Prince Albert POV
I ran desperately to find the only one who could help me, but once I got in front of the building I stopped.
What am I doing? She just said she wanted nothing with us and here am I running to her...
But if I don't get an answer, I won't be able to see Julia...
S*it! To hell with that! Worse that can happen is another slap... right?
I walked with not so much confidence into the building, thinking about what I could offer the woman inside.
————
Cecile POV
I looked conflicted to the royal seal stamped beside IP's mark.
I was planning to take it off since I already said to Prince Albert that I won't deal with any bulls*it more from his family, but mother came here after knowing of my visit just to ask for me to not proceed with it.
Her argument is people will think we and the Royal Family cut ties, what is partially true, however, it will cause massive unrest in the people who are already terrified with the prospects of a battle. It also may cause a political party against the Royal Family, and it's needless to say how dangerous this is.
I understand all the repercussions, but it just doesn't feel right.
Uurghhhh!
I can already see Albert smirking and calling me a hypocrite.
IT. MAKES. ME. SO. MAD.
While I was thinking how much I wanted to slap that pretty face again, I heard a commotion outside and before either me or Leo could get up to see what was happening the door opened.
"You can't enter!"
The pretty face that I was dreaming of slapping appeared in front of me. I had to blink a few times to register the reality.
Albert sat down in front of my table while Mary looked exasperated. I could see Leo getting up to drag this trash out and.
I looked at Leo and shook my head. There's no way Leo can contend with Albert. I could see all my Knights in the floor blackout. Leo, who understood my meaning, still came to my table and stood beside me.
This stupid loyalty sure is lovely.
"I need to talk to you"
"But I don't"
"I see you realized you can openly cut ties with us. Why be stubborn?"
"Mary, try to catch with mother's carriage and ask Theo to come back"
"Yes, Miss!"
"You know he won't be able to take me out"
"Still unseen"
I ignored the man in front of me and looked through the rest of the reports left. Although his presence was upsetting, I couldn't actually do anything with my punny strength and Leo's.
"Cecile, I really need your help"
'Whatevs~'
*scrib, scrib*
"I can give you whatever you want"
'I want you to cram far away from here'
*scrib, scrib*
"I'll make your life a living hell"
'Let's see who makes the better hell then~'
*scrib, scrib*
"I-I am sorry"
'You-'
I finally stopped working and put my pen down to look at the prince in front of me. Did I hear right?
The egomaniac, overbearing and arrogant Prince Albert just say he was wrong?
I looked outside, but the sun was in the right place. Sick?
I once again looked at Albert. But what I saw completely scared the s*it out of me.
Mommy, I'm scared!!! Albert is doing a scary thing with his eyes!
So, so scary. Please stop this.
But not only stopped it grew even worse.
Tears that were only filling his eyes started to spill. For Christ sakes, what should I do?
I looked at Leo, who also had an unbelievable face. He glanced at me with guilt.
No. You can't! NO!
"Ceci, I will go check if Theo is close. Excuse me"
Leo slipped faster than I ever see him moving. Where is the stupid loyalty? Give me back the thump my heart gave when you came to 'protect' me.
"Ce-Cecile I really need your help. Please, I beg you"
More tear fell in the pretty face I want to ruin.
"Urgh. Stop crying is disgusting. Tell me what you want. I may or may not help you. Whatever my choice is you need to leave. Understand?"
"But-"
"Take it or continue your useless and disgusting crying"
"*Sniff* I understand *sniff*"
If I didn't know this bastard, my heart would have melted with this moe gap. But the feeling of pity for this idiot won't ever exist. Whatever is his problem, I'm sure he deserves it.
"How did you deal with the loss of your future throne?"
"... do you came to rub salt in the wound?"
"No. It's a genuine question"
"Tell me why you want to know"
Albert didn't answer, and I took the pen back.
"Okay, please don't go back to work. Hm... is about Julia... because of what she did I asked her to change her ways... I know it's selfish for me to ask her that, but I told she could break up if she didn't want to change..."
You said what?! Breakup??? Who is this stranger in front of me?! Did Albert hit his head?
"...and then she suggested- ouch! What are you doing?"
"Just checking if you are really you or not some kind of disguise"
"Where did you see a disguise this perfect"
I only shrugged. Is not like I can say on TV, right?
"*sigh* whatever. Let me finish the story. Julia suggested for me to abdicate the throne and go live with her in the countryside"
OMG! I never thought Julia could think of this. What a G E N I U S. Hahaha.
"Can you stop laughing this is a serious matter"
"Haha but is so funny. Is actually a wonderful idea! Who would have thought the stupid girl would think something like this! So what did you answer her?"
"... nothing. I don't know what to do, that's why I came here"
"You realize that I'm not your friend, right?"
"... sort of. But you are the only one that I know who passed through something similar"
"Oh, in my case was not an option, right? I HAD TO abandon what I spent my life training"
"I- no- well-"
"I don't need you to say anything. For me was actually liberating to be released from the future crown princess position. I stopped liking you a long time ago, and you never liked me. Our marriage would suck. Plus, being a Queen is too tiresome"
I looked at Albert's eyes and asked something that I always doubted.
"Have you never feared to put a dumb person like Julia in the Queen's throne? I never understood how you, who always put the kingdoms and the citizens in the first place, chose such a terrible person as partner disregarding everything"
"I love her"
"You're the future king, not some commoner who can avidly choose who he wants to marry. You should dumb her"
"I can't! She is the love of my life"
"So abdicate"
"Urgh. I can't! I have so much that I still want to accomplish!"
"There you have the answer. You don't want to move to the countryside because you still didn't achieve YOUR dream"
"But... what about Julia?"
"If she loves you, she will understand. She only has to get smarter right? Plus, is not she didn't know what she was dealing with from the beginning. Because you and your aides pamper her too much she as dumb as a door. You may find her naivety cute and all, but for the rest of our circle, she is just bothersome. She behaves like a child instead of a 15-year-old Miss. Unless you want people doubting the mentality of your future Queen, do something about it"
"I know. But what?"
I had to control the villainess trademark smile trying to break free. Fufu~ I have the perfect solution for yo~ou~
"Lock her"
"... Cecile, I'm not joking"
"Neither am I. Lock her in a place she won't want to leave. Must have everything that she loves and your aids (and her only friends) should visit her every day. Put many people in the security. Don't let anyone else visit her... if you want you can try to educate her slowly. But who are we cheating? She spent 15 years and still as dumb as they can be, she won't change suddenly"