His Queen From Two Worlds

CHAPTER 10: THE ROYAL COUSINS

ESTOR:



The crown prince couldn’t take his eyes away from the picture he was looking at. The picture was taken when they went on an escapade after the crowning ceremony. He had to run away from all the mess that broke out after the crown prince ceremony. He still remembered how he went to Zelda’s room in the middle of the night, carried her to the helipad and immediately ran away from the country to take a break.

After the banquet that night, he came up with the decision in seconds and executed it in minutes. He still remembered how his fiancé had just wrapped her arms around his neck after informing her that they were leaving for a vacation. No one dared to stop him despite the heavy security and let him do as he wished. Moreover, it was quite common for the staff in the palace to see the crown prince and the future queen running away from the hustle and bustle of the castle. He sighed as he thought of everything that was going on

Raymond was in his thoughts as he kept looking around his study. For now, he couldn’t go out and handle the business. He would be taking care of everything from the office. He was thankful that Zelda’s manager and her team were very efficient. He was closely keeping an eye on every single matter on the internet regarding her. Now and then he was also checking the fan's comments. Her fans were doing everything they could to gain good karma and blessings for Zelda.

The office was renovated just like his room according to his tastes and likes. The office desk was black wood along with drawers. The desktop, files and documents were neatly arranged on the office desk. There was a small picture of the future rulers. The chair was an exclusive black leatherette high-back-office chair. The shelves were made of rich mahogany and filled with his books and files. Except for a couch and a small coffee table, there was nothing else in his study. Some abstract paintings and a painting of the present ruler and the future ruler. Raymond was only ten years old in that painting. He specifically requested this painting for his grandmother on his tenth birthday. All of these paintings, lord knew how many millions of dollars’ worth they were. Checking the document in his hand, he rubbed his head. Just as he thought of calling one of the servants, the door was knocked from the outside.

“Come in!” he pressed a button on the table, which let the people hear on the other side. The study was soundproof. The doors were opened by one of the old butlers, letting the two men enter. He stood up in surprise as he said the names of the men, “Shawn…… Franics……...”

The old butler opened the door using one hand and bowed his head. He slowly closed the door, still his head down, when the men stepped into the office. Ray was leaning onto the table when he answered the butler but when he saw the two men coming in, he slowly straightened up his posture, his expression slightly surprised at the men.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness”, the two politely bowed their heads and reached to put their hands on their chests, as Ray shook his head at the men.

“We aren’t in public guys,” the crown prince said at the antics of his cousins. They were his aunt’s sons, his only favorite cousins out of all the cousins he had.

The men raised their heads and looked at each other. Francis Campbell was the elder one. The elder son of Duke Blyth Campbell and Duchess Cordelia Campbell, elder sister of his late Majesty. He was older than his highness, the crown prince. He was fairly tall, his skin lightly tanned, and inherited the beautiful electric blue eyes of the royal family through his mother and dark brown locks. His looks could compete with Ray’s as people would often compare them in every category. After all, he was once one of the two eligible people for the crown. One is the prince. He was in casual white pants and a blue high-neck T-shirt.

The younger one was Shawn Campbell. Two years younger than the crown prince. The spoiled son of the Campbell duchy. He was taller than his elder brother and his cousin by a few centimeters. He was tanned like his elder brother, but it was a healthy tan. He was also a brunette with a beautiful light shade of golden-brown eyes. He was handsome on his own accord with his curly hair, which gave him a cute appearance. He was eligible to fight for the crown but willingly gave up very early because he was not interested. Francis was the same as well, but someone had to be trained in case something happened to the crown prince, Raymond.

The younger one was more casual with his choice of clothes. He wore blue jeans and an oversized black-tee with white sneakers. Unlike the two, he was greatly interested in all kinds of accessories. He wore a black and silver chain underneath his t-shirt but some part of it was visible.

“Come here, Ray”, Francis said, going into his informal mode in the privacy of his cousin’s study.

Ray lowered his head as if he couldn’t look at his cousins all of a sudden. Very rarely did he show his true emotions to people.

The crown prince felt his cousin walking towards him, but he didn’t react. Rather, he didn’t know how to react. He promised to share many things with this cousin of his. About himself. About Zelda and their country. Now, he didn’t or wasn’t able to keep those promises properly. He wasn’t taking care of himself. He wasn’t able to protect the love of his life properly. Now the whole country is worried about this couple. All these thoughts were going on in his brain when he suddenly felt his cousin's arms behind his back.

Francis gave a brotherly hug to his cousin as he looked up. His face was filled with worry. He didn’t know how to sympathize with this brother. He was older than his cousin. And he always felt he had to take care of him. At that time, when the late majesty was pregnant with Ray, he promised her that he would take care of her child.

To Francis, Ray was no less than his younger brother. But in times of need, he always showed the respect his cousin deserved. He had just become a possible heir to the throne for name's sake. He knew better than anyone, that his cousin deserved the throne.

“Why didn’t you inform us? We should have been here earlier! Are we dead?” Francis had a deep voice and every time he got emotional, his voice gave chills to the people around him. He pulled back from the hug and looked at the younger cousin who was still facing down, “Isn’t Zelda our sis-in-law? Didn’t you think we were also eligible to know the news?”

Francis knew he was chiding his younger cousin, but he was the elder one. He always ends up doing this whenever his younger cousin does something like that. He was insecure that they might leave him or betray him in the end. The result of the childhood betrayals he faced from his mother’s family side and many people disappointed him.

“I didn’t. I wasn’t able to take care of anything. I wasn’t able to protect Zelda properly. I messed up--” Ray choked on his own words. In his mind, he didn’t do well. He was distracting himself from the blame he was going through.

“You didn’t, Ray!” Francis held his cousin by his shoulders, jolting the crown prince. Raymond raised his head, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Francis sighed and patted his head like he did to his younger brother and consoled this cousin, “Ralph was with her. He is the best royal guard out there, Ray. Yet this happened, which means this was bound to happen. Especially after the recent assassination attempt. All we can do is find out the instigator behind this. No matter what, you have us supporting you”

Raymond felt even more guilty for not informing his cousins. They weren’t just his cousins but also his friends and confiders. He gave them some time off and didn’t want to inform them. He didn’t but the internet did.

“So, it’s true? That she really…...” another voice joined the conversation. The elder ones turned their heads to look at the second young master of the Campbell duchy. He still couldn’t believe such a tragedy struck his family.

“You need to accept this, Shawn….” Francis said in a helpless tone as he saw his younger brother.

His younger brother was also her younger brother. That was the relationship between them. Her love for racing came from him as he taught her all about racing. They were partners in crime and rule breakers. Francis and Raymond were never missed if they were to leave Shawn and Zelda alone anytime due to official work. In banquets, parties, or just casual gatherings.

It was because Zelda and Shawn almost have the same tastes and thoughts regarding anything. So much so that the crown prince often felt jealous of his cousin, but he knew in his heart that Zelda loved him more than anyone and his cousin would never betray him either. Since the duo have the same tastes, he knew Shawn’s taste when it came to women. He likes someone who’s like a female version of the crown prince. Zelda often said that Shawn was going to be single forever. That Ray was the one and only and her forever.

“But...her...no...it can’t…she can’t…” his eyes stung at the corner as tears started flowing down his cheeks. Zelda was his best friend. Among the power-hungry people he was mostly associated with, she was the only genuine one who had always stayed with him since his childhood.

Ray hugged his cousin, who started crying on his cousin’s shoulder. Ray didn’t know how to pacify him because he was in the same position. But the cries of his cousin were surely affecting him as the huge wave of guilt and sadness he was hiding suddenly assaulted him out of nowhere. Francis, who saw this, furrowed his brows in worry, looking at them.

“Shawn” Francis couldn’t help but try and console him. They were here to support the crown prince. If they were to lose control like this in front of him, how could he stay strong? “Zelda is still with us. She will wake up. But before she does, we need to take care of every single peril that is a threat to her and to the throne. This was instigated, which means there are people out there trying to harm her and probably even Ray. We can’t afford to stay here feeling sad about it.”

Although Francis was calm and collected, it took a lot for him to say this. They knew it as well. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t close to the future queen. Those who never judged her and had a close bond with her had a beautiful bond with her, regardless of age. Zelda, at an age where people barely understand other people, called him an old soul, being a kid. He was quite amused by her.

But when he realized that his younger brother Ray was close to her, he observed her for some time before he understood that she was genuine. He always regarded his cousin as his younger brother and not a cousin He noticed this girl had become his playmate. His younger brother became close to her and depended on her. Since she was able to win the queen’s favor, no one dared to look down on her. Well, behind their backs they sure did, but she didn’t care. The bonding they shared was just a beautiful calm friendship, like, If Shawn and her were the crazy duo, he and Zelda were old souls in young bodies. That was her charm, to begin with. Like a gift. She has such an ability to become the kind person she wants to become friends with someone.

“She promised”, the brothers looked at the younger brother who was hardly holding the tears in his eyes. He wanted to cry. He was the tallest brother among the three. But he was the baby brother. The most spoiled one and the most emotional one. Between the two blood brothers, one was born with no emotions and the other one was an emotional rollercoaster.

“She promised,” the younger one said again, looking at his elder brothers. “I’m going to wait for her. I won't participate in the international racecourse if she doesn’t wake up. I will help you investigate all the crooks behind the attack".

“Shawn…” Ray suddenly felt helpless with this younger cousin of his. Most of the time he behaved, and a simple warning was enough for him whenever he crossed the line.

“You’re not leaving the international racecourse this year, Shawn”, the crown prince frowned at his younger brother who was still recovering from the denial. Shawn looked at his brother with a stubborn stare that said he wasn’t going to listen to his elder brother.

“But bro, right now, there are to be a lot of moles, and we need to weed them out as soon as possible. We can’t really trust everyone close to us right now. You need all the support that you can!” Shawn wasn’t willing to back down. How could he act normally, as if nothing happened, and continue his training for the competition while his two brothers would be busy for the next few months?

“What kind of king am I going to be if I need to sacrifice my cousin’s goal for an internal cleanup?” Ray looked at him, his gaze turning sterner with every second.

“That kind that cares for his cousin’s dreams! Racing might be my dream, but my loyalty and my responsibilities lie within the country, the crown and you” his voice shook as he said his loyalty lay with his cousin, whom he had always regarded as a brother. He might be the most spoiled one of all the young royal members, but he would be the first to protect the crown.

“Look, Shawn. I understand what you feel, but what are you going to answer to her once she wakes up? She took a day off from her schedule at the busiest time just to watch you win on that day. What are you going to answer? What am I going to answer? I needed the help of my cousin, so I made him quit the competition. That you wanted to help your cousins, and you left the competition?” Ray calmly put his hands on his shoulders to make him understand.

Shawn was still unwilling. His stare was hardening with every passing second. How could they even forget that he was as stubborn as a bull? Francis, knowing that his little brother wasn’t going to back down from this one, came up with a solution.

“Shawn, if you act like that, I will order you as the crown prince and use my position if I have to.”

“Alright. Ray, I have a suggestion”. Francis stopped the two from arguing further. Ray stepped back, taking his hands off from him and nodded his head. Francis turned to look at his younger brother and told him his idea.

“You will be involved, and we will contact you every time we need help, but this whole cleanup process should not affect your training even a little bit. I will personally keep an eye on your training from now. Do you agree?”

“Fine” Unwillingly, he agreed.

“Ray?” Francis looked at his other brother.

“The moment something goes wrong, we’re kicking him back to his dorm rooms until the competition ends!” Ray declared with one last serious look at his brother.

“It’s settled then” Francis exhaled, loosening up a little.

Ray turned to look at his elder cousin and asked, “Is aunt here?”

“She is. And she is worried. She’s with grandma right now, visiting Zel.”

Ray sighed, his electric blue eyes going through all the emotions he was feeling. He could only be him when the people he deeply trusted were around. No matter how his family convinces him until Zelda opens her eyes and speaks with him, he can’t calm down even after he brings everyone down who was after him or his fiancée.

“Let’s go meet her,” Ray said, as his two brothers followed him out.

“Oh! Sweetheart! Just what evil eye’s gaze fell upon our family!” the middle-aged woman gently brushed her hand on her nephew’s face. Just what else does her nephew go through?

When Princess Cordelia thought of her late brother and sister-in-law, tears welled up in her eyes. If she accepted the crown when it was offered to her, would her nephew be going through all of this today? If she hadn't been selfish and accepted the crown, would this have happened today? But she knew. There were no ifs.

It is a fact that she lost her brother and sister-in-law. It is a fact that her nephew lost his parents when he was still a baby. When he knew nothing that was going on, she was holding him in her arms when the bodies of the couple were brought to the palace. He was wailing. He was crying over the loss of his parents without even knowing what happened to them. Perhaps that was the bond between the children and parents. Growing up, she knew how much her nephew suffered through emotional detachment.

When Zelda came into his life, he started changing a lot. More open about his feelings. It was like a miracle. Her nephew smiled and talked about how his day went. When someone insulted Zelda at a banquet years ago, his rage showed how much the little girl meant in his life.

“It’s alright, aunt. I’ll drag that evil out into the light and make them pay for everything!” Ray gently took his aunt’s into his. Tears glistening in her eyes, she nodded her head. As long as her nephew is strong.

“You announced she might wake up in three months?” Cordelia asked.

“To appease the public, yes” the crown prince revealed in an expressionless tone.

“What? What do you mean by that?” the Duchess of Campbell exclaimed in shock and confusion. Her eyes widened a little. Hiding the truth from the public? Just how serious was the real condition that they had to hide her future niece-in-law? “She…. Zelda…what exactly happened to her?”

The pain slowly filled his electric eyes so that he hid in the depths of his eyes so as not to worry the people around him. He was desperately trying to keep the matter of her real health condition in the back of his head to work properly. Inhaling sharply, he said, “She…she is in a coma, and we might not know when she will wake up. Her pulse fell low when she was in the operating room. It all depends on her now. Dr. Eloise was consulting her seniors in the field, so we might know something new. Once she comes out, you can go in and visit her.”

“What is happening to our family???” the duchess broke down this time as she bent down. Luckily, the crown prince held her hands, supporting her. The heirs of the Campbell duchy stepped forward towards their mother.

“Aunt!”

“Mom!”

The current generation crowded over her, looking at her with worried-overfilled eyes. They were aware of her love for her family, her constant worry about her family, the guilt that she didn’t accept the crown and, ultimately, the reason behind her brother’s and sister-in-law’s assassination.

“Aunt, please calm down” the crown prince helplessly said as he helped her to sit on the soft, comfortable couch with her sons on the other side. Patting his aunt’s hand, Ray said, “Aunt, we need all of us to be strong right now. For Zelda, for grandmother, for the country. Everything will be fine soon”

“Oh Ray!” Watching her nephew being strong despite the pain he was bearing in his heart, the aunt’s heart ached. “Yes. Everything will be fine”

“Mother, please don’t worry. We will get this through”, Shawn, being the kid who always cheers up everyone around, said.

“Yes, mother. We are going to stay in the castle until we solve everything. You can take care of grandmother” the elder son said as he patted his mother’s shoulders.

“I will talk with mother after she wakes up. She will be displeased, of course, but my heart won’t stay at peace if I don’t see Mother every day”, the duchess expressed her anxiety.

“As you wish, aunt. You can stay for as long as you wish”, Ray said.

Cordelia brushed her fingers against his cheeks and gave a small smile, “Good child.”