Once upon a Princess (Atypical Series #1)||✔️

39. Lock me up

ALEXA
Saturday 29, December

The next morning I woke up even more confused and frustrated than the night before.

Nate was asking me to leave everything behind. My title, my family, my friends, my way of living.

I would give up my title and way of living in a heartbeat, if it meant truly living happily. But my family and royal friends; my sister and Kat, I'd miss them terribly.

"Alexa your cereal is getting soggy."

I zoned back into reality and rose my gaze to see Isabelle already staring.

With her brows knitted together in concern, and her lips pursed as she thought, I saw my mother in her than I ever saw in myself.

"I'm fine Belle," I murmured, pushing away the bowl from myself.

I was way too flustered at the moment to even eat.

"New year's day is in three days! Maybe we can plan something fun for to celebrate?"

"For who?"

She frowned before letting out a nervous chuckle, "For the royals silly, who else?"

Of course. Why'd I even think otherwise.

After deep contemplation, I finally understood why royals and non-royals never worked out.

The past few months of Nate and I sneaking around, trying to see each other had been so mentally exhausting.

We loved each other dearly, and lived for the next moment where we saw each other, but it was always short lived.
There was always a deadline, always precautions, always restrictions.

A relationship is supposed to be devoid of all restrictions; instead it should be a comfort space.

Instead of enjoying our time together for the past few months like we did so carelessly when we were at the Hartleys, we were constantly worrying about juggling our lives.

"Lex-"

"Don't call me that!" I snapped, shooting up from my seat.

Isabelle stood up immediately, her eyes wide and hands in surrender.

"I forgot, I'm not loverboy," she said, with an chuckle.  The laugh was dry, and humorless.

She was upset about something.

"Do you remember when you started going by Alexa?" Isabelle asked suddenly, she lowered her hands to grip the chair handles.

I lifted a shoulder nonchalantly, "Not sure, when I was like six?"

She stepped closer to me, her gaze still lowered as well as her tone , "Right. And do you remember what I called you before then?"

I crossed my arms and gave her an incredulous look, "Anything before the age of five was a blur."

She finally lifted her head, and her eyes met mine, "I remember. I called you Lex first. Way before you were known as Alexa, way before loverboy."

She paused, staring at me expectantly, as if I was supposed to suddenly recall this surprising memory. It was a blank.

"I really don't remember that, even if I did..." I trailed off, as I tried to think of the nicest way possible to ask for the correlation of the topic.

"The point is," She started, with a sigh.

"I know you love Nate, and I'm happy that you're happy with him. But... Alexa, it's self-destructing to be lying to yourself that the relationship would work. You and I have tried to persuade dad, it didn't work. And you trying to balance the palace life and Nate isn't healthy."