Chapter Two
The rapid clack of plastic buttons echoed through the room, broken only by sudden bursts of laughter and muttered curses.
"Fuck shit!" Leo cursed as he tries to manuveur the disruption from the game.
On the velvet rug, two controllers tangled between legs and wires. The big screen lit up with explosions and digital chaos as Leo leaned forward, brows furrowed, jaw tight. His fingers moved fast, his posture tense, not the carefree kind, but like someone trying to forget something.
Desmond, lounging beside him on a beanbag, let out a frustrated groan. "Bro, you're playing like your life depends on this round."
Leo's character dodged, struck, fired. A flawless kill.
He didn't answer right away.
Then, "I can't stop thinking about it."
Desmond's character grunts. He glanced sideways. "About your dad?"
Leo nodded once, eyes fixed on the screen. "None of it makes sense. The way he died, they announced it as though... It's fucked up men. The way my mom keeps looking at me like I'm already a ghost."
Desmond lowered his controller a bit. "You're grieving. The whole kingdom is. But you? You're doing fine, man. You're just nervous. The crown's coming fast, anyone would be spiralling."
Leo snorted. "I'm not spiralling."
"You're biting your lips."
Leo looked down. "It's stress-chewing. Shut up."
Desmond grinned. "You're still doing better than I would. I'd probably be hiding under my bed with snacks."
Leo finally cracked a small smile, the first in days. "Thanks… for not being weird around me."
Desmond tilted his head. "Why would I be weird?"
"I'm not just grieving a father," Leo muttered. "I'm drowning in something else. Something no one's saying out loud. It's not just about being king, Des. There's something strange attached to being king that I definitely wouldn't want. I can feel it crawling under my skin."
Desmond was quiet for a beat. Then, "You've always overthought stuff."
Leo side-eyed him. "Oh, we're gaslighting now?"
"I'm just saying," Desmond grinned, grabbing his controller again, "maybe you just need to shoot more enemies and less existential dread."
Leo laughed, but barely.
Then, Desmond's character exploded again. He blinked. "Wait. No. No. You're cheating."
"I'm not cheating." Leo leaned back smugly, crossing one leg over the other, controller resting lazily in his lap. "You just suck."
Desmond scoffed, button-mashing furiously. "Nah, nah. No way. You're literally camping at the respawn spot, bro. That's evil."
"That's strategy," Leo said with a cocky grin. "Don't hate the player, hate the royalty."
"Don't start with that prince nonsense again."
"Why not? I've only got a few months left to rub it in before I'm legally allowed to sign your exile order."
Desmond rolled his eyes. "Try it and I'm telling the council about that time you ate an entire boar leg during a fasting ceremony."
Leo laughed. "They probably already know. The butler's snitching energy is next level."
A knock, sharp, impatient, cut through the laughter.
"We're busy!" Leo called without looking.
The door creaked open anyway.
"Leonard." The Queen's voice sliced clean through the room.
Leo paused the game, eyes flicking toward the door. "Seriously?"
"I need to speak with you."
"Can it wait?"
"No."
Desmond stood immediately, respectful. "I'll give you guys some space..."
"Oh no, not when I'm about to kill your ass." Leo interrupted. "Please mom,"
"It's important," Sabine said, stepping into the room fully now, dressed in a sleek, steel-colored gown. Her eyes locked onto Desmond. "Please."
Desmond looked from her to Leo, then quietly placed the controller down and left without another word.
The silence tightened.
"Okay," Leo muttered, tossing his controller to the couch. "What royal lecture do I get today?"
"You're almost eighteen."
"I'm aware."
"That means you will be crowned in a few months."
Leo raised a brow. "So this is the part where you finally tell me what everyone's been whispering about?"
"You were born into legacy, Leonard. The throne. The bloodline. Everything your father carried..."
"Right, except whatever 'Alpha' means." He stood. "You've been dancing around it since he died."
"You're not ready."
"I'm not ready?" Leo scoffed. "Then make me ready. Because right now I feel like the only idiot in this house who doesn't know what's going on."
The door creaked again, this time the butler appeared, expression grave. He walked to the Queen and leaned in, whispering something into her ear.
Her gaze snapped to Leo.
"What?" Leo asked.
She didn't answer right away.
"Mother."
Her lips parted, disgust curling across her features. "Are you sleeping with one of the maids?"
Leo's face stiffened.
She exhaled. "Unbelievable."
"I..."
"Don't." She raised a hand, trembling slightly. "Don't lie to me. Your father is barely buried and you're dragging your name through laundry rooms and servant quarters?"
Leo stepped forward, voice rising. "You want me to be a king? Fine. Then maybe start treating me like I'm not a damn child!"
"You are acting like a child!"
"I've been asking for answers, real answers, ever since he died, and all I get is cryptic silence! You think I'm reckless? Try being seventeen, grieving, and completely in the dark!"
"I am protecting you."
"No, you're protecting yourself from telling me the truth."
Her eyes flared. "You think this is easy for me? Do you know what's coming for you, Leonard? Do you have any idea what kind of life this really is?"
"I think you've made it terrifying enough to guess."
They stood in silence, both breathing hard.
Then, suddenly, Sabine's posture shifted.
"Fine," she said, smoothing her dress like she'd just made a decision. "You want real life? You want responsibility?"
Leo eyed her warily. "What are you..."
"You're going to school."
He blinked. "Come again?"
"A real school. Uniforms. Teachers. Structure. Normalcy."
"I've been home-schooled since Year 7."
"Exactly," she snapped. "It's time to leave your palace bubble. If you want to stop being a child and take responsibility, you'll earn it through reality, not luxury."
"You think sending me to school is going to change what I am?"
"I think it's the only thing that might prepare you for it."
"For what?" Leo asked, desperate now. "For the Alpha thing? Mom, why are you doing this?"
Her expression hardened. "You'll understand soon enough. But first... grow up. And you can start by setting your alarm."
She turned and swept out of the room without another word.
Leo stared after her.
"…Did I just get grounded with a crown on my head?"
A second later, the door creaked open again, this time much slower.
Desmond peeked in cautiously. "...Is it safe?"
Leo dropped onto the couch with a groan, dragging a hand through his hair. "Define safe."
Desmond stepped inside, eyebrows raised. "What did you do this time? She looked like she was about to hex someone."
Leo reached for his controller, paused, then sighed. "Apparently, I'm being threatened with… school."
Desmond blinked. "What?"
"Yep." Leo slumped deeper into the cushions. "An actual school. Uniforms. Teachers. Homework."
Desmond stared at him, mouth slightly open. "She's sending you to school? Like, real school? With people?"
Leo nodded slowly, still dazed. "Said I need to 'experience real life.' Said I'm not mature enough to inherit whatever the hell it is I'm supposed to be inheriting."
Desmond dropped onto the beanbag, laughing so hard he choked. "Oh no. No way. You? In a school? You're about to be king man, King of the fucking Jevenex Nation. How are you going to deal with those humans?"
Leo shot him a look. "Thanks for the support, best friend."
"No, I mean, I love this for me," Desmond said, wiping a tear from his eye. "For you? This is karma. All those years you made fun of school kids from your ivory tower? It's going to be hell for you man"
"I didn't make fun," Leo muttered.
"You did, with that boy..."
"...that was one time!"
Desmond snorted. "Still. You're not gonna survive, man."
Leo rubbed the back of his neck. "Thing is… she might actually do it. There's only one term left in the school year. She knows it wouldn't even take long. Just enough to punish me and make a point."
Desmond shook his head, still in disbelief. "She's serious then."
"Dead serious." Leo leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. "She looked at me like she'd already enrolled me."
Desmond gave a low whistle. "Damn."
They sat in silence for a few seconds.
Then Desmond said, "Well… do I get to laugh at your misery in person or what? You better pray she sends you somewhere close."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You want to be there when I crash and burn?"
"No," Desmond grinned. "I want front row seats."
Leo chuckled under his breath. "You're a terrible influence."
"Lucky for you," Desmond said, nudging his arm, "you're about to need one. We need to come up with a plan to convince her..."