Penelope's POV
When we finished eating and paid the bill, I gave Felicity a long hug goodbye.
Then Mia and I hopped into the backseat of the royal car. The tension was thicker than the Queen's secret chocolate pudding.
You know that feeling when you smell smoke before the fire?
That's exactly what it felt like—sitting beside Mia as she batted her lashes and sipped her milkshake like she owned the entire country.
The English countryside blurred past the tinted windows, but every passing minute felt like a countdown to an explosion.
Mia sat cross-legged, flawless in her custom burgundy coat. Her diamond-studded nails tapped rhythmically on her phone screen, shimmering like warning signs. Her face was unreadable—but the smugness she wore was louder than a royal fanfare.
Something was off.
Felicity had barely spoken at brunch. She was nibbling her fries like they were made of glass. Chris had stormed off. And Mia… Mia had been too calm, too nice—for someone who'd just been publicly rejected.
I sighed. No music. No conversation. Just awkward silence and rising tension.
I cleared my throat. She didn't look up.
"So," I said lightly, "how long are you in town for?"
She gave me a tight smile. "A while. Depends how things… unfold."
"Hm. Mysterious," I muttered, twirling my straw.
Then I dropped the act.
"Okay, let's not play pretend. You're mad, I get it. But pretending Felicity doesn't exist? That's not just delusional—it's tragic."
She blinked slowly, then turned to me. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me," I said, folding my arms. "Christopher and Felicity are in love. So don't go there."
Mia leaned forward, brushing a curl behind her ear. "Chris and I have known each other since childhood. There's always been something between us."
"Really?" I raised a brow. "Because what I saw back there didn't scream fairytale. You practically marked your territory like a royal cat. Was that hug or a public warning?"
She gave a dry laugh. "Oh, Penelope. Sweet, naive Penelope. Love doesn't matter. Not in our world. Boys get confused. They chase the wrong girls. But in the end? They always come back to what's best for them."
She smiled sweetly. "Affection. Something you wouldn't understand—unless someone actually chose you."
Ouch. Low blow.
I smiled back, razor-sharp. "You mean like how my brother chose Felicity?"
Her face cracked—just for a second.
"What?"
"You heard me," I said calmly. "They're in love. And yeah, maybe it's messy. But it's real. You don't get to walk in here with your titles and your designer heels and try to undo that."
I narrowed my eyes. "He chose her. Wildly. Completely. Desperately. You're wasting your time."
She tilted her head. "That's sweet. But love isn't enough."
She smiled like she was announcing a coronation. "Chris will marry me. Not Felicity. That's already been decided."
I clenched my jaw. "By who? The delusion committee?"
"No. By our parents. The monarchy. His legacy. Your friend is temporary. I'm permanent."
I let out a laugh. "Permanent? You couldn't even keep his attention through brunch."
Mia narrowed her eyes. "Really? Then answer me this—does Felicity even know who Christopher really is?"
I froze.
"What are you talking about?"
She smirked. "I take it that's a no. He hasn't told her, has he?"
Silence.
Mia leaned back, victorious. "He's been playing peasant. How romantic. But once the truth comes out, her little fairytale might come with a royal heartbreak."
"You wouldn't—"
"Wouldn't what?" she cooed. "Tell her? Blackmail him? Ruin everything if he doesn't do what he's supposed to?"
I stared at her. "The right thing?"
She leaned in, voice dripping poison. "Marry me."
There it was. The royal bombshell.
"You're insane," I spat.
"I'm strategic," she replied. "This isn't about butterflies and sunset walks. This is about legacy. Power. The crown. And Christopher? He's part of that equation."
"You're going to trap him."
Mia's smile faded. "Our marriage was arranged years ago. Your friend in her thrift-store dresses and doe eyes? She's a phase. I'm the future."
"You're disgusting."
"And you're irrelevant," she said sweetly. "Don't get in my way."
"Oh honey," I said with a tight smile. "I'm already in your way. And so is Felicity."
Her eyes glittered. "Let's see how long that lasts once the truth is out."
I narrowed my eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm going to tell her," she said simply. "She deserves to know she's been kissing England's crown prince. Let's see how she handles that."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I already did," she said with a grin. "And if Christopher tries to stop me, I'll leak the story myself—make him the villain. Headlines love a scandal. Royal betrayal? That'll go viral."
"You're blackmailing him."
"Welcome to the real world, Penelope. This isn't a love story. It's chess. And I'm the queen."
I leaned in, furious. "Felicity isn't a pawn in your twisted game. She's strong. Kind. She shines without diamonds. And Chris? He may be scared, but he's not yours. His heart belongs to her. And no amount of blackmail will change that."
Mia gave a slow smile. "We'll see how much of his heart is left when I'm done with it."
I wanted to slap her.
Instead, I clenched my fists and leaned back, breathing through the fury. Christopher hadn't told Felicity yet. That much was clear. But Mia was going to use that truth as a weapon.
Not on my watch.
"You know what your problem is?" I said calmly.
"Oh, do tell," she said, feigning boredom.
"You think you're the queen in this story. But every villain does."
She smirked. "And every best friend thinks she's a fairy godmother."
I met her gaze with steel. "Maybe. But some storms don't need magic wands. Just a reason to fight."
The car pulled to a stop at the royal gates.
As we stepped out, I turned to her one last time.
"Word of advice, Mia? Don't underestimate a woman just because she wasn't born in a palace. Some queens aren't crowned—they're born that way."
We walked toward the estate in silence.
And in that moment, I knew two things:
1. Felicity needed to hear the truth—from Christopher. And soon.
2. Mia had declared war.
But what she didn't realize?
So had I.
Because no matter how messy things got…
I was going to fight for Felicity.
And for the love she didn't even realize was already hers.