Isabelle Langford

POV: Serena Laratje

"Princess..."

I returned Isabelle's unhappy look with a small sigh and a questioning expression, causing the corners of her mouth to drop even further if possible.

Actually, I wouldn't care for these, if I was lucky, two-dimensional characters. They were at least tolerable next to all the clichés and more than flat individuals in this story, but just as unimportant and insignificant to me.

The only exception would be the older person directly facing me.

Isabelle Langford.

The only person who remained by Odett Laratje's side, as well as Serena Laratje's, until the very end.

"Stop looking like that, Isabelle.", I grumbled after a few seconds of persistent silence.

She had been vehemently silent, only piercing me with worried glances.

Like she did even now, still.

"I have my priorities. The Laratje family isn't even listed at the end.", I confessed after a few seconds of hesitation.

The older woman was the only one who had the right to know about my further course of action.

The surprised look, which seemed almost horrified, testified once again that this was probably also bitterly necessary.

"Mother is dead. You're the only one I still care about, Isabelle."

The widened eyes became even sadder if possible.

Tears even gathered in them.

The brown eyes could no longer be seen properly. A veil of tears prevented a clear view.

"I'm not sad. Quite the opposite."

I stepped closer to my counterpart, who just towered over my shoulders, with a shallow smile. She was really delicate.

And her light brown hair is just as soft as I had imagined.

"Princess!", the older one gasped breathlessly because I was patting her head in public, however I didn't care at all.

Isabelle had learned to grow up quickly and had taken care of me exclusively after my mother.

Yet, only two years separated us.

"I will leave the Laratje family. In two years at the latest, when I am legally considered an adult.", I informed my counterpart of my further plans.

The already bullet-round eyes widened even a little more. Impressive.

"I'm coming with you!"

With a slightly raised eyebrow, I eyed the brunette, who displayed a firm voice despite her emotional state.

"That sounds less like a question."

A statement.

"I'll stay with you!"

Instead of responding to my words, Isabelle now reached for my hand, which I had slowly removed from her head.

Wasn't she upset and complaining just now about the lack of distance we were supposed to maintain in our roles, especially in public?

"I'm coming with you!"

My silence seemed to have given the wrong signals to Isabelle, as she now sounded almost panicked.

Immediately, I returned the pressure on her hand to calm her down a bit.

In fact, it seemed to work immediately, as she now held her breath and looked at me expectantly.

I inevitably felt that any wrong word would cause a storm called Isabelle to break over me.

A foolish thought.

Still, it made me smile a little.

"It's going to be tough."

No response.

"I can't guarantee we'll enjoy the same luxuries we do now. Certainly not."

She still seemed unfazed.

"I will have to remove myself from the Laratje family tree if necessary."

She didn't even flinch.

"I will then be deprived of my title of nobility."

The corners of her mouth lifted shallowly.

"In my entire life, there has only been Countess Odett Laratje and you, Princess Serena."

Her voice escaped her in a whisper, yet it was firm and sounded confident.

"Countess Odett Laratje is no more."

A fact.

"That's the reason why you are my whole world, princess."