Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 66

“It’s the alcohol to blame for that, not Sophia,” Clarisse reasoned, standing up for her friend.

Although Louis did agree with Clarisse, it didn’t make things any less horrible.

He noticed a familiar figure in the crowd approaching his sister.

A small smile curved up his lips.

“He’s back,” he mused.

Clarisse squinted.

“That can’t be…”

“It’s him,” Louis confirmed.

“Think Nicholas will get jealous?” Clarisse asked, seeming more annoyed than amused. He was a sight she would rather not see.

Louis had a mischievous glint in his eye, “I suppose we’ll have to see about that.”

Someone tapped Sophia’s shoulder.

She groaned, “Who is it now?”

She turned around before her eyes lit up.

“Alistair,” she said, a mysterious twinkle in her eyes.

She bearhugged him.

“Goodness, how are you doing?” She asked.

“It’s been ever so long, Ally,” she said, all smiles.

“Indeed it has,” Alistair replied.

Nicholas looked the man up and down. He folded his arms, trying not to frown.

Alistair was decent-looking, with a pair of enchanting ocean-blue eyes, dark chocolate brown hair, and a rugged chin as well as a sharp jawline. He was dressed in light sand chinos, a white dress shirt, and a stormy grey blazer.

“Missed you tons, little Windsor,” he said fondly.

“Oh come on, stop calling me that,” Sophia insisted.

“And who might this be?” Nicholas finally asked.

Alistair finally noticed Nicholas.

“Viscount Alistair Oliver Beaumont pleased to meet you,” he said, extending his hand.

Nicholas raised his eyebrow, “Nicholas Richard Alexander Maine Ambrose.”

He corrected himself, “Prince Nicholas Richard Alexander Maine Ambrose.”

Alistair nodded slowly, smiling as if he was sharing an inside joke with Nicholas.

“Ah,” he said, an amused grin on his face.

Sophia sensed something between the both of them.

Nicholas asked curiously, “Beaumont?”

She answered, “A cousin of Clarisse’s.”

“Oh.”

Nicholas didn’t know what else to say.

Alistair then asked, “Mind if I borrow her for the rest of the afternoon?”

Nicholas knew he couldn’t refuse, despite the fact it was horrible for the ruse.

“There’s no need to ask,” he said.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Alright then,” she said, looking at Nicholas and Alistair back and forth. She was done waiting for either of them to speak.

She walked away, before shooting Alistair a look.

“Coming, Ally?” She asked, trying not to grin whilst looking at him.

He was a relieving sight to see, a childhood friend of hers she’d missed dearly.

She and him hadn’t communicated over the past few years and they’d lost contact, but she was looking to change things.

“Sure,” he said, walking over to her.

He winked Nicholas goodbye. Not in some sort of flirtatious manner, but as though he was winning.

Nicholas inhaled sharply.

“That bastard,” he mumbled.

“I should’ve punched him on the spot,” he said miserably.

Louis walked over to Nicholas.

“So you met Alistair already,” he said.

Nicholas nodded gravely, noticing Clarisse glaring holes at the grass.

“He’s your cousin, isn’t he?” He asked.

“Anything useful information?” He asked.

Louis found the question strange.

Clarisse just sighed.

“Alistair’s a plain jerk.”

“Thank goodness he’s far, far down the line of succession,” she said.

“Never understood why Sophia liked him from the start, all this proves is that it’s a small world after all,” Clarisse said to Nicholas.

“As a friend, liked him as a friend,” Clarisse added.

“And what’s worse is that he has a soft spot for her,” Clarisse said, a disgusted look on her face.

Nicholas stayed silent.

Louis studied Nicholas’ face.

“She’s only with him till the end of the afternoon,” he said in an attempt to assure Nicholas.

“Besides, she can handle herself,” Louis said.

Nicholas took things with a grain of salt.

His fists were half-clenched.

“It’s not a big deal,” he said, trying to convince himself that it wasn’t.

“He’s only with her till the end of the afternoon.”

Louis insisted, “That’s not what I actually said.”

“You know what, never mind,” Louis said.

“I can already see the similarities,” he murmured.

He patted Nicholas on the back, before he and Clarisse walked away, deciding it was best if they left Nicholas alone for the meanwhile.

“He’s jealous, isn’t he?” Clarisse asked, her lips pursed.

“Interesting,” was all she was able to say next, knowing exactly what was going on between Alistair and Nicholas.

Nicholas and Sophia had a confusing relationship. Whether or not they were friends, or something more, neither Clarisse nor Louis knew. All they could do was assume, even with Nicholas and her being all over the tabloids.

But, with Alistair entering the picture, they hoped there’d be new things to learn, improvements, rather.

“Jealousy, thy name is Nicholas,” she mused, stifling a laugh.

__

“I should probably get going,” Sophia said.

It’d been hours afterwards, the garden party was coming to a close, and Sophia felt worn out after showing Alistair around Windsor Palace and catching up. They were also nearing Windsor Palace’s lobby.

Alistair offered, “I could take you back to the palace.”

Sophia raised her brow, “Oh?”

“You’re asking me if I want you to take me back to my… house?” She asked, blinking.

She began, “Su–”

She was about to agree, before Nicholas came, out from nowhere.

He had perfect timing.

“I don’t mean to barge in the conversation or anything like it, but the car’s waiting for us to take us back to the palace,” Nicholas said, inwardly smug.

Alistair stared at him, he frowned at Nicholas, before returning his gaze to Sophia.

He wondered if he should object.

‘Fight me,’ screamed the look on Nicholas’ face.

Alistair narrowed his eyes before he put on a convincing facade.

“It’s alright, Windsor, go ahead,” he said, assuring her, “We’ll catch up more some other time, it’s not as though I’m not going anywhere.”

Sophia looked sceptical before she shrugged.

“Alright,” she agreed, still a tad bit hesitant but agreeing otherwise.

She whipped around.

“Let’s go,” she said to Nicholas.

Nicholas nodded, walking beside her but momentarily stopping to shoot him a look of triumph.

__

To Nicholas’ dismay, when Alistair had told Sophia he wasn’t going anywhere, he meant it.

Sophia and Nicholas had returned to the Beldovian palace, and just as Sophia and Nicholas were about to disperse and retreat to their respective quarters for the night, they discover that Alistair was to stay at the Beldovian Palace along with them.

Whilst Sophia seemed ecstatic about the idea, her partner-in-crime wasn’t.

He had no place to protest; he wished Sophia goodnight before retreating to his quarters, wanting not to have any run-ins with Alistair in his current accommodation.

Sophia found his behaviour odd. She had wanted to ask him if he’d like to grab some late-night snacks with her and unwind, but never mind.

__

A week had passed by then, and Nicholas had grown more and more irritated at Alistair.

Most the time Alistair wasn’t with Sophia, he’d be gloating to Nicholas. Heck, he’d spent more time with Sophia than he did his actual cousin.

Julia was surprised by Alistair’s sudden arrival and stay at the Beldovian Palace, although she didn’t seem to mind his presence – not as much as Nicholas did.

With everything that’d been going on, Nicholas had forgotten an important event in his own life.

Fortunately, not everyone that knew had forgotten.

She’d asked him to join her for breakfast.

Sophia was off with Alistair, Louis and Clarisse, choosing to have breakfast together instead of with Nicholas.

“Been so long since you and I had breakfast, just the two of us,” Julia said, peering at Nicholas.

Julia sat at the head of the table, whereas Nicholas sat nearby.

“You didn’t actually think I forgot now, did you?”

She placed a hand on his.

“I’m one of the last people you rather hear this from, I know,” she acknowledged.

She knew Nicholas would rather have breakfast with her granddaughter than her, but today, of all days was an exception.

“But if your own family won’t, I certainly will,” Julia said to Nicholas solemnly.

Nicholas smiled in appreciation.

It was funny, of everyone, it was Julia who’d remembered.

“So, how’ll you be celebrating today?” Julia asked.

Nicholas blinked.

He admitted, “Err, I have nothing planned.”

Julia managed a smile, “Thought so.”

She waved over a maid who handed her an envelope with the royal stamp.

She placed it on the breakfast table.

Nicholas stared at the envelope. It couldn’t be what he thought it was, could it?

He asked, “And what’s this?”

“Open it,” Julia told him.

He followed through, carefully opening the intricately designed envelope.

His mouth fell open.

“You didn’t have to, Julia,” he said weakly.

Julia insisted, “But I did.”

“I’ve handled everything, from the invitations to the guests, and the assortment of food for the party.”

“It’s not too over the top, just the way you’d like it.”

“But of course, it’s your choice whether or not you’d like to proceed with this, I’m not forcing or pressuring you to do so. Take this as a gentle push,” she said before she took a sip of tea.

She added next, “And if you’re wondering whether or not your family will be there, I’m pleased to inform you, they will not.”

“Happy birthday, dear,” she finally greeted.