The Next Chapter: Twisted Series Next Generation

Chapter 26: Camilla Larsen

"Theatrics do not suit you." My voice retorts back, a bitter taste in my throat at the notion of being coddled like a child. Perching my hands up onto my hips as I search for an escape from my childhood room. A room that has kept me trapped in the life I was bred for since birth.

The stern gaze of my father battles the exact one he passed down to me. No denying he is a large man. With his imposing figure standing in my doorway, blocking all exits.

His hand raises while he pinches the bridge of his nose, forcing down a smile. "Now I see how people dealt with my lack of humour." He muses out with a tone unfamiliar to his normally gruff one.

Remaining strong with my notion, the lack of sleep on my part begins to wither deep into my bones, reminding me of how poor of an idea it was to not indulge in a nap. "Dad-,"

"Camilla." My name sounds painful on his tongue as he takes a step towards me. "You have been overworking yourself to the bone." He trails off, sweeping his gaze over me. "That never helped your mom and put her in a horrible position. I won't let the same happen to you." Seriousness laces his tone.

"The crowning is next year, dad." Retorting back with a bargaining tone as my gaze falls to the ceiling.

"Perfect, enough time for you to get a night's sleep." He takes a strong stride in my direction, cupping my shoulders with his hands as he spins my body.

As much as I attempt to protest in a manner so unfamiliar to me, obviously his strength takes reign and he guides me to the bed like I am some sort of child.

The mattress dips underneath as my weight lands down on it, my gaze resists the urge to narrow in on him as I reassure him with my smile. "I slept on the plane."

"Sure you did." He scoffs out with a weak grin, his arms curl beneath my knees as he hoists my legs up onto the bed. His hands move to undo the laces of my heels in a gentle manner. The stern furrow of his browns soften, dispersing the wrinkles on his face as his gaze lifts to meet mine. "I really am sorry." He speaks apologetically.

My eyebrow shoots up as I tilt my head at him. "For?"

His hands halt for a moment as he sucks in a sharp breath. "Not arguing with the court more." He trails off for a moment. "I really hate the fact you have to rush into marriage."

A small sigh falls from my lips as I sit up straighter. "I told you, there is nothing for either you or mom to be sorry for."

Raising his head back up to meet my gaze, "I'm your father. One thing my job should be is ensuring your happiness."

"How would you know that I do not want to get married."

His only response is a small scoff mixed with the corner of his lip curling up in the slightest manner.

Both my eyebrows shoot up as I tilt my head at him, "What? You do not believe me"

Finishing with one shoe, he lays it down on the ground by the foot of my bed, his hands trailing back to my other foot as he continues with undoing the laces. "You've never been interested in dating. You would always raise your chin up and scoff at the sight of boys."

A flush burns my cheeks as I inch my shoulders back before reverting them to their proper posture. "I was six."

"Believe me." He chuckles out. "I am more than glad that you realized no boy was deserving of you. Now if I could only figure out how to do the same with Charlotte."

My lip fights to lift in an amused smile at his grumble. "Sorry, you get one and the other."

"Don't remind me." He murmurs out with a frown as he removes my other shoe. "You know what you did with Ana was not okay."

Tension returns to my loosened muscles as my eyebrows furrow with guilt. "She's twenty."

"She's also a famed princess. Believe me, your mother and I tried shielding her from the spotlight her entire life and even that was not enough to keep her out of the public eyes. She's the one the media knows the least about, she's the one they want."

A bitter feeling cups the inside of my throat as my hands grip the bed sheets. "I had her in a safe location."

Releasing a bitter sigh as he cups my shoulder, "The world is filled with unspeakable people. I know for the sake of her ease you did this but she needs to be safe. And with that note, you realize you aren't responsible for your siblings. Not everything needs to fall on your shoulders sweetheart."

"I did not-." Words die down in my throat as I struggle to fathom them together, I could barely recognize my mannerisms today. "Dad, you can not keep treating her like this."

His features harden as he takes a seat on the edge of my bed. "Believe me, I hate doing this to her. She's a free spirit and keeping her hidden here breaks my heart. But the media is everywhere, waiting to pounce on all of you. When you were a baby, we had to take extra precautions because some asshole tried breaking into your room. But all of your safety comes above all. I know for a fact that if she gets caught in the limelight in public abruptly that it'll be the worst reaction out of all three of you."

That was something nobody could deny. Ana developed crippling nerves and anxiety from being fashioned into the public's eye. Even as a baby, all photos of her include her crying or burying herself into my parents hold.

Out of the three of us, she hates the camera the most and despises being known as a public figure. It got so bad that she did not even go out at times. Which only indulged in the public's curiosity. She became the one people wanted to see the most, the hidden princess.

Over time she managed to overrule the horrible fear as more attention was being trailed on by my announcement as queen.

"I'm sorry." I murmur out weakly, my body tightening up as I grip the bed sheets tightly.

His features soften as he takes my hand in his and brushes a kiss over my skin to ease me. "Camilla, you don't have to be queen so early, this stress isn't good for you sweetheart-."

"No." I speak sternly, almost interrupting him. That was one thing I refused to budge on.

A couple of years ago, at a public event my mother passed out in the eyes of the people. She was immediately rushed to the hospital and I swear I had never seen my father more anxious in his entire life.

My mother had a disease called Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a heart arrhythmia.

Granted it was nothing serious, but due to the excessive work my mother was contributing to, she was duly noted to make things easier to not trigger any more events.

Which was the exact push I needed to realize my path in life. Prolonging the duration of saving my mother from a life of constant health problems due to her hectic schedule, I desperately wished to take the weight off of her shoulders.

My parents had no idea I was aware of her disease. It was supposed to be confidential to all my siblings but I had overheard. Neither of them know that medical reasons are what is making me so stern on my decision, and it needs to stay that way.

Otherwise they would be overloaded with guilt and demand I step down now.

I was a privileged girl, I lived a lavish life. So I could endure some consequences for the worth of my family.