"Aah-- "
A boisterous blast alongside an ear-piercing shriek could be heard as Samera's cousins, Amber and Belle, emerged at her door fully exhausted with sweat spread all over their foreheads and their backs. Belle was still gasping for air when she arrived, alongside Amber who was trying to fan herself with her hands in an attempt to relieve the heat they had been subjected to after arriving at their dear cousin's penthouse. Belle came to a halt in front of the equally perplexed Samera. She grabbed the water beside Sam's table and drank a whole class of it before Amber came rushing forward to take some for herself.
"How are you?"
Belle finally spoke up after drinking some water.
"I'm fine. Why? What's the issue?"
She left a big sigh of relief exclaiming, "It's great that you're back on track presently, but we have a few issues!"
Sam looked at them perplexedly and inquired,
"What transpired? You appeared to have run all the way here under the scorching sun without a chaperone. Is there a situation that requires immediate attention? How did Uncle and Aunt fare? Was there an incident with your car while you were driving—"
"My dear cousin—"
Belle said this after clenching her hands and exhaling another gasp of air.
"Oh Dear, Dear Cousin! You have got no idea. You won't believe what we have studied over the news!"
"Yes, Cousin" cried the much younger Amber.
Her blue eyes were sparkling with tears, alongside Belle's green one. Both of the sisters had straight silky strawberry blonde hair (a rare gift from their mother), were slimmer than most people, and were slightly taller than her. They have much paler skin while she, on the other hand, had olive skin and a dark silky wavy hair she got from her mother, alongside her stunning beautiful green eyes. Just like Belle, they both got on their father's side.
"You just won't believe what people doing nowadays to get instant fame! Just look at what this blasphemous individual wrote in the newspaper this morning!"
After Amber threw her the newspaper article that had been making them very frantic and unrest all morning.
"We never intend to ruin your morning. However, this is such noteworthy news that it has sparked rumors throughout high society, including the Prime Minister himself. Everyone was perplexed as to who she was and was willing to go to any length to catch a glimpse of the person who had stolen their Prince Charming's heart, and even replacing Princess Donna."
Samera looked over the newspaper. The words were clearly written in bold and seemingly bigger letters catching the attention of its readers.
'An Insiders from Wickham Palace revealed the truth to the Fox News about the secret relationship the Highness had to a Businesswoman in the High Society. Is this the end for Prince Reagan and Princess Donna?'
Poised, poignant, and elegant, with her sparkling blonde hair tied into a proper knot, Princess Celine, sister of Crown Prince Reagan, drank her tea with much glamour and elegance as she sat with both of her knees stuck together in a diagonal position across a big television.
She had a beautifully embroidered scarf around her n, a big pearl dangling on her ears and several that were on her neck. A beautiful elegant hat that obscured the view of her face. Her grey eyes appeared to be very intrigued by what was being the new's anchors report. Her face was sporting a smile as she watch the news while taking another isp of her chamomile tea.
'This woman, who had insisted on calling herself Miss Little Secrets, send a letter containing the receipts allegedly used by the Crown Prince during his secret escapade with that mysterious woman. She told the news that everything in here was the proof of his Highness blooming romance with another woman. Charlotte Mckenney, one of the critics of the Royal family stated, ' I am pretty sure this rumors, either true or not, would bring shame to the royal family as such---'
The TV had already been turned off before she had finished watching the news. She looked around and saw her brother—-the very subject of the news—-glaring at her angrily as if she was the main suspect in spreading this gossip. She looked him in the eyes and pretended his venomous accusing eyes didn't bother her while saying:
"Oh, your majesty has arrived! What prompted you to visit this wing so early this morning?"
"Can you drop your fake persona and started answering me truthfully, sister. "
"Oh, was this all about the news, Your Grace?"
Reagan came closer to hear with fury-filled eyes as she grab her hand tightly and gritted his teeth while saying,
"I know you'd do anything to doestroy me, Big sister, just because I'm the heir to the throne. Unfortunately, because you were a woman who can not bear any higher position unless you marry a ruler, destroying my image was your second best option for retaliation, simply because I never wanted to be manipulated by you or the Queen. I just wanted you to know that this rumor would not deter me from visiting her!"
"You have made a grave mistake in your evaluation of my character, Brother. You may remember me as a pushover when I drove you to induce engagement to our cousin, Princess Donna, but I would never and will never expose our secrets into public scrutiny just weaken our image and reputation. That is something I would never do for the Queen, for the Queen Mother, or our King!"
"But you would to me!!!"
His words caught the Princess off guard, and she stood there in disbelief, holding her tears in front of her brother. His words not only accused her of something she had never done but also implied that her own brother regarded him as a low-class individual who would do such things for her benefit.
She had never imagined that allowing his brother to enjoy a night out with his lover every now and then would make him thank her for her kindness, but instead, he had suspected her of destroying his reputation. This girl has transformed his brother beyond repair.
"It makes absolutely no difference if I defend my character in front of you. You had already made up your mind, but I just want you to know that if you want to gain the trust of these very people who serve you, you must act like a true heir to the throne, not a foolish lovestruck teenager who only cared about himself and his lover with no or little respect for those around him—-including us, your own family."
She slowly strode very close from him before she aligned herself into his left ear and uttered the words,
"If another of this scandal spread once again, I don't think I'd be able to defend you, brother, as much as I wanted to. Even our mother might leave you on your own device after this. This should be the very last scandal we heard of you. Otherwise, the Queen might get tired and decide to replace you with the Duke instead."
She left but not without leaving his brother in fuming anger. Much worst than the first time he had entered the room. Now he was fully convinced that someone from the Palace leaked his own secrets. Was it his personal maid? his secretary? his driver? anything could be Miss Little Secrets.
Back then he thought she could be her sister, but based on her attitude and knowing how protective she was with anyone in the Royal Family. He must scratch her out.
('Just who really are you, Miss Little Secrets? You really have chosen a stronger opponent. ill make sure that once I caught you, I'll tear you down to pieces.')
Samera finished reading the article as she stand up looking unbothered in front of her cousins who did not expect her calm demeanor. They expected that she would cry get panicked and they would comfort her, but she seemed more collective than they were.
"So, Sam, what are your thoughts on it?"
Belle couldn't help but inquire. It was so abnormal for her to be calm in this circumstance. She would have panicked if it had been her. Instead, her cousin sat in front of the mirror and began to put makeup on her face.
"Don't be concerned, Belle. In his 25 years of life, the Crown Prince had already met several women. Nobody could have guessed who it was so easily, in my opinion."
"What is your meaning Sam?! May I know what it was. Was his highness had been fooling around all these time you were together with other women?"
"I'm afraid that that is the case, Belle."
"Woahh. Then how could you stay such an intolerable man and suffocating relationship! Love must not feel like this!"
"Well, I am afraid I can not give you a good rational answer when it comes to love, my dearest cousin."
"I could not comprehend, Sam. Even if the Primce indeed spent the night with other women, they still have all the receipts for all the places you two visited! You'd be discovered by the press sooner or later." Amber exclaimed.
Samera just slowly put her red lipstick on her plump lips before looking at the image in her mirror. Her face appeared much younger, but her mind belonged to a 43-year-old woman who had two different lifetimes and was far more mature than her naive and virgin self.
"Amber, do you think the Prince and I bedded each other?"
"Huh?"
She carefully dusted the powder foundation on her face as she applied some light brown blush to her cheekbones while saying:
"Never once in my life did I let the Prince touch me passionately during our night out. It was more of a night of enjoying each other's company than a hot passionate night."
This was one of the things she was grateful for in her younger self. Not being foolish enough to give up her virginity until she becomes his official concubine. Despite her hormonal brain, she still has some logic left.
"Oh! That's fantastic. I can now sleep soundly knowing that you are safe."
Belle smiled and came over to hug her tightly. Amber came soon after, and the two hugged her tightly in the back as she smiled. Remembering the golden days.
('I think I should talk to him tonight. We should put an end to this relationship.')
She thought to herself as she listened to Belle and Amber discuss what happened at the Ball the night before.