#THE_ROYAL_LOVE
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 100
Kiara made her way into the beautiful apple orcha-rd. The whole place was lit up with warm golden light emitting from the garden lights as it illuminated on the glorious apple trees and ripe, reddish apples.
The whole orcha-rd gave her R0m-ntic vibes. And, she has never been to this side of the palace, so, she could only as-sume that Owen did all of this to surprise her.
‘Owen is way more R0m-ntic than I thought. This place is just out of the world, ahh…. I can’t even comprehend whether this is the dream or real’ Kiara thought as she blus-hed.
As ‘Owen’ sent the location to her phone, she followed the directions only to stop at another beautiful place.
It is the patio, with a roof. It is made of white wood and three sides are open while the other side has a wooden cladded wall. There are four, white luxurious lounge chairs beneath the roof and a round, white wood table in the middle of those chairs.
It has a flower vase on it and there is also a screen embedded on the table.
Kiara’s face bloomed with happiness and she shyly made her way into the patio.
Meanwhile….
“The orcha-rd, the patio, they are beautiful!!” Hailey squealed.
“No one is actually allowed into the orcha-rd after three at noon. The orcha-rd is exclusively for Royal families to spend some time with their families. However, it is un-der my care and directly connected to mine, Bro Ed’s and Ethan’s quarters. Dad, Mom rarely comes here, so it’s more like a sibling’s fun place” Eliina told Hailey.
“Sister in law, you can have fun with my brother there. Why don’t you both go on a date to the orcha-rd? It would have been long if you went out together” Eliina suggested.
“Yes, it’s indeed been a long time. However, we can’t risk getting sp-otted together. So Louis and I preferred staying indoors although we love to roam” Brina said.
Eliina nodded her head, her li-ps pursed. However, an awesome idea popped up in her head. Deciding to talk to her brother later, she shifted her attention back on Kiara who is yet to enter the patio.
After the marriage of this beautiful pair, Eliina is sure that they are going to create beautiful memories in the orcha-rd and many other beautiful places in the palace.
Meanwhile, Brina looked at the screen with keen attention.
“Elle, instead of sending the video to Kiara’s mobile, why can’t we make the video Play on the screen embedded on the table? Will it be a risk? Like, will someone else be monitoring it?” she asked, suddenly.
Brina is not sure how safe it is to send video to Kiara’s personal phone. There are chances that this video can be resto-red back if the professional tech person tries it.
She felt this table screen is secure compared to it because, as far as she could think of, this table screen is just for entertainment purposes like, playing games and watching movies. As it is a personal gadget, it must not be un-der monitoring as well.
“It’s absolutely safe, sis in law. That table screen is actually installed by bro Ed. As he loves to spend time in the orcha-rd, he personally fixed it. So, it is not un-der monitoring and we can ask him to erase everything once we are done. That table screen is far safer than Kiara’s personal phone” Eliina said.
“Perfect. Lemme ask Louis for permission to hack into it. Otherwise he will get worried for nothing” Brina said as she quickly fished out her phone, however, only to get stopped.
“No nee-d for it, sister in law. As Brother installed your thumb print as well, you will be able to access everything that is personally only his.” Eliina said, chuckling.
“You can see his childhood pics too, if you want” Eliina added, giggling.
“I will do it later. For now, let’s get our remaining work done” Brina said as she pressed her thumb on the sensor.
Soon, Eliina got permission and without much effort, they transferred the video to the screen on the table.
…
Meanwhile, Kiara who is over the moon all again, took a seat on one of the lounge chairs, totally content.
She didn’t regret helping Olivia at all. All that effort is worth Owen’s change towards her. All of that embarras-sment paid off as she secured an alliance between her house and Olivia’s house.
She is now going to be one of the members of House Lykaios, the most powerful House in the Kingdom after the Royal family.
She actually doesn’t like becoming a Queen as it has many responsibilities and many other factors to consider before taking a step. It is almost like a golden cage and she will be a beautiful bird in it. So, becoming the mistress of the next powerful House is what she wanted.
While Kiara is in de-ep thought, the screen lit up, grabbing her unwavering attention.
As it loaded, Kiara got excited!
‘Did Owen plan something special and unique for me? Gosh!!’ she squealed inside.
But what displayed on the screen shook her head and she could literally feel her heart thumping against her ribcage.
Her face flushed and her limbs started to shiver.
Who…who is the woman in Owen’s arms??
Wh…why i…is he caressing her face so tenderly??
Kiara stiffened her back and her eyes fixed on the screen, all her unwavering attention on what’s happening in the video.
In the next ten minutes, her face paled up akin to a white sheet. Her eyes blurred up with tears, as they rolled down on her pretty cheeks, unstoppably.
Owen….he ..he is already engaged!
And, he… he is using he…her.
He himself said that he is using her!
She… she couldn’t believe her ears.
All those sweet words he told her in these few days, all those promises…
They are nothing but empty and fake!
Kiara started sobbing as she clamped her hands on her mouth. All her body is shivering…. shivering to the extent that one could literally feel her agony.
Of course, a girl will be this emotional once she finds out that she lost her V¡rginity to a man who is nothing but a je-rk, a betrayer.
She thought he would marry her… however…
As Kiara remembered that she broke down, now, her sobs louder and unrestrained.
She couldn’t help but feel like a total fool. A fool who was fooled over and over again without any clue of what is happening.
She felt like a loser. She felt like nothing is left in her for which she can feel proud of.
She lost her integrity by taking part in a despicable act.
She lost her respect by taking blame for which she didn’t do.
She became a cheater, a bad example in the eyes of the whole kingdom! And, what did she gain??
Nothing but this self loathe and self disgust.
In addition to that she lost her previous V¡rginity to someone who didn’t respect her at all. She did all these willingly!!
“God!! What am I going to do? I can’t even show myself to others… ever again. I will be nothing but a loser.” Kiara choked up.
Meanwhile…
“I feel sorry for her. So, that bastard really took her V¡rginity. So sad” Hailey said.
“It’s her own fault to believe him and take that step. I mean, it hasn’t even been two weeks they started getting close to each other” Charlotte said.
“He would have for-ced her. Men and their silver tongue. He must have shown all those empty promises and made her imagine the colorful, bright life that she couldn’t help but devote herself” Eliina said.
Meanwhile, Brina is standing quiet. She couldn’t help but remember her past.
Though she and Nickolas got engaged and have known each other for years, she never crossed that line. Besides this, he didn’t for-ce her as well.
Fortunately, she never felt that he was the right one for her, though they had a smooth relationship. It was her primary instinct and she felt that spark only after meeting Louis.
He made her feel all those emotions despite the short time they spent, compared to her long years with Nickolas.
Maybe Kiara never thought about these because she is so desperate to meet her family’s expectations and elevate her position as an ideal lady.
“We should help her, guys. At Least she swam out of that fantasy world. She still has some reality left in her and let’s see how she will utilise it.” Brina said.
“Elle, make a call to her. Let’s talk to her” Charlotte told Eliina.
“No, let’s wait for sometime. She has to pull herself together and resolve what she wants to do next. Let’s wait till she calms down and think about it.” Brina told them.
“But it might take hours. And, if she goes back to her suite, we have to again think of a way to bring her out.” Charlotte protested.
“Char, in the situation she is in, do you think she will go back to her suite? She is overwhelmed by all those painful emotions and I am sure there is no energy left in her to think of other things now. So, let’s wait. Patience is virtue, my friend” Brina said.
Only the people who went throu-ghall that painful things know how that feeling will be. And, Brina is one of them.
__________
After long moments of waiting, Kiara at last cooled down and she seems like she started giving a thought of what to do next.
And, it is only when Brina asked Elle to call. Meanwhile, Kiara who was sitting in silence, almost jumped, startled by the ringing sound from her mobile.
Noticing that it is a private number, she could tell that it is the person who sent her this video. She is grateful to that person but also scared. Scared of what this person nee-ds from her. After all this mess that happened in her life, Kiara learned a bitter truth.
Everything that comes easily is never real. It will either disappear as fast as it came or it messes up with one’s life. And, whatever others do for you freely, does not come free as it seems.
They come with heavy consequences. So, whoever this person is, they nee-d something from her too. She could only hope that this person is not someone as bitc-hy as Olivia and as malicious as Owen.
Praying inside her heart, Kiara nervously picked the call. And, for a second no one talked. It was silent, with a lot of anxiety on both sides. Brina deliberately maintained silence.
She wants Kiara to talk, so that she can un-derstand how much she can pull this stunt.
Moreover, Brina didn’t want to drag this further. If she leaves Kiara in anticipation and anxiety, her plan might backfire. She didn’t want to risk it, especially when Olivia’s grandfather and Owen’s fiancée family is also included.
So, the sooner she can have the truthful conversation, the safer it will be.
“Why are you helping me? What gain will it bring to you, if you help me?” Kiara asked, breaking the silence.
Surprisingly she didn’t sound as pitiful as she was a few hours back. Charlotte, Hailey and Eliina are greatly surprised too.
They didn’t expect this change in Kiara.
Sometimes, the more painful the backstabbing is, the stronger they become.
Brina knows it, so she isn’t that surprised.
These painful betrayals just kick you out of your comfort zone, leaving you to decide what you want to become.
A loser or a fighter?
It is exactly what Brina wanted to find out. What does Kiara want to be?
If a loser, then she would just stop with the benefit of doubt. It will be Kiara’s own choice what to do next.
If she chose to be a fighter and retaliate back, against Owen and his family, Brina is adamant to help Kiara in getting justice and retrieving back what she lost… respect, integrity and position.
“What will you do if I can as-sure you that I can help you in getting back everything you lost? Are you ready to take that risk?” Brina asked, avoiding the questions Kiara asked.
Kiara sighed and for a brief moment she closed her eyes. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, with a new resolution and renewed vengeance encrusted in her eyes.
Kiara knows that she has nothing much left to risk. However, she didn’t want to admit her defeat without trying. She didn’t want to regret letting this chance go.
“I would love to show them that they messed with the wrong person and the Kiara they know is no more, however, what is it for you? I lost enough and I can’t gamble anymore. I have to make sure I am trusting the right person this time” Kiara said.
And, Brina smiled.
Sometimes people turn into unexpected, unpredictable new people.
“I am sure you aren’t doing this because you pity me. No one will risk to help a stranger just out of goodwill except for fools like me” Kiara bitterly laughed.
“Yes, you have been a fool till now. But, you did realize it and stepped out of it. For which you have to be thankful. And, yes, I am not doing this out of good will. No one in this world is that selfless and neither am I.” Brina said.
“You can think of this as mutual help. You have something which can help me and I have enough power and sources to sue Olivia and Owen. So, let’s make a deal” Brina said.
“What is it that you want from me? If it is something that I can afford I will give it a thought how exactly you can help me” Kiara told Brina.
“For that, we have to meet. Before we meet, I would like to place some conditions before that. Our alliance should be a secret. You should not reveal my identity till I am fine with it. And, if you backstab me, I guess you already saw how resourceful I am.” Brina said.
Yes, she knows that she is being blunt here. However, nothing is more important for her than hiding her identity.
“I am not blackmailing you, Kiara. I am being cautious. In return, I will respect your conditions as well and abide by them,if you do the same for me” Brina said.
Kiara hummed in approval. “My conditions are simple. If you get caught pulling up any stunt, you must not reveal my name. And, I don’t want anyone to know about us working together. I know I am helpless but these are things I don’t want to repeat by making the same mistake” Kiara said.
She has been trying to stay strong. Though her heart is engulfed in sorrow and she badly wants to let it out, but, after realizing everything, she even realized something important.
Never let others see your weak side. No matter how vulnerable you are, just put up a strong facade in front of others. If she have done this before, Kiara is sure Olivia wouldn’t have used her like this.
“Yes. Let’s meet. Now” Kiara said.
“Good. I will be there in a few minutes” Brina said, before ending the call.
….
“Brina, how have you been so sure Kiara will change? I honestly didn’t think she would turn out this way.” Charlotte asked. Brina laughed as she put on her trench coat.
“It’s because I saw a little of myself in Kiara. She was foolish to think her love is pure. However, that ‘love’ was synthesized because of the pressure from her family. I faced a situation similar as well.”
“Because of the thing that I was engaged to Nickolas, I thought it’s love and I trusted him foolishly, opening the doors of hell for my whole family. However, once we realise we are fooled, it won’t take much time to muster up all the last strength left in us to retaliate back. That few moments of the hatred we feel, will give us enough courage to follow vengeance” Brina said, her voice filled with unfathomable emotions.
“So, it’s very crucial to protect that courage in Kiara before it can extinguish from her heart, leaving her in despair” Brina explained. For her, that fire comes whenever she sees Will, her nephew who is in a coma.
“Moreover, Kiara was unyielding previously. When I saw her for the first time at the banquet, she seemed stubborn. But, she caved in because of very heavy pressure from her House”
“Yep. Previously, Kiara confessed her love to Owen but Olivia humiliated her. So, Kiara must have been reluctant to support Olivia.” Charlotte interjected.
“Exactly! And un-der the pressure from her family, she must have shunned herself from thinking critically and would have blindly followed what might give her relief from those emotional pressures from her family. Believe me, it sometimes makes people foolish because they confine themselves in their comfort zone. And, it will reveal the weakest strings of our life so that others can cash it to their advantage” Brina told Charlotte.
“Seems you know very well how it feels” Charlotte asked.
“Nope, I didn’t experience it. I saw how it feels.” Brina said.
After that, they arrived at the patio and Kiara, who saw Brina and Charlotte, was left speechless and shocked.
“Lady Brina!’ Kiara spoke out loud in shock. “Yes, it is me, my friend” Brina smiled.
“I…I didn’t expect that,” Kiara stuttered.
“Unexpected is always best” Brina chuckled. “How about we talk our terms”
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 101