Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 98

“Emilia and I wanted different things.”

“I broke up with her and left was because her and I wanted different things.”

“I didn’t have a preconceived notion of you.”

“I didn’t like you any less because you were my stepmother’s ex.”

“And frankly, I didn’t know you were the Louis of Beldovia.”

“I didn’t know it was your sister and that friend of yours that was spying on you in the distance either.”

Louis was taken aback.

Sophia and Clarisse were there?

They were spying on him?

It was another question for another time, he quickly decided.

“So you really didn’t know I was a prince?” He asked Marcus, studying his face closely to see whether or not Marcus was lying to him.

“I really didn’t.”

“I didn’t know you; you were just a stranger.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Marcus said.

Louis knitted his brows.

‘What should I do?’ He thought to himself.

Marcus seemed pretty genuine with his words, but then he was reminded of his previous relationship.

‘Leonard,’ Louis inwardly snarled.

He knew it was unjust – Louis basing Marcus on how Leonard acted.

He had to remind himself that Marcus and Leonard were two different people.

“They’re not the same.”

‘Leonard used me from the start. Marcus doesn’t seem to have any ill intentions.’

‘Everyone’s different,’ Louis shut his eyes, grateful he was facing the window.

“Are you being completely honest?” Louis swiveled around to face Marcus.

Marcus nodded.

“I am.”

“Completely honest,” he admitted.

Albeit there was one thing he hadn’t been completely honest about, and that was how he did know Louis before they officially met in the bar.

He knew all the regulars there, but he’d never seen Louis before.

Louis would come there for a drink every once in a while, but he never decided to dig into it and find out who Louis was.

He meant it when he said it was a completely unexpected coincidence that Louis was his ex’s stepson as well as the firstborn son of the Beldovian royal family.

He wasn’t ignorant to the attention others played him though, the woman Louis had introduced as Julia, or as he called her ‘grandmere’ kept shooting him glares and dirty looks. Louis’ sister likely had a vendetta against him.

Louis’ friend on the other hand…

He snapped out of his train of thought.

“It’s stupid,” he said to Louis.

Louis shot Marcus a strange look.

“What is?” He asked.

“This is,” Marcus answered.

Louis looked at Marcus frustratedly, pondering what to do with him.

“Give me one reason not to make you leave the palace and call security,” Louis narrowed his eyes.

Marcus breathed in.

“Because…”

“I like you.”

“And if you’re thinking this is part of my plan to woo you… I assure you, it isn’t,” Marcus assured.

Louis kept quiet, silently urging Marcus to keep going.

“I’ve known you for a couple of days.”

“And we’ve done quite a lot for two people who’ve known each other for merely three days.”

“I barely know anything about you.”

“And if and only if I did have ill intentions and planned on using you, once you exposed me I would’ve jumped ship and picked someone else to prey on,” Marcus admitted.

“See, I’m being completely truthful here, no lies,” he chuckled.

“I have nothing to hide.”

“I have nothing to keep from you, so ask me anything you want,” Marcus said.

Their conversation had turned into an interrogation in a matter of minutes.

“What made you approach me in the first place?” Louis asked.

“You seemed approachable and at the same time, lonely,” Marcus answered.

“How many royal exes have you had in the past?” Louis asked.

“One. Emilia, and that’s all,” Marcus replied honestly.

“Then something irrelevant.”

“You saw Sophia when we met for the first time?” Louis asked, it was as if Marcus was his spy sent out to monitor Sophia’s every move.

Marcus nodded.

He was sure he’d seen her. She wasn’t an easy face to forget. He couldn’t simply profess he didn’t see her there. She was there to spy on Louis’ date. She was with Clarisse.

“I did,” Marcus confirmed.

‘Hm.’

“Interesting,” Louis mused.

He began, “Alright.”

“You get one chance.”

Marcus beamed, thankful Louis had seen through him and come to the realization that he didn’t mean any harm.

“Would it be taking it too far if I’m taking you out on a date?” Marcus wondered aloud.

Louis sputtered, “A-a date?”

Marcus chuckled, “Looks like I’ll be seeing you then.”

“Bye now,” he waved Louis goodbye and left.

Louis stood there rooted to the ground. Oddly he couldn’t move.

“Dammit,” he cursed.

“He charmed me.”

He touched his cheek, he was burning up. He was all red.

__

Sophia smiled simply thinking of last night.

From what Nicholas had told her, she’d fallen asleep on his shoulder.

She’d woken up in her own bed, Nicholas had carried her all the way to her quarters.

She enjoyed breakfast alongside him, discussing what fun they had the other night.

Sophia sighed dreamily. Stargazing with Nicholas was a memory she’d never forget.

“Did you sleep late?” She asked him.

Nicholas fiddled with his fork.

“Yeah,” he answered.

He hadn’t told her he’d sat beside her till he made sure she was fine.

And by fine, he meant she wouldn’t miss him while she was asleep. It was adorable, her asleep.

Once that was taken care of, he returned to his quarters.

He hadn’t gotten a sufficient amount of sleep but he couldn’t care otherwise.

“We should do it again some other time,” Nicholas said.

Sophia nodded, “We should,” she said whilst grinning.

“How’s Oliver?” She asked, killing the mood.

Nicholas answered dryly, “Are you asking me about my brother during breakfast?”

“I am,” Sophia nodded.

“I killed the romantic mood, didn’t I?” Sophia realized, facepalming.

Nicholas chuckled, “No kidding.”

“So, any plans?”

“Other than discussing with Blaine what happens to that catcaller, another meeting with Guillermo and whatever you’re thinking.”

She used her straw to sip her drink, staring at him while she sipped.

Nicholas blinked.

He swore he saw Sophia lick her lips.

“Stop looking at me like that, like I’m some fine piece of meat.”

“You are fine,” Sophia said, sticking her nose in the air, “And if you dislike me looking at you, then I won’t.”

“I’ll just look at other men that way then,” she decided.