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A Few Days Later

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There's something unnervingly beautiful about a royal funeral. Funerals are a weird thing as is; they're meant to be there to celebrate someone's life, yet no one is there happy. They're mourning, sad that someone has departed. The funerals for Lucy, Michael and their children were, well, beautiful is the only way to describe them.

Hugh and Charlotte held a bank holiday over the Commonwealth and televised the whole thing. The Prime Minister, along with a lot of the government, was there, as were a lot of the Prime Ministers from other countries, and, of course, every single member of the royal family. 

They fitted me with a dress fitting the funeral dress code: knee-length black dress, black tights. I put on black boots to go with it. They fitted me with a black hat and a latticed black veil over my face. People queued outside the chapel, throwing flowers at the cars, and offering their prayers, and some just wanted to get a look at us.

As there is no mourning period after the funerals, Kai and I have taken it upon ourselves to go out on The Long Walk outside Windsor Castle to visit the gathering of people waiting. They drove all four of the coffins down here on the way to the funeral, and because Hugh and Charlotte are in no fit state, they haven't done any public meet and greets. They're not customary while in mourning or at all. It's usually a good thing for public and royal relationships. It was actually my idea so Kai could at least see the people and maybe help him realise he's more loved than he thinks he is.

"We're so sorry for your loss, Prince Kai!"

"Our condolences, Your Highnesses."

They're just yelling it and there are so many people, I can't tell who says what, but I shake as many hands as I can while Kai is standing and talking to a woman. She's handed him a gift bag which our security, Jamie, takes. As I listen, I hear her mention she works for a grieving charity in the west of the country and she's given him a pack they give to people who ask for help.

I stand with them and join in. "Hi, sorry to interrupt. Did you put a card with your charity details in the bag?"

She turns to me with a small smile. "I did. There's a contact number and email there, too. Along with a leaflet about us and what we do. I just thought the pack might help you with the tough part of grief."

I smile at her. "No, that's really, really lovely. Thank you. I'd be interested in contacting you if you don't mind."

"Not at all!" She looks a bit flabbergasted as if it'd be rude to not be okay with it.

I shake her hand and move back to where I was in the queue, taking flowers, thanking people for coming and accepting people's best wishes. There are a few younger people taking photos as well, which I'm not posing for selfies, but they keep taking photos of us in action.

"Mila." Kai turns to me as we start to move to the other side.

"Are you joking me?" I hiss.

Standing at the front of one of the barriers is Brayden.

"Jamie, can you get rid of—"

"No," I interrupt Kai. We're keeping ourselves quiet and in the middle so no one in the public can hear what we're discussing.

"Peach, you don't have to do this."

"I know, but clearly, he isn't going to leave me alone until he gets to talk to me, so is it possible to send him to the palace or somewhere private where I can tell him to leave me alone?" I look between Kai and Jamie.

He sighs. "I'm not okay with this."

"You and security will be there, obviously," I say.

We both stare for a few seconds. It's Kai who breaks the silence.

"Take him to the private room in the chapel, Jamie? He's not good enough for the castle," Kai says.

"The chapel?" I question.

Kai nods. "It's our private room back there where we take kids if they're too rowdy or babies when they're hungry. It'll be a place where no one can see or hear what's being said. Like I said, he's not good enough to go near our home."

I say nothing else as Jamie disappears into the crowd, taking Brayden with him. My bodyguard and Kai's other are both quick to take on the challenge of taking the flowers and gifts people leave. The only thing on my mind, as we finish up our meet and greet, is the fact that Brayden is waiting.

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It's another hour before I'm standing in this grand hallway of the chapel, feeling the chill in my bones. The last time I spoke to Brayden was after we split up, when I was naïve and desperate to have him back. I know better now. Back then, I was literally under his abusive spell, when all I would want was his validation and what I thought was love. Now I can see the light: love isn't about controlling someone, or keeping them under the thumb. Love is being equal, supporting each other and appreciating the person for who they are and what they are.

Love might hurt in its darkest moments, but in its lightest, it can set you free and make you feel the happiest. You wouldn't be able to appreciate those happy moments without the bad, and in those bad moments, even if you're arguing, you still know that you're in love with that person at their core. 

Love isn't moulding the person into being something they aren't, it's standing beside them while helping them be the best person they can be, and believing in them. It's not body-shaming them, blaming them for everything or trying to make them look or be something that isn't them.

Love to me looks like Kai, not Brayden. I think I've always known what love looks like because I watched my dad love my mum and Annie, but when you look at someone and find yourself in this new relationship, you get taken in like a cult, and sometimes those blinkers never remove themselves.

I stare at the closed door. Behind this wooden door, Brayden and Jamie are inside, and I have to confront him. But it'll be fine because I'm free of his shackles and control now. I'm essentially a princess, a member of the royal family now in all but legality.

Turning to Kai, I take a breath. "I'd like to do this on my own. You and Jamie can stay outside the door, and listen in or whatever. For myself, I need to do this myself."

He inhales and shrugs. "I don't like it, but if that's what you need to do, I will literally be pressed up against the door, waiting for a reason to come in there and get one of them to beat him up. Can't get my hands dirty – prince and all."

I laugh and shake my head. "Thank you. He has no power over me anymore. I got this."

With that, I open the door and walk in. It looks like a lounge, with a TV on the wall, where I assume they live stream the services through. Jamie walks out as Kai gestures to him. Brayden stands from the chair. His blonde hair is short now, and he's bulked out a little. He's wearing black jeans and a white shirt, fit with a black leather jacket. To be honest, he looks awful, and I'm glad he does.

When the door is closed, it's just me and Brayden in the room. Part of me regrets asking Kai to stay outside, but I'm also pleased because I can feel the power surge within me. Or is that the baby beginning to work on my insides as it starts its seventeenth week? They told me not to expect movement until twenty weeks, but I swear that might have been it. I hope not, I wanted the moment to be shared with Kai.

"Mila. You look... pregnant."

I snort. "Well done, Brayden."

"What're you doing here? Engaged to a prince? The next in line to the throne now? You don't belong here. You belong with me—"

I smirk at him and shake my head. "I belong anywhere that's not with you. You know what? That night you saw me and Kai in the nightclub, I realised how much of an idiot you were. You abused me our entire relationship—"

He laughs. A stone-cold, mocking laugh. "Don't bullshit me, Mila. You think what we had was abuse? You wouldn't know it if it slapped you in the face. I treated you like a queen, not some back-alley princess. You think this life is for you? Come on. We were amazing!"

"You called me fat, ugly, you'd get off on me kissing other men and then shame me for it. Who does that in the name of love? You'd tell me what I could and couldn't wear, Bray. I wanted you back for so long, and then Kai showed me what love is actually like. It's so opposite to what you put me through."

"Of course I loved you. I still do, Mia."

"Don't call me that."

He scoffs. "That night? I wanted you back, and I was trying to make you jealous to approach me. Seeing you with him was disgusting. You don't look right together. You're a free spirit who belongs in clubs, bars, outside in clothes that show you off. A castle? Dresses that make you look frumpy? Waving aimlessly to people who don't know you? Ruling a country? That's not you. I've been watching you on TV, and you look so miserable."

"What are you talking about? I've never looked better. Pregnancy so far suits me. I have stylists and I feel amazing. Wanna know why? Because I saw beyond your crap and moved forward. Kai loves me for who I am. You're just an abusive tool, Brayden. Stop spreading crap in the media – not that anyone is even listening to you – and go away."

Silence falls between us.

"This look doesn't suit you. The black dress, the pregnancy, the hat and veil? You're meant to wear short dresses, show off those amazing tits—"

"Don't objectify me, Brayden. You broke up with me, and I'm over it. Please, just walk away and leave me alone. I'm with a real man now."

He looks me up and down for a few seconds. "You won't make a good princess, Mia. If you think you will, you're delusional. You're making such a massive mistake—"

The door bursts open and Kai storms in. "Get out of here. You don't get to speak to her like that. She's told me about the way you treated her, mocking her looks, controlling her—just get out of here. Mila's made it perfectly clear she doesn't want you."

Brayden laughs. It's a mocking, disgusted laugh. "And you fell for her lies? Come on, man. What woman doesn't want to feel good? That's all I was doing – helping her feel good about herself."

I arch an eyebrow. "Really? Do you know how disgusting that sounds? Being in a relationship with you was toxic and awful, and I'm glad I'm out. Goodbye, Brayden."

But Brayden makes no movement to leave.

"You heard my fiancée, leave," Kai warns. "Or I'll get the security outside the door to do it for you."

Brayden looks at me for a whole second before turning to Kai. "Mate, when she turns out to be the worst wife and princess because she can't listen and doesn't satisfy you, call me—"

My mouth gapes open. What the fuck is he—he wasn't the one complaining all those nights I'd make him finish with my mouth and never got anything back.

"If you don't leave right now, I will have my lawyer draw up a restraining order that's so loose you'd break instantly and be put in prison. Move," Kai threatens. "Jamie, take him out of the grounds, please, and make sure they know to never let him anywhere near this place again."

It's this out-of-body experience as Brayden hesitates for a second, but then moves quickly out of the door. Jamie nods his confirmation to us and ushers my ex-boyfriend out of the place before I can even comprehend what just happened.

"Are you okay, Peach?" Kai asks.

He stands in front of me, concern knitting in his brows. He looks like the alpha male, chest puffed and proud of himself, but also completely only looking at me.

"Kai, thank you," I whisper.

He smiles. "He's an arsehole, and he'll never bother you again. I promise."

I cock my head ever so slightly. "The way you just did that – I'd never have the balls to do that kinda thing. Kai, you're going to be an amazing king."

He furrows his brow. "You really think so?"

"I can see it. The way you just handled that—" I kiss his cheek. "You're going to be an amazing king."

He laughs. "Your faith in me is astounding, Peach. I just told an idiot where to go."

"That's the kind of authority a monarch needs," I point out. "Today has been almost a turning point for you, haven't you seen it? The way you were with the crowds out there, the way you just were—Kai, I think we should stay. You're amazing."

He shrugs. "I don't know about amazing, but I did notice earlier how much I enjoyed – situation aside – meeting and greeting the people out there. Listening to the charity woman, talking to the people. I didn't enjoy putting him in his place, but I kinda felt that protective surge not just for you but for the family, you know?"

I nod. "All the signs of a good monarch, right there."

"You think we can do this?"

I don't need to tell him he can, because I can see the sparkle in his eyes when he asks me the question. He clearly wants me to okay this though, so I nod. "Yeah, I think we got this, Prince Kai of Wales."

He shakes his head, but the smile is undeniable. "Hey, don't mock me. You're going to be Princess Mila of Wales."

"Still tempted to change my name to Princess Peach of Wales."

He laughs. "There's my Peach, always ready with a joke." He kisses my lips. "All right, we'll do this. Together, with our Mini Cherry."

"Cherry? Is that its name?" I snort.

He nods. "Until we get the sex and can name it properly, it's Mini Cherry."

"I love you, you idiot."

He grins. "I love you too. Somehow, this feels like I'm meant to be."

"I'm pleased," I admit. "I can't see you anywhere else if I'm honest." 

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