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phoenixrising0308 · 2 years

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The Promise: What they stole from us (b)

Books: The Royal Romance 1

Rating: G (This rating will change due to the plot as the story progresses)

Pairing: Liam & Jessica (MC)

This week’s wackydrabbles takes a serious turn with this miniseries that complements my ongoing series The Promise. The prompt is “ ...how about once more -- for good luck! ”

Series Playlist

Detailed disclaimer

Catch me here

A/N #1: Leo dances with a suitor

A/N #2: Applewood revisited in the Agent Phoenix: Forged In Fire A/U canon divergent series.

A/N#3: In my HC Liam is a lefty and this is a rare trait only 8% to 9% of the worlds population share. I’m sure that I am not the only author nor the last that would HC this trait. I can only hope that my attention to this detail differs from theirs and offers something to the story.

Word Count: 1,600 *As always, forgive my typos and grammatical errors.*

Reading time: 8 minutes

*I suppose you can read this on its own but the story below is related to the promise as a whole. Once completed part four will pick up. This story is central to the plot *also this story has been in my drafts for two years so I wanted to give it its own moment so consider this a story within a story*

Applewood- Dinner

Jessica sat at her table pushing around roasted wild duck with an apple on her plate as she occasionally looked up to watch Liam dance with Kiara. Her house ring an Owl covered in black and white diamonds glimmer as she wrapped her arms around his neck then leaned in to whisper his and leaving red lipstick stain on the side of Liams face he seemed unaware of. Kiara made eye contact with Jessica and smirked as she continued to dance.

'Why am I here? He is humoring me because his best friend brought me over. You tried there was nothing there...at least for him. Be grateful you saw a bunch of new places, met new people, and learned new things. In few weeks you get to go home and put this all behind you.'

The thought felt heavy in the pit of her stomach. Jessica got up from her chair. “I lost my appetite. I'm gonna go up to my room and maybe eat a pop tart later.”

Drake chewed on his duck and swallowed with an accusing glare. “You have fucken pop tarts and said nothing!? I'm eating a duck with an apple up its ass, and you had pop tarts?”

She shrugged, “I would share, but you took the whole box from the last care package. You can have my S'mores pop tarts.”

“Garcia, stop fucking around with me. I want the strawberry unfrosted.”

“Fine, I will share SOME of my pop tarts with you. Hana, will you cover for me? Tell Bertrand my stomach hurts, or better yet, tell him I have some female affliction, so he gets all weird and doesn't bother me AT ALL.”

Hana looked around at the table of suitors and sighed. “Jessica, will you come back?”

Jessica sighed, feeling bad but just not able to fake her reluctance to all of this anymore.

“Hana, I'm not too sure. I will text you if I'm staying up there.”

Hana gave Jessica a saddened expression.

Penelope noticed the conversation and picked up her phone, and began to text. Then shouted from across the room, “Hana, come sit next to me.”

Hana looked opposed to it as she glanced back at Jessica with the same sad expression.

Jessica took one look at Liam on the dance floor and sighed before making her way to exit, bypassing the head table.

“Lady Jessica.” A loud voice called out to her that was similar to Liams.

She turned and gave an automatic curtsy, “Your Royal Highness.”

“Nope, you already greeted me. So it's Sir." He secretly thought, 'No, you didn't. Correct me; I'm wrong. Liam doesn't need someone that won't challenge authority.'

Jessica responded. “Actually, no, I haven't. So the greeting is correct.”

Leo looked at Jessica for a few moments. “So, you are correcting ME? A senior member of the royal family.” 'Say yes. Don't back peddle. My Father will walk all over Liam. I will need you to stand up for him as well as yourself.'

Jessica cooly responded, “Yes, I am. When you're wrong, you're wrong. Sorry.”

Leo gave her a pleased smile. “I was hoping to steal a moment of your time… For a dance.”

Jessica glanced at the dance floor and quickly looked back, trying to avoid watching

Liam dance with Kiara, then said, “I was just headed to my room.”

“Just one dance.” Leo extended his hand. Jessica took a deep breath and took it. He led them to the middle of the dance floor.

“So, Lady Jessica-”

Jessica gave Leo a warm smile. “Please, just Jessie.”

“Very well, Jessie. I have a few questions for you.”

Jessica eyes got wide, “Okay-”

“Jessie, these events are designed for Liam to get to know you. But do you think you know Liam?”

Jessica bit her lip and said, “I do.”

Leo nodded his head, “Let's test that knowledge, shall we?”

“Sure, shoot”

“Favorite music.”

“Liam loves American crooner music, something I know all about because my Father loved that kind of music.”

“Liam's favorite color?”

“To the world, he favors Cordonian blue, and although he does like it ...He prefers navy. Which is also my favorite color.” Jessica closed her eyes and trailed off. "He looks great in a navy suit. He wore one on Tuesday and -”

Leo laughed. “Okay, next question. What's Liam's favorite book?”

Jessica “You know I was expecting something Shakespearean, but his favorite book is 'The Old man by the Sea.'”

“Have you read it?”

“On the ride here. I wanted to share my thoughts on it with him.”

Leo quirked a brow. “Interesting, yet another thing you did for the sake of getting to know my brother?”

“It came highly recommended. And Drake was really into his book, 'Gunsberry potato peel pie society' so I had no one to talk to.”

Leo gave a hearty chuckle.” Drake and romance novels; I will never get it. Okay, next question. What's Liam's biggest pet peeve?”

“Pens without caps.”

“Very good. He is so uptight about pens.”

Jessica continued, “Yeah, he writes with a Montblanc fineliner point pen. It caught my eye when I noticed he was a lefty. Only 10% of the world's population is left-handed”

Leo raised a brow and thought 'Geezus, Liam she really is perfect for you.'

Jessica continued “Anyway, I mean it's an $800.00 pen; I looked it up. I guess if I spent that much money on a pen, I would be obsessed with it too. God, his handwriting is impeccable. No man's handwriting should be that neat. I'm jealous.”

Leo could notice her eyes wandering around the dancefloor. Jessica gave Leo a soft smile, then said, “I know all the suitors get fresh flowers every day with a personalized card in the morning. I love how he writes my name and signs his own. I like to trace his L's and J's with my fingertip sometimes… Okay, all the time. Sorry I know that's weird.”

Leo smiled softly, 'They don't get daily floral arrangements, and you're the only one with handwritten notes.' “So, as you know, Liam's days are filled with matters of the Crown, and his day starts at-”

Jessica interrupted, “5:45 AM. He is running around the palace grounds with Drake.”

“Why are you up so early?”

Jessica blushed and mumbled, “No particular reason. I'm just up.”

“Well, If I didn't know any better, I would think you are trying to catch a glimpse of my little brother.” He smirked as she averted her eyes.

Jessica sheepishly smiled as she responded, “Maybe.”

Leo pursed his lips. “Interesting.”

“Next question, please.”

Liam began to dance with Penelope and Jessica said, “Songs over.” Her eyes became glossy and she looked as if she would burst into tears.

“Well, I’m not done. Give me one more dance”

Jessica snapped back “I am. Why dance with me when clearly I’m no one. You got other girls here from classier places. Their rooms are bigger than my block, nothing special, nothing to offer your brother just commoner Jessica, completely opposite of what your brother is looking for.”

Leo responded “Jessie, I have never taken the time to talk to any other suitor. If you don’t think you're special then let me clear this up for you… YOU ARE. I know more about you than anyone else here. I know your hopes and dreams, quirks, and dislikes, Wonder why that is? SO ...how about once more -- for good luck! I will make this dance worth it for you I promise.”

Jessica took a shaky breath and said, “Alright.”

“What is your favorite thing about my brother?”

Jessica gave Leo a glowing smile. “God, everything. I love the way his eyes sparkle when he gets excited about something. He wears clear contacts. One day in his library I walked in and he had these black thick-framed glasses and shoved them in a drawer when he saw me. He was squinting the whole time which was adorable. I love the sound of his laugh. And gosh, his smile...He has the most amazing smile. I could list so many things, but I'm embarrassing myself by gushing over him.”

“Actually, I like to hear that you have an affinity for HIM. Jessie, my brother will require patience and understanding. Can you do that? Can you be the person who he comes home to and who he shares his worries with?”

Jessica closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Leo, I know I don't have anything to offer compared to everyone else, and I am still trying to figure it all out. But I want to be that person for him. I want to build a life with him. One filled with love, happiness, and laughter. So his worries aren't just his; they are mine too.”

Leo could hear the sincerity in her voice; he liked her already, but her words solidified for him that Liam could have Queen and a wife.

“Liam will face opposition from the council; a lot of them are loyalists. They will come to you to persuade him to take their advice. What would you do?”

“I know that people will think I have no business in meddling governmental affairs. But I firmly believe that Liam would carefully analyze everything that's brought to the table. If the council is trying to get me to go against my husband." Jessica smiled to herself at the thought of the title, and Leo noticed. Jessica took a deep breath and said, “They have another thing coming. I would tell them to fuck off.”

Leo laughed at the statement, and Jessica did as well. He touched her shoulder and said, “Liam was right. You do have a charming laugh.”

Jessica blushed. “He said that?”

“Yes. He also said you have a great sense of humor and a smile that lights up a whole room. I agree with him.”

From the corner of Leo's eye, he saw Madeleine and Godfrey at the edge of the dance floor, with Madeleine focused on being Liam's next dance partner.

Leo got her attention back on him. “If Liam picks you, you will be our Queen. Tell me, what are you looking forward to the most?”

She instantly had the answer. “Waking up next to Liam.”

“Does Liam like dancing?”

“Yes, he does. He is so fun to dance with.”

“Trick question. No.”

Jessica quirked a brow.

He smirked at her. “Sorry. When you're wrong, you're wrong. He only likes it if those dances are with you.”

Leo gave Jessica a flawless twirl just as the music ended and let go of her hand. When she stopped, she bumped into Liam.

Liam gave her a warm smile and said, “Fancy seeing you here.” Liam grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips, “I would love to dance with you. May I?”

Jessica gave Liam a glowing smile and said, “Well, since I’m here.”

Leo smiled at Godfrey and whispered as he walked by “What brings you here your second-hand suitor daughter? One Rys has been there done that… completely uneventful.”

Godfrey’s eyes widened “You are out of line.”

Leo shrugged his shoulders and said, “Ask me if I give a fuck.”

“This will not stay this way,” Godfrey said through gritted teeth.

Leo sucked his teeth “Give it a rest Freddy. I wouldn’t want my brother with a Social Season repeat offender. I mean isn't one fall from grace good enough or is it that she is the type that's always a bridesmaid but never a bride?”

“Leo, you have always been so crass.”

“Okay, so I have nothing to lose. I think they make a lovely couple.” Leo gave Godfrey the finger and turned on his heels. He smiled at his brother and Jessica as ‘I can’t help falling in love’ played in the background the perfectly queued song he arranged with the band with timing mapped between him and Liam.

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