𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐑𝐘| Young Royals

XXIV. 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

"Two?!" Fredrika yelled, Stella nudged her.

Vera smiled as she put the letter in her bag and ate the sandwich like it was the best thing she'd ever had.

Vera stared at herself in her bedroom mirror. Not her bedroom at the dorms, but rather her bedroom at home. Today was her birthday, making her eighteen years old. Eighteen. The age that she could speak her mind, that she could tell the world whatever she wanted but would always be considered the princess. Her family could disown her if they wished, but Vera knew they never would due to how that would look on them.

"You look beautiful, darling." The Queen smiled, snapping Vera out of her thoughts as she saw her mother standing behind her. She kissed her on the forehead. "Guest are already beginning to show. You remember the Gillys, yes? The ones on the court."

"Sure." Vera offered her a smile, feeling her moms cold hand on her bare shoulder due to the dress she wore. "I'll be down soon."

"We can't wait to hear your speech." her kindness today did make Vera feel happy. Though, her mother could truly be kind. Vera knew she loved her, but love can be painful sometimes. And The Queen of Sweden had pained the Princess far more times then not.

She wouldn't forget that.

Axel. The fucking cheater.

"Vera." he smiled, walking across the living room to greet her with a drink in hand. "Happy birthday."

Vera didn't accept his hug, brushing it off like she needed to take a few steps away because her feet were getting cramped up sitting so still. Vera hated a lot of people, but she only wished Axel was on that list. She was so angry at him for cheating on her, but she wasn't sure she could ever truly hate him. While she adored Henry and Alexander to pieces, they hadn't known her the way Axel had. They were together for years, he saw sides of her that she didn't even know she had. She moved on fast because it was easy for her to stop loving him, but that lack of love never caused hate.

"You look lovely." he offered her a smile, his hair longer then the last she'd seen him.

"Thanks." Vera rubbed her arms, looking around in hopes of finding someone worth escaping to. She wished Willie would hurry with Henry or Alexander would get dropped off soon. "Didn't bring a date?"

"We were never together." he shook his head. Like her, Axel knew no one that knew her like Vera. Not even Cynthia. He knew cheating was wrong, and he knew he fucked up, but that didn't mean he stopped having feeling for Vera. She was his number one, he just didn't know how to handle no longer seeing her daily. "I never was able to apologize to you for it."

"I don't want an apology." she took a drink from a server that passed, sipping it. Axel expected to see her red lipstick stain the glass, but that hadn't been the case due to the stain the expensive tube caused. "I want you to walk away from me and never attempt to speak to me again."

"If that's what he want." he nodded his head. "But, I am sorry. You don't have to forgive me, but I want you to know it."

"I appreciate it." Vera leaned in and hugged him. He was taken back, but he should have known better then to trust her kindness. He should have known she was gonna jab her fingers into his rib cage, shooting a pain through his body. "And I want you to know how badly you don't deserve forgiveness."

The pain she put him in caused him to wish it back on her. "You're the devil."

"And don't you forget it." she smiled, releasing her fingers as the pain narrowed in Axel. To the public eye, they'd only shared a mutual hug.

"Vera." Alexander's voice caught her attention as he walked through the front door, a present in hand as his entire smile lit up the entire room. He was good like that, a sunshine boy that could turn your midnight rain into snow on the beach. At least, that's how he'd been for Vera and Henry. "Happy Birthday!"