Page 13 of Royally Taught

“Liza,” my father snaps. “Enough.”

I turn my head and glance out of the window, looking at the beautiful hilly landscape. I remember a time when this palace was my safety, it was my home, but since I’ve returned from the US, it’s been a living nightmare. My parents have been standoffish with me, they treat me as though I’m an outsider rather than their daughter, and I’ve never felt more alone.

“Enough?” My mom releases a shrill scream, and I turn to look at her. She’s watching me with narrowed eyes and a snarl. “You and I both know what this means for this family, Alex, what it means for this institution.”

“Anastasia is our daughter, Liza.”

My mom shakes her head. “No,” she snaps. “No, my daughter would never do this. Would never put herself in this position. My daughter would never be this stupid.”

“Stupid?” I whisper, horrified by her words. “I made a mistake, mom, I didn’t ruin your life. I’m having a baby, I don’t have the plague.”

She swipes her arm angrily through the air. “You,” she screams, her face red and blotchy. “Have no idea how bad this is going to affect our reputation. How the public, the population of Decia is going to react to your news.”

“Mom,” Richard shouts back. “This is your daughter, your grandchild. Surely you can’t be so damn callus.”

“It’s no grandchild of mine,” she fires back. “No, I will not allow any offspring of mine to have a child out of wedlock. To make us look as though our family isn’t proper.”

“Proper?” I cry. “Christ, mom, a baby is a blessing. It’s a gift, you’re making it out to be as though my baby is an abomination.”

She rolls her eyes. “Dramatics have no place here, Anastasia. This is serious. What you have done is selfish, foolish, and damn right stupid.”

“Liza,” my father warns, but my mom hasn’t finished, she shakes her head and turns to face me, her eyes narrowed into slits as she glares at me. “Liza, enough,” my father shouts as he stands in front of me, blocking my view of my mom.

“No,” she screams, her voice echoing through the room. “God, no, Alex. We’ve made concession after concession for her. She hates being in the limelight—we cut back her appearances. She hates being around people—we try to shield her from it all. She wanted to go study abroad—we let her. Now, look at where we are. She’s pregnant. She’s pregnant with that man’s baby, and now we’re stuck with the consequences.”

I get to my feet and step away from my father. “I didn’t ask for this life. I’m not going to be queen. I’m not going to be anyone of importance. I’m not treated as such, either. My life is so much better away from this Palace. Don’t you agree?”

My father whirls around and faces me. “Ana,” he whispers, his eyes filled with sadness. “You are one of the most important people in this world, to me. You are my daughter, Anastasia, and no matter what, I’m going to be here for you.”

I could cry at his words. God. I love this man. I love my father. He and my brother are the best people ever.

“How do you know who the father is?” Richard questions as he stares at our mom.

“What?” I ask, blinking back the tears.

“She said, ‘she’s pregnant with that man’s baby, and now we’re stuck with the consequences.’ She said it as though she knew exactly who the father is. You haven’t told us, so how does she know?”

I release a ragged breath as I catch the smirk on my mom’s face. “What?” I demand, knowing that she’s keeping something from me. “What have you done?”

“He was here,” she smirks. “He was trying to get into the palace. As if I’d let that commoner in here.”

I stare at my mother agape. “Commoner?” I ask, horrified. Unable to believe that my mom would ever say those words. Who is she, and what the hell happened to make her this way?

“You and that man,” she snarls, her words filled with disgust. “I know who he is. He’s your professor. Do you think that your father and I wouldn’t have our research before sending you away? We know who he is, and I told him if he didn’t leave, I’d be sure to have him fired.”

The tears come thick and fast. No matter what happened between Jacob and me, I’d never want him to lose his job. Hell, I can’t believe that he was here. Why was he here? What did he want?

“You didn’t?” I hiss. “How could you treat someone—anyone that way?”

“He does not belong here, surely you see that? He’s a commoner.”

“Just as you were, Liza,” my father callously says. “You were nothing more than a woman from the city. You were nobody when I met you. What happened?” he asks angrily. “Where is the woman who was sweet and loving?” he shakes his head in disgust. “You’re unbelievable.”

She has the good grace to look ashamed. Her face flushes red, and she glances away. “I’m trying to protect this family.”

“Then protect it,” Richard snaps. “If she leaves, it’s on you.”

“I am,” I say softly. Hating the fact that it’s what I have to do. “I’m going back to America. Right now, I can’t be around her.”

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