Royalty (Book Two)

Chapter 6

A father holds his daughter's hands for a short while, but he holds her heart forever.

I made a 360° turn to come face to face with the person I've very much expected.
God damnit! I know this is going to happen.

I am not surprised though because she has been stalking me for as long as I know. That's so clear.

"Hey." Her chocolate brown eyes glistened as she sent me a little wave, I felt Royalty become stiff by my side, I had to give her palm a light squeeze to reassure her everything is okay, I'm here for her.

"What do you want this time?" I think I am trying to keep my cool as my gaze is fixed on her, ever since the day before yesterday she told me her regrets and what she had been through. I was a tiny bit convinced.

But, it's Liz we're talking about, folks.

Her eyes were trained on Royalty just like what I expected. All of a sudden, she went down to one knee, levelling to Royalty's 115.5 cm height with a smile punched to both her cheeks. The glint in her eyes when she examines Royalty... The widening of her smile that I hope her lips would soon cut off... The regret in those brown eyes... Her emotions didn't cease to be noticed by me.

"Daddy." She looks at me while I nod curtly at her giving her a small grin, she should NOT be scared of anyone especially when that someone is her mother.

"I'm Royalty." She begins, with her palm on her chest, I know she's trying to act normal but I still notice the uneasiness in her voice.

"And I'm Elizabeth, call me Liz."

Call me mom.

"Can we leave now?" I ask with sarcasm glancing at my watch, I'm not going to fall for her facade anymore. I'm not a FOOL.

"I want to spend more time with Royalty, Rome." She snivelled. I raised my eyes to see her sad once staring right back at me, I could see my figure in those eyes, I looked into her eyes, her soul, I see nothing but honesty, regret and sadness in them. I'm hardly believing what she's saying but her eyes? Emotions? Was telling me otherwise.

"You can't keep her f-" I hissed knowing she is going to turn this into her lectures again. I gape down at my daughter to observe her, she was staring intently at Liz, her mom. I could not help but notice her pointy chin just like Liz, her small mouth and the same face Liz makes when she falls into a trance.

Damn!

I do not know if she's still scared of Liz since Liz is using that innocent, soft tone she tends to use with me. It may be working on Royalty but not with me. I've known Liz for so long, I know every damn thing about her.

''One of my mates bears Elizabeth too, but she's meanie." I couldn't help but chuckle at that, not only me but Liz. This is the first time I heard her laugh after all this while. Seems being close to Royalty brings her joy.

"But it's okay, you don't look like a meanie anymore.''

Oh God.

I swear Liz could not help the wide grin that spread on her lips and was now grinning ear to ear like she just won 'miss world'.

I scanned Royalty, I thought she was hungry, had she forgotten?

"Actually Liz, we're going to have lunch." I burst her bubbles. She finally rose to her feet, the grin disappearing from her eyes. My heart clenched when she did that but I shook my head immediately. Chanting 'I am not a fool' in my mind.

"It's okay, I don't mind if you join us." I understand the look she was sending to me so I just had to say that and for Royalty's sake. She had already fallen for her charm in a matter of milliseconds that she forgot we were heading out for lunch. The one thing that took me by surprise was that she doesn't play with her stomach.

"What do you want?" I asked her when we settled at a booth beside the window.

"Grilled leek potato salad." Royalty replies, fuming.

What again?

"Liz?" I raised an eyebrow at her, she just shrugged.

''Three plates of that with the tallest glass of orange juice each." I told the waitress. I sent her a glare when I caught her ogling hungrily at me.

"Is that all sir?" I nod.

"Ugh I should not have agreed for a takeout." Royalty thought out loud when the waitress evacuated our booth.

"So uh, Royalty what do you like? Like your hobbies?" Am I the only one that thinks Royalty's talkative trait is inherited from her mom? They are never the one comfortable with silence.

"I like spending time with daddy and I like enjoying." She spoke out. She wrinkles her forehead in confusion as Liz bursts out laughing. I have heard that countless times so it seems less funny to me. "What's so funny?"

When our food arrived, Royalty showed less interest in talking or listening to Liz, her food gained her whole attention because she was starving.

Well, typical Royalty.

"Thanks a billion, Rome." Liz thanked me as we made our way to my car. "I really appreciate spending time with her, it's hard to believe you agreed to this."

"Count yourself lucky."

"For having you and Royalty.''
I glare at her while she winks at me. Now this is the Liz I used to know, the flirty, playful Liz. I guessed well, she has partially changed but not in her bold pickup lines

"See you next time." She waves at me and spun to give Royalty an everlasting hug, something that caught her off-guard.

"Bye-bye Royalty."

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