/ Istvan – FC Rob Evans
/ Both images borrowed from their Instagram
/ I own none of these images, all used with love and respect <3
/ Rings – enoirvado / Vegas view – Instagram sin1city / Quotes – all taken from Pinterest and none had credit for where they came from.
Bastien had arranged for the car to take the Queen to the Beaumont Estate. He knew he’d overstepped the professional line, when he tried to get her to go back to the Royal Apartments and talk to her husband. He knew what was going on, the young security guard stationed outside the apartments had radioed Bastien about a domestic disturbance in the Royal’s home, Teo had told Bastien that he wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but could hear the King shouting, begging the Queen to stay and try to work things out… Viktoria had snapped at Bastien, her finger trembling as she pointed in his face,
“You know nothing about it, please will you just get me a bloody car Bastien?”
He had stood awkwardly in silence beside her until the car pulled around. She had thrown her weekender in the backseat. She pulled on a large pair of Gucci sunglasses and turned to him, biting her bottom lip, softer,
“Call Drake, Bastien, please. Istvan needs his friend right now.”
Bastien was on the phone before Viktoria’s car was out of the drive,
“Drake… There’s a situation at the palace. No, no, nothing like that. But I think the King could use your counsel this afternoon, how quickly can you get here?”
—-
Viktoria curled up on the sofa, her head on Maxwell’s shoulder, sobbing her heart out as he stroked her hair. She’d arrived unannounced, interrupting Max and Penelope having brunch. Initially when she walked in, Maxwell had looked panic-stricken – was he was meant to be at a Monarchs’ Trust meeting?! He’d quickly realised that something was very wrong when he looked at Viktoria’s pale, tear-streaked face and trembling hands. He’d stood pulling her into a big hug, whispering,
“Penny, go get her a hot drink poppet…”
Penelope had nodded, eyes wide as she hurried out the room, looking back at Viktoria. With an arm around her shoulder, Maxwell had led Viktoria to the study, to the sofa, gesturing,
“Sit. What the devil’s happened little blossom?”
A wretched wailing noise had echoed through her,
“Istvan and I have split up.”
She’d gulped in a few gasps of air before her tears had started to spill again. Maxwell’s jaw had dropped, disbelieving: he’d seen them yesterday and everything was perfectly normal?! He’d pulled her in close to him, shushing her sobs as he tried to think what the hell to say next…
“What happened? It can’t be that bad surely? You guys had a big fight? You wanna stay til things cool down?“
She’d shook her head as she’d looked up at him solemnly,
“No Max, it’s over. He wants a baby…”
Maxwell had interrupted her, frowning: it was the fairy-tale romance of the century – it couldn’t possibly be over,
“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourselves – and much as you’re always welcome at House Beaumont, you’re not going make a royal baby hiding over here now, are you? Vik, I’m no expert, but things’ll happen in their own time I guess… Ok, so it’s taking a bit longer than you both expected, but when it does happen you’ll be amazing parents and…”
She’d shook her head, a brittle laugh escaping, stopping him in his tracks,
“Oh Maxwell, if only you knew… He really wants a baby and, well, I don’t. I know I should, but I just don’t. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve just walked out on my husband who I love more than anything, because I can’t stand the idea of having a family with him… How fucked up is that?”
Maxwell had exhaled a low whistle, running his hand through his wavy brown hair,
“Really? I just assumed… Never mind. Oh Viktoria, how long has this been going on? This isn’t something that’s happened over night? Why have you never spoke to me about this before?”
She’d wiped her eyes,
“How could I Maxwell? It’s too… Personal. I’ve never felt ready to be a mom, but about six months ago Istvan suggested it was time to start a family… I always thought I’d be ok with it when the time came… But I freaked out completely; we argued on and off, then we just completely avoided speaking about it for months to ‘give me time’, and then yesterday, it all came to a head… He’s so unhappy and it’s all my fault Maxwell. He’d be better off if he’d just never met me…”
—
Drake arrived at the palace as quickly as he could. He been ringing Istvan on and off since he got in the car but he was wasn’t picking up. He’d also rang Viktoria and quickly realised she was at the Beaumont’s when Penelope answered; she’d filled him in about the Queen turning up with an overnight bag and breaking her heart crying on Maxwell’s shoulder, drinking a third mug of coffee as they spoke. By the time Drake reached the palace, jogging up the stairs to the royal apartment, he was deeply concerned about the scene that would meet him when he entered. He was right to be worried. As he entered, he saw Istvan, slumped on the floor, his back against the wall with his head in his hands shaking and sobbing. As Drake crouched down beside him, placing a hand on his arm, he saw the glittering rings lying on the floor beside Istvan. Drake swallowed hard; it was worse than he’d thought,
“Hey… Hey Istvan, come on, it’ll be ok…”
His friend shook his head, unable to raise it to look at Drake, whispering,
“It’ll never be ok… She’s left me Drake… Viktoria… I know we’ve been arguing about kids, but I never thought – this… How could she leave me?”
He wrapped a strong arm around his best friend’s shoulder, clueless on what to say to ease his pain,
“We’re going to fix this. It will be ok. I promise, it will.”
—
TBC – VP 💖
