Chapter 71: Chapter XXXIII Day Two of Sorrows-2

"I'm doing better. More... rational," he nodded back at me. "That's good in a situation like this," I sighed at his words and brought my knees to my chest as I sat fully on the counter. "I didn't expect any of this to happen," I admitted to him, hoping that he would be a good listener. "How... did all this happen, anyway?" his brows were furrowed, revealing that he no idea what was happening. He was just pulled away from his everyday life to assist his family look for his runaway cousin. "Bartholomew and my father have never been able to see eye-to-eye and because of it, he's done some crazy things. I still don't know how yet, but my father found out and a very heated argument broke out. Eventually they said some things about me and I didn't like it, so I also got involved. We yelled back and forth and eventually Cornelius couldn't take it anymore, so he ran away," Jasper was in thought for a moment, taking off the skin of his orange. He nodded slowly. "There is no such thing as a perfect family," he told me and I could only nod in agreement. "Unfortunately," "What kind of things could possibly have trigged something of this calibre?" he said more to himself, but I decided to answer him anyway. They were family and they deserved to know. "Bartholomew vandalised my father's jet," his eyes widened and his jaw slacked, the most expression I had ever seen come out of him. "And you know how conservative my father is?" he nodded in confirmation. "I have a girlfriend," his eyes went even wider. "You're a lesbian?" "Bisexual," he nodded his head slowly, taking in the information. "Remember I had that boyfriend?" I asked, referring to Caleb. His eyes went wide and he nodded. "Ah. I understand. Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm gay," now it was my time to widen my eyes. "Whoa, okay. I did not expect that," he snickered. "You should know by now after everything you've gone through that nothing can be assumed anymore," I nodded in agreement at his wise words. "But I can understand why your father would get upset after he found out about all that," I huffed. "Yeah, but now my brother's gone," he stayed silent for a moment. "Not indefinitely. He has two wonderful siblings who he can't afford to lose," I smiled a bit at his words, although it was sadly. "I'm so sorry," he frowned at my sudden words. "For what?" "Lewis and Matilda... I can't imagine them being good siblings," he took a deep sigh and shook his head slowly, eating a few orange slices before speaking again. I finished my parfait in that time, placing next to me on the counter. "They are... harsh," was all he said, but I could see that he had a lot more to say about the subject than just that. He looked a bit uncomfortable and twiddled with his fingers, popping a few slices into his mouth. Suddenly he looked up, eyes meeting mine straight on. It startled me. "Princess?" he addressed. "You know, we are family, Jasper. You can really call me by my name," he seemed too hesitant for a bit and I understood it clearly. The paranoid Duke Piers, his father, disciplining his three children to feel shameful when not using proper titles. Although, Lewis and Matilda seemed to have strayed from their parents' teachings. "Melanie... do you think I should tell them?" I frowned a bit at the question. "That you're gay?" he nodded slowly, and I felt like an idiot for thinking they already knew. Of course he wouldn't tell them, not with the type of family he has. I hummed for a second. "I am not too sure about your siblings... or even Duke Piers but Princess Alice is a very understanding woman. She was one of the few who didn't mind it when I coloured my hair, just like the Mother Queen. Princess Alice did not stray from the Mother Queen's teaching, whilst my mother was the rebellious sibling," I answered him, not quite sure what he wanted to hear. He nodded his head in thought, brooding a bit in his own self-conscious mind. "I am sure after we find Prince Cornelius, and His Majesty calms down... you will be accepted too. There is no reality in this world where you do not end up being the rightful Queen. This country would be honoured to have someone like you, someone who is not pushed around and is far from being the stereotypical damsel in distress type of princess. You know how to stand up for yourself, and although you do have a ferocious element that might need a bit of working on, I really do respect you, Princess," he told me, but even with his tender voice, it still held a courageous element to it. It bewildered me and I was stunned in amazement. "Jasper?" he rose his head to meet mine, a bit of hesitant fear in his eyes but I could not understand why. "People do not give you enough credit. You really are amazing," his cheeks reddened a bit in embarrassment and he lowered his head. "I appreciate it a lot," he told me, a phantom of a smile taking of his features. "Thank you, Melanie,"