret, but there’s one thing I have those other people, say, Louis don’t.”

“Knowledge.”

“I know you, Claire, longer than anyone else in this palace.”

“You wouldn’t be this tense unless it was that serious.”

“I’m not pressuring you to speak.”

“I’m not pressuring you to tell me whatever’s happening.”

“I’m not planning on forcing you to tell me.”

“Nor am I going to pry if that’s not what you want.”

“I’m trying to be a better friend here, something I should’ve done before,” Sophia said.

Step three was to be both attentive and relaxed, before encouraging her to share whatever she was thinking and feeling. She’d suddenly decided to be a better friend to Clarisse, which was also partly because Clarisse was going through a tough time, but also because she felt something had changed.

What had changed, she didn’t know.

All she knew was that there was something that had changed. Whether it’d be how she treated her one of her only friends or the ruse she held with Nicholas, or something else.

“Just know that you can talk about it to me whenever you want, whatever it’s about, however severe it is, especially if you want to get it off your chest and if you need someone to talk to.”

“I’ll be there for you, no matter what. Today, tomorrow, and so forth. It’s a promise I intend to keep.”

Clarisse laughed quietly.

“I promise to do that too. Today, tomorrow, and so forth,” she smiled.

“You know, you’re not so bad at cheering people up,” Clarisse admitted.

Sophia raised both her eyebrows.

“Yeah, that’s not a praise,” she said.

“You were doing so well,” Clarisse said.

Sophia blinked at her innocently.

“I’ve got no idea what you’re on about,” she blatantly lied to Clarisse’s face.

Clarisse then asked, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“He’s returning soon, certain you won’t be meeting him at the palace lobby?”

Sophia seemed insulted at the suggestion.

Frankly, she had no obligation to have to do that. The idea itself was insulting.

Clarisse was amused by Sophia’s reaction to her suggestion.

Sophia was reeling.

Her?

Why would she… for Ambrose?

Nonsense. Total, total nonsense.

She’d never be caught dead waiting for someone else. Much less Ambrose.

She scoffed.

“Why–”

“H-him?” She asked with a stutter.

Clarisse laughed aloud.

“Oh, so you’re laughing now?” Sophia asked, not finding anything amusing or funny.

With a smug grin, Clarisse replied, “Sorry, I don’t speak gibberish.”

Sophia gaped, eyes narrowed, and her lips stretched into a small smile.

“So, that’s how you want to play.”

Meanwhile, down at the palace lobby, came Nicholas.

Three maids curtsied, and three nearby guards bowed. They’d gathered to greet the prince, despite his arrival being unaccounted for.

Prince Nicholas was back in Beldovia.

Thankfully, there was no swarm of paparazzi outside the palace, with Nicholas’ return to Beldovia completely unanticipated. Sophia wasn’t aware what time he’d arrive, but she hadn’t expected he’d be back so incredibly soon.

“Where is she?” He mused.

He’d thought of taking a trip to her quarters, but he backed out, thinking it was intrusive of him and extremely unbecoming.

Then, as he passed by Clarisse’s quarters, he heard laughing.

The door had been left ajar, although Nicholas decided to look away.

He’d come for one of many reasons, not that Sophia was aware of what it was exactly.

Sophia had left Clarisse’s quarters by then, originally heading for her quarters before she saw Nicholas walking away in the distance.

She scoffed, looking to her right.

She hastened her pace, attempting to sneak up on the newly arrived prince.

“Windsor,” Nicholas greeted.

She’d failed.

Everything had gone to waste.

Sophia tried not to smile.

“Hello again Ambrose,” she greeted morosely.

“Back so soon?” She asked curiously.

Clarisse had been right after all.

Nicholas nodded curtly.

“Didn’t want to leave my partner-in-crime behind,” he answered shortly.

Sophia smiled at the mention of her being Nicholas’ partner-in-crime. She found it quite adorable and endearing.

“You put it as though we did something sinful together,” Sophia said.

Nicholas had already been red in the face before she’d said that, so once she’d said those ten words, he turned a deep crimson red.

“What’s wrong with your face?” Sophia asked.

“Oh my god, you’re blushing,” she realized, gaping.

“Didn’t realize you were capable of blushing,” Sophia teased.

“And what for?”

Nicholas gave Sophia the side-eye.