The Crown Prince's Love
Chapter 42

"Leave this place," Randy ordered him in a stern, tone. It was the first time I had heard Randy use that tone on anyone.

John stuttered as he tried to speak, only to be yelled at again by Randy. "Leave this place!" he ordered, and John ran off, leaving me alone with Randy. Randy approached me with measured steps. With each step, I felt the intensity of his burning gaze, even in the moonless night.

The light from the library's lobby provided the only illumination, casting a sinister gleam in his eyes.

"Randy, I can..." I tried to say something to him, but he punched me in the face.

"How dare you lie to me! My parents' approval, the way you've been acting, it's all because of this, isn't it? How could you do this to me, Desmond?" He yelled at me.

"..." I stammered, knowing that nothing I said would change anything. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worry about me."

"You're sorry?" he scoffed, then grabbed the collar of my shirt. "How can you be sorry when you're dying? I thought you loved me, yet you all kept all of this from me. How could you do this to me, Desmond?" "I didn't want you to worry," I said.

"So when you're gone, and I'm all alone, I won't have to worry, right? Do you think I can keep living knowing that my boyfriend died because of me?"

"It's not because of you!" I yelled, trying to make him understand. "I don't know what happened, but your aunt and your parents are trying to replace a solution.

He let out a bitter laugh and tightened his grip on my collar. "Desmond! You all lied to me. You made me believe that my parents had agreed to let us be together, but that wasn't the reason. It's because you're going to die. How..." He paused, and I heard him sniffle. "I thought we..."

His voice broke as he let go of my collar and finally released my shirt. "Randy," I tried to touch him, but he slapped my hands away.

"Don't you dare touch me, please? You all lied to me, and then, when you're dead, I'm supposed to be happy?"

"Your parents wanted us to spend the next two months together before I die," I said.

"Don't talk to me about dying! I don't want to hear you say that ever again," his voice was deep, almost dangerous.

"I'm truly sorry, Randy. I just didn't want you to..."

"Stop saying that I'd have to worry. We're lovers, and you're supposed to tell me things like this. You shouldn't have hidden it from me."

I ran my hand through my hair, grateful that there was no one around to overhear our argument.

We were alone at the library, making it a safe place to talk, and preserving our secrets.

I moved closer to him and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry, Randy. I..."

He tried to break free from my hold, but I tightened my grip around his waist.

"Let go of me right now!" He yelled. "Desmond... I said..."

I burst into tears. "I don't know what to..." I stuttered, struggling not to cry. "I didn't keep it from you because I wanted to, but because I love you, and I knew you wouldn't be happy to learn that I'm going to..."

Randy suddenly turned around, placed his finger on my lips, and said, "Don't you dare say a word about dying," his voice softer this time. "No matter what you say, I'm not going to let you die. That's a promise," he whispered, resting his head against mine.

Both of us were panting against each other's mouths, and he leaned in to kiss me, pulling me into a hug. "I love you, and I'm not going to let you die."

"I love you too," I muttered, resting my head on his shoulder for comfort. "I'm truly sorry, Randy," I repeated.

"I'm going to make sure I set everything right," he promised.

"What do you mean by setting things right?"

"We're going to visit my parents," he declared.

Randy POV

I hissed for the umpteenth time during the car ride to the royal home. I was seething with anger at that moment and felt like I might explode if Desmond's hand hadn't been there to calm me.

His hand gently rubbed mine every time I hissed.

We exchanged no words during the ride because I was still upset with him for lying to me and keeping me in the dark. However, my anger couldn't linger for long when I knew that my parents were the root of the problem, the reason for his lies.

Today, I was determined to confront them and replace a way to prevent the curse from manifesting.

"Randy," Desmond called my name as we approached the grand gate of the royal home. I turned to face him with a stoic expression. "Are you going to stay mad at me for long?" he asked.

I scoffed and looked out of the window.

"I'm not mad at you. I'm angry at myself for not realizing what was happening, and I couldn't figure it out. Moreover, I'm mad at my parents for instructing you to lie instead of informing me about the truth. I'm just frustrated that I didn't..." I paused when I felt his hand on the side of my face.

I turned to face him, and we locked eyes for a moment, saying nothing until the driver and the guard at the front announced our arrival.

'We better get out and face my parents," I told him, and he nodded in response.

I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the car.

It had been weeks since I left home, and now, I am back. The mansion stood silent as usual, reminding me of our carefree childhood days when Desmond and I used to run around. I gazed at the fountain in front of the mansion, reminiscing about the times when Desmond and I used to play in it. Those days were long gone, and we were no longer children, now, we were struggling to make our relationship work.

Growing up was harder than I had imagined. If I could make a wish, it would be for us to stay forever young.