A/N: im vv sorry but updates will be rare from now on, im at the peak of my student years and the pressure is real which leaves me exhausted, i will definitely update twice a month and the chapters will most definitely be long, but that's all i can offer for now, i love you all<3

Nate

I stepped out of the hot shower, leaving the cubicle door open as the steam fogged the bathroom mirror. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my lower half. I went out into bathroom and into my obnoxiously large closet, picking out a suit to wear for dinner with the Laurents.

I dried my body and slipped into my boxers, putting down the set piece of white shirt and a black suit on the sofa. I ruffled my wet hair and glanced at myself in the mirror, my shoulder tattoo very evident. I stared it for a second then slipped on my shirt.

I adjusted the cuffs and buttoned up my sleek white shirt. I knotted a tie around my collar and grabbed my black suit, slipping out of the dressing closet, running my hand through my still slightly damp hair.

I stepped out of large suite sized room and made my way down the large marble staircase.

I looked for my mother near the dining table where she usually helped the staff set up the table when guests come. When I didn't find her there, I went up the stairs again, and straight to her room.

The door creaked as I opened her room slowly, only to be met with darkness other than the rays of moonlight entering the room through her gallery.

"Mom?" I whispered into the quite room. I looked around and still couldn't see her, until a shadow caught my attention in the gallery. I went closer to her shaking body, large sobs racked through her body, accompanied with loud cries, murmuring my father's name like a mantra.

My heart broke and guilt instantly hit me like a wave. I haven't paid any attention to my grieving mother due to the duties. She didn't notice me as I came up behind her. I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around her tightly and she didn't hesitate to bury her neck in my chest. Her body shaked and tears flowed out from her eyes like a waterfall, making my shirt slightly wet. I just tightened my hold on her.

I have never seen my other break down like this.

I knew that there's nothing I could say to ease her pain so I just planted soft kisses in her hair as I towered above her.

"He's gone." Her voice cracked, with the sound of my heart. She cried and cried and cried, and broke down completely.

We stayed like that for almost half an hour, grieving for the family that was lost.

I had no one now except for my mother. We overlooked our city from above, the whole place shining as I could see the sea waves at the coast and the small little streams flowing through the place. The calm wind passed by us, making my mother shiver as I looked down at her.

"Let's get inside." I said to her. She just nodded. We went her inside her large suite, that felt empty and cold, much more than the wind outside.

She sniffled a bit and settled on her bed. It was quite for a long time until she croaked out in a weak voice. "I'm sorry." I instant took my seat beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Why would you be sorry? It's okay to fall apart."

She didn't reply. She shuffled in her seat and stood up, going straight to her large closet. I followed after her. She rummaged through the large drawers, hastily trying to find something.

She stopped for a second and pulled out a neat white envelope from the bottoms drawer, my father's drawer for keeping his most priced possessions. I gaped at my mother and she turned me, looking at me with doe eyes that now swarming in love.

"You father wanted you to have this. He wanted you to read it the day you became king."

Her hands that were once soft, were now rough and I could see the dried patches of tears on her rosy cheeks.

A feeling of sadness came alive in me as suddenly all the memories of my father hit all at once. The good ones and the bad ones.

My father was never an easy going person. He was the toughest man I ever knew, the king who knelt before no one. Yet my mom made him drop down on his knees. I used to gag at their love and affection when I was younger. Now, I just realise how rare that is.

The sudden feeling of longing lit through my body, it hit me that my dad will now miss the most important part of my life. My crowning ceremony.

My mother looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to take the piece of paper from her hands. My eyes stilled on the white envelope, my father's neat cursive handwriting clear, addressing the letter to me.

I wrapped my fingers around the sheet and plucked it from my mother's hands. Emotions clogged up inside my mind as I felt a bile rise up my throat

"Take a nap before the Laurents come", was all I said to her as I walked out from the room, desperately trying to keep my emotions at bay.

I speed walked out of her room.

◂♚▸

I could hear the clatter of cutlery from outside of the kitchen, as I approached the dining area and instantly heard loud voices and entered the giant room.

My mum spotted me, but didn't say anything, her eyes twinkled with relief as I came into her view and she searched my body for any kind of injuries. Maybe storming out was a bad idea after the mood she was in. But it's hard to control emotions, especially the ones connected to my father.

I scanned the area and saw my mother sitting at the head of the table, one seat beside her left for me, and Ana's father took the other one. Beside him, Ana's mother was seated in a stiff posture, makeup caking her face as her lips were curved into a smile, which I could easily tell was forced. Chloe sat across her mother, beside my designed seat, looking around, maybe searching for me.

Lastly my eyes settled on the blonde beside Chloe, her posture sulking a little as she glanced at my mother who addressed her.

I was tempted to take the seat beside Anastasia because even though I hate her guts, I would much rather sit beside her than Chloe, who has breached my privacy multiple times in the few occasions we've met, but I won't get into that now.

I cleared my throat, gaining attention of the family of four as all of them turned towards me. Mr. Laurent stood up, grasping my hand in a firm shake, greeting me.

We both settled down on our seats, as Mrs. Laurent looked me.

"Good evening, your highness." She curtsied. Chloe turned around in her seat, flashing me a wide smile. "How are you today, Nate?" She fluttered her eyelashes.

I frowned.

She can't address me by my name, to be husband or no. Until our marriage is complete, she can't refer to me by my name. It's disrespectful.

"Your highness." I corrected her politely, and her face fell. She looked like she was about to say something when the waiters rushed in, settling down the plates on our mats.

I didn't miss the sharp look Mrs. Laurent sent Anastasia's way, as if telling her to do something. I couldn't see her face, but I could just imagine the scowl on her face.

Suddenly she turned towards me with the sickly sweet smile. "Good evening your highness, how are you this fine evening?" I could make a juice out of the sarcasm dripping out of her mouth. Seems like she still isn't keen on talking to me.

"Good evening Anastasia. I'm perfectly fine this evening." I answered back, immediately turning my head towards her father, as I wanted to discuss a few schemes with him. I didn't miss the sharp glare she sent my way, and the tick of her jaw, as I turned away from her. Someone's salty.

Chatter filled the room, as Chloe and her mother talked about jewellery, while my Mother, Mr. Laurent and I talked business.

Exquisite dishes quickly filled up our plates. Apparently Chef Garibaldi had decided to make something new again. He has a thing of trying out new recipes that he finds online or in an archaic book. Some are super hit, but some not so much. Like the small little cooked snails on my plate.

Everyone winced at the sight of them, but the Laurents didn't dare utter a word, not warning to upset us. I smirked at how much they wanted to be in our good graces.

My mother's lips quirked up in a small smirk, which quickly disappeared, but she looked at me. Everyone tried taking bites of their food, but failed miserably, trying to cover up their urge to throw up. My mother observed everyone, waiting almost, for something to happen.

Finally her eyes settled at the figure beside Chloe, who didn't so much as even try to eat it. My mother's expression was blank, she had something cooking in her mind, I could just feel it.

Anticipating what was to come, I leaned back in my chair.

My mother looked directly at Anastasia, "Anastasia, dear, is something the matter with the food?" She asked, and drop.dead.silence.

Chloe's eyes went wide and Mrs. Laurent froze mid bite, an alarmed look on her face, as if fearing what her daughter might say. She quickly opened her mouth. "Of course not, your majesty, everything is wonderful." She said in a shaky voice, as if praying that Ana didn't answer.

My mother said nothing, just sent a sharp look over to Mrs. Laurent, showing that she didn't appreciate people interrupting a conversation.

Ana didn't seem to so much as mind as she looked up, staring directly at my mother. "No offence, your majesty, but I prefer burgers over slow cooked snails." She said calmly, and honestly I've never heard such silence in a room.

A smile graced my mother's lips, turning into a laugh.

"I agree, Anastasia, I've heard the burger at Jerry's downtown is really good, our Chef Garibaldi just likes to experiment sometimes. He's so sweet we never have the heart to tell him to stop."

Anastasia beamed at my mother, and I felt somewhat comforted by their interaction, if it weren't for the glare Mrs. Laurent and Chloe sent Ana's way. But she didn't seem to care at all, instead the engaged in conversation with my mother.

"You should definitely try the double cheeseburger with pickles at Jerry's, it's like heaven in your mouth, ooh, and his cheese fries—" Ana talked with my mother, who responded back equally enthusiastically.

Dinner went away quickly, and I think all of us basically starved, not wanting to fall ill by the disastrous cooking.

The Laurents left the palace in their sleek black limo as mum and I waved them goodbye.

"You know, that girl is the most wonderful one I've ever met." My mother smiled. I looked at her. "Anastasia." She confirmed. "I wish she were the one you were marrying." She told me quietly.

"God no." I scoffed. "She's an angel just with you, you do not wanna hear her talk to me." I said, remembering how big of a pain in the ass she is. "That's what your dad used to say about me." She smirked slightly at me.

I just shaked my head at her.

"Also I see you two sneaking off, and exchanging secret talks. Anything you wanna tell me?" She wiggled her eyebrows and I laughed at her antics.

"Stop mum." I groaned.

"What! You can't even discuss your love life with your mum?!" She lunched my shoulder.

"Ow." I mumbled, massaging the area. Damn this woman can punch.

"Come on, how about we share a nice cup of tea, made by me, with some carrot cake, on the rooftop, and you tell me all about boarding school?" She smiled at me.

My heart warmed, and I grinned at her, something I haven't done in a while, as I hugged her from beside me and led her straight to the kitchen.

◂♚▸