Bertha drove as fast as she could all the way back to her apartment. She knew she wanted to be away from that place as fast as she could, and she could tell Zara wanted the same.
"I just can't believe the nerve on that guy. I mean, who does that Bertha?"
Zara ranted to her from across the drivers' seat.
"He was driving like a literal madman and he's blaming me for not being careful? And what's the deal with keeping the accident a secret? At least he treated me, or I would lead the police right to his doorstep and make sure they bust whatever shady business he's running."
"You really think the police would be able to do that? They looked really high profile."
"Of course. What's their job is they can't?"
At that moment, Zara's phone buzzed.
"It's that despicable demon that God has somehow given me as a half sister."
Zara shoved her phone at Bertha, who managed a quick glance at the screen.
Ariana hadn't wasted time to post a picture of herself and Collins on Pictogram, with the caption: "She thought she had it all. Who's the failure now, heiress?"
The post had already gotten 500k likes, and the few comments Bertha saw were even more degrading than the post.
The high and mighty princess has fallen.
She should just commit suicide and join her mother in the grave.
She deserved this! All cheaters deserve this.
Zara buried her face in her palms.
"What did I do to deserve this, Bertha."
Bertha placed a comforting plan on her friend's back. Everything had happened so fast that even she was in shock.
However, she knew she had to calm Zara down so they could plot their next plan of action.
While on the wheel, she couldn't help but notice a notification pop up on her phone screen, which currently displayed their way home on Imperial Maps.
"HOT TAKE: Prince Theophilus Cranhurst to end his diplomatic journey at the country's capital: Imperial City. His Arrival is scheduled to be Next month!"
Bertha arched a brow, took one look at her sobbing friend, and quickly swiped the pop-up off the screen to continue her driving.
She knew they needed to get home fast.
***
CRANHURST PALACE, THE NEXUS TERRITORY.
King Aurelia Cranhurst sat on top his golden throne. He was ensconced in regal blue and gold attire that carried the colours of his thriving kingdom. To his side was his wife, Queen Vera. Kneeled in front of them was their only son and crown heir, Prince Theophilus.
"You are to go on an ambassadorial trip to Imperial City, Theo."
King Aurelia spoke with unmatched grace.
"While you're there, you represent the Cranhurst lineage, as well as all of Nexus. It would do good if you behaved, Theo."
His father looked at him with knowing eyes, which Theo chuckled to. .
"Of course father, I understand the importance that this trip carries."
"No parties."
Aurelia commanded, and Theo looked like he'd been punched in the gut.
"No fooling around, and no women, most importantly."
"Oh let him have his fun, darling. He's worked through everything he needs to be a prince within this castle walls. His age mates are out there having fun. At least let him have some fun for once, forget about his life as a noble—"
At those words, the king stared daggers at Vera, and she immediately knew it was her cue to keep shut.
He turned his attention back to Theo.
"You'll officially make your appearance at Imperial City next month."
Theo looked up at him with a confused expression.
"Then why do I leave now, father?"
Aurelia and Vera looked at him with knowing eyes.
"I haven't been completely honest with you, son. And you'll find in due time that it's for good reason. You see. You will go there with a fake identity at first. It's for diplomatic and more importantly, security reasons."
"Imperial City has some notorious gangs and criminals. Who knows what kind of havoc would be unleashed if you were to actually arrive there in a plane on the day that was publicly announced."
Theo understood what he spoke about. The truth was that in King Aurelia's time as a prince, there had been multiple assassination attempts on him.
But Theo still needed to clear up on some details.
"So who am I going to pose as. A commoner? What's his name?"
King Aurelia looked at him with those eyes that reminded Theo of times when the king had dropped a bombshell on him without warning, like when he sent him to military school in the middle of a rough town called Franville.
Since the prince had not been publicly revealed, as was akin to the culture of the royal family for generations, nobody actually knew what he looked like or who he was. This allowed him to go to that military school with a fake identity, and it was rough, especially for a spoilt noble like himself.
Oddly enough, those were the best years of his life, and he picked up a lot of valuable skills and lessons.
Now, staring at his father from where he stood, Prince Theo wondered what it was this time.
"Son, you're currently 28 years old. Our kingdom truly, has not known better days, but there has been some diplomatic pressure on the matter of a princess."
Theo suddenly knew where this was going.
"Other capitals of other countries, like Apex and Stormholt, have been presenting their daughters for your hand in marriage, but we don't need that kind of pressure currently for you. So, I faked it that you've been married, so they'd leave us alone. Like I said, we don't need that kind of pressure, and I don't want you to marry a spoiled noble anyway."
"But, I believe that in the midst of rocks, you can find marbles. The nobles of the kingdom are too spoiled, and the commoners of Imperial City are just attention seekers who would take anything to live the good life, but a noble from Imperial City…"
Aurelia paused, giving his son a chance to unravel his master plan.
"Maybe an heiress or some rich daughter of a well-to-do entrepreneur, is a potential princess for you, my boy."
King Aurelia gestured at the yellow paper.
"Francis was the one who actually arranged for the details in the certificate of your marriage to this girl. Zara Blake, the first daughter and heiress of a powerful family, although I do hear that she is no longer part of them, maybe due to the drama this certificate caused within her family, but that's not a problem."
The king's right hand man, Francis, stepped forward and handed Theo the certificate. Theo saw a picture of himself on the yellow sheet of paper as the husband, and this girl, Zara Blake, as the wife.
The name that was written as the husband's was a name anybody could overlook as a commoner, not belonging to any rich or powerful family at all.
"Diego Vasquez".