Page 129 of Hawthorne

He’s trying to understand. I can see it through his questioning glances and confused frowns whenever something happens. His mind must be asking, “What are we doing here at an ungodly hour of the morning?”

I insisted he didn’t need to come with me,, but he refused to leave me. Let’s just hope that by the end of the night, he hasn’t regretted it. Especially since it took me an hour to get a hold of Harry and another to find me a hotel so I could change clothes.

“It’s alright,” I answer. “Thank you for receiving us on such short notice.”

He chuckles nervously. “You know I’d never refuse–” He stops when I shake my head, clearing his throat. “Please, sit down. You will be more comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

We both sit down, and while Harry looks for all of his paperwork regarding Mrs Elizabeth—or well, me...Edgar’s elbow hits my arm, making me look at him, “What’s going on? Why are we here? Are you going to sue my brother?”

It’s amazing he held it in as long as he did.

“He doesn’t know, and you brought him here?” Harry asks, surprised.

“No one knows,” I remind him. “Only you did,apparently.”

“I–” He stops himself, eyes casting down in shame.

He must have known this from the beginning. Since the moment I entered that office, the worry on my face regarding my job and living status was clear, and he did nothing to change it or reassure me.

While I understand this man owes me nothing and was only doing his job, following orders, tonight, everything is heightened. The fact that he kept quiet all of this time after a lifetime of lies from my late boss and my own mother prevents me from trusting anyone.

Tonight has been the last nail in the coffin for me. Before, Vincent’s warmth and attention helped brush off the gravity of the situation, but now…I have no one.

Everyone betrayed my trust, no exceptions. Everything I held dear and loved was a lie. Not only are all the loved ones I had gone physically, but the one I opened and gave my heart to just betrayed me.

I knew love could hurt, but it seems that it feels more destructive than anything else. If that’s how it is, then I don’t want it.Nor do I need it.

With a resigned sigh, I speak, “He’ll understand in no time. Just get on with it.”

“There are two ways we can tackle this...if you are to go through with it…” Harry’s voice is tentative.

There’s a dragged silence as he steals a glance at a—still—confused Edgar, still with that weary expression on his face.

While I roughly know the consequences of making my situation public, I still don’t understand fully what it implies.

“Which are…” I insist when he doesn’t continue.

“We either go straight to the king while he–”

“Wow!” Edgar cuts in, standing up abruptly and waving exaggeratedly.Always the drama queen. “Wait a bloody second.Did you just say the king?” he exclaims before turning to me. “What the hell is going on?”

Ignoring Edgar, I nod for Harry to continue.

“Your Highness, we need an NDA! If this comes out before we–”

“No need to be formal with me…” Edgar comments. “Why an NDA, though?”

“He’ll sign it by dawn,” I grit, not even caring. Maybe it’ll be better in the end. The last thing I need is his mother to learn about this and ruin everything

“Me? What? Why in the hell?”

I ignore him, “Keep going.”

“Camilla, can you tell me what’s going on? Are you trying to get my brother excommunicated or something?”

“This is a monarchy, Edgar, not the Vatican,” I scoff, annoyed. “Patience. Listen first. Questions later.”

---