Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 90: Rethink Your Answer

Camilla could only sit slumped on the floor as she listened to Richard explain what he was doing in her bedchamber late at night. He looked William right in the eye as the lies just rolled of his tongue - as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It left her astonished.

She tried to speak up and protest, only to have a furious Richard shout her down.

It’s ironic that I’m the one left shaking with fear when I’m actually telling the truth, she thought.

It was no use trying to explain herself. William didn’t show a flicker of concern for her or ask for her side of the story. He just listened and nodded to the poison Richard poured into his ear, expression flat and cold.

I guess William truly hates me now. Why would he ever believe me over his best friend?

She pressed her aching forehead to her knees and closed her eyes for a moment.

William would probably go directly to King Edward with what he’d just seen. She was supposed to be a precious untouched hostage, after all. But what difference did it make now if the king punished her? The combined actions of the two men in front of her had already made her feel lower than the dust. Edward Devon’s opinion hardly mattered at this point.

Camilla watched as Richard placed a hand on William’s shoulder and started guiding him towards her bedchamber door. The two of them would head back to the banquet, to drink and dance like nothing had happened.

Who cared what became of the foreign nobody?

As the two of them walked away, William glanced at her one last time over his shoulder. His face was completely blank, devoid of any recognition.

She closed her eyes again, feeling defeated.

A short, sharp noise then filled the room - the sickening sound of bone crunching against bone.

Camilla’s eyes popped open to see Richard falling to the ground, screaming and clutching his face.

She blinked slowly, not understanding what she was seeing. Had he somehow tripped and fallen?

Sprawled on the floor, Richard looked up at William, who was rubbing the knuckles of his right hand. Richard used his elbow to prop himself to a half sitting position and when he took a hand away from his face, Camilla could see blood gushing from his nose.

"William! What the hell did you do that for?" the man howled, his expression one of utter disbelief. The blood trickled down his chin and dripped onto his shirt, the drops looking almost black as they soaked into the fine green fabric.

William looked down at his friend and smiled, though his eyes burned with fury. "Oh, that. I’m just reminding you what it feels like to come off second best. You probably can’t even remember anymore since you’ve spent so long targeting women and all those weaker than you. But losing is something you’ll need to get used to again, I’m afraid."

Richard tried to scramble to a sitting position but William reacted first, pressing his boot at the base of Richard’s throat and pushing down hard. Camilla heard him gurgle slightly.

William smiled wider. "I’ve noticed you seem fond of cutting off your opponent’s breath and watching them struggle. And yet, you don’t seem to be enjoying being on the receiving end of it quite as much. A pity, really."

"What the fuck is this?" Richard rasped. "Have you run mad?"

"No, but maybe you have. How else would you explain sneaking in here and trying to violate a princess?"

"I told you! She was trying to seduce me! She told me to meet her here to speak about you-" Richard’s protest was cut off by another choked gurgle as William pressed his boot down a little harder.

"I suggest you rethink your answer, Rich. It has been a long few days and my patience is almost used up."

"It’s the truth!" Richard tried to shout. He coughed, then looked up at the prince with wide eyes, as if he were the victim in all this. "She’s just a conniving little whore. Why won’t you believe me?"

William’s smile disappeared. "Because I was standing behind the door for quite a while. I heard everything you said to her."

Richard paled.

Camilla could only stare at William, dumbfounded as her emotions warred inside her.

He’d heard? And he believed her?

Part of her was relieved that the prince finally knew the truth and she could stop hiding it from him. Another part of her wanted to sink into the ground with shame.

And a third part of her heart ached with sadness for William. He’d just heard what the man he considered his loyal friend and brother, truly thought about him. She knew how inseparable the two of them were. The betrayal would cut him deeply.

"Here’s what you’re going to do right now, Richard. You’re going to clean yourself off, pack your belongings and write a letter to king and court that you’ll be residing in your father’s estate for the foreseeable future. Because you have pressing family matters to deal to and they require your full and immediate attention." William finally lifted his boot, his tone ominously quiet. "Now, go."

"What? I can’t just up and leave the castle!" Richard was coughing and yelling at the same time. "Where the fuck do you want me to go?"

William shrugged. "Your father’s house seemed the most obvious place to me but I don’t really care. You can go to hell if you like, it makes no difference to me. The only thing that matters is that when the sun rises tomorrow, you won’t be here."

"You can’t do this! You have no right to exile me!" Richard scrambled to his feet, his nose still gushing blood. "How would you explain it to everyone?"

"I wouldn’t have to. You’ll explain it with your departure letter. So if I were you, I’d make a real effort to have it sound convincing." William’s calm tone made it sound like they were discussing something inane.

"My father is the Earl of Rhie! You can’t send me away from the court like this, you arrogant son of a bitch! The king himself will hear about what you’re doing."

"The king? Have it your way then." William threatened back. "I’m happy to tell him the truth. You think he’ll treat you any better?" His eyes narrowed. "I simply offered you safe exile out of respect for the many years of history we share. Otherwise I’ll tell my uncle about your disgraceful actions and we both know he’ll order you to hang for trying to rape a royal virgin under his protection."

Camilla saw Richard’s face turn slightly yellow as the fear crept over his face. He tried to change tactics.

"Alright I admit it. I’m sorry, I should’ve just stayed away from her. But it wasn’t all my fault! She’s been flirting with me and leading me on for months and I finally caved. You haven’t seen it, Will. But the way she acts behind your back-" Richard’s voice held a high, desperate note.

"Don’t." William held up a hand and gave Richard a weary look, then looked away. "Just don’t. All you’re doing is further embarrassing yourself with your lies. Go prepare your bags. You have a lot to pack if you’re to be gone from court before dawn."

Camilla saw the wounded look that flashed briefly across William’s face. Then it disappeared like the sun behind a cloud, replaced by cold rage.

"Goddamn it, Will. Don’t do this! We’ve been brothers all of our lives! We have fought shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield! Are you really going to throw that all away and exile me over some woman? Are you really choosing her over me?" Richard begged, trying to meet the prince’s eyes.

"I didn’t throw anything away. You did." William replied dully. "Besides, it sounds like we were never brothers. Royalty has no friends, remember?"

Richard had the decency to look down at his feet as his own words were used against him, his face turning red. The two men then looked at each other for a long moment. William finally broke the tense silence.

"Go now. Don’t make me repeat myself. This is your last chance before I change my mind and go speak to the king."

Richard shot one last pleading look at William, who refused to meet his eyes. Camilla could see him clenching his jaw, his hands balled into fists.

"You’ll regret this, Will. You will live to fucking regret this." Richard’s voice was a gruff hiss. His eyes flashed with fury.

William sighed and looked up at the ceiling as if bored. "I’m already having plenty of regrets about our friendship. Probably a whole lifetime of regrets. And yet, none of them have anything to do with that girl. Now, get out of my sight and never come back. I’d prefer not to have your death on my conscience."

Richard wiped his sleeve across his face, leaving steaks of blood. He shot William a venomous stare as he stalked out of the bedchamber, slamming the door behind him so hard that Camilla half expected it to come off its hinges.

Camilla didn’t know what to do or say next. She stayed sitting on the floor without moving a muscle.

William seemed unsure as well. He stared up at the ceiling for a while before closing his eyes and uttering a long, tired sigh. He finally turned to face her.