chapter 16

Sybil

Everyone is preparing for the prince's birthday tonight. It's weird to go around telling people what to do but I'm proud of how the queen has not laid a complaint.

"Friend. Long time no see." I turn around to find Vittorio heading towards me.

"How are you ?"

"Good , I can't believe you're in charge."

"Oh come on it's only for a month."

I look at him and I remember the Queen's request .

"Uh, so how is the prince . Is he still going around.?"

"You know your prince , although I thought he stopped but weirdly enough he started again . He's probably stressed about something."

"Mmm, did you know that he's to be a husband?"

"Uh no , did the queen tell you ?

"No . Bye ."

I say and quickly run away.

.....

Cyrelas

We're halfway through the party but my mind is somewhere far .

"Congratulations on being the Grand Prince. "

"Thank you Lady Macbeth ."

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations....."

"Good evening. Your Majesty the queen."

A guard interrupts everyone announcing my mother's presence.

"Hail the queen." Everyone says bowing down as the queen gets on the platform.

"Bless, bless. Ok , as we know from today onwards we have a Crown Prince . But I would also like to announce that we're a few steps away from having a princess for him."

Everyone gasps and I just look down feeling defeated. I knew this was going to happen. Even my father told me that I can fool around until I was 25 and crowned Crown Prince. I thought they forgot about that but I guess I was wrong. I can't believe my bachelor days are over .

"Lady Ludovica please approach us . "

Oh , of course it's her . I don't mind it though. I know it won't take a lot for me to respect or love her like a wife . We've always been open with each other .

Ludovica gets on the stage and I hold her hand with a smile. Everyone claps as my mom continues to announce our engagement. I don't have the energy anymore to deny anything. I know it's time to settle and give Ezé an heir.

After we're done everyone starts again with their congratulations.

.....

I look around the hall and there she was. Strangely she was already looking at me . I'm daring her with my eyes to look away and looks like she's daring me back . It feels like the whole crowd has vanished . I can only see her and hear my heartbeat .

The room feels heavier than it was when there were people. She's enough. Oh my god....OH MY GOD . When did I become this...loser creature. Is this how all the ladies feel about me . But I've never felt like this about anyone , I do with Ludo but it isn't this strong .

"Cyrelas.!"

My mother calls me ripping me away from my thoughts.

"Your sisters want to talk to you."

I turn around and I see my two gorgeous Duchesses .

"Oh sister . Hi Sarah and hi Damla. "

"Oh my dear brother you've grown up . " I hug them both feeling their warmth . I missed having honest hugs like this.

"So , how is marriage holding for you both.?"

"Oh , you know . " Damla says rubbing her tummy and I smile at her .

"I'm going to be a hot uncle again soon it seems ."

"Oh get over yourself."

"Sarah , how about you . ?"

"Mine hasn't started to show yet. I wanted to bring the kids with me but they already had plans with Frank."

"Oh , it's ok. Are you guys going to sleep over.?"

"No , at least not me . I can't sleep over as I have a doctor's appointment with my Gregory tommorow. I'm sorry but I think Sarah is planning to stay."

"Yes yes. Frank took the kids to London to his family. Which means I'll be here for a while."

"Oh finally  , I wanted one of you to share my moments with ."

"Mmmm, I see you have a wife incoming."

"Oh stop it . It was bound to happen. "

"Oh well , it was good seeing you but I should get going. And I talked to Ludovica, she's a keeper ."

Damla says and I hug her as she leaves to say her goodbyes to mother and Valentina.

.......

I scratch the deals I did this week as I hear a knock on the door.

"In."

The door opens and I look to see Sarah . Sarah 's only two years older than me . She married when she was 16 because she fell in love too young. She has the most kids in the family, Damla is the oldest . She's about 10 years older than me but she has only about 3 kids and fourth counting the unborn baby.

"Are you busy?"

"No , what is it ?"

She walks to the bed and lies down. I turn my chair to look at her.

"What is it Sarah.?"

"I saw . I saw what you thought nobody saw but I did."

"What,? Are you ok ?"

"Is she your lover. Is she the kind of love you can't have. "

"Ok , you're confusing me."

"The girl you were looking at. She was also looking at you."

Sybil. Oh Sherlock.

"It's not like that . I was just testing to see if she's worthy of serving mother."

"Mother? Wasn't it Miss Jules or something."

"Julie and yes . But she's on a leave ."

"Oh , I'm sorry then . I guess I believe too much in love."

"Oh hell no . Never."

"Ok , I'm sorry . Did you give up fooling around? I mean you are to be a husband."

"Yes , I did ."

I've been trying to and I've not failed...yet.

"Ok , good night . See you in the morning?"

"Night." I hug her with a kiss on the cheek before she leaves .

Whoo. That was close. Sarah 's always been the one who was able to mirror me . So I have to be careful.