Threat to the Throne (BxB)

3 | Monsters Alike II

Prince "Robert's" POV

"...he's just like his brother." Those words repeated themselves in my head for basically the whole day, and they've been eating away at me very slowly. 

From the very minute they were uttered - they just stuck. Almost like when you step on gum, it just sticks. 

And I don't know what hurts more, the thought that I may have been unnecessarily rough with the boy who's name I still do not know; or the fact that someone saw fit to compare me to my "monster" of a brother. At least that's what my parents call him. An absolute monster that nearly ruined the entire family.

Now I never had a chance to truly learn what had transpired from my brother's perspective. Everything I know is based off of stories that other people told me.

I just woke up one day and I was told my brother had left - he packed his belongings and departed in the middle of the night, and I never fully understood why.

From everything everyone has told me, he apparently bullied this other classmate of his for years. He insulted the poor boy, made fun of him when he was with his friends, I even heard that he once got physical with him - and that automatically tarnished his reputation, which is why I'm here now.

See, the initial plan was for the Princess to marry my brother Joshua. However, when Joshua had his entire bullying scandal, our parents turned their backs on him, and he was immediately replaced with me. 

I wasn't supposed to be the Prince - he was, but now I am and I don't know whether I'll ever forgive him for leaving me. 

Joshua and I were very close before he left. He knew that I never wanted the life of being placed on a pedestal - like the royal family, but his departure landed me there. He knew that I appreciated a simple life, with real people, who I have real bonds with - but I guess he just didn't care. 

So from there onwards, I was subjected to a lot of rules and conditions by my parents, all in the name of making me "the best version" of myself. 

For many years I believed that they had my best interest at heart, but now I realize that they were just trying to push the boundaries of perfection with me - seeing as I was their last key to officially becoming members of the Quinns royal family. They've always wanted to be royals...

"Sir, we've arrived" the gentleman who fetched me from school said, interrupting my mental rant.

I had been so preoccupied that I didn't even realize that we had arrived, "Yeah, thanks."

I get out of the car and head into the palace, ready to get the day done and dusted with. But at this point, I already know that that's just wishful thinking, more especially when I see my lovely wife waiting for me by the stairs with open arms. Note the sarcasm.

"Hi Robbie," she beams "I missed you."

"Yeah, thanks?" I respond, embracing her in a very brief hug. 

"You're gonna love me after tonight" she says excitedly. "I asked Greta to make you your favorite meal. Beef stroganoff!"

Wrong, I like sloppy joes, but I decide to go with the flow "Oh cool, what's the occasion?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to show you how much I love you."

"Oh, uhm...let me head inside" I add, before side-stepping her and heading inside...

"Before you do that, your parents are waiting for you in the second floor lounge, they want to talk to you." Oh hell, I totally forgot about dad's message.

"Okay." 

Honestly, I don't think this day could get any worse. Can't my brain get at least a few minutes to rest? I think to myself before heading to the bloody lounge to meet my fate, and as soon as I open the double doors - my mood worsens.

My father is wearing the nastiest look, while my mother besides him shakes her head in disappointment at my sight.

"Sit down" my father says, gently. I don't know who he's trying to fool with that gentle voice because I know it's only a matter of time until...

"What's this I hear about you manhandling some commoner at school?" Thought so. "And all this nonsense about how you've been mistreating your wife! The Princess! The next Queen!"

Oh, so this is what they wanted to talk to me about?

"I didn't manhandle anyone" I retort.

"Is that an attitude I'm sensing?" he asks staring right at me, almost as if he were trying to look into my soul.

"No."

"Good, because I'm only gonna say this once and I won't say it again young man" he moves closer to the edge of his seat "I will not allow you to blow this much like your brother did. You will go back to that school of yours and you will apologize to whoever you hit, but right now I want you to go upstairs and tend to your wife..."

"Hell no!" I fire back, immediately shooting up from my seat in absolutely nothing short of anger.

"I wasn't asking you Robert" he warns. 

"I said no..."

"Can we all just calm down?" my mother interjects. "Demetrius, we spoke that we would be polite to the boy, and Robbie...think about the great opportunity you would be blowing if you don't make your marriage to the Princess a success..."

"And that's the issue! You don't marry someone just because marrying them brings you and your stupid family great convenience and opportunity! You marry them because you love them..."

"Well I guess you'll learn to love her, Robert" my father chips in. "I'm not gonna argue with you on this one. You will make up with your wife, and tomorrow you better apologize to that boy you've been bullying for God knows how long. We are your parents and our word is final" he adds in finality, before they excuse themselves - leaving me a seething mess.

I try to take deep breaths to calm myself, but no matter how hard I try, it just doesn't work. I had really convinced myself that this day couldn't get any worse now - and look at me now...

"Did you have a nice chat?" the source of all my problems asks. And I swear my fury skyrocketed when my eyes landed on her.

"Yeah, I just need some fresh air" I state, before leaving the lounge and the palace overall.

**********

And that everyone was the third chapter of Threat to the Throne. 

I really enjoyed writing this one because we are slowly getting an insight as to how "Robert" ended up as the Prince of the Quinns. 

We are also seeing the type of relationship he has with his parents, and I can't wait to explore that one even further. 

I hope you enjoyed this Chapter.

See you in the next one!