Although her face looked ordinary enough compared to her gown, which was just as shimmery and ornate as the massive chandelier that hung from the ceiling.
Queen Valencia was evidently a woman who couldn’t stand for someone else to receive more attention than her.
Underneath it all, I saw as clear as day she was just another middle-aged woman trying too hard to hold onto her youth.
She sat back on her gilded throne and smiled a row of perfectly straight, veneered teeth. “Oh, don’t stop dancing on my account. Please, everyone, continue enjoying yourselves!”
I turned back to Stella, who’d gone as pale as a sheet. I wanted nothing more than to kiss that rosy blush back into her lips and face, but a hand on the back of my arm drew my attention away.
“You should come with us,” Alex murmured. “She wants to formally meet you. Excuse us, Stella.”
Stella nodded and looked relieved to sit back at our table with her second glass of champagne waiting.
“When’s your special secret announcement coming?” I asked Alex. Scarlett gracefully stepped in on the other side of me as we approached the queen’s throne.
“Later. I need more to drink first,” Alex replied. His words already slurred as they escaped his mouth. “Act like you’re dying to impress her.” He gave me an encouraging slap on the back.
We both bowed when we reached the queen’s throne while Scarlett lowered into her curtsy.
Our customs dictated we were to stay bowed until the monarch acknowledged us. Stella told me stories of past sadistic rulers who enjoyed seeing how long their subjects could stay in the same position. I only hoped my mother wasn’t that much of a sociopath.
“Arise, please,” Queen Valencia urged quickly. “Let me look at him.”
“Mother, we are honored to present our natural-born brother, Gavin,” Scar said formally.
Suddenly aware of the quiet whispers and everyone staring, I lifted my head and looked directly at the queen. Her large, blue eyes watered immediately upon seeing my face.
“Gavin, my son,” she breathed in a dramatic whisper. “Please come closer.”
I stepped forward, only then realizing her perfume was even stronger than the girl’s I refused to dance with.
She reached out and touched my face with a pale, soft hand. I wondered if she ever did any true, hard work with that hand. Did she hold me after I was born? Did she even hold her legitimate children?
“I’ve thought about you for so many years. Oh, how I regret my foolish decision to give you up as a young mother!” Her crocodile tears never fell from her eyes as cameras zoomed in on us from every angle. If nothing else, she was a convincing actress.
"I thought about you every day, wondering if you were safe, hungry, or alone. I wanted so desperately to find you and provide you with a better life." Her voice cracked and her lower lip trembled.
I wanted to vomit.
I expected some pandering, but the amount of bullshit spewing from her mouth was simply astonishing. It wasn't like I lost my identity. Anytime she wanted to find me, she easily could have. Fuck, teenage Prince Alex found me easily enough.
I wanted to call her out, to tell her to fuck off with her lying but for the first time that night, I did as Stella instructed and held my tongue.
My fingernails dug painfully into my palms from clenching my fists so hard. I had to say something, to acknowledge her in some way.
"It's an honor to finally meet you, Your Majesty." See, I can lie through my teeth too.
"Please call me Mother," she said through a smile. "Although you've grown into a such a charming, handsome man without my help, it seems. You don’t look like a blue collar worker at all!"
I bristled at her subtle insult but chose the opportunity to sing Stella's praises. "Miss Stella Lundenberg has been a most excellent teacher. I was very fortunate to have her."
Hear that, bitch? Do I sound posh and educated enough to you?
The queen's eyes flashed maliciously and her lip curled into the slightest hint of a snarl. "Ah yes. Such a pity the Lundenberg family proved to be traitors."
Huh? Stella never said anything about that.
I smiled, trying to not appear confused. "Surely that isn't Stella's fault. She’s worked exceptionally hard to ensure my success."
The queen took my hands in hers and patted them patronizingly. "We'll speak more of this later, my son. You'll soon find out who can be trusted and who can't.” My eyes widened at that final remark. This bitch had some fucking nerve.
“But in the meantime, enjoy the ball!" She sent me off with a smile and I bowed to excuse myself from her presence.
Fuming, I stormed right past Alex and Scarlett for the nearest tray of champagne. My vision went red and I wanted to hit something. Hard.
Fuck, why couldn't they serve vodka at this event? I was far too sober to deal with this suddenly building mountain of anger. I gulped a glass down and set it back on the tray a moment later. The waiter didn't protest but stared at me wide-eyed as I snatched two more flutes and walked away in the opposite direction. I needed to be alone for one fucking minute to think.
Who does that bitch think she is? I thought angrily as I double-fisted the bubbly liquid. She lied to my face and then told me there were certain people I couldn't trust? Fuck her.
I felt worried for Stella. It didn't sound like the queen would be granting her anything for teaching me. There also seemed to be more that she wasn't telling me. This was bigger than her nanny getting medical treatment, and it seemed like she wasn't even getting that.
My rage grew as I downed the rest of the champagne. Finally, I could feel a light buzz washing over my brain and I stopped caring.
Fuck the queen, fuck the royal family. Fuck 'em all.
I wanted nothing more than to go home to my shitty flat and take Stella with me.
CHAPTER 17
STELLA
I craned my neck, scanning the massive room for Gavin but couldn’t find him in the sea of people on the ballroom floor. He was speaking to the queen last I saw him, then he seemed to disappear.
Trying not to panic, I watched from my table as Alex and Scarlett mingled with dignitaries around a podium next to the queen's throne. They seemed calm and unconcerned.
Gavin’s probably fine, I told myself. He's probably making friends with some pretty, single Lady. The thought stewed in my head until Alex approached the podium to address the crowd.
"Good evening, everyone," he said into the microphone. Everyone in the ballroom hushed and either bowed or curtsied to acknowledge him.
"As the executive director of Queen Valencia's charity, I want to thank you all for attending, and for the generous donations we've already received for Amberfall's less fortunate citizens. Please keep them coming!"
"Hear hear!" called Lord Alverdeen with a raised glass. Polite cheers and gentle clapping followed suit. I wondered how hard Gavin was rolling his eyes at that moment. Queen Valencia looked absolutely bored.
"Before I let you carry on, I have some personal news to discuss that also affects the future of the Crown." Alex paused, allowing his words to settle over the curious crowd. Queen Valencia looked at him intensely with a confused expression. Clearly, nobody was expecting this. Only Scarlett, standing at Alex's side, looked on calmly.
"I'm sharing this news in this way because we're all family here," Alex continued. "Many of you, and the rest of the world have wondered about my finding a spouse and producing heirs for the throne or lack thereof."
The queen scooted to the edge of her seat staring intently at Alex, her hands gripping the armrests with white knuckles. She said something to him, but he ignored her and carried on.
"The truth is, I have found someone that I love very much and want to spend the rest of my life with. And thanks to advances in medical technology, we can have biological children with royal blood to continue the line of succession."
"Alexander, what on Earth are you saying?" the queen cried out.
>
"As royals, we have the power to set examples for our citizens," he continued, speaking loudly over his mother. "We can hide our true selves out of shame and oppression, or live honestly and openly. I've been hiding a part of myself for many years and I've realized it's not fair to myself, my country, nor to the person I love."
When Alex paused, I took another cursory glance around the room for Gavin. Still no sign of him, although you could hear a pin drop in the room. My heart seemed to stop in my chest as Alex spoke. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
"Ladies and gentlemen," Alex's voice cracked with emotion. "I'm honored to introduce to you the love of my life, His Grace Darryn Karling, Duke of Karlinghall."
Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire across the ballroom as Duke Darryn approached Alex at the podium. The queen sat like a statue, frozen and aghast with her mouth hanging open at Alex.
I reached for my champagne and gulped it down until the bubbles coated my throat. My mind reeled as certainly everyone else's did in that moment.
Prince Alex and Duke Darryn, gay?
The Karlings were an ancient Amberfall family, one of the first to settle here and one of the queen's biggest supporters. This announcement could be political suicide. Or it could be very wise. As rebellious and cheeky Prince Alex was, he was also a skilled and strategic politician.
Duke Darryn strode confidently across the ballroom, looking at no one but Alex. His noble Scottish heritage showed through his auburn hair and green eyes. He was definitely handsome and, along with Prince Alex, considered one of the most eligible noble bachelors of Amberfall. But apparently, they had taken themselves off the market.
As Darryn ascended the podium and lightly touched his fingers to Alex's hands, I saw the connection, chemistry, and pure, unyielding love that passed between them.
It all made sense now.
Alex never considered me, never looked at me with the same desire that Gavin did because he didn't desire any woman.
"How dare you, Alexander?!" Queen Valencia leaped to her feet, shaking with rage. "You cannot be serious! This must be some sort of sick joke."
"It's no joke, Your Majesty," Darryn said. "Prince Alex and I are in love."
The queen narrowed her eyes as if trying to change an optical illusion in front of her. "My son, my prince,” she pleaded desperately. “Do you mean to tell me you truly are a...,"
"The word is gay, mother," Scarlett said briskly.
"You, my daughter! Are you in on this scheme too?" the queen demanded, her voice growing louder.
"It's no scheme," Scarlett replied coldly. "Alex is my brother and I will love and support him no matter what."
"I cannot have gays inherit my throne!" Queen Valencia screeched like an owl. "Nor their enablers! It's an abomination!"
I felt the blood drain from my face, feeling like I was staring at a train wreck scene on a reality television show. All cameras focused on the queen, allowing the whole country to watch the trainwreck as well.
"As Alex said, we can still have blood-related children," Darryn said calmly. "The line of succession is not threatened but the world is changing, Your Majesty. "
"Your children born of sin will never rule Amberfall! I'm disowning both of you!" Valencia nodded at Alex and Scarlett, neither of who batted an eyelash. They must have expected this reaction.
"And you!" she stabbed a finger at the duke. "You will be stripped of your title and land, and arrested for obscene acts with a royal! Gavin is my only son now! Gavin, where are you?"
Everyone's head swiveled around the room as mine did only moments earlier. Someone called, "Here he is!" and everyone turned in the direction of the voice.
Gavin stood near the waiter's station, drinking straight out of a bottle of champagne. He lowered it slowly when he noticed everyone's eyes on him, swaying slightly on his feet.
"Gavin!" The queen stepped gingerly down to the main floor, swimming through her layers of fabric to reach him at the other end of the room. "You are my only trueborn son and heir now. I can make you Crown Prince of Amberfall at this very moment! What do you say?"
I blinked.
Surely this had to be a dream. Prince Alex just came out of the closet and the queen was offering his title to her bastard son who she just met moments before. I couldn’t make up a stranger story.
Gavin, clearly drunk, seemed unfazed by her question. Did he even realize what she asked or what just happened?
"You can fuck right off, lady."
Apparently so, and more cars just piled on the train wreck. All the cameras turned away from Alex and Darryn and zoomed in on Gavin, the new star of Amberfall’s trashy reality show.
Oh God, please no. Please, just stop talking, I silently pleaded with Gavin. Every time I thought this evening couldn’t get any worse, he continued to prove me wrong.
Queen Valencia's eyes widened and her nostrils flared like a bull. I could practically see smoke coming from her ears.
"What did you just say to me?" she demanded. "I could have you arrested for using such foul language directed at your queen!"
"I want nothing to do with you, or any of you pompous, royal fucks." Gavin swayed on his feet as he gestured around the room. "If this is how you treat the prince and princess, who are good, decent people, all you royals can kiss my ass goodbye."
No, no, no! This could not be happening! When I imagined the worst-case scenario for this evening, this went ten shades beyond that.
I wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. Everything was ruined now. I thought of my family watching this live with horrified looks on their faces.
Why couldn't he just keep his goddamn mouth shut?
"Think carefully about what you're doing, Gavin," the queen said coldly. "Consider the choice you're making. You can be powerful and rich or you can go back to living in the slums."
"Oh, fuck you!" he spat as a collective gasp rose from the crowd. "Alex and Scarlett were the only people who treated me like family when I had nothing, when I was nothing! You only act like you care because you have something to gain from me. You're a big, fat phony bitch!"
I would've laughed if the entire situation wasn't so horrifying. He said out loud what everyone else thought for years, but were too afraid to say. I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t satisfying to hear.
With every word however, Gavin only dug himself into a deeper grave.
"Say one more word and I'll have you thrown into prison," said the queen venomously.
Gavin threw his hands up. "I'm out of here."
With that, he half-marched, half-stumbled through the wide doorway where we entered through.
All eyes turned to Queen Valencia standing in the middle of the room, stunned into silence at everything that just transpired. I barely realized what I was doing, but panic urged my body forward as the reality of everything sank in.
Gavin got drunk and insulted the queen. He blew his only shot, and my only shot at saving Janie and my family.
I only had one thing left I could do. With no dignity or honor at risk, I had nothing to lose.
"Your Majesty!" I cried, rushing forward and kneeling at the queen's feet. The cameramen turned and zoomed in toward me, eager to capture the latest spectacle at this royal freak show.
"You're the Lundenberg girl," said the queen's voice emotionlessly. I didn't dare look up at her face. I’ve seen it many times before: the face of someone who truly believed they were above you in every way.
"My queen, I accept full responsibility for Gavin's behavior," I blubbered desperately. "If you allow, I'll ensure he makes a full, sincere apology for insulting Your Majesty-"
"Get out of my sight, traitor." The words felt like a stab in the heart.
Only then did I look up, Janie’s face in my mind and hot tears filling up my eyes. The queen's face was cold, empty of any emotion. She looked down at me like I truly was beneath her. A lesser being.
"Your Majesty, please," I begged.
"You're the one
behind all this!" the queen screeched. "You told that boy to curse in my presence and make me look like a fool!" She leaned down until she was inches away from my face, and said the words that broke my heart.
"The treacherous Lundenberg family will never be more than common born filth ever again! Now get out of my sight!"
I ran as fast as my feet could carry me out the same door that Gavin did, crying my heart out.
CHAPTER 18
STELLA
“Miss Lundenberg, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Just drive, Atherton.”
I wiped the tears from my face, a steely determination taking over me as I re-dialled Gavin’s phone for the third time. Again it rang endlessly with no answer.
Despite my shameful exit from the ballroom, I couldn’t give up. I had to make this right. There was no other option and I had to at least try, for Janie. Also, this whole mess tied Gavin and me together and I didn’t want to face this cold, harsh reality alone.
So I got in my car and told my driver to look for him. No one saw where he went, so we took off toward his apartment in the city. I kept glancing in the rear window, praying the Queen’s Police force wouldn’t come after either one of us. Hopefully, she’d be satisfied with us running away.
Us running away. The phrase held some romantic weight to it and I briefly thought of Gavin and me together in a foreign land where no one knew us. We could start over as equals. No stupid laws or social class system to keep us apart. Just us.
I sighed. It was a nice fantasy but completely unrealistic. Whatever happened to us, we’d have to face it head on. There was no running away. Not from a disaster this big.
We pulled up to Gavin’s apartment building where his windows were dark with no signs of movement. Hopefully, he just stumbled inside and passed out on his bed but something in my gut told me he never came home. Still, I had to be sure.
Beauty and the Bastard: A Royal Bad Boy Romance Page 8
