Royally Unfaithful

Chapter 5 The Death That Changed Everything

"Why? Why get angry like that? Relax!" Liam laughed softly, handing Jocelyn a glass of wine after they had finished dancing.

Jocelyn stomped her foot in annoyance. She pushed Liam's hand away from her and then squinted at him.

"Why? You ask me why? You got me in big trouble for asking me to dance in front of Lucas!" Jocelyn almost screamed in annoyance, but she immediately restrained her voice to avoid attracting the attention of those around her.

Meanwhile, Liam just smiles calmly and takes a sip of the wine from his glass. "What is the problem? Shouldn't you be dancing? You're coming to the dance, so what's wrong if I ask you to dance?"

"It's wrong, Liam!" Jocelyn immediately stopped his sentence. "No one is allowed to dance with me besides Lucas. You know that rule, right?"

"Of course, I know. But my bastard brother always ignores you every time you guys come to the party, right?" Liam's eyes softened as he reached out to hold Jocelyn's hand, which started shaking with fear.

Not just Lucas but Jocelyn could see that her stepfather was glaring at her. She doesn't know that he was in London, even at the same party with her.

"I'm used to being ignored. Don't you know that?!"

Jocelyn didn't know where she got the courage to shout at a prince. Even though he only has the Infante title, Liam's position is clearly far above her. She was just an ordinary person who was lucky to be chosen as the crown prince's fiancé. However, her status wasn't high enough that she could shout at Infante Liam who was second in line to the Monarchy of Spain.

Anger had overpowered her sanity. She didn't care even though they were fighting in public now.

"Well, at least I can help you get out of the boring talk that's cramping your legs." He shrugged his shoulders casually.

Jocelyn was stunned for a moment. She looked at Liam in surprise, "how do you know?" She muttered under her breath.

"See?" Liam points out smugly, "I know you're in torment. That's why I saved you."

To be honest, since getting engaged to Lucas, Jocelyn feels that no one can save her from the tantrums of her fiancé. Whatever she does is always wrong in Lucas' eyes. However, she couldn't go against anything he said to avoid even worse punishment. Putting up a fight against Lucas was tantamount to allowing himself to fall into an even worse punishment.

"You don't know anything!" Jocelyn snapped as she stepped away.

"Hey, what are you doing? Didn't Lucas say that you can eat? Why are you even going back in there?" Liam reaches out to hold her arm.

Jocelyn immediately took a step back—away from Liam. She glanced into the ballroom in a bit of panic, then breathed a sigh of relief when she found that Lucas was busy talking to a middle-aged woman she knew who was Spain's foreign minister to Britain.

"If you can't get me out of my political engagement with Lucas, then you better not do anything, Liam! You're just getting me into trouble!" Jocelyn snapped at him as she walked away—ignoring Liam who was now trying to call and chase after her.

***

Jocelyn stepped into the private plane of the Monarchy of Spain with a feeling of exasperation. She was still wearing a ball gown, making it difficult for her to walk. Lucas stepped quickly in front of her, so she also tried to increase the speed of her steps. Meanwhile, Liam was walking beside her with an unreadable expression—sometimes, he talked to the bodyguard beside him. Then behind her, David Alfonso—her stepfather looks busy with a cell phone pressed to his ear, busy talking to the Spanish parliament to find out about developments in Spain. Everyone was riled up, looking confused and shocked as well.

Once again, hundreds of camera flashes follow every step they take to get the best photo of the Spanish Crown Prince's entourage, who hurriedly returned to Spain after hearing the news about the death of King Hernandez—Lucas and Liam's biological father.

Jocelyn still remembers the incident a few hours ago after she and Liam had finished dancing. She planned to return to Lucas and apologize to him—hoping she would not be punished after returning from the party. However, something unexpected happened. They heard the news of King Hernadez's death and were asked to return to Spain immediately.

Jocelyn didn't remember what happened because after hearing the news, the UK royal guard immediately escorted them to the helipad to take them to the airport.

Then here she was, with hundreds of paparazzi hunting for news of King Hernandez's shocking death.

"Please don't bother us. Don't you know that the Prince is sorrowful right now?"

Vaguely Jocelyn heard the voices of the Spanish and UK royal guards who accompanied them to secure their steps.

Sorrow, huh?

Jocelyn wanted to laugh when she heard that sentence. Some people might have mourned the death of King Hernandez, but as far as she knows, Lucas had made absolutely no sign that he was sorrowful. The proof was when they were in the helicopter, Lucas immediately talked about his coronation ceremony as the new King of the Monarchy of Spain. How disgusting!

The paparazzi's commotion only stopped after they walked through the departure gate, then got into the private plane that was ready to fly to Spain.

Jocelyn took a deep breath, then took off her sunglasses as she sat in the front seat with Liam. She turned her head—trying to find Lucas and her stepfather who immediately entered the meeting room on the private plane.

"You okay?" Jocelyn touched Liam's hand, feeling a bit concerned because, compared to Lucas, Liam looked more shocked when he heard the news of his father's death.

"Well, I don't know." Liam took off his sunglasses, and Jocelyn immediately saw his eyes red from holding back tears.

As long as she knew, she had never seen Liam cry. However, now he was crying. There was something in Jocelyn's heart that throbbed with pain when she saw her friend grieve.

She had been in that position before—losing her father a few years ago. Jocelyn was only 10 years old when her biological father died, but she clearly remembers how sad she was when she learned that her father was gone. Her birth father wasn't a good person, but he wouldn't let Jocelyn live like this in misery if he was still alive. He would save Jocelyn from the political engagement between her and Lucas.

Unfortunately, her father is dead. And now Liam is feeling the same grief.

"I don't know what to say to cheer you up, Liam." Jocelyn looked at Liam with concern.

"His death truly saddens me. But you don't have to comfort me. You should worry about yourself." Liam turns his head and clasps his hands. "I don't know what will happen after this. But make sure you're always safe with Lucas or the royal guard. This is not just about my father's death but the mysterious death of a Spanish king who was found drinking poison in his own room."

Jocelyn widened her eyes in surprise. "What?" She muttered under her breath.

"He wasn't that stupid to end his own life when all this time he wanted so badly to see Lucas crowned King. Therefore, the parliament assembly assumes that someone killed King Hernandez."

"How could that be? What happened?"

"Everyone suspects everyone," Liam shakes his head slowly, "that's a term the government uses when something shocking happens—something that indicates treason within the royal family."

Jocelyn frowned, getting more confused when she saw Liam turning his head warily towards the private room where Lucas and her stepfather were talking. "You suspect Lucas?" Jocelyn whispered softly.

"I don't know who to suspect. This is a big problem, and I know the impact will also be big." Liam looked at her seriously—a look that he rarely showed, "You have to prepare for the worst, Jocelyn."

"What? What's wrong with me?"

"After my father dies, Lucas will be crowned king in two or three months." Liam turned his head again, looking at Lucas, who had just left the private meeting room, followed by David Alfonso. "And there is no king without a queen." He continued in a low whisper.