THE FORGOTTEN PRINCE

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Adrias’s POV

"Carry me mommy" I froze at the words leaving my daughter's mouth, then turned to look at the woman herself. She looked shocked, her eyes wide, but Isabelle really wanted to be carried because she kept swinging her hands in the air.

" Carry mommy, mommy carry" Ana reached for her, picking her up and she went quiet. My daughter who hadn't spoken in the last three years has just called a woman she didn't know.

"I guess that settles it then the little princess has spoken" my youngest brother Alan grinned. I shot him a frustrated look but he just laughed. This wasn't funny but I didn't have the heart to tell him to stop, not when Alan seemed to find more amusement than he had in the past few months.

This interview had been the only thing to coax my brother out of his room. After the tragic accident that had ended the life of his fiancee and led to his and Isabelle's capture. He had returned changed, both he and my little girl clung to each other for safety but it was still hard for them both.

"Hello sweetie" she whispered looking at me and I nodded my assent, just as Sinclair, my right hand man, rushed into the room and whispered into my ear.

"His majesty is dead" I froze immediately.

" What's wrong" Alan asked , Sinclair turned to me and I nodded.

" Stay with them" I muttered then I turned to Ana.

"Keep her occupied" I replied and she nodded. I watched them both as they left the room. I strode down the hall rapidly.

"This is too soon" I muttered and Sinclair huffed.

"Tell me about it.” My brother couldn't handle this strain, he was already too unstable for this. Our father's death would be another weight , the only thing I was grateful for was that he didn't have to take over the rule, that would be my responsibility no matter how much I didn't feel ready for it.

" What happened?" I demanded as I burst into my father's room. It was mostly empty except for his doctor and the nurse on standby.

"Your highness. I am very sorry–" he muttered and I glared, the doctor stiffened.

"Stop glaring at the man," my mother hissed, coming to stand next to me.

"It was a heart attack, very sudden" she replied and I swore, that was the last thing I'd expected. My father was ill, we knew he wouldn't last long but a f*****g heart attack was the very last thing I had expected.

"Thank you doctor, you can leave" I muttered and he nodded, bowing low.

"We'll need to get burial preparations on the way" my mother said, collapsing into a chair.

"We're on it. The coronation will have to be immediately, the people will be agitated as it is." Sinclair said and I sighed.

"You'll have to get married though" my mother muttered.

"I'll cross that bridge"I huffed, I knew what she was after and I was not giving in.

***********

The burial took place quickly, in Adamos the dead were always buried quickly.

The crowd gathered in the royal halls were filled with noble men from all over the kingdom, as well as dignitaries of the seat of Quinn and Casper. The presence of Trace Quinn surprised me considering my father and the old man had been famous for their rivalry. His daughter Aileen not really.

"How is our majesty doing?" Alan teased, joining me with a glass of champagne in hand.

"Shut up" I countered and he smiled but it was a wane smile I did know my brother he would blame himself for everything, from our father's death to the loss of my daughters voice if he was allowed, it was why taking this position was not so hard for me because I knew he'd do it in a heartbeat if he could.

“Uh oh, bratty princess is zoning in and she's with daddy" Alan muttered, I glared at him in warning and he smirked.

"Tell me she isn't and I'll stop" he dared and I sighed, there was no lying, Aileen Quinn was a spoiled bratty thing, the only reason I tolerated her was because we'd grown up together.

"Your majesty, Alan" she said as she drew next to us.

"Your majesty, Anna" I replied and she stilled, she didn't like me not using her title, Alan offered a quick bow, then in what I could only describe as a sprint he disappeared.

"Congratulations, your father must be glad the seat is in stable hands " Lord Quinn muttered and I shrugged.

“I'm grateful you think he thought that way" the elderly man hummed stroking his beard.

"You'll need a wife, someone who can be queen. Help you in this crisis" I froze.

"What do you think of my Aileen,she's beautiful and very versed in the royal life and it's expectations " she stared at me pleased to have her father speak about her like some prized broodmare.

"I'm sure she is. But I don't think she and I are suitable for marriage" I replied. I didn't trust her as far as I could throw her, she was ambitious and strong but that wasn't all I needed in a wife.

"Do you have someone else?" she asked, I looked at her and her expectant father knowing that nothing less than a fiancee in the wing would halt their attempts.

"Yes, I do. I want all the ruckus to settle down" I offered, Lord Quinn looked unamused, he nodded.

"Well lad I look forward to the wedding invitations, or talks of an alliance in marriage between both our seats" he said before turning away and I took that as the threat it was either they exposed their lover or I got married to his daughter.

"What happened?" Sinclair was handing me a glass of wine which I downed.

"Well the Lord Quinn just gave me an ultimatum, I marry his daughter or I produce my fictional bride" I replied, Sinclair hissed.

Isabelle crashed into me,I picked her up kissing her cheek, behind her in a beautiful blue dress was Anna, she looked gorgeous, half the men in the room were staring at her, including Sinclair ,I fought the urge to grab her, I was no one to her, I had no right to stake a claim.

She swallowed as I reached to hand Isabella over to her, and stumbled on her feet, I reached out my arm and grabbed her hip, we stayed locked together in an embrace,her green eyes looking, so beautiful with hazel flecks floating within it, I heard the snapping of cameras,I could already see the headlines, I pulled away tightening my hold on Isabelle.

"Sorry" I muttered, she coughed smiling lightly. Isabelle tugged at my jacket handing me her tablet Marry mommy. She'd written, I glanced at her but she was already looking at Anna, my heart ached.

Later that night my thoughts went back to the woman Isabelle had called her mommy, I didn't know why but my daughter loved this woman, felt connected to her, I walked out of the room into the corridor.

Isabelle deserved so much more than she had now and if Anna Bridge could give that to her then I could at least try. The woman I was thinking of, stood in the corridor, I saw her looking at the sky, clad in only a light gown, her red hair falling over her shoulders, she looked beautiful, her pale skin just glittering somehow in the moonlight, she was beautiful. She looked so much like Dishana even though I knew that had to be my imagination.

I must have made a sound because she turned to me and my breath rushed out in a large exhale, too familiar green eyes staring back at me, I wasn't sure why she seemed so familiar to me, or why she elicited such emotions in me but I couldn't help it.

I walked to her slowly, one step at a time she swallowed,her cheeks flushed, I caressed them leaning into her.

"Marry me" I pressed a soft kiss to her lips, her breath hot against mine hitching slightly, I pulled away dazed from that small contact ,then I said words that would have been best said on a clear head.

"Marry me"