CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: ROYAL CHAMBERS

\-ARTEMIS- 

Bella had stood there dumbfounded. It had hit her quite hard, the man she had claimed to have a very good relationship with cutting off ties with her. What would the press say? What would happen when her parents found out the reason?

"This isn't the time for jokes, Jamie." She said. 

"Jokes?" He held up an icy smirk, his large hands taking off the ring she had allegedly bought to claim her privilege. 

"This belongs to you, I suppose." He opened her hands, placing the ring in it before folding it back. Her eyes narrowed as he stepped back, leaving her to realize it. 

They weren't together anymore! 

"What do you think you're doing, Jamie? Do you think you can get Artemis back? She doesn't have the slightest bit of feelings for you…"

"And so do you." 

She inhaled, unable to spit out the words she had held up in her throat. This hadn't gone the way she had planned, but she'd be good anyways. 

"Artemis doesn't care about anyone but herself. You're just getting yourself into a huge mess; you're pretty much useless anyway." She threw the ring on the floor, stomping out like a bull aiming for a red flag. 

Minutes later, I crawled out from beneath the bed. He didn't seem sad in the slightest, like it never happened. 

"You know you shouldn't have broken up with your girlfriend because of me." I let out, wearing my jumpsuit. 

"I didn't do it for you. I have had my fill of the relationship." He let out a smile. 

I couldn't see a glimmer of resentment nor an apologetic look; all I could see was a man free from his burdens. Had she been playing with his emotions after all?

"Bella and I were never a thing to begin with. We could never work out." He chuckled. 

"Let me get going before I get caught by the press." I moved towards the door, holding onto the knob. 

Even though I had resented Jamie for ruining my life, it still felt off that I had broken his relationship. I wasn't supposed to be feeling even the slightest bit of emotion for him, but here I was looking for a way to make him feel better. 

"Artemis!" Mom's voice echoed outside the door. 

"Get going. I'm not going to be held guilty if she walks in on us." He said playfully. 

"Thanks, Jamie."

Mom's red face came into view as I ran down the stairs. She stood at the end of the stairs, a glass of red wine in her hand. I could tell she was furious that I left the party at such an early time, and Alexander…

"What did you do to your sister?" Her eyebrows raised.

"I did nothing to her; I haven't seen her this morning." I stuttered. 

"Weird." She took a sip of the wine.

"What of Alexander?" 

Q

"What of him?" She snapped. "He got into a fight with some porn jerks who had come in uninvited."

"Porn jerks?"

It was strange enough to hear Alexander fighting but then Porn Jerks. The party was strictly by invitation; without an invitation, there was no way anyone would have gotten in. Dad had enforced that with his skilled bouncers, which he had booked with millions of dollars.

"Yeah, he was searching for you when the fight erupted."

"Were the cops present?" I asked, my hands trembling on the railings. 

"Yeah, your dad insisted they arrested the porn jerks. Alexander returned home with a cut on his arm; the doctor said he'll be fine." She gulped down the last drops of wine. 

"I have to go." I took to my heels.

"Freshen up, darling." Her voice echoed in the passageway. 

After a refreshing bath, I headed for the Royal Mansion. Due to the Hyperion first laws, royals weren't allowed to be treated in hospitals; it was a curse. They had well-refurbished buildings where the top tiers in the medical line ended up. Their mission—saving royals. 

As we got to the Royal Mansion, I hopped out of the car, not waiting for the driver to come down and become a chaperone. 

My breath rasp and hazy as I ran towards the entrance. The swirling heat of the wind coursing through me, beads of sweat on my forehead, my hands trembling. 

"I'm here to see Prince Alexander."

"Prince Alexander is not to be seen. He's been cut in the arms by released juveniles, pure incest, nasty bruises at his girlfriend's house party. You really don't want to see that."

I huffed, my chest aching with each word the guard let out. He had gotten into a fight all because of me, all because I had gotten all sleepy and had bounced off into a deep sleep. 

"I'm his girlfriend." I forced a smile. 

"No, you're not. His girlfriend is the heiress of the Mercedes, not some western wannabe. The guard threw me off. 

Truth be told, I wasn't in my best dressing. I had pulled out the first dress in my wardrobe, which turned out to be a Western gown worn by the nobles in the 19s, and had added shades to shut my look off completely in case of a road check.

I took my shades off, waving my hair to get that natural look. "Do I look like her now?"

"Miss Artemis, you should have said that in the first place." He opened the door. "Sir Alexander would be pleased to see you."

"I doubt that." I said beneath my breath. 

I walked into the mansion, neglecting the silence in the living room. No maid seemed to be around. Had they gone on a holiday?

"East wing," I uttered. 

Alexander had told me about being held up in the east wing whenever he grew sick or restless; the medical session had to be near. 

"Alexander!" I yelled.

"I am sorry; I wasn't there last night." I searched the rooms hoping to find Alexander. 

Abruptly, a deep growl crept into my ears. "Why are you here?"