The Kindness of Kings

by Chelsea Ballinger

  Louie smiled at her, falling more in love with her.

  “Well, I have hope that you will get inspired again, Mina.”

  Louie arched his eye brows and smirked at her while putting his sunglasses back on. He leaned back and Mina may have not realized it then, but God had already brought her that inspiration again.

  Mina snapped out of the memory of that great day with Louie and answered Christina’s question.

  “Louie. He has one just like it.”

  Christina noticed the slight change in the way Mina said his name. It was in a way someone sung lyrics to a ballad they have created from the depths of their soul. She couldn’t hold the question in any longer.

  “So, I have a question for you.”

  “What’s up?”

  “What is going on between you and Louie?” Mina looked at her, pretending to be confused.

  “Nothing. We’re just friends, you know that.”

  “Yeah, but your friendship is way different than ours.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Have you noticed the way he looks at you?”

  “No.”

  Mina pretended to be oblivious, but deep down she knew. Every time Louie looked at her, she blushed with nerves that came soaring out of the pit of her stomach.

  “You know what?” Christina said. “I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone now. Sedgwick is still a prick. And Louie is the good guy.”

  “Alright folks, boy do we have news for you today!”

  Mina and Louie looked at the television that was airing Entertainment News.

  Reporter: Along with photos and eyewitnesses, reports confirm Prince Louie of Serenity entering the Crownbrooke Hotel late last night around 2 a.m. and exiting at 7 this morning. Sources say that the bad boy Prince was there to see famous supermodel-turned-actress Nova Black! Prince Louie and Nova Black have been known as very close friends. Could these two be rekindling things? Could Nova Black be the future Princess of Serenity? Only time will tell if the bad boy Prince will have a change of heart and become a one-woman man.

  Christina eyed Mina whose face had become pale.

  “Mina?”

  Mina cleared her throat and looked at Christina. “Yeah?”

  “You think it’s true? What they are saying about Louie and Nova Black?”

  “Um, I don’t know. Besides, you know the media will twist anything.”

  “Yeah, they will,” Christina said as she flipped the channels. “But you know Louie.”

  “Yeah… I know Louie.”

  Rumors circulated about Louie and Nova and feelings of anger circulated through Mina who felt betrayed that Louie did not tell her the truth about him and Nova. She knew she was crazy for thinking this and kept it to herself but the mix of alcohol later that night at her cottage with Louie, Bartleby, and Christina unleashed it all.

  “Hey!” They all looked at Bartleby, who was high and drunk. “Do you guys ever wonder if… Kings and Queens didn’t exist? Like what if we still had like leaders but different kinds? Like leaders that are voted or just not leaders born into leadership, you know? Like a Democracy.”

  They all laughed at him at the idea of anything less.

  “No, Bartleby. That would never happen in a million years,” Christina said.

  “Yeah, trust me, buddy if there was a way for me to not be naturally inducted into this family, I would easily find it.”

  “Would you?” Mina questioned. “It seems to me that you have it made, you know with you and Nova Black and all.”

  Louie laughed to himself.

  “Yes, we heard about you and Nova Black,” Christina said, taking a shot.

  “Why did you lie?” Mina’s sudden question caused everyone’s smiles to go blank.

  Louie squinted in confusion. “What?”

  “I asked you about Nova and you said there was nothing going on.”

  “Well, technically there wasn’t at the time, it just happened,” he shrugged. “That’s all.”

  Mina scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Typical.”

  “Typical?”

  “Yes.”

  Louie sat his drink down and sat up straight. “What is so typical about it?”

  “You… and your bad habit with women.”

  Louie’s eyes widened. “Bad habit? Are you serious right now? You’re the one that said I should start seeing people.”

  “Yes! Seeing as in dating. Aren’t you tired of sleeping with random women who see nothing but your crown?”

  “I’m so confused, why is it such a big deal that I wanted to have sex with someone? One person, Mina. I haven’t slept with anyone for a long time before that, so what the fuck is the big deal?!”

  Louie’s anger started to become heavy. The nerve of Mina to question and judge his personal affairs without admitting the truth about why she was behaving this way.

  “You don’t need to get so defensive, Louie,” Mina tried to laugh it off. “I was just trying to be a friend.”

  “No, you were trying to be an asshole. A friend? Really? What a joke.”

  Mina cocked her head in frustration. “A joke?”

  Louie got up and wiped off his clothes. “I’m out of here.”

  “Yes, run away. Like you always do.”

  Louie stopped and walked up close to her, hovering over her as she sat Indian style on the floor.

  “I run away? I think you have me confused with my brother.”

  Mina stood up and glared at him. “Don’t you dare.”

  “Don’t what?! Tell the truth. Where is Sedgwick, Mina?! He’s not here. He left! He left you here alone and didn’t look back! And you want to call the person who is still here a coward.”

  “Why are you even still here?!”

  “Why are you?!”

  Mina said nothing.

  “Oh, you can’t answer it, can you? It’s because deep down you’re hoping my brother will say screw my father and whisk you away from your hell. Well guess what? He’s not. I have tried everything my damn self to get him to come back and he is still not here, Mina.”

  Louie’s admission caused Mina’s eyes to tear up, but she clenched her fists, refusing to let them fall. “I never asked you to do that.”

  “No, but I did it! For you and for him.”

  “Why?!”

  “Because!”

  “Because what?!”

  “Mina,” Bartleby tried to stop her, seeing that his friend was going to crack, but she continued.

  “God Louie, for once in your life just tell the truth!”

  “Because it’s the only way to take away the guilt!”

  “What guilt?!”

  “The guilt of wanting what I can never have!” Everyone froze as Louie continued. “The guilt of wanting to be a good brother to Sedgwick, because he deserves that from me. But ever since the day a girl showed up in a white dress with sunflowers on it, it has been very, very difficult. And as for why I stayed? I stay for you.” Louie clutched his chest with his hands. “This shit feeling has been installed in me since I was eight years old and no matter how hard it gets, no matter how much it grows, no matter what the pain does to me. I. Stay. For. You.”

  Louie finally exhaled the breath he had been holding in and realized that he needed to say more. “And I try… I try to block it for my brother and for you, but you keep pushing me. Making me want to change and be a friend to you and the fact that you have the audacity to question my integrity after everything I have done for you just pisses me off. If I was a cruel Prince, I would probably have your ass exiled, but I’m not, Mina. As much as you may believe I used to be, I have never been a cruel human being.” He stood back and sighed. “I was just trying to block out all the pain.”

  Louie looked around at Christina whose mouth was wide open in shock and Bartleby who gazed at his friend with sympathy wanting to do nothing, but pour him a dozen shots, hoping to ease the pain and embarrassment Louie felt in that moment.

  He took another look at Mina who
se eyes were still drained of life, staring at him. He shook his head and quickly left the cottage.

  “Huh,” Christina spoke first. “Who knew?”

  “I did.” Mina and Christina both whipped their heads at Bartleby. “I mean, it’s always been obvious. Since we were kids, the guy has not only been tortured by being forsaken by his father, but also by the fact that he’s in love with the same woman his brother is.”

  Mina’s heart dropped.

  In love?

  Bartleby stood up and grabbed his bottle. “No offense to Sedgwick, but I’m rooting for the guy whose never had you, but still chooses you.” He shrugged and left the cottage.

  Mina sat on the couch while Christina took another shot.

  “Okay, we need to recap on what the hell just happened,” she said as she winced from the burning aftertaste of the alcohol.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Mina said to herself quietly.

  “How about starting with the fact as to why you went off on Louie like that? Why did you do that, Mina?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You have to know, you sounded like a jealous girlfriend. What is wrong with you?”

  “I don’t know!”

  Christina eyes widened and she raised her hands in surrender. “Okay, calm down.”

  She was almost frightened by the fear in Mina’s face whose heart was beating faster. How was she supposed to react to this?

  “Fine, I’ll leave it alone, but there is just one question I have for you Mina.”

  “What?”

  “Do you have feelings for Louie?”

  Mina couldn’t answer Christina’s question. She couldn’t do anything but figure out how she was going to apologize while avoiding the question that was in her mind since Louie’s confession. But Louie made it easier for her once she went to see him the next day hour before the ball. “Come in,” Louie announced when Mina knocked on his bedroom door.

  Louie saw her through the reflection of his tall mirror while he was buttoning up his dress shirt. He stared at her nervously for a moment then went back to buttoning. He grabbed his tie and started to tie it as she came closer.

  “Hey,” he said. “How come you’re not dressed yet?”

  “I am… I just…” she said softly and carefully. “Louie I just wanted to apologize… for last night.”

  Louie gave her a faint smile. “I’m sorry too.” He finally finished his tie and turned around, facing her. She stared at him in his tailored black suit. He looked beautiful as usual to her.

  She smiled at him. “You look nice.”

  “Thank you.” She had promised herself to avoid the question, but she felt herself wanting to know more about his affections for her.

  “Louie, we should discuss last night.” Louie shook his head and placed his hands on her arms, causing her to shiver.

  “No, no bad stuff today. This is our night. We are going to enjoy it and get those donations and forget about it because I shouldn’t have said those things last night.”

  “Which things? Which part shouldn’t you have said?” she asked quickly.

  He stared at her and found himself raising his hand to brush a strand of hair from her face. Her breathing stopped at the touch of his thumb against her cheek. “All of it.”

  Chapter 14

  The Wanted Prince

  Every member of the Republic attended the Serenity Foundation Ball. Louie and Mina had everything set right. The grand ballroom of Serenity was full of sunshine as the five chandeliers lit up, illuminating not only the room, but everyone inside. They were overwhelmed by the beauty of the décor, with dark green walls rimmed with gold and carved doves and swords intertwined. While this wasn’t the first time any of them had attended a royal function in the grand ballroom of the castle, something about tonight brought out the beauty of the famous room. Maybe it was the children from the community center there dressed up, introducing themselves to the rich, smiling in their beautiful dresses and dashing tuxes that caused even the snobbiest of socialites to turn the corners of their mouths up.

  “You throw a kick-ass party, Your Highness.” Louie glanced down and saw Jamie.

  He laughed. “Thank you, Jamie, but please do refrain from using profanity in front of the rich bastards we need money from.”

  “Got it.”

  Louie stared around the party, agreeing with Jamie that it was a success, but one thing was missing. He spotted Christina and walked up to her.

  “Christina, where is Mina?” he asked her.

  “I texted her,” Christina said. “She should be here with Jezebel in a minute.”

  “Okay,” Louie said nodding to himself.

  “You seem very nervous,” Christina grinned.

  “Yeah, I know.” He looked at her and saw that she was eyeing him with curiosity. “What?”

  “I think I’ve always known.” The slur in her voice indicated she was intoxicated. “No. I knew, I just didn’t want to believe it myself,” she laughed and shook her head. “The girl between two Princes.”

  Louie closed his eyes for a moment and opened his mouth to protest but was stopped by Christina.

  “I’m with Bartleby, though. I’m shipping Louina. Or Mouie. Lina could definitely work, but I feel like it needs more. You know some ship names just don’t work.”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Louie said, confused.

  “Don’t worry about it. The world will decide when you two get married.” She patted him on the back and smiled, walking away.

  He started to call out for her, wanting to protest a future of him and Mina but moved on once he saw Jezebel.

  “Jezebel, you look gorgeous,” Louie said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  “Why thank you my dear. You don’t look bad yourself.”

  “Where is Mina?”

  “She’s right there… looking for you.” She nodded behind him.

  Louie turned around to see a stunning Mina who shined in the Harp gown he had made for her. It fitted her body perfectly, enhancing her olive-toned skin. She wore her hair pinned up and diamond earrings Queen Serene had given her.

  “Magnificent,” Louie said out loud.

  Jezebel grinned behind him. “I agree.” She laughed to herself and walked away as Louie continued to gaze at Mina scanning the crowd until she finally found him with his eyes lingering on her as if she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his entire life, which she was. For him, she was everything from beauty to pure. She stared at him in his black tux, gold tie and gold halo crown and for the first time, she really looked at him. The crown that fit him well and brought out the man he truly was, a good man she had come to know and realize was in love with her. Yes, she had not forgotten that last part at all.

  They slowly approached each other, meeting halfway. The moment of silence lasted longer than usual and caused some of the party goers to take notice, along with the King who had always sensed an attraction between Louie and Mina. The moment of them staring each other up and down caused everyone in the ballroom to see how truly intense that attraction was. Caius shouldn’t have been bothered by this. He would gladly love for Mina to disappear by the time Sedgwick returned home and for Louie to as well, but what bothered him more was that Louie was happy. Louie was happy and a woman as enchanting as Mina was staring at him in a way any man would love to be stared at by a woman.

  “You look... amazing,” Louie told Mina.

  “Thank you. You look… amazing yourself,” Mina said, feeling that slow burning that happened when only Louie was around finally reach its peak. Her heart shuddered and she didn’t know what to make of it.

  Louie knew that feeling well, but for her it was the first time. She had never experienced this feeling with Sedgwick. It was too intense, too consuming, too enigmatic. She didn’t understand it, and she feared it. She feared the intensity in his eyes. She feared the deep love that was buried inside of Louie waiting to come out.

  “Your Highn
ess,” Mr. Henry Oliver approached them, breaking their bond. Henry Oliver was the High Regent for the Republic. His position was secondary to the King and Prince. If The King could not perform his duties due to illness, death, or because of a crime committed, and did not have a successor, or if the Prince was not of age, he would rule as a temporary King.

  Louie and Mina faced him as he bowed towards the Prince.

  Louie shook hands with Henry Oliver who was a man he respected for his work within Serenity. “Mr. Oliver Sir, I am so thankful you could make it.”

  “I would not have missed it for the world.” He glanced at Mina. “Who is this beautiful young woman?”

  “This is Ms. Mina Farren, this whole thing is her doing.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you, Sir,” Mina said, holding out her hand. Henry nodded, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on it.

  “The honor is mine. It means a lot that someone in your generation is ready to take a step in revamping Serenity.”

  “Thank you, and don’t let His Highness fool you. This was a team effort; if it weren’t for him, I don’t know if I could do it.”

  “Yes, and Louie, my guess is that you ordered the models too.”

  Louie laughed, “Yes, Sir.”

  Henry winked and patted him on the shoulder. “Nice touch. I am newly divorced.”

  “Well, enjoy your time Sir, also feel free to meet the children from the center.”

  “Now entering, His Holiness, Bishop Lee!” the Herald announced as the Bishop walked down the grand staircase in his black tux with his assistant behind him. Louie grabbed Mina by the hand and walked over to him.

  “Bishop, so glad you could make it,” Louie greeted him.

  The Bishop bowed and smiled at them. “I would not have missed it. God is smiling down on you both.”

  They thanked him for his kind words.

  “Mina, you look breathtaking.”

  “Thank you, Bishop.” She blushed and laughed nervously. “I didn’t know you knew my name.”

  “How could I forget the little girl who tagged along with the Queen when she visited the church?”

  “You remember.”