Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 90

“You’re both incredibly smart and incredibly beautiful,” Nicholas praised.

“Would you have said the same if I humiliated myself on that stage?” Sophia asked curiously.

Nicholas shook his head, “No, I would’ve been honest with you, just like I am now, Windsor.”

Sophia tilted her head.

He’d refused to touch on the mere topic regarding his parents. He’d been dodging it ever since yesterday’s dinner.

“You ignored your parents at the banquet,” Sophia brought up.

“Care to talk about it?” She questioned.

“When did you start caring about anything relating to me and my family’s affairs?” Nicholas asked.

“I’m trying to be caring here,” Sophia said, squinting her eyes.

“Louis says I have a blind spot when it comes to caring,” she added.

Nicholas stared at her.

“There’s nothing to be said regarding me and my family,” he said nonchalantly.

“I tried,” Sophia said, convincing herself she’d done a sufficient job at attempting to care.

“Returning early?” Nicholas asked her.

Sophia hesitated. She didn’t want the night to be over just yet, especially when she could be spending it with Nicholas.

“Yeah,” she answered.

Nicholas knitted his eyebrows.

“Are you sure?” He asked.

Sophia nodded.

She waved to him goodnight before she left, the muffled sound of her heels softening in the distance.

“Night!” Nicholas called.

He sighed.

“What is up with her?”

__

“You must be Marcus,” Sophia said, her tone anything but friendly and welcoming.

It was the next morning; Sophia decided to have breakfast with Louis and this Marcus chap.

Marcus answered, “I am.”

“And you must be Louis’ sister.”

Sophia narrowed her eyes.

“It’s his royal highness Louis to you,” she snapped.

“So, what were you doing yesterday at the bar?” Sophia asked.

“Was it merely a coincidence you were there the exact time Louis was?” She questioned, interrogating Marcus.

“I was waiting for a friend at the bar, got stood up and happened to spot a handsome gentleman sitting alone,” Marcus replied.

Sophia found his answer unconvincing.

“What kind of family do you come from?” She asked.

Marcus seemed nervous, but he played it off well.

“I come from royal roots.”

“My mother’s a viscountess, my father’s an earl,” he explained.

“Hmm.”

“Never heard of the Lemaires,” she mumbled.

“Never heard of the Windsors till now,” Marcus blinked.

Sophia raised her brow.

“You’re kidding.”

“Morning,” Louis greeted both of them with a yawn.

Sophia was glad Louis had arrived.

“Tell me again why you brought him here after literally one date?” Sophia asked Louis.

Louis told her, “Because, I like him.”

Sophia began, “I–”

Marcus shot her a look of smugness.

Sophia crossed her arms and glared at him.

She didn’t like him. Just as she didn’t Leonard – or any other flings or boyfriends Louis had in the past.

Louis noticed her glaring at Marcus.

‘Give him a chance,’ he mouthed.

Sophia mouthed in return, ‘No.’

‘For me?’

‘You always say that.’

‘One last time.’

‘Did you mean one more time?’ Sophia mouthed, blinking innocently.

Louis shot Sophia a pleading look.

Sophia curtly shook her head.

“I’ll be leaving, you two continue having breakfast,” Sophia said with all the politeness she could muster up.

“Bye now,” she said, waving her brother goodbye, shooting Marcus a dirty look before she left.

“She doesn’t like me doesn’t she?”

“She never likes anyone I… you get what I’m trying to say,” Louis sighed frustratedly.

“She’s stubborn; my sister,” Louis explained.

He elucidated, “Overprotective as well.”

“So she’s stubborn, think I’ll stop till she likes me?” Marcus asked.

“You’re staying?” Louis asked, his eyes widening.

“Of course I am,” he answered.

“Only if you allow it, of course,” he added.

It was strange; that Marcus stayed over at Louis’ house after their first date and stayed there, as though they were living together.

Julia entered the breakfast room, she’d heard regarding the arrival of the newest royal in the palace.

‘I wasn’t informed we were taking in strays,’ Julia mumbled.

“Morning darling,” she greeted Louis, taking her seat.

She usually had breakfast alone, but she decided to meet this man Louis had brought over.

Louis and Marcus turned to face her.

“Grandmere,” Louis greeted.

“And who might you be, darling?” Julia questioned, she peered over at him.

Marcus blinked.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

Julia harrumphed.

Louis grimaced.

“Julia Roux Windsor, Dowager Queen of Beldovia.”

(Author’s Note: Some of you might be wondering why Emilia’s not the dowager queen and instead Julia is, and that’s because, in Beldovia, the dowager queen is the mother of the current monarch. And since Julia’s still Emilia’s mother-in-law, she gets the title of dowager queen and Emilia gets the queen title, since things work differently in this novel than real life, etc.)

Marcus’ mouth opened and closed as though he was a goldfish.

It all clicked.

“So you’re his royal highness’ grandmother,” he acknowledged.

He bowed to the best he could from his seat.

“Your majesty,” he greeted.

Julia appreciated he bothered to greet her politely.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, studying every move of Marcus’.

Louis glanced away.

He knew Julia knew everything.

She was… Julia, it was unexplainable, but she knew practically everything that occurred in the Beldovian palace.

His cheeks were visibly crimson-red.

“What are you doing here, grandmere?” He asked.

Marcus stared at Louis.

‘Who called their grandmother grandmere?’ He thought, finding it strange.

“I decided to have breakfast here once I heard that there was yet another guest visiting,” Julia answered.

“You are visiting, yes?” She asked Marcus.

“That remains indefinite,” Marcus replied.

Julia inhaled sharply.

Louis was regretting his decision to bring Marcus here instead of booking a hotel room and staying there. Anywhere was better than here, where his overprotective family stayed.

__

“He seems ignorant,” Julia scrunched her nose.

“Grandmere,” Louis pouted.

“What’s gotten into you?” She asked Louis straightforwardly.

“I wasn’t informed you began going on dates again,” Julia said displeased, walking beside her grandson.

“I lost a bet, grandmere,” Louis explained.

“A bet made you go on a date and bring this Marcus fellow home?” Julia asked sternly.

Louis sputtered, “N-no, it’s what Clarisse made me do.”

“Sophia’s friend made you go on a date and bring him home then?” Julia asked.

Louis sucked his inner cheeks in.

“She’s not just Sophia’s friend,” he corrected.

Julia tsked, shaking her head in disapproval.

“You’re responsible for what happens to yourself,” she reasoned with herself.

“So, in the case anything happens – not saying it will, it’s your responsibility,” Julia reminded.

“I’ll be keeping a close eye on him for the meantime,” Julia added.

Louis stared at her.

“Plain grandmotherly overprotectiveness,” she said.

“Grandmere I don’t need protecting,” Louis insisted.

Julia slapped Louis heartily in the back.

“They always say that.”

Sophia had something heartily similar to say.

“Soph,” Louis warned.

“What’s Marcus like?” Sophia suddenly inquired.

“He’s great,” Louis answered instantly.

Sophia pondered on it.

“Are you sure he’s a great person?”

“You’ve known him for a day, Louis,” Sophia reasoned.

She was evidently worried for her brother; terrified he’d fall into a trap Marcus put out for him.

She doubted Marcus was as innocent as he seemed.

It was this instinct, this small voice telling her something was up.

“How are you so sure?” She asked.

Louis quipped, “How are you so sure Nicholas is a great person?”

“You’ve known him for barely a month, Soph.”

Sophia opened her mouth.

“That’s different,” she mumbled, looking away.

“How different?” Louis asked.

“Bring me to the hospital after I’ve been stabbed with a knife kind of different,” Sophia said irritably.

Louis hadn’t meant to go there.

“I’m sorry.”

Sophia stared at her brother.

“It’s fine.”

“What’s not fine is him staying here after you’ve known him for a minute.”

“At least get to know him before you do… it again,” Sophia said.

Louis agreed.

“And one more thing.”

“About me and Nicholas.”

Louis hesitated. She wanted to ask why he’d thought she and Nicholas wouldn’t court in the future and Clarisse did. Clarisse must’ve told her.

“You’re my sister,” Louis said.

“It’s a given I wouldn’t want you to get with any man,” Louis admitted.

“It was difficult to come to terms with another man being in your life, as creepy as it sounds,” Louis said.

“You deserve the best, nothing less,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“And if you think Nicholas is the best, if he makes you happy, I’m not forbidding you to get together with him, he’s a great guy.”

Sophia looked up at him. Louis was way taller than her. It’s always been that way.

She inhaled.

“Does Marcus make you happy?” She asked, pursing her lips as she awaited an answer.

“He does.”

“And you’re sure he wouldn’t hurt you?” Sophia asked next.

“I am,” Louis answered.

Sophia sighed; Louis was a trusting person, it was why he’d fallen for Leonard’s trap and why he trusted people easily. It was a great treat to have, but at the same time, dangerous.