I tried to control myself as he lay down on the hospital bed, but i couldn't. I ran over and gave him a huge hug. "Bro... You had me so worried." I said as I enjoyed the embrace before pulled back and gently slapping him. "Don't do that again! Crazy my bro!"
Chad chuckled lightly, you could tell his energy and health was getting better. "Geez bro, calm down!"
"I was really worried about you. I almost thought you... You died..."
"Heh, ain't no one's keeping this bad boy down. I've got lives like a cat," Chad grinned proudly.
"I'm serious, bro. If you died, I don't know what I'd do... I... I..." I couldn't control the tears of fear and relief as they rolled down my cheeks, dripping off my chin and onto Chad's hand. The thought of him being dead, gone out of my life was too much for me to bear. I've never felt so vulnerable.
"Hey, hey, dude. It's OK," I felt Chad's hand on my sopping wet cheek. "I'm here, aren't I?"
I nodded but I couldn't stop crying. I laid my head on the head. I felt Chad rest his hand on my head and rub my hair. "Cmon bro don't cry! Are you ok? Bro you can't cry. You need to tell be about what happened to you!"
"I-I'm fine..." I looked up at him, my eyes red and puffy from crying. "Bro, there's so much that went on... could we wait till you're out of the hospital first?"
"Yeah, I'm still feeling a little pooped out," Chad admitted. "I feel like I could sleep for a week."
"Sure, go ahead. Rest up. I promise I'll tell you everything when you're better," I said as I dried my eyes.
"Cool," Chad yawned. "See ya when I see ya, bro."
I smiled and stayed next to him, watching him until he finally drifted off to sleep.
No one was around the hospital room when I looked around. I saw Chad fast asleep so I leaned over and seeked kissed on his cheek, before getting up to leave.
"I saw that." I jumped, thinking it was Chad.
"I-it's not what you think!" I said quickly only to find out it was Alex.
Alex was laughing. I rolled my eyes. "Alex bro! Shut up! He's trying to sleep. And no speaking of this!"
Alex patted his back. "Whatever you say so... Your Highness." He chuckled and closed the door after i walked out with him.
"I'm serious! Shut up~!" I pouted as I walked alongside him.
"You're going to have to tell him sooner or later."
"I will, when the time is right."
"Well that time better be quick, coz you're not gonna be able to get your happily ever after when you're dead."
"What do you mean?" I looked at him confusedly.
"Shawna escaped. When our paramilitary troops got to the Drake Manor, we've caught and killed everyone. Everyone except Shawna and her immediate family."
"She would never come here! That's ridiculous! She'd be killed immediately! And how are you sure that she is going to kill me! For god's sake, Alex don't joke like that."
Alex sighed. "They were unable to find her, or where she went... you'll be put on high security."
I looked at him like if he was crazy. "What about Chad though! What if they get to him! Or my parents or my sister!!"
"Which is why everything in this castle will be highly fortified and double the security. We cannot underestimate the willingness of Shawna to achieve the throne. She's just as stubborn as her old man. Rumour has it she had undergone various trainings, including stealth and infiltration. We can't afford to take any chances."
I frowned at the thought of Shawna still walking on this Earth, still plotting to take over the throne. "She's determined, I'll give her that," I muttered as I absentmindedly touched the welt on my cheek where she bitch-slapped me with her switch.
"So meanwhile that happens... how and when do you think said coronation will be? Like... do you think.. if I became king, she would be unable to achieve the throne?" I asked him hopefully thinking she would give up after.
Alex looked at me and half smiled. "I don't know... they could easily kill you and your sister. Who else would be left?"
"I don't know. I mean... Daddy only has one sister, who is Shawna's mom and my aunt. He was supposed to have another brother, but my grandmother died giving birth due to complications, and the baby was born stillborn. There's no other contender for the throne," I said. "And if there is no one from mine or Drake's family to take the throne, the next in line is probably the Duke of Nottingham, but that is worse case scenario only..."
"Well, I don't think Shawna would aim for the Duke, a person as conceited as her wouldn't even think a low level royal like him as a threat," Alex replied. "Besides your coronation won't happen until your father officially abdicates or pass away, so you're still a free man for now. Right now, your safety is the highest priority until we get rid of Shawna, so the coronation will have to take the backseat for now."
I nodded in agreement. "Honestly... I wanna go rest now, but what if they attack me while so?"
Alex chuckled. "You're getting paranoid now. Security will be on you at all times, bro!"
"Let's go catch something to eat. I remember my parents prefer to eat as a family at dinner. When is that?"
Alex looked at his phone. "Should be around 6pm, that gives you 4 hours. You should take a rest. It's been a super long day."
I nodded, fatigue finally settling in after days and days of high octane action and death riding on my back. Alex informed one of the butlers to escort me to my room to rest. As I entered, I realized that it was my childhood room, the room I spent the first few years of my life as a royal Prince. Everything was kept clean and pristine, even the toys I played when I was a toddler. It was as if I've never left.
I chuckled as I picked up a teddy bear. "You're coming with me Sheriff!" I jumped into my bed and cuddled the fluffy toy. I wish I had spent more time here, but honestly my foster parents' home was fun too.
I lay on the bed for a while, sleepiness and my tiredness finally catching up to me as I slowly fell asleep.
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