"Why the fuck are you upset?! You left!!! You packed your bags and left!" I jumped out of bed and walked up to where he was now standing.
"That's your excuse?!"
"You said we were over!"
"And you said you would wait! Why didn't you wait?!" He turned to me with a shocked look on his face.
"You were gone for over four months!! Maybe you don't have the pressure constantly wafting over your head, but I sure do!"
"Again, that's your excuse?!"
"No! It isn't! Because I don't need one! You left me, you left us! You didn't even give me the chance to actually say goodbye. You just packed your things, left, and didn't call or text for months! What was I supposed to do?!"
"Wait!"
"Did you?!" I walked to the wall and leaned against it.
"What?" I asked lowly. I felt like someone had just punched the wind out of me.
"Did you sleep with someone while you were on your trip?" I slid down the wall until I was seated on the floor. "Did you?!"
"Yes! But he meant nothing to me!"
"Neither did Jasmine!" Wait... Did he just say Jasmine?
"Jasmine? The ex you slept with was Jasmine?!"
"Victoria..."
"You said it was nothing. You told me that you hadn't seen or spoken to her in years! You lied to me." I should've known that things wouldn't work out. "I want you gone."
"I'm not leaving. You may be comfortable running away, but I'm not. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not giving up on us again."
I wipped the tears that had fallen. This really hurt. "I was ready to let it go. All of it. But Jasmine?"
"I'm so sorry."
"I had a brief hookup with some random guy, but you...you had actually dated her. You slept with someone you once had an emotional connection with. And when I asked you about her, you looked me dead in the eye, and you lied to me about it."
"I didn't want to lie to you anymore."
"I just want you to leave!" I brought my knees to my chest and just cried.
"Baby..." He came to me and knelt down in front of me.
"Leave! Just leave!! Why won't you just go?!!!" He came closer and hugged me tightly. I didn't want to fight anymore. I just wanted peace and quiet.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." That was all he said. It was all he could say. Did it take my pain away? No. But did it calm me down? Yes, it did.
The next morning, we woke up and got ready for the 1k run. When we got to the venue, we walked side by side, while holding hands. But in all honesty, we had said nothing to each other all day long.
"Your Highnesses, are you going to be participating in the run today?" A press member asked. We turned to him with a smile.
"Well, I have been participating in this run every year for over five years, and this year will be no different. I'm just happy to share this experience with Arthur."
"Prince Arthur, are you excited about participating in your first 1k run?"
"I definitely am. It's all for a good cause, and I'm always up for that. I just hope I can keep up with all the runners. It's been a while since I participated in a run." He said laughing. We all laughed for a minute before turning back to the Press.
"Well, I think everyone will be happy to see you get involved. Thank you both for taking your time to talk to the people."
"Of course." I said with a smile as we walked away from the press. We walked to the reserved section to wait for everything to be ready.
"Still have nothing to say to me?" Arthur asked when we sat down.
"I'm just making the choice not to have this conversation with you."
"We need to talk about this."
"Here? Really? There are over a hundred press members watching us, and you think this is the ideal place to talk about your...activities?"
"Well, you won't talk to me at home, so I have to try my luck."
"What else do you have to say? You're sorry? You've said that already."
"Yet you're still pissed."
"Sorry shows that you are apologetic. It doesn't miraculously make my pain go away."
"Then what can I do to make it go away?"
"Nothing. I'm no saint in this issue, but my part has a huge difference. I just need time."
"So until you heal, we just what? Not talk to each other?"
"We pretend everything is fine until it actually is." Soon enough, the run started. Arthur and I kept up our pace. We were both sporty people, so running was not that big a deal for us. At the end of the 1k mark, we gave each other a hug, before turning to the other runners. We shook hands with the winner, and held conversations with the other runners. At the end of it all, we got into the car and started making our way back to the Palace.
"I was hoping we could go somewhere quiet. Just us." Arthur said halfway through the ride.
"But we have the lunch with my old friends."
"It's just 10am. Lunch isn't till 2pm. We have time."
"Fine. I know just the place." Our conversation was interrupted by a call from his dad. He put it on speaker.
"Hi dad."
"Arthur! I just saw the papers from all your engagements so far. Absolutely amazing!"
"Thanks, dad." Arthur said as he let out a laugh.
"And Victoria! She's not just beautiful. She's smart and so regal! Her appearance at the Children's hospital was absolutely what we needed."
"Thank you, your highness. " I said with a small laugh.
"Victoria! Sweetheart, you have been an absolute delight! My wife went a bit crazed when she saw your outfit for the state banquet. You looked stunning!"
"Thank you."
"And congrats on getting Arthur to join the 1k run. It wasn't on the itinerary, but I was just generally happy to see that even your personal activity had a good effect on the family."
"Well, ultimately, it always comes down to keeping a good personal profile. The run was fun, it was a good way for me to show my people that my move and engagement doesn't change a thing about how I relate with them. The run is for a cause that I'm quite passionate about, and it felt good sharing that experience with Arthur."
"Well, this just makes me anticipate the wedding more. I really can't wait to welcome you into our family. You'll fit right in. And I already have a few organisations that could really use your help." He was always so sweet with me.
"Then we'll have to talk when I get back."
"Absolutely. Arthur, I do hope you realise that by the end of your trip tomorrow, the wedding becomes your main focus?"
"I do. We still have so much to do."
"That's right. Victoria, you are going to be at Clarence House a lot more often. My wife can't stop talking about the wedding and cake flavours."
"Wow. This should be...interesting." I said with just a hint of sarcasm.
"Don't worry. We'll have your family involved in every step of the way. We haven't had this type of royal wedding in decades, so we still have a lot to run through. We want both families to leave the table happy."
"That's very kind of you. Well, I look forward to getting back."
"So do I, Victoria. Arthur, stay safe, and keep her safe."
"Always. Bye, father."
"Goodbye." As Arthur put his phone away, he turned to me with a smile.
"Did you notice how his tone becomes warm when he's referring to you. And cold when he's referring to me?"
"Well, I should be lucky. Your family is known to be a bit of a bully when it comes to new members."
"That can't be true."
"It is. Amongst European royal families, your family is rumoured to be the most unwelcoming."
"Where did you hear this?" He asked laughing.
"Royals talk."
"Wait, so your family is just so open, and so sweet?"
"They've treated you better than me since they found out about us. I think it's safe to say that they aren't bullies."
"I'm a Prince, they sort of have to be nice to me."
"No, they don't. They could be mean with you on the inside, and smile on the outside. I'm a Princess, and they are just rude to me. But, your family seems to genuinely like me, and that's why I'm lucky. I do hope that whoever Vincent brings will get the same treatment."
"Why wouldn't she?"
"Who knows? Maybe I have raised the bar." I said laughing.
"You have. It's not everyday someone bags a smart, beautiful...no, pretty, independent, nice and warm royal. I know you, and even if you think you are joking, you are now the standard for the standard for new brides in my family. And not just that, but also to the British people."
"I just want her to have the best experience on the job."
"And she will. But that'll have to wait until he actually finds someone to marry."
"He will. Soon enough."
We pulled up to the Palace minutes later and headed inside. We were met by my aunt and my mom.
"Arthur. Victoria. How was the run?" I eyed them suspiciously as I replied.
"It was good. Is something wrong?"
"Not in the very least. We came to the conclusion that if you want that there's no one better to handle your sister's former duties, than you." My mom said with a smile.
"Her duties?"
"All her roles in her various organisations and charities. It's only right. And with Arthur, I'm sure you can handle it." My aunt said as she gave my hand a light squeeze. I turned to Arthur with a broad smile.
"I... I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"You're welcome. You deserve it." I gave them both a respectful nod before walking past them.