The Crown Prince's Love
Chapter 33

Randy lay on the stretcher with his eyes closed, looking pale as if he had lost a lot of blood.

I bit my lower lip, trying not to cry upon seeing him in that state. "I'm glad he's fine. Thank you, Doctor."

She smiled at me. "It might take a few hours before he wakes up, depending on him." She informed me and then walked away, leading the team and pushing Randy to the room where he would recover.

I followed behind them but was stopped by Noah. "This is a family matter now. Even though you and Randy are best friends, I don't think our parents would want you there since you were unable to protect him." He stated and walked after the doctor.

I stood still and lowered my head.

If only he knew how important I was to Randy, then he wouldn't say things like that.

I clenched my fists, feeling powerless that I couldn't tell him to his face that Randy was my boyfriend. It frustrated me to be treated this way, and I wondered what the king and queen would think of me.

They had always admired me and treated me like their own child. When they informed me that I would be Randy's bodyguard when I turned fifteen, it was a great privilege. Now, I had failed to protect the person who meant the most to me. I held my chest, clutching it tightly as I felt the ache again and again, replaying the image of Randy being shot in my mind.

"Desmond," Ana appeared beside me and grabbed my hand. "Stop overthinking it. We should be glad that Randy is alright. I believe that's all that matters now."

I didn't say anything and continued to stare at the ground. Then, Ana began pulling my hand forward.

I raised my head to look at her, wondering where she was taking me. I realized we were following the doctor.

"What the hell are you doing?" I questioned.

She pointed ahead. "You deserve to be there, and..." She paused when we heard footsteps approaching.

It sounded like a large group of people were heading our way, and we turned to see the royal guards coming toward us.

My heart started to race when I saw the king and the queen walking among them, heading in our direction.

I tightened my grip on Ana's hand, and she glanced at me briefly before looking away.

"The king and the queen are here!" One of the guards announced, and I felt a rush of anxiety.

I quickly fell to my knees alongside Ana as the announcement was made.

"Desmond," The queen's soft voice sounded in front of me. Her words were soothing, the most comforting I had heard in a long time, aside from Randy's voice. "Raise your head, child." She instructed me.

I released Ana's hand and slowly raised my head to face her.

When my eyes met her obsidian ones, I expected to see anger, but instead, she smiled at me, crouching down to my level and rubbing my hair.

"You did your best," She told me before standing straight.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Don't thank her yet!" The king's deep voice boomed in the hallway.

My heart raced just hearing him speak, and I wished the ground would swallow me up.

"Your...," I tried to say something, but his sharp and cold eyes shut me up.

"Shut up!" His voice echoed through the hallway, followed by a deafening silence.

"You don't have a chance after failing to protect the crown prince." He informed me, and then, his hands were on my shoulders as he pulled me up from the ground.

"Follow me, boy, and you're going to tell me everything that happened to my son. If you're found guilty of not protecting him, I'll lock you up." He threatened and dragged me toward the room where Randy was taken. "Go easy on him." The queen shouted after the king, but he didn't respond as he continued to drag me away.

I stood in front of the king and the queen, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. Sonnia and Noah were also present in the room.

I wasn't afraid of Sonnia, but I couldn't say the same for Noah, who was glaring at me. The relentless beeping of the machine beside Randy's bed was the only sound in the room as they waited for me to speak. "Well," Noah broke the silence. "Aren't you going to address the fact that you failed to protect the crown prince?" Noah accused. "Noah, please. We can't place all the blame on him," The queen came to my defense and asked her question softly.

"Tell us what happened. According to the news we heard from Hilda, you two did not return to the dormitory on Sunday, and this morning, you both appeared to be in a fight. Can you explain where you were and who you encountered?" Sonnia cleared her throat and exchanged looks with me. She was the only one who knew what Randy and I meant to each other, and I hoped she wouldn't reveal it because it was the last thing Randy wanted.

If he was going to come out with the truth, I wanted it to be on his terms.

"Mum, Dad, you can't blame Desmond for this. They are both..."

"Stop trying to change the story or fabricate lies. They both broke the rules by leaving school without permission, and I'm sure Randy would never do that because he's the perfect prince who..."Noah countered Sonnia's words but was silenced by her as she shouted at him.

"Stop saying things you don't even understand. You have no idea what they mean to each other!"

I looked at her with pleading eyes, hoping she wouldn't reveal the truth, but she wasn't even looking at me.

I bit my lower lip until I tasted blood in my mouth.

If only Randy could wake up, that was my only wish at that moment.

"They're best friends!" Noah answered Sonnia's question. "Stop acting as if there's more to it! Desmond is Randy's friend and bodyguard. He should know better than to take Randy out of the school premises, endangering his life. Whoever attacked Randy must have followed them from wherever they went, and who knows if Desmond is conspiring with them against... ouch!" He screamed in pain as Sonnia stomped on his foot.

"Have you gone insane!" He yelled at her.

"You're the one jumping to conclusions and saying things that will upset Randy once he wakes up!"

"I..." Noah tried to reply, but the king cleared his throat, restoring the room to its usual silence.