The Royal Contract

Lance looked around the room, realizing that this was his reality now. He could never return to what it was before and become a professional race car driver. He could not build his business as Alex did.

He could never marry the only woman he would like to spend the rest of his life with, no matter how much he wished for it. His life was not his anymore, but it now belonged to the Kingdom.

“I have missed this.” He raised another glass of expensive whiskey to his lips and gulped it in one go. “Why did we take so long to do this again?” Lance asked his friends even though he knew the answer. Their different lives took them in different directions.

It had been a while since he had been out with his friends. Since the accident, all he had done was hasten his recovery. After accepting the responsibility of the crown, he had been busy preparing for the coronation and becoming King.

It would be his first night to feel alive again, laughing with his cousin and friends as they reminisced their youth after a long time. “I could still remember Lance running in his underwear,” Alex said when he remembered an incident in the palace when they were young.

“If I remember correctly, you also did the same.” Lance countered as the alcohol in his system kicked in, enjoying its effect on his state of mind.

.....

He thought he should do this again, feeling liberated from the pressure imposed on his shoulders. He wished to be free from the world he had lived in, even for one night.

“Where are you two going?” Evan asked, noticing that David and Alex stood up simultaneously from their seat.

“I have to go to the bathroom and make some call,” David said, slightly buzzed but still capable of walking on his own, although in a slightly staggered line.

But he knew he missed Rosella, knowing he would not be coming to see her tonight. He had to reassure her that she was the only thing in his mind before she started wondering what he was doing in a club.

“I am just going to the other table for a minute.” Alex pointed to a group that was beckoning him over.

Lance recognized them as his cousin’s old friends. Although he also knew them, he was in no mood to socialize with them. Besides, he did not want to leave Evan unaccompanied.

“I guess it is just you and me.” Lance pointed to Evan for emphasis as he raised his hand to the server to bring them some more drinks. “I think you mentioned wanting to talk to me. What do you have in mind?”

He vaguely remembered Evan whispering something to him, but his mind was a little fussy with all the drinks he had already consumed. Still, he believed he could still think clearly.

“Yes, I did,” Evan said, but he suddenly found it hard to start the conversation, not knowing what to say first.

“Excuse me, Sir, but those lovely girls sent these complimentary drinks.” The server interrupted them, placing two glasses on the table while pointing to the pair of stunning, elegantly dressed ladies on their left, drinking their sherries.

“It appeared that you have a twin admirer.” Lance jokingly said when he glanced in the two ladies’ direction. “That would surely be a twin trouble.” He continued jesting, looking like he was drunker than he thought.

“Kindly return the drinks...” Evan instructed the waiter, but Lance stopped him.

“No,” Lance said to the man standing hesitantly beside them. “Just tell them thanks.” He told the waiter before dismissing him. He took one of the glasses and raised it to the lady smiling in his direction.

“I think you are drunk,” Evan said, finding his friend’s behavior odd. The old Lance would never flirt openly in a bar like this. It was his style but not his friend. It was like he was watching himself in his condition.

“And I think the rumors are correct.” Lance countered, taking his away from the girl and back to his friend. “I heard you finally found a girl that had tamed your wild side. Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

Lance continued to consume his free drink while waiting for his friend to tell him the gory details. He had never expected that the rumors would be true about his friend. He knew how much Evan had avoided commitment.

“Yes, I met her when I last visited Grandmama,” Evan told his friend. He wondered how Lance would take the news that he was marrying his childhood friend.

“Oh! How is sweet Grandmama Angela?” Lance asked, missing the sweet, old lady who had been kind to him when he met her a few times. “Where is she now? I do hope I can visit her soon.”

“She is great and on a long vacation.” Evan quickly responded. “But I will tell her that you are looking for her.” Of course, he could not reveal her location to him.

“Anyway, have you proposed to her? And who is this woman, by the way? I like to meet her. I hope you will bring her to my wedding as your plus one.” Lance rattled on, clearly drunk, as he slightly slurred his words.

He wanted to show that he was happy for his friends. But deep inside, he envied them because they lived the life they wanted. They were marrying the women they had chosen.

He was the one who would become King and one of the most powerful men in the world. But yet, he felt like the world had stripped him of the right to be happy.

“Actually...” Evan slightly hesitated. But then again, it was better to get it over and done. “You know her very well.” He continued, catching the Prince’s attention. “Yes, I plan to marry Amelia Stewart.”

He could see Lance’s eyes changed. He could sense that his mind was turning, thinking of the connection between Amelia and Eida. He wondered if his friend would grill him again about Eida, realizing his deep association with Amelia and possibly with the woman he had been searching for a long time.