Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 65

Beldovia’s annual garden party, an event where civilians got to interact with royals in real-time.

It officially began when the members of the royal family entered Windsor Palace’s gardens, meaning Emilia, Louis, and Sophia had to be there, the late king’s wife, son, and daughter.

Sophia had arrived early, Louis was running a tad bit late, but no matter.

Sophia and Nicholas dispersed.

Sophia was off to find the rest of the royal family, and by that, Emilia and her two nieces had returned to Beldovia for a brief visit that included joining their aunt at the Beldovian garden party.

Louis was minutes away from arriving, although Clarisse was nowhere in sight. She assumed Clarisse decided to stay in instead, but that wasn’t what Clarisse had in mind.

Someone tapped Nicholas’ shoulder.

He turned around, to see Clarisse.

He stayed silent until Clarisse said, “Hi.”

He replied, “Hi.”

“Nicholas, isn’t it?” Clarisse asked.

Nicholas nodded, “You must be her friend.”

Clarisse nodded, “And you must be Nicholas Ambrose.”

“Heard a lot about you,” she said.

Nicholas had a twinkle in his eye, “I could say the same for you.”

The two decided not to bring up their respective kingdoms’ present. That was best off-topic for now.

“Stroll?” Clarisse asked.

Curious as to what Sophia had to say about him, Nicholas agreed.

It was then Beldovia’s National Anthem played by one of the military bands, before Sophia and the rest of the royal family entered the garden party.

One thing Sophia was grateful for was that she wouldn’t be the royal being hounded by the guests. That was Emilia’s duty, and not hers.

Thinking about it, Sophia’s mood improved. Emilia circulating among guests, her having to meet and mingle with the guests that were both civilians and royals.

For her, the duchess, she had the option to do it or not. She chose the latter; she was free to eat, drink and stroll around.

Obviously, there were thousands of guests there, so it’d be difficult to find Nicholas.

She leaned over to Louis, who’d been by her side the entire time.

“You haven’t seen Clarisse, have you?” She asked hopefully.

Louis nodded, “Saw her with Nicholas.”

“She’s with him?” She squeaked.

“Calm down, he’s not stealing your man,” Louis muttered.

“Kiara and Sheila might though,” he said, staring at the two viscountesses sashaying towards the both of them.

“How many times do you want me to tell you he’s not ‘my man’?” Sophia said frustratedly.

“Too late,” Louis said.

“Sophia,” Kiara and Sheila said in unison.

“Kiara, Sheila,” Sophia greeted in monotone.

“Horrible seeing you two here,” she added.

“What are you doing far from the university you barely got in?” Sophia asked, cocking her head to the side.

Kiara tsked. Sheila gave Sophia the evil eye.

“Shut your mouth,” Kiara said.

Louis glared at her and her sister.

“Don’t talk to my sister that way,” he said fiercely.

Sheila then spoke up, “How you’ve changed, now you need your brother to fight your fights for you.”

Sophia cracked her knuckles.

“Really now?” She asked.

“I dealt with your aunt, I can certainly handle you two,” she said.

Sheila gritted her teeth, “Is that a threat?”

Sophia took a deep breath.

‘I’m going to rise above,’ she mumbled.

Anything she’d do would reflect on her kingdom. She usually wouldn’t mind getting into a fight, but she chose not to.

She repeated, ‘I’m going to rise above.’

She sighed.

“It isn’t.”

“You two aren’t worth my time,” she said, waving her hand dismissively before she turned on her heel and simply walked away.

Louis furrowed his brows, mumbled a couple of words under his breath before he left.

Sheila and Kiara shot each other a look of confusion; they decided not to press things further as they were told to be on their best behaviours.

Louis walked alongside his sister.

He shot her a look of dismay whilst he asked her, “What was that?”

“Me rising above and taking the high road,” Sophia said as she got herself a drink.

She handed Louis a glass of sparkling cocktail.

Louis thanked her before continuing to ask, “The Sophia I knew never took it upon herself to rise above, why now?”

Sophia shrugged, “Because, anything I do during this garden party will reflect poorly on Beldovia.”

“And also not to give Emilia the satisfaction of… you get my point,” Sophia said, patting her brother’s shoulder with her free hand.

“How mature of you, Soph,” Louis praised.

“That’s what’s rising above all about,” Sophia mumbled to herself.

She inhaled.

“I digress.”

“It just feels great being back here,” Sophia said.

“It is indeed,” Louis agreed.

“Now where’s Clarisse?” Sophia demanded.

“Turn around,” a voice answered.

Sophia twirled around on her heel.

“Claire!” She exclaimed.

She saw Nicholas beside her.

“Ambrose,” she greeted.

Sophia had her words stuck in her throat.

Nicholas kept to himself.

Clarisse broke the awkward tension.

“Okay, so why don’t Louis and I promenade, and you and Nicholas… do whatever the two of you do without us,” Clarisse suggested.

Louis agreed, walking over to Clarisse.

Sophia managed a goodbye and before they knew it, Louis and Clarisse were off.

“Thank you,” Louis said to Clarisse, relieved.

Clarisse raised both her eyebrows, acknowledging Louis.

“No problemo,” she said as she took a glass of water.

Louis placed his sparkling cocktail down on a nearby table.

“So, I heard you got drunk the other night,” he began.

Clarisse eyed him.

“News travels that fast?” She asked in disbelief.

“It’s the Beldovian Palace, what else can one expect?”

“So… will I be getting any details of your drunken night out?” Louis asked cheekily.

Clarisse narrowed her eyes.

“If you’d like details, ask your sister,” she answered.

“I barely remember last night,” she admitted, clenching her glass of water tighter.

Obviously, it was better things remain that way, but she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened.

Louis assured her, “Couldn’t be that horrible.”

“Least you didn’t wake up in another man’s bed.”