Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 87

Sophia leaned forward, the only thing holding her from falling down the glass fence that surrounded the rooftop.

Nicholas worried, “What happens if the fence isn’t strong enough to hold you, and you…”

He gulped.

Sophia said nonchalantly, “You wouldn’t let that happen,” looking at the Beldovian skyline as well as the views of the Beldovian Palace from afar.

“You’re overestimating me,” Nicholas said in return.

“I’m not,” Sophia insisted, peering at Nicholas.

“You’re handsome when you’re worried,” Sophia said shamelessly.

“How could you say that so easily while leaning closer and closer to death?” He asked, glaring at her.

He peered down the building.

Sophia leaned back.

She gestured at herself.

“See, I’m fine, you can stop worrying now, even though I find it sweet,” she grinned.

She walked over to Nicholas.

He sputtered, “What are you…”

Sophia interrupted him, standing on her tiptoes and gave Nicholas a kiss on the forehead.

She walked past him, unable to see his reaction to her sudden gesture as she called, “Meet you at the restaurant lobby, I assume the car’s already waiting.”

Nicholas turned around to see her walking away.

That woman drove him crazy.

__

“Him?”

“No, he’s too arrogant,” Louis shook his head.

“What about him?” Clarisse asked.

She’d put together a list of suitable royals for Louis to choose from.

Royal tinder, she named it.

“He’s too young,” Louis refused.

“Fine, what about him?” Clarisse asked next.

“He looks quite decent, possesses no criminal records, likes photography and horseback riding, and he’s muscled too,” Clarisse mused.

“Are you sure I’m the one looking for someone to go out with?” Louis asked, brow-raised.

“I would be, if I wasn’t in an arrangement with someone else at the moment,” Clarisse admitted truthfully.

Louis shot Clarisse a sympathetic smile.

“You could always find someone and elope, that’s not off the table,” Louis suggested.

“What is this, some sort of fantasy romance novel?” Clarisse asked Louis, laughing.

“I appreciate the suggestions, though,” she said.

Louis crossed his arms.

“You know, you should stop pretending you’re perfectly alright,” he said to Clarisse.

Clarisse gazed at him.

“But I am perfectly alright,” Clarisse said.

“Really?” Louis asked.

“You’re fortunate Sophia’s still on a date with Nicholas,” he mumbled.

“Don’t tell Sophia.”

“Don’t you think you’ve kept enough things from my sister?” Louis asked, tilting his head to the side.

Clarisse bit her lip.

“I have,” she nodded, “But not this, just not this.”

“How Sophia treats someone she pities is the worst,” Clarisse exaggerated.

“So let’s not, for now.”

“Besides, look what she did hours ago,” Clarisse reasoned.

“Right,” Louis agreed.

He decided to change the subject.

“Back to picking someone for me to go on a date with, as per your request?” He offered.

Clarisse nodded, a smile returning to her face.

“Yes.”

Frankly, she was losing hope.

Then again, she thought no one was deserving of Louis, but with that mindset, she wouldn’t get anywhere.

This went on for a couple more hours, and by then, Clarisse and Louis had nearly lost all hope.

Just as they were about to stop searching and get to sleep, Louis peered over Clarisse’s tablet.

He read his description.

She nudged Clarisse, who was perched at the sofa, dozing off.

The side table had a bottle of cabernet as well as an empty wine glass.

“Huh?” She asked, opening one eye.

She realized Louis was interested in one of the royals she’d chosen.

She opened both her eyes.

“You’re interested?” She asked.

“For real?” She asked, seeking confirmation.

She glanced at the screen.

“Great, you’ve found someone,” she said, getting up.

“I need to get to sleep, it’s been a completely tiring day,” Clarisse yawned.

Louis held her tablet in one hand.

He took her arm and wrapped it around his neck, supporting her. She was likely to fall asleep while on her way to her room.

“Come on, let’s go,” he encouraged.

They slowly made their way to Clarisse’s quarters.

“I assume you can change yourself?” Louis asked.

Clarisse nodded sleepily.

“I can,” she said.

“Alright,” Louis said with a relieved sigh.

“Night Laris,” he greeted.

“Don’t call me that,” Clarisse grumbled as she made her way to the bathroom.

“Just checking to see if you were awake,” Louis admitted.

“I’m leaving now,” Louis called.

“Night Claire,” he said next.

“Night Lou,” he heard her say in return.

Meanwhile, with Sophia and Nicholas…

The entire drive back to the palace was incredibly silent; Sophia was all smiles, and Nicholas’ cheeks were burning.

They returned to the palace lobby, where Louis was waiting for the two of them.

“Louis,” Nicholas waved at him.

“Nicholas,” Louis greeted in return before he turned to Sophia to ask, “Enjoyed your date?”

Sophia said to her brother, “Tell you all about it later.”

Louis had a look of understanding on his face.

“Night Windsor,” Nicholas greeted.

Sophia noticed how he called her Windsor once again.

She replied, “Night Ambrose.”

Louis looked back and forth between the both of them.

“I’ll take it from here,” he said to Nicholas.

Nicholas grinned appreciatively, “Thanks.”

As soon as Louis and Sophia were a safe distance away, Louis asked once more, “So, enjoyed your date?”

Sophia stared at her brother sceptically.

“Why do you keep asking me that question?” She asked in return.

‘I lost a bet because of it, that’s why,’ Louis grumbled.

“You what?”

“What bet?” Sophia questioned.

Louis pursed his lips before he gave her a quick summary of the bet and what it entailed.

Sophia took a brief moment to process things.

Her brother on a date? It was a spectacle she had to see.

“Should I tag along? Make it a double date? Need I come with you?” Sophia joked.

“You’re not my mother, no,” Louis refused.

Sophia pouted, “Sheesh.”

She had a feeling, a feeling things wouldn’t end well for this date of his. But she remained hopeful. Who knew?

“Who is it you’re going on a date with?” She then asked Louis.

__

“So, everything’s been prepared, you ready?” Sophia asked Louis, helping adjust his tie.

“Sure am,” Louis answered.

“You can do this,” Sophia said, telling Louis words of encouragement.

“Of course I can,” Louis answered.

“Walk in there and do this,” Sophia cheered him on.

Louis smiled, glad his sister was saying such kind words.

He thanked her, and she wished him all the best.

He didn’t notice the worry in her eyes before he entered the car that was on the way to where he’d meet his date.

Clarisse walked towards Sophia.

“We’re following him, right?” She asked Sophia.

“Definitely,” Sophia agreed.

“It’s not just me, right?” Clarisse asked.

“It’s not just me who thinks this will end horribly?” Clarisse added.

“Of course not,” Sophia agreed.

“Come along,” she said to Clarisse.

“We’re following him,” she declared.

“Great,” Clarisse said.

She and Sophia entered another car.

Sophia ordered the chauffeur to drive to where Louis would soon arrive.

“He’s a marquess from another kingdom,” Clarisse said, explaining what his likes and dislikes were, et cetera.

“You’ve prepared everything? Absolutely everything?” Sophia asked worriedly.

“There’s no need to concern yourself about it,” Clarisse assured.

The car came to a grinding halt.

“We’re here,” Sophia realized. That was quick.

“Let’s go,” she ordered.

She and Clarisse got out of the car.

They hoped not to be spotted by Louis, or any other guests at the bar, which was the place Clarisse had chosen Louis and the marquess to meet at.

Sophia scanned the area for anyone that looked remotely similar to the man Clarisse had described to her.

“I don’t see anyone,” she admitted.

Clarisse glanced around, seeing Louis patiently wait for his date.

“Me neither,” she said disappointedly.

“Where is he?” She asked, staring at the bar entrance, waiting for him to pass through those doors.

She and Clarisse sat at the farthest table from Louis, so as to not be spotted by him.

They could get a good glimpse of the entrance, so they were able to see who left and whoever entered.

Sophia hoped the marquess showed since if he didn’t, it’d only let Louis down, and afterwards, she doubted he’d ever willingly go on another date.

“He better show up,” Sophia said threateningly.

She threatened, “Or I’ll–I’ll–”

She inhaled sharply.

“I hope he shows up,” she said miserably.

Clarisse nodded.

“But… in the meantime…”

She raised her hand before proceeding to order two mocktails for her and Sophia.

They waited patiently, and it wasn’t too long before their drinks arrived.

“He still isn’t here,” Sophia stared at Louis, who’d clearly gotten impatient by then.

Sophia sipped her mocktail.

An hour passed by, before another hour passed, and another.

After the fourth hour of waiting, there was still no marquess in sight. They knew he wasn’t coming. They’d lost all hope. Why would he come this late anyway?

“He didn’t come,” Clarisse said, infuriated.

By then, Louis had lost complete hope and was ready to leave the bar, knowing this was a completely horrid idea in the first place.

He paid for his drink before he heard a masculine voice say, “You sure you won’t stay?”