Chapter 22 Alexander
Chapter Twenty-Two
ALEXANDER
Ella had headed off to my room once the ball had finished.
I had no idea what my father would want at this time of night, but if it was anything like normal, it would end with me storming off because he was insulting her or me.
I walked into the office sitting down in the chair straight away. “What do you want?”
“I’m giving you one last chance, Alexander. End this with her before she gets hurt,” he said. “Once I start this background check, I will dive so far in I will know if she got a scolding at nursery.”
If things were on better terms with my father, I may have believed he was doing this out of concern, but I knew better.
He was only bothered about the heir. Charles, Arthur, Henry, and Elizabeth could pretty much do anything and he wouldn’t bat an eye, but where the throne was concerned, I was the one that matters. I was the heir, and they were the spares.
“I’m trying to protect you, Alexander. I know you don’t see it that way and that I’m ruining your life, but I am looking out for your best interest as well as the country. You are the heir.”
I looked at my father. I had no idea whether to talk to him as the King or as my dad, the one who used to tuck me into bed at night who let me pretend I was a knight in battle.
“I love her dad.”
His eyes softened a little as he sunk into his chair.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking or what he was going to say. I was honestly in uncharted territory.
I had never told my parents I loved a girl, never mind bringing her into my life.
“I just want to protect you from ruining your life. You are going to be King one day. This little fling isn’t going to go down well with the public.”
“Dad she isn’t a fling. She’s it for me. I don’t ever see myself being with anyone else. I would marry her in a heartbeat if I could.”
Dad let out a sigh. “You may leave for the evening.”
I stood up, leaving the office.
I walked through the palace, heading to my room.
I opened the door and saw a breeze blowing through the curtain. I watched Ella wrapped in a blanket still dressed soaking up London. God, I really hoped this background search wouldn’t pull anything up. She may have been confident, but I was less so.
“It’s cold. You should come inside,” I said softly, approaching her.
“It’s peaceful out here,” she whispered.
I walked over, wrapping my arms around her and resting my chin on her shoulder. “Yeah it is, especially at night.”
“More and more, I can understand why you didn’t tell me you were a Prince. That little bit of freedom must have felt like heaven to you.”
“Spending time with you is heaven to me. It was so much easier to block out all the other shit. There were so many times when I thought I had blown it all up with reporters getting closer or appearing at your house that time. I panicked because I thought I’d lose you.
I’ve never met a girl who made me want to be around you all the time, you were on my mind.
I didn’t want to make a mistake with you.
I don’t know when I fell in love with you but I did and now I never want to let you go. ”
She turned around in my arms. She had a small twinkle in her eyes. It was something that always drew me to her.
“Tonight wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. You may be able to convince me in the future to attend some more by your side.”
“Good,” I kissed her softly. Breaking the kiss, I placed a small kiss onto her forehead. “You make the events a little less boring.” She shivered against me, and I shook my head. “Come on, we don’t need you getting a cold.”
“I won’t. I don’t get sick,” she protested.
“You know when people say that they usually always get sick,” I told her slightly amused.
She shook her head. “Not me.”
I shut the balcony doors as she came in. She reached for her pyjamas, walking into the bathroom,
I stripped off my suit, quickly leaving only the boxers on and climbing under the covers. Ella came out of the bathroom dressed in one of my shirts which did a good job of hiding her body and reached mid-thigh on her.
“I love seeing you in my clothes,” I said.
She grinned jumping on the bed.
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to my body.
“I fear I’m going to get far to attached to you,” she whispered.
“Good.” She climbed under the covers before getting back into my arms and I smiled. “I want to sleep with you every night and wake up to you in the morning.”
“Hmm, that would be a nice break from reality,” she said, yawning.
She snuggled into me closing her eyes and pretty soon the sound of soft snores lulled me into sleep, too.
Waking up with her in my arms felt amazing.
It would have been even better if I wasn’t woken up by Elizabeth jumping on the bed.
I groaned, trying to grab her but she kept moving around the bed.
“It’s time to wake up,” she squealed. “The sky’s awake.”
I looked over at the alarm clock and saw it was only 5:00 a.m..
“Elizabeth, lay down,” I grumbled.
“Alex?” Ella mumbled.
“It’s okay, Ella. Go back to sleep, it’s just El,” I told her softly.
She let out a small groan, snuggling back into the pillow. I grabbed Elizabeth’s hand, pulling her down to lay with us. “It’s sleep time, Little Princess.”
“I’m not tired,” she whispered.
“Well Ella and I are,” I said. “So, you either lie down and enjoy snuggle time or you go back to your own room.”
“Fine,” she mumbled, snuggling into my arms.
I looked over as she settled in between Ella and I. She had rested her arms around Ella’s stomach snuggling into her, too.
God, I did love my baby sister. but I’ll admit not at 5:00 a.m.. I guess it wasn’t too bad though.
I closed my eyes trying to get back off to sleep once more. It was no use though, so I watched both of the girls sleep as I scrolled on my phone, watching TikToks of Princess Cupcake and Deborah. I had become attached to the chickens. They amused me to no end.
I detached myself from both of them and put some joggers on, leaving the bedroom and made my way towards the kitchens, as I entered the kitchen went silent. “Erm, are you lost?” The chef asked with a raised eyebrow.
I let out a snort. “No, I’m in the right place,” I said. “You think you can help me make breakfast for Ella?”
“Of course,” Chef said with a nod. “Has she been criticising your lack of cooking knowledge?”
I smiled sheepishly. “Yes, she was also offended that I didn’t know how to cut or grate whatever vegetable it was she handed me. So, I figured I’d try and surprise her. You might want to kill me after that.”
“Oh, lordy,” Chef said, shaking his head. “I’m going to need all the patience God can give me.” He looked at the ceiling, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, come on then.”
For the next two hours, Chef spent the time walking me through how to make breakfast for Ella. And during that time, there were a few near misses of me chopping my finger off, which even the Chef was confused about how I had managed it.
I looked down at the plate of food and smiled to myself. Maybe Ella was right. It did feel different when you did things yourself.
I carried the two plates from the kitchen heading towards the bedroom. I pushed open the door. She was awake in bed watching TikToks with Elizabeth snuggled into her watching, too.
“Good morning, girls,” I said smiling.
“I was wondering where you went off to,” Ella said, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.
“I couldn’t get back to sleep when El decided to gatecrash our sleepover so I went to the kitchen,” I said.
Her eyes finally landed on the plate and her eyes widened. “Do we need to get an ambulance on standby? Is the Palace on fire?”
I pouted, “Ella, I’m not that bad.”
“You didn’t know how to cut or grate a potato or carrot, yes I would be worried,” she teased.
I rolled my eyes. This girl was lucky I loved her.
I sat on the bed handing her a plate with the cutlery and watched her.
She frowned, “Stop staring, it’s creepy.”
I grinned, “I need to know if you like it.”
She took a bite and her eyes shot up in surprise, “Damn, that’s pretty good. We may have to change your nickname, potato.”
I started eating my plate and giving bits to El as she turned her attention from the phone.
She really wasn’t a big eater so she did a lot of snacking throughout the day.
El jumped off the bed, running out the room.
It meant that Ella and I were alone. I finished eating and placing the plate on the floor.
I laid next to her in bed. “Thank you. Alex. That was amazing.”
“You’re welcome, Ella,” I said.
I reached for my phone, scrolling on TikTok. It didn’t take long before Ella had finished breakfast and laid her head on my chest as we both doom-scrolled.
“I wish we could stay like this forever.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice,” she mumbled. “I have to go back to work and university eventually.”
A knock at the door stopped me from replying, “Enter.”
I looked over my phone, seeing Mother enter the room. “Alexander, you are required in meetings all week next week.”
I groaned. “I don’t want to deal with parliament. They’re annoying, and they argue over random shit like the entitled pricks they are.”
Ella let out a snort, and I narrowed my eyes.
“I said nothing,” she giggled.
“Alexander,” Mother said sharply.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “We’re going around London. I’m going to take her home afterward. I will be home for my duties later on.”
Mother nodded leaving the room.
I turned to Ella, digging my hands into her sides and tickling her.
She let out a squeal, moving away from me as she slipped off the bed. She tried to crawl away from me, but I reached over and pulled her back onto the bed.
“Stop!” She squealed. “I’m sorry I’ll take it back. You’re not entitled at all. I was talking nonsense!” I hovered over her, and she smiled.
God, she was beautiful. I was so lucky. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
I bent down, pressing my lips to hers.
She pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. She let out a small moan as her body pressed against mine. I broke the kiss before pressing a small kiss to her forehead.
“Right, we need to get out of bed before I don’t let you leave,” I told her.
“Hmm, I do love our bubble,” she mumbled.
I rolled off her getting out of bed and stretched. “We better get ready.”
I walked away from her leaving her to get ready and walked into the bathroom and got to brushing my teeth and getting ready. I walked out the bathroom and she was dressed brushing her hair. “You look beautiful, baby.”
We left the Palace, and I led her to the car. We were having a driving tour of London. It would be the only way to show her everything before she decided which part of London to physically explore.
“Wait!” I turned to see El running over to us and pushing past me to get to Ella. “Hold your hand out.”
Ella did as she instructed.
“Close your eyes.”
Again, Ella listened to her orders, my eyes narrowed as she placed a friendship bracelet in her hand. “Open.”
She opened her eyes and smiled, “aww Elizabeth I love it!” She pulled my sister into a hug and I smiled a little. I loved how much Ella seemed to be letting El in a part of me filled with nerves because I hoped I would never have to break either of their hearts.
Ella got into the car. I climbed in after her, crossing my arms over my chest and pouting. “I’m jealous. I usually get her jewellery.”
“Do you wear it?” She asked, raising an eyebrow as she pointed to her wrist.
“Not always.”
“Which is why I’m clearly her favourite now,” Ella teased.
I loved how much Elizabeth liked Ella. Even if she was stealing my best friend and all of her jewellery.