Chapter 8 (Surprise!)

Edward (POV)

How could I do that? I asked myself as I paced my room that morning. How could I even think about kiss him? I asked myself as I flopped down on the bed.

How could I think about kissing those beautiful, full, pick lips that were chapped due to his constant biting? How could I imagine running my hands through his full, curly, light brown hair? How could I think of staring into his beautiful blue/green eyes every chance I got? How dare I think about all of things when Alexios would never get the chance to?

That last sentence caused tears to spring to my eyes but I bit my bottom lips hard. I decided to hop up and shower. I grabbed a new pairs of clothes and went to my bathroom. Before anything, I looked at my gaze in the mirror. It made me cringe. The purple bags under my eyes stood strong against the paleness of my skin. My dark hair was so messed up that I wanted to hit myself. What would he ever see in me? I asked myself. I tried to ignore my reflection in the mirror as I stripped. My body still looked good though, despite my lack of food. My abs were strong and I had good muscles. Though, that wouldn't matter if I looked like a zombie from the Walking Dead.

I hopped in the shower and was out in under 20 minutes. I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. I pulled on a pair of pants that buttoned just before my bellybutton and were tight around my ankles. I slipped on a white renaissance long sleeve shirt. My sword sheath was strapped across my waist. Yes, my father was very persistent that whenever I trained, I was to look like a man from the medieval ages.

I walked out of the bathroom and jumped as Nana and Albert shouted, "Surprise!" My hand clutched my heart as I saw them each holding a gift. A smile came across my face as I walked towards them. I surprised them both by taking my presents away from them and giving them a hug.

"Thank you," I said. I felt them glance at each other before they wrapped their arms around me. I pulled back from them after a while and noticed Nana staring at me with tears dripping down her face.

"I can't believe how grown up you are," she whispered, a sob escaping her. I felt tears well in my eyes but I swallowed them own as I gathered her in my arms. Her head fit perfectly against my neck and I tried not to squish her too hard due to the baby. She sobbed again as Albert rubbed her back.

"It's alright Nan," I told her, starting a gentle motion of our bodies rocking back and forth. She shook her head feverishly, another sob escaping her.

"It won't be! How will you live? You will be king in a matter of day's how are you to survive? Where will you go?" she started mumbling more questions like a parent about to send her kid off to college. It was making me laugh. Even Albert had a smile on his lips.

"Nana," I called, stopping her blubbering. When she noticed Alert and I laughing, she smacked out chests and pouted, a blush across her cheeks as she went to wipe the tears from them.

"It's not funny!" she said, causing us to chuckle. Then her face turned serious, making my stomach drop. "Really though, Edward. What are you to do?" I shrugged at this, walking over to the window seat and sitting.

"What am I to do?" I asked myself repeating the question. I knew what she wanted to know and I didn't have an answer. With the way my father has treated me, I couldn't expect him to give me the crown as I so rightfully am able to do on my 18th birthday. Well, it technically won't even be my 18th birthday anymore. We were supposed to have the confirmation ceremony on every rightful child's 18th birthday but due to both my parents being away, (which I don't find a coincidence at all), it was postponed until this weekend. Which is four days from now. I have to plan the party, set it up, and get out the word. Though, there seems to be no point in doing so; because I knew for a fact that my father wouldn't give up his precious crown to his bastard son. "What can I do, Nan?" I finally answered, turning to face my family. "I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I don't know if father will give me the crown or if I will be banished from the kingdom or what. I highly doubt either of those things would happen but..." my gaze found the outside world again, "but we weren't expecting Alexios death either." I explained. In that moment, it all seemed to hit me. So far, I have been pushing my feelings aside, striving to just keep it all bottled up but the thought of my father turning me away or never being able to get what Alexios had always dreamed of me getting, caused me to break.

"He would be 20 today," I whispered, causing Nana to let out a distress sound. She sat beside on the window seat as I wrapped my arms around myself. I could feel the urge to cry but it never came. "He would be 20. He would have a crown. He would have made father proud and –and what am I doing?" My voice was barely there, a secret.

"You're trying your best, Edward," Albert said, causing me to flinch as he moved his way to sit beside my feet. "You are doing everything you can and –"

"Well then it isn't good enough!" I shouted suddenly, causing them both to jump. I could feel anger pouring into my veins. The thought of my father kicking me out of the castle just because I wasn't Alexios was the fucking problem. "What the fuck did I do wrong?" I asked, my breathing kicking up. "It's not fair that the one mistake I made has to break me so much!" I said, my breath coming out in short bursts. There was silence in the room as I tried to calm down.

"That wasn't your fault though, Edward –" my Nana started, before I snorted, cutting her off.

"Oh yeah, tell that to the king a queen, then maybe they'll believe you." I shook my head and turned my gaze back to the window. I tried to ignore the pitiful glances that my family was throwing me but they soon became too much. "Thank you for the birthday presents." I whispered, effectively cutting off Albert who was trying to convince me that I was not at fault. "I appreciate it but it's almost time that I go out and do my job. I have lots of paperwork that father piled on me last night. I think he knew it was my birthday."

"Are you kidding me?" Nana asked, an angry look on her face. Obviously she didn't know that he has been doing the same thing to me for the past six years.

"It's cool, it happens." I said with a sigh, wishing that they would just leave so I can be with my sorrows. "Maybe later tonight we can celebrate more. I'm pretty sure my parents won't be here. Probably fucking their next one-night stand."

"Edward!" The both said, startled at my comment. I shrugged.

"It's not like I don't know what's going on guys. I'm not 10 anymore."

My Nana looked like she was about to burst into tears again.

I'm so sorry for the short chapter but I wasn't too sure if you guys would like it! I am not a huge fan at opening up Edward too much to his family but I thought it was a little necessary to show you guys how close they all were. (I may change it when I edit this story later on.) Don't worry, I will also make the next chapter have Edward so keep waiting!

Please don't forget to leave me a comment on any mistakes or how well you like this story! It means a whole lot! P.S. I have almost 400 reads! Thank you! (1273)