Royal Outcast

Chapter 19

Seri’s POV

I found myself staring intently at my feet, which were tucked neatly beneath me as I hugged my legs tightly. Allowing the quiet of the room to wash over me, I let my thoughts begin to drift into a deep ocean of reflection.

“You have been through so much already, haven’t you, child?” the kind and royal voice of Her Majesty echoed hauntingly in my mind, repeating itself like a gentle reminder. I let out a heavy sigh, pressing my forehead against my knees in a gesture of defeat as I tried to process the emotions swirling inside me.

It was hard for me to believe that I had actually cried in front of Her Majesty, the Queen.

How utterly pitiful of me.

I let out another sigh, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me.

At present, I was in the sanctuary of my room, a space that felt both foreign and yet oddly comforting. Earlier that evening, I had joined Their Majesties for dinner after a heartfelt conversation I had with Queen Liviana. The dinner gathering was intimate, consisting only of the three of us. Prince Lucas and Princess Liana were served their meals in the privacy of their own rooms, as they were required to stay isolated for the night due to Her Majesty’s orders.

At first, the atmosphere was undeniably uncomfortable and awkward. I was unsure of how to interact with the royal couple. However, as time passed, Their Majesties proved to be incredibly kind-hearted and engaging, putting me at ease. They primarily focused their questions on the orphanage where I had spent my formative years, a subject that I was more than happy to discuss with them, finding comfort in sharing stories about the pups and keepers from that place.

After dinner, I was escorted back to my room by the palace helpers, who were professional yet friendly. Queen Liviana had encouraged me to explore the vast palace grounds with the guidance of the helpers anytime I wished, even after dinner, expressing that the palace had many wonders to offer. However, I graciously declined her kind offer, opting to save the adventure for another day.

I believed it would be too late to impose on the helpers, considering the night had fallen and the moon was now high in the sky. Yet, as I sat alone in my room, boredom started to creep in, making me regret my earlier decision not to explore.

Just then, the stillness of the room was broken by a sudden knock on my door. I perked up, my heart racing with curiosity and hope.

“Seri? Seri, it’s Lia,” came the soft yet familiar voice from the other side of the door.

My eyes widened slightly in surprise, and I quickly stood up, a rush of urgency coursing through me.

“Coming!” I called out, making my way to the door. I opened it to find Her Highness, Princess Lia, standing there, playing nervously with her fingers, her gaze downcast.

“H-Hi…” she greeted me, her voice low and soft, almost shy.

“Good evening, Your Highness—I mean Lia. Is everything okay?” I asked, worry spreading across my features as I studied her expression.

Princess Lia looked down at her hands, still fidgeting with her fingers, creating a sense of unease that mirrored my own feelings.

“I actually shouldn’t be here. I was told not to show up before you until I’ve reflected on my actions from earlier this morning,” she began, her voice tinged with apprehension and regret.

“But that reflection includes my argument with my brother, and that will take more time than I’d like to admit. I really don’t want to wait until then, especially since I’ve already thought about how my actions might have made you feel earlier,” she explained, finally mustering the courage to raise her head to meet my gaze.

“I’m so sorry, Seri. It must have felt uncomfortable to be caught between Lucas and me. You recently just arrived, and we somehow managed to put you in a tight spot almost immediately,” she said sincerely, a look of remorse plastered across her face.

“Princess…” I muttered softly,

“I’m quite sure you weren’t even aware of what had happened between us in the past, or at least before Lucas and I started arguing in front of you, yet we placed you right in the center of our argument. You must have felt confused, and understandably so. I truly apologize for that,” she continued, her tone filled with genuine regret.

“It’s okay. I understand,” I responded softly, attempting to offer her some reassurance with a small smile. However, Princess Lia shook her head fervently, almost vehemently.

“No, it’s not okay. It really isn't,” she insisted, her expression serious. “I know better than to project my personal traumas onto others, especially not onto someone like you,” she stated, her voice heavy with the weight of her admission.

"I have no excuse for my actions, Seri. I deeply and sincerely apologize for what I did. I regret making you feel the way I made you feel,” she repeated firmly.

“Do I regret saying what I said to my twin brother? No, absolutely not. He absolutely needed to hear everything I said to him; he’s been acting like a big and insecure jerk when you seem like such a sweetheart,” she huffed, her voice a mix of determination and frustration, and the pout of her lips caused an involuntary chuckle to escape me.

“Once again, I am truly sorry, Seri. You didn’t deserve to be dragged into our conflict,” she said, her sincerity palpable. I smiled gently at her, attempting to convey warmth and support.

“I forgive you,” I told her, my voice imbued with compassion. Princess Lia's eyes brightened at my words, and she pouted as she reached her hands out toward me.

“Can I hug you?” she asked, her voice almost pleading. I was taken aback by the request, but a smile broke across my face as I slowly nodded in affirmation, which made her beam with joy. As I reached back to her, she pulled me into a tight embrace, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, gently caressing her back as we stood there in the comforting silence.

We remained in that warm embrace for a while, both of us absorbing the emotional connection that had formed in that moment.

“I know we just met, but for some inexplicable reason, I feel entirely at ease with you,” she murmured softly, her voice almost a whisper.

“There’s this glimmer of light within you that I can feel and see when I look at you. It’s soft and warm, like a breath of fresh air,” she described, her words catching me off guard. I couldn’t help but smile at her compliment—such kindness was unexpected.

A glint of light within me? That was a perspective I had never considered.

After all that had happened, I had long since stopped viewing myself in any kind of positive light since the tragic loss of my parents. I had always thought of myself as gloomy and lost, merely surviving through life.

Eventually, Her Highness pulled away, her gaze searching mine as if trying to read my thoughts.

“I can tell that your life hasn’t been perfect either. You're younger than both Lucas and me, yet you manage to carry yourself with such grace,” she observed, offering me a small yet encouraging smile.

“We still have so many things to learn about one another, Seri. Please know that while you’re here, you’re not alone; you can lean on me whenever you need a friend. Especially if Lucas becomes too much to handle. I promise you, I’ll always have your back,” she reassured me, her grip on my hands tightening as she spoke with sincerity.

I bit the inside of my lip, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks.

“Thank you… Lia,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, overwhelmed by her kindness. Her smile widened again, lighting up her face.

But in that moment, her smile faltered, and her brow furrowed slightly as she turned her head to the side.

“Why are you spying on us?” she suddenly exclaimed, directing her attention toward a shadow lurking at the corner of the room. I turned to see Mr. Dillon step out from his hidden spot.

“Spying is a bit of an exaggeration, Princess,” Mr. Dillon chuckled lightly, a glint of humor in his voice.

Her Highness narrowed her eyes at him, an expression that was a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

“Then what exactly were you doing?” she pressed, crossing her arms as she scrutinized him.

“Hmm… I was just checking on Lady Seri, ensuring she was alright,” Mr. Dillon replied calmly, his demeanor relaxed.

“Is that what my brother ordered you to do?” Lia inquired, glancing back at him pointedly.

Mr. Dillon shook his head, his expression neutral.

“No, Lucas knows very well that Aunt Livi will find out one way or another if he tells me to keep an eye on his mate, and she would be even more upset with him for that,” he stated shrugging casually.

Princess Lia looked Mr. Dillon up and down as if trying to assess whether or not he was being truthful or not.

“Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one who sneaked out here to see Seri when you were clearly told not to,” Mr. Dillon continued, raising an eyebrow in a playful challenge. Lia rolled her eyes in response.

“And? Are you going to tell on me?” she retorted defiantly. Mr. Dillon shook his head again, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“I won’t, but you and I both know that even if I choose not to tell Aunt Livi, she’s sure to find out eventually,” he stated plainly, his tone lightening the moment.

Princess Lia bit her lower lip, contemplating the situation before she sighed heavily, exasperated. She turned back to me, her expression softening.

“I should probably head back to my room now before I get into more trouble,” she said with a chuckle, and I nodded in agreement.

“I think that sounds like a wise idea,” I replied, relieved that we were keeping things light-hearted despite the earlier tensions.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” her highness said, and I nodded in agreement.

Lia waved goodbye as she hurried down the hallway, seemingly relieved to escape whatever trouble she had brewed for herself.

And just like that, I found myself alone with Mr. Dillon, who stood patiently in the hallway, observing me with a hint of concern.

“How are you doing? You’re not still blaming yourself for anything that happened today, right?” he asked, his voice gentle and concerned.

“Her Majesty and Her Highness have both talked to me about it,” I said, recalling their words of reassurance.

“And I’m sure they assured you of the same thing—that none of this was your fault,” he added, his expression serious yet warm. I nodded, feeling a flicker of gratitude for their kindness.

Mr. Dillon smiled at me, his demeanor easing my worries.

“As I expected. Now, try to get some sleep without overthinking any of this. It’s already challenging enough to be in a new environment, you need noy worry about things that are out of your control” he advised kindly, his tone soothing.

“I’ll… try,” I murmured, wishing I could take his advice to heart and actually find some restful slumber. Mr. Dillon chuckled softly, his humor managing to ease my tension a bit.

I turned back and stepped inside my room, glancing back at Mr. Dillon before shutting the door. He was still waiting, as if ensuring I would be alright.

“Thank you, Mr. Dillon. Goodnight,” I said with a small, genuine smile, feeling grateful for his support.

“Good night, Seri,” he replied warmly, and I slowly closed the door behind me.

As I climbed back into bed, tucking myself snugly beneath the covers, I took a deep breath and I let my mind settle.

Staring at the ceiling, I let the events of the day replay in my mind, starting to feel a sense of calm finally start to settle over me.

Perhaps this day wasn’t so bad after all.