Hello!! Clippy checking in. So, we see some more of the iconic love triangle in this chapter. So, let's get right into it.

Enjoy!

"Johnathan," Angela says. "you slipped me a drink, didn't you." 

He smirked. "No, you're the one who asked for a sip of mine." 

"I DID NOT!" Angela shouted back. "Who are you going to trust," he sighed, "the girl who doesn't remember that she called the prince hot yesterday, or me?"

Angela froze. "I what-now?" 

He rolled his eyes, "Nothing." 

"No, no," she said stiffly, "I called the prince what?" 

"God - it was a joke, Angela," he spat. 

Angela made a long "oh" sound as she came to the realization. Of course, she got an eye roll as a reply to this.

Angela plays with her fingers, looking up at her boyfriend shyly. Remembering Hugo's words from before, she huffs slightly. "Could we take away the alcohol from the apartment?"

"Absolutely not," Johnathan scoffed. "I thought we talked about this before." 

"Yes, I know," Angela shot back, a bit of annoyance laced within her tone. "I just think that we should actually do something this time-"

"I'm circling back to my first statement," he grumbled. "It's not very hard to not consume alcohol-" 

"It is for me!" Angela shouted, then grabbing her temples furiously. "Hangover?" Johnathan asked.

"More like blood loss migraine," she mumbled. "I got a nose bleed yesterday." 

"Oh," he spoke mindlessly; his attention had drifted entirely from the previous conversation.

Angela's eyes slit, fumbling with her fingernails. She wanted to speak up, but Adria's advice rang in her ears, telling her not to. She had no one else to trust; it wasn't like her parents were together at most times.

Her father worked outside the palace as a doctor, occasionally gaining a pinch of time to write simple letters to his family. Contrary to this, her mother had the occupation as head maid of the palace.

Angela had the job as one of the laundry maids, also known as the girls who had picked up slack from the other workers at the palace. Angela, being the daughter of the head maid, was assigned most of this work.

Because of her constant business, Angela had lived a sheltered life. She had never been able to visit stores or shops in the towns outside the palace, nonetheless be able to have a boyfriend.

Johnathan had met her while delivering the food supply for the palace banquet those weeks ago and had been very assertive at first. When he offered her a date, she couldn't figure out if there was a way to say no; besides, she deserved to have some fun in her life.

Those weeks ago. So much has happened between then and now.

"ANGELA!" Johnathan shout, Angela jumping. 

"What?" She groaned, annoyed he had interrupted her train of thought. 

"I've been calling you for the last five minutes," he grumbled, "pay attention."

"Sorry," she mumbled. "What is it?" 

"Can you pass my whiskey from the cabinet over there?" He asked, his tone lowering. Angela passed it to him, huffing as she sat down.

"No," he raised the bottle out of her reach. "You're already hungover."

"I'm not trying to drink it," she mumbled, "just pass me the bottle so I can open it." 

He handed it to her, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "How's work been?" He sparked conversation as she shrugged.

"Same as usual," she says. She shook slightly as the bottle popped open. "What about you?"

He huffed, "nothing new." 

She handed him the bottle, both of them sitting in silence. 

"Did you get a job in the town, as I asked?" Angela stretched her arms, leaning back in her chair. 

"Yeah, about that," he huffed, "I didn't want to work at the bakery."

"Why not?" "I'm waiting around for something better," he sighed, "do you think your prince friend could get me a job here?"

"As what," she replied softly. 

She didn't want to ask Hugo any favours; she liked their friendship to me informal. "Maybe a knight, or his assistant," he breathed, "something like that-"

"A knight?" She laughed nervously, "Johnathan, that takes years of preparation. Don't even get me started on being his assistant," she waved her hands in the air, defeated.

"I'm sure you could-" 

"Could what," she spat, "ask him for the job for you? He already doesn't like you." 

Johnathan scoffed. "Who's fault is that, Angela?"

"Yours," she replied simply but forcefully. 

"Watch your tone," he spat, "you don't get to pretend that there is no dynamic between you two."

"Even if he likes me, I don't like him-" 

"Why can't we use that to an advantage then," Johnathan intruded, "if the prince likes you, we automatically get anything we want-"

"SERIOUSLY?" Angela shouted, standing up. "I am not doing that. Not now, not ever. Hugo is my friend," she started, "all he has ever wanted was to be treated like a friend, and not the prince."

"I'm not saying to treat him differently," Johnathan took a sip of his drink. "I'm proposing the idea we take the opportunity to use his power while he still likes you."

"He. Doesn't. Like. Me."

"Angela," Johnathan spat, "you don't understand how guys think."

"I understand he doesn't like me. Are we done about this topic?" Angela stared at him until she heard her reply.

He rubbed his temples, growing more frustrated by the second. "Get out. Leave." Johnathan shot through gritted teeth.

"Is that the best-"

"LEAVE NOW." Johnathan heaved a deep sigh. "Go before I do something you won't like."

Angela opened her mouth to protest, then shutting it and walking to her door. She closed the door behind her, pacing down the hall as she felt tears brim her eyes. She let the thought pass as she took a deep breath, the ladybug kwami flying out of her pocket.

"You okay?" Tikki asked, sadness laced in her usual peppy tone. 

"Yeah," Angela breathed, "I'm good." Tikki's expression matched her previous tone, the red glow on her dimming slightly.

"I've never seen a relationship where stuff like this happens," Tikki sighed, "maybe it's new, though." 

Angela shrugged in reply. "I don't know anything myself," Angela huffed sadly, "but Adria had said that this was normal, so I can't say."

Tikki nodded, going back into her pocket as Angela sighed softly and paused as she leaned on the wall. "I need a second," she breathed to herself.

***

Angela tripped in her heels, leaning on the wall. "Angela?" Hugo's voice perked up as she ignored him. She smiled wearily, finally acknowledging his existence.

"Hey...Hugo," she slurred.

He raised an eyebrow, walking up closer to her and then kneeling. "You smell like whiskey," he sighed, grabbing her hands.

"Come on," he stood up, waiting for her to stand up. "Hugo, no!" Angela shouted, her face red as she cleared her throat.

"What do you mean no?" "I don't want to go back," Angela shivered, not knowing the information she was leaking.

Hugo's brows furrowed. "Go back where."

"My apartment," she sighed. Hugo fell back onto the floor. "Why? Why do you not want to return?" Hugo asked urgently.

Angela looked at him deep in the eye, before laughing as he rubbed his temples. "I'm not telling you prince-boy," she smiled sickly at him. Her smile had a pain beneath; maybe since it had been the third time that week she had drowned herself in alcohol.

"Why not?" Hugo kept calm, needing to know the answer. He needed proof that Johnathan was bad for her. No better way to get it than from Angela herself.

"Because," Angela huffed, "I don't wanna." Hugo smirked, "you don't 'wanna'?"

She huffed, crossing her arms, "No."

"Why do you not wanna?" Hugo imitated her, enjoying this too much for her own good. "Because," Angela smiled, "I want our friendship to be formal, not informal."

"What does that mean?" Hugo asked quickly after.

"I love it because you're not the prince when you're with me. You are just my best friend, nothing can change that..."

She paused, "your eyes are pretty."

He smirked at the last statement. "Not as nice as yours," he breathed. "Maybe one day we'll have a flamily," she then laughed, "I said flamily."

She paused, seriousness being etched into her features. "Wait, is it flamily?"

He paused, "I think I need to get you to bed." 

"Sorry prince-boy, I'm taken," she slurred, Hugo steadying her. 

"I- that isn't what I meant," Hugo responded.

They walked down the hall, Hugo wrapping an arm around Angela as they walked down. 

"Ehe, prince-boy has pretty eyes," she smiled, Plagg snickering within his coat pocket.

"I believe yours are prettier," Hugo stated the same reply as before. "Your majesty, what's my name?" Angela asked.

"...Why are you asking?" Hugo sighed. "WHAT IS IT!" Angela shouted as Hugo chuckled. "It's Angela," Hugo replied with a slight smile.

"Aw, I love that name," she smiled loopily. "What's my name, though?"

Hugo chuckled, ignoring the question for the second time. He brought her to one of the empty guest rooms, opening the door with his free hand.

She rested on the mattress as she held both of her hands on his wrist. "Don't go," she whined, Hugo chuckling. "Angela, please go to sleep."

She shook her head.

He sighed, resisting all temptations, and stood up. "Good night," he rested the blankets over top of her. 

She smiled happily, Hugo smiling softly as he shut the door and locked it. "That was the hardest thing ever," Hugo breathed his face still a scarlet hue. 

Plagg snickered, "she really says some interesting things while drunk."

Wow, so, poor Angela. Seems she lost her control again. But, who got her drunk? Why would she purposely drink alcohol? Unless she just wanted to-

Anyway, to find out, stay tuned! Have a great day/night :)