~LAYLA’~
The funeral was filled with black umbrellas and a lot of pretend crying.
It had been three days since the call... three days of global headlines on all major media site and TV stations.
THE LION OF BLACKWOOD FALLS.
END OF AN ERA.
TRAGEDY STRIKES THE HUNTINGTONS.
THE ROYAL FAMILY EXTENDS THEIR CONDOLENCES TO THE HUNTINGTONS AFTER THE PASSING OF THE DUKE OF BERKSHIRE.
We stood at the family crypt on the edge of the estate. The rain was pouring down, turning the ground to mud, but the crowd was massive. Dukes, Earls, politicians, business tycoons, everyone who wanted to be seen was here.
I stood slightly apart from the main group. I wore a simple black dress, high-necked, long-sleeved, and a wide-brimd hat with a veil that obscured my face.
I needed the veil, not to hide my tears, but to hide the fact that I wasn’t crying.
Across the open grave, Isabelle stood centre stage. She was giving the performance of a lifetime. She dabbed at her dry eyes with a lace handkerchief, leaning heavily on Julian, whose arm was in a stylish black cast hidden partially by his coat.
"My beloved father," she had sobbed during the eulogy, her voice cracking perfectly. "He was my rock, my guide. I dedicated my life to him."
I felt a hand on my lower back. Axel.
He was standing behind , holding a large black umbrella over us. He wore a black suit that fit him like armour, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. He hadn’t said a word all morning, but his presence kept grounded.
"She’s enjoying this too much," Axel murmured in a low voice that only I could hear.
"Let her have her mont," I whispered back, watching Isabelle accept the condolences of the Pri Minister. "After all, it’s what she wanted. The old will stands."
"May the Lord bless her and keep her.
May His light shine upon him and grant him peace, and may his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the rcy of God, rest in everlasting peace. An."
"An," the crowd echoed.
The priest finished his prayers. The casket, made of mahogany and covered with the Huntington crest, was gently lowered into the stone crypt.
As the ceremony ended, the mourners began to file past the family to pay their respects. Axel guided forward as we played our part and paid our respect
We stopped in front of Isabelle and Julian.
Julian looked at me with pure venom, cradling his broken wrist against his chest. But Isabelle? She looked radiant beneath her veil, despite the act she was trying to keep.
"My condolences, Aunt Isabelle," I said with a steady voice.
Isabelle stepped forward, closing the distance between us. She grabbed my hands, appearing to the world like a grieving aunt comforting her niece.
"Thank you, Layla," she said loudly for the benefit of the onlookers. "And I’m sorry your ti with him was so short."
She leaned in close, her cheek brushing against mine in a false embrace. Then, her voice dropped to a poisonous whisper.
"You see?" she hissed against my ear. "You were never really one of us. You were just a tourist here, Layla. A little excursion. But the holiday is over."
She pulled back just an inch, looking cold and triumphant. "Go back to your country," she whispered. "Take your little mories and leave my estate. You never belonged here, and you never will."
She pulled back completely, dabbing her eyes again. "Safe travels, dear."
I didn’t flinch or respond to her gloat. I just nodded slowly. "Goodbye, Isabelle."
I turned away, Axel’s hand instantly finding my waist to guide through the mud.
As we moved toward the cars, a figure separated from the mass of mourners and intercepted us.
It was Prince Leopold.
He looked devastating in black, rain droplets clinging to his wool coat. He ignored the rest of the crowd and ca straight to .
Axel shifted slightly, angling his body between the Prince and , but Leo stopped a respectful distance away.
"Layla," Leo said softly. "I am so incredibly sorry. I know you only found him recently... to lose him so soon is a cruelty."
I lifted my veil slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness. It happened very fast."
"Too fast," Leo said, his blue eyes searching mine. He lowered his voice. "I want you to know if you need anything, I an anything at all, a place to stay away from them..." He glanced disdainfully at Isabelle. "My estate in Surrey is empty. It’s yours if you want it. You shouldn’t be alone right now."
It was a kind offer, a generous offer.
Axel’s grip tightened on my waist, his jaw setting hard.
"We appreciate the gesture, Your Highness," I said gently, cutting off whatever Axel was about to say. "But we will be travelling back."
Leo’s expression fell slightly. "Back to the States?"
"Yes," I lied smoothly. "There is nothing left for here."
Leo nodded, looking genuinely disappointed. "I see. Well, if you ever decide to return to this part of the world, hit up."
He took my gloved hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed it. Then, with a curt nod to Axel, he walked away, disappearing into the sea of umbrellas.
"Traveling back," Axel repeated under his breath as we walked away. "Nice touch."
"Well, we are going back, aren’t we?" I murmured.
We got to the waiting SUV, and as soon as we got in and the heavy doors thudded shut, the noise of the rain and the view of the cetery faded away. Suddenly, silence surrounded us.
Axel pulled his phone out. He had been waiting for a notification for the last hour.
"Well?" I asked, my heart suddenly hamring against my ribs. "Any update?"
Axel looked at the screen, and a small smile touched the corner of his lips. It was the first real smile I’d seen in days.
He turned the phone toward .
It was a text ssage from Tye.
"THE EAGLE HAS LANDED. VITALS STABLE. SECURE FACILITY ALPHA REACHED."
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