* 𝐒𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐀 / 𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑩𝑶𝑾 .

“ i know, i know… ” the prince had to put his best self to not raise his voice or to sound at all frustrated or annoyed, but he wasn’t sure if he was able to hide that much of frustration, more so when it has been build for days. “ and i know you won’t believe me because you have no reason to do so but i never meant to hurt her. it’s eating me alive to know that i did and differently for what you may think, i lov- … i care for her. a lot.” the words came out of his mouth so fast that he almost did not have the time to correct (or hide) himself. “yes, i had a girlfriend but when belle and i spend that night together, we were broke up. we were just building the nerve to say it out loud and when i saw belle that weekend, i knew it was over and that’s why i went forward with it. i flew back to monaco and she moved out and she wasn’t pregnant, it was a false positive and i will appreciate if you keep that to yourself from now on.  ” 

            she   listens   carefully   to   the   prince’s   words      &      her   eyebrows   pull   together   as   he   finishes   ,   confusion   sweeping   over   her   ONCE   again   .   is   he   speaking   so   fast   because   he’s   lying      ?      or   can   someone   speak   that   fast   while   perpetuating   a   lie   with   such   certainty   .   he   features   become   less   harsh   lines      &      more   into   ones   that   are   willing   to   listen   ,   even   if   for   a   short   amount   of   seconds   .      ❛      so   ,   if   she   wasn’t   pregnant   ,   then   why   would   she   tell   bella   that   she   was      ?      why   would   she   care   so   deeply   about   something   that   was   supposed   to   be   over      ?      ❜

“ you weren’t planning on having them over ? ” he has a hard time deciding if he finds that surprising or just funny. “ giselle will turn green if she hears about a party she wasn’t invited to but you should do as you see fit. ” maybe it would make his sister a humbler person. “ why would that be a problem ? ”

“That is the almost the same things my father told me when he managed to force the truth out of me.” Coming from him, it wasn’t all that surprising for Baudouin to ask because he is a cynical man but it was a surprise to hear it from Renee because, for a while, she forgot that her friend was as well. Now that she was given a reason to remember, she found herself wondering if going down that road would really make things better for her. “Maybe I should take that as my sign to listen. Is that what happened when you met Alphonse?”, she asked as her curiosity got the better of her. “I read that there is an aquarium with a touch pool in the city. Would you like to take her to that?

               ❛      well   ,   learning   from   experience   has   taught   me   that   you   should   expect   the   worst   every   time   .   at   least   then   ,   if   things   work   out   ,   it’s   a   blessing   .      ❜      renée   laughs   a   little   ,   although   her   lips   form   a   warm   ,   sentimental   smile   as   bella   questions   her   .      ❛      not   exactly   .   we   met   at   a   time   where   i   didn’t   think   finding   a   stable   relationship   was   an   option   for   me   .   if   anything   ,   i   doubted   him   .      ❜      she   was   young   ,   but   she   had   seen   her   fair   share   of   abandonment   when   she   met   the   duke   ,   so   she   was   naturally   WARY   .      ❛      that   would   actually   be   nice   .   we   can   grab   lunch   after   .      ❜

“Is it grim to bet what will usher us out of here next? My money is behind being robbed again. What do you think?” She lost an heirloom in a previous move. None of which she’d dare mention to her parents. It was a bracelet that could probably date their lineage. She looped an arm with Renee. “When?! We should steal a weekend away to go. You haven’t lived until you try a black diamond.” Trial by fire. The bunny slopes could only satisfy her for so long. “A girls trip. Inari might be willing to forsake this place for a few days and– Belle!” she didn’t have many friends to riddle off. “I thought every princess has a rebellious phase? Mine was alternative slash punk-rock. In fact, my entire being was set on dating Hayley Williams if given the opportunity.” The pink hair was tasteful in her gracious opinion though her family may state the contrary. “We can’t all be Arabella’s. I’m jealous of her you know? Any princess who looks as though they have it together.”  

            ❛      that’s   possible   ,   but   i   think   that   either   way   ,   it’ll   be   something   that’s   happened   before   .   these   people   seem   to   lack   creativity   .      ❜      &      brains   ,   in   her   eyes   .   what   do   they   expect   to   accomplish    by   endangering   the   lives   of   royals      &      nobility      ?      it’s   not   going   to   add   any   extra   zeros   to   their   paychecks   ,   she’s   sure   .      ❛      not   since   my   teens   ,   which   feels   like   centuries   ago   .   but   i’m   always   up   for   a   weekend   away   .      &      i’m   sure   belle   will   be   curled   up   by   the   fireplace   the   entire   time   ,   or   creating   snowmen   .      ❜      one   of   the   perks   of   having   family   surrounding   her   now   means   ample   amounts   of   people   in   belle’s   life   who   don’t   mind   watching   her   .   although   every   time   she   asks   them   ,   she   feels   a   twinge   of   guilt   in   her   stomach   ,   so   she’s   glad   sylvia   considers   her   as   an   option   .      ❛      hayley   williams      ?      she’s   that   girl   from   that   band   ,   isn’t   she      ?      ❜      the   name   is   just   on   the   tip   of   her   tongue   .      ❛      arabella   is   like   a   golden   example   of   everything   everyone   wants   to   be   .   it’s   not   fair   .      ❜

one hand running through his face was enough to show off the irritation he tried so desperately to control and his eye widened open when she spoke so openly about the share information he previously gave belle. it wasn’t as simple and it was something that he did not want any pair of curious ears to hear, therefore, he needed to pull this conversation aside. “okay, listen” he says, as calmly and as low as he can, gently pulling her to the side and doing a sign to his duo os securities to cover them. “you’re right, is not and as far as the rest go  ─ i’m not in any obligation to tell you anything so what the hell you want for me? what were you expecting from this burst of rage and moral lecture?”

            once   they’re   out   of   earshot   ,   she   pulls   her   arm   out   of   his   grasp      &      fixes   him   with   glare   .   her   best   friend’s   words   about   her   still   hoping   he’s   a   descent   guy   ,   her   questioning   her   ability   to   move   on   ,   is   enough   to   make   renée’s   rage   remain   bubbling   at   the   surface   ,   only   heated   by   the   prince’s   utterances   .      ❛      i   want   to   know   why   you   would   do   that   to   her   .      ❜      she   can’t   understand   how   anyone   can   hurt   someone   ,   yet   wake   up   the   next   morning   .   she   could   never   even   imagine   it   .      ❛      bella   is   kind   .   she   is   good   .   she   deserves   better   than   this   .      ❜

“I’m crossing my heart we get a chance to snowboard in a few weeks when the resorts are covered.” The flight to Mar del plata gave enough hours to flip through every single complementary magazine on the chartered plane. Mid September was an optimal time to give it a go. She’d have to beg and plead with Levente to accompany her. Lord knew her friends were likely to be busy given the current climate of politics. “Do you know how to? Ski or snowboard, I mean.” The mere thought of hot chocolate while flakes of white blanketed a cabin prompted a high smile to decorate her face. “Yes, pretty please! Liquid courage might finally allow me to show you pictures of my punk rock phase. Spoiler, I dyed my hair pink.” Her nose wrinkled, leaving the freckles speckling her cheeks in an awful distortion. The sun rays helped to an extent. “That and I need something to warm me up. It’s veeery chilly… just a tad bit.”

            ❛      that   actually   sounds   VERY   fun   .   it   definitely   sounds   a   lot   better   than   just   standing   around   ,   waiting   for   something   else   to   move   us   along   .      ❜      the   move   from   phuket   to   here   has   already   been   stressful   enough   .   she   had   just   gotten   belle’s   sleeping   pattern   back   to   her   regular   schedule   ,   but   now   it   has   all   been   turned   upside   down   again   .   she’s   glad   ,   though   ,   that   her   daughter   is   closer   to   even   more   family   here   .      ❛      i’ve   been   before   ,   but   knowing   how   to   is   an   entirely   different   story   .   it’s   fun   ,   though   .   dangerous   but   an   experience   worth   going   through   .      ❜      she   has   tried   out   a   lot   of   things   that   she   would   never   do   again   ,   but   there   are   the   select   few   thrill   -   seeking   trips   that   she   would   repeat   if   given   the   opportunity   .      ❛      you   had   pink   hair      ?      i   thought   all   princesses   had   to   look   all   prim      &      proper   .   or   at   least   strict   rules   on   hair   ,      ❜      she   teases   .      ❛      then   let’s   get   something   to   toast   those   toes   of   yours   .      ❜

“He did and I think what makes it worse is that I believed I was done dealing with this kind of thing. I mean, after what happened with Henri, I told myself I wouldn’t involve with anyone new unless I was sure it was serious. And I was so sure of Biel but look at us now.” Just make sure you know him before things get more intense— that was the advice that Renee gave her back in Italy, the same advice that she hated herself for believing she already followed because, clearly, she was wrong. “I can’t promise I can follow the step to move on but cry and drink? That, I can do tonight. For now, I’d like to continue taking this little angel-” She looked down at Belle. “around this place. I don’t want her day to be ruined.”

            ❛     being   helplessly   hopeful   erases   any   other   concerns   ,   i   get   it   .   you   wanted   to   believe   you   made   a   good   choice   with   him   .   it’s   an   experience   you   can   never   forget   ,   but   you   can   learn   from   it   .   trust   me   .   if   he   would   do   that   to   his   girlfriend   ,   then   what   could   he   do   to   you      ?      ❜      she   wonders   at   what   point   she   realised   wishful   thinking   only   gets   you   hurt   in   the   long   run   ,   but   she   supposes   it’s   a   lesson   she   was   taught   along   the   way   .      ❛      it’ll   get   easier   .   i   promise   .      ❜      she   runs   a   hand   over   the   daughters   hair   ,   smiling   .      ❛      that   sounds   like   a   good   plan   .   where   do   you   want   to   see   next      ?      ❜

“ of course, i’ll make sure i’ll have time to participate. ” he would stop by. these were the sacrifices you made for the sake of your family. one hour would not cost him too much and if he timed it well, it could be his lunch break. “ no play date friends to be invited ? i think i’ve seen a fair share of toddlers around. ”

The little girl whose ears were covered looked up at Arabella and that was enough to make her smile in spite of the conversation that she was engaged in. “You took the words right out of my mouth.” She sighed. “I am a lot of things right now but okay is not one of those.”, she admitted as her best friend’s arms were wrapped around her. It was comforting, that was for sure. “Oddly enough, no. I know that this will sound stupid but despite everything, I still see him as the guy who’s worth it. Please tell me there’s a way to change that.”

            after   a   few   minutes   ,   renée   releases   her   daughter’s   ears      &      offers   her   best   friend   a   sad   ,   yet   oddly   enough   is   supportive   .      ❛      of   course   .   you   care   about   him   ,      &      he   hurt   you   .     ❜      she   feels   as   if   there’s   some   sort   of   lesson   there   ,   but   she   doesn’t   feel   like   mentioning   it   .   it   wouldn’t   make   bella   feel   any   better   .      ❛      there’s   always   a   way   to   change   things   .   you   just   need   to   cry   a   lot   ,   move   on   ,      &      drink   lots   of   tequila   .      ❜

it took him a second or two to realize whose voice disrupt in the middle of his conversation with his secretary, and the figure that almost made him stumble on his own feet. he wasn’t surprised because he saw that coming, he still could not place a name to the women, but perhaps the one from belle’s stories. “ excuse me? “ he asked, more disturbed for being caught under guard, stepping far from loretta. “ you have no idea of what you are talking about so perhaps you want consider turn around and leave me alone. ”

            somehow   his   attitude   rubs   her   in   the   wrong   way   ,      &      forgets   for   a   moment   that   he   might   be   having   some   important   meeting   ,      &      that   she   may   have   timed   her   outrage   better   ,   but   at   the   moment   ,   she   doesn’t   care   .      ❛      i   don’t      ?      ❜      she   raises   an   eyebrow   .      ❛      so   you   didn’t   sleep   with   bella   ,   only   to   tell   her   afterwards   that   you   technically   still   had   a   girlfriend   ,      &      that   she   was   pregnant      ?      ❜      her   voice   rises   at   the   end   ,   her   eyebrows   challenging   .      ❛      yes   ,   of   course   ,   since   that’s   easy   enough   to   make   up   .      ❜

At the corner of her eye, Arabella was able to see the look on Renee’s face change and that was another reason why she could not face her best friend. It made her wish that she just stayed quiet. “I didn’t tell you this but sometime last year, we slept together and it wasn’t something we talked about until our last day in Austria.” She scoffed at the memory of it. “It wasn’t even a good conversation. How could it be when he mentioned that he was in a relationship with somebody else at the time? And, as if that isn’t enough, she was pregnant.”

            there’s   a   look   of   confusion   on   her   features   when   arabella   begins   to   talk   ,      &      she’s   about   to   question   why   her   friend   is   so   upset   when   she   tells   her   anyway   .   her   eyebrows   pull   together   ,      &      she   reaches   down   to   cover   belle’s   ears   as   she   speaks   .      ❛      that   lying   sleazebag   .   oh   my   god   ,   bella   ,   are   you   okay      ?      ❜      she   releases   her   daughter’s   ears      &      pulls   bella   into   a   hug   ,   sighing   .      ❛      do   you   want   me   to   murder   him      ?      because   i   will   .      ❜

“ oh her birthday is coming up ? ” too many birthdays in august and september. how was he expected to do any work when there was always someone badgering him for something birthday related. “ what can i do for you ? ”

One touch on the shoulder was all it took for her facade to slowly fall apart and in hopes of hiding that and every expression that would appear on his face from this point on, she turned her attention to the sun that was setting. “Unfortunately. You’ll have to promise me that no matter I say, you won’t tell me I told you so.”, she requested before taking a deep breath. “You were right, maybe I don’t know Biel as well as I thought I did.” She never thought that she’d be saying those words, and she hated that she had to. “It’s frustrating to be proven wrong.”

            renée’s   frown   deepens   up   until   that   point   where   arabella   mentions   the   portuguese’s   name   .   she   hates   to   be   proven   right   ,   especially   over   something   like   this   ,   but   genuine   concern   over   her   friend      &      what   she’s   going   through   overrides   any   anger   she’ll   surely   feel   when   she   next   sees   the   prince   ,      &      she   doesn’t   even   know   what   he   has   done   yet   .      ❛      hold   on   ,   what   did   he   do      ?      ❜      a   thousand   questions   run   through   her   mind   ,   but   she   figures   that’s   the   most   important   one   at   the   moment   .

he joins her laugh, even though the look he was truly going for is a different one. his own personal brand of rebellion that will sooner or later end. he has a feeling freja won’t tolerate it much longer. “i truly do prefer red. it is much more satisfying. for the sake of your dress, white is fine.” he has lived for nearly fifty years, and almost nothing compares to the feeling that rushed through him as the deep red liquid had stained the king’s outfit. the foolishness of everything related to the world of royalty has him reeling on a daily basis nowadays, so he’ll gladly enjoy a glass of wine with her. “has anything interesting happened during my absence?”