112. Public Feelings 2.

[Claire]
I couldn't hide my shock as I looked at the television screen, all eyes and all ears.
I couldn't believe my ears, why was Luke doing this, he could get in great trouble just for saying all of that.
I had always imagined the day he would tell the whole world about me but I never imagined that it would be this soon or this way.
At first I was only thinking about myself but now I was genuinely thinking about him and suddenly, I didn't feel so good.
"Why is he doing this, he has to stop, please Doctor, get someone to stop him."
"Why?" The doctor asked. "He's trying to make things right with you, you've regained your memory so you must know how much you mean to him." He added.
"Of course I know that and see, he means to me just as much, I don't want him getting hurt, you and I both know that this will not turn out well." I was already crying.
"He has to do this, Claire." The doctor held my hand as I reached for my phone.
"What do you mean, he's hurting himself." I argued.
"And you think he doesn't know that?" He asked. "It's his choice Claire, he chose to do this, a time will come in every man's life when he will have to choose his own part, Prince Luke is at the point in his life and he's choosing his own part." He told me.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" I yelled at him and snatched my hand from his. "Just fold my arms and look as he brings on more trouble for himself?"
"Yes and that is the truth of the matter, you can either be with him through this or let him face it all alone but either way, it does not change the fact that he is doing the right thing for his future."
"What will happen if the people rebel against his reign, his father just abdicated the throne to him, he didn't even stop to think if I'd want to be with him now."
"Trust me, the people will love an honest King who believes in love and fights for it." The doctor said and then he turned gloomy. "Claire, let me tell you something so that you don't regret later in your life, you're still young, you still have a lot of years ahead of you, don't be like me and end up alone."
"I don't understand you."
"I was once in a similar situation like Luke is but I made the wrong decision, I decided to focus on my career and I let love slip away from my fingers, but thing is at that point, like you I also thought I was doing the right thing for my future. Now I am the most prestigious doctor in all of Denmark and even some parts of the world, I treat exclusive patients like celebrities and the royal families. I have more money than I could ever possibly need, but I have no one to share it all with, no wife and no children." He said sadly.
"I'm so sorry, Doctor, I didn't know, I thought you had a family, so what happened to the one you loved?" I asked, wanting to hear the rest of the story.
"by the time I was done with years and years of studying, her parents had already forced her to get married and have kids, when we met again, I didn't even mind that because I was still madly in love with her and she was too, despite the years that had passed, we both still wanted each other but then…" He paused and swallowed hard as his mouth watered. "On the night of the finalizing of her divorce, she was killed by her ex-husband and then the monster also killed himself."
"I'm so sorry, doctor."
"It's been so many years." He sniffed and wiped his eyes. "But I'll always cherish the moments we had together, that's why I want you to fight for what you want and that's why I'm proud of him, if he marries another when he clearly is still in love with you, he'll regret it for the rest of his life and so will you."
"Sorry to interrupt, um… Claire." Sophie rushed into my hospital room.
"Soph." I said and hugged her tightly.
"You remember me." She sniffed as she hugged me back tighter.
"Of course I do, I love you so much, where is Michele?"
"He had a thing, he'll be here soon." She said and then looked at the doctor nervously.
"I'm sorry, that is all, I'll be taking my leave now." He said and turned to leave the room, when he got to the door, he paused and turned back to me. "Don't forget what we talked about." He said and left.
I noticed that Sophie was playing with her fingers and then I noticed the beautiful rock on her ring finger.
"Oh my God, Soph!" I exclaimed happily.
"He proposed after my accident but I didn't start wearing the ring until today." She explained and I hugged her tighter.
"Oh my, Soph, you're getting married." I squealed.
"Yes, I'm getting married." She squealed excitedly. "Speaking of marriage, I saw Luke's interview." She said,
"I know, I just watched it now." I told her.
"Okay?" She looked at me and I frowned. "Oh, Claire, what is your answer?"
"Answer, answer to what… oh… I totally forgive him for everything and I want to get back together with him too."
"Did you not see the box he dropped on the podium?" She asked and I nodded.
"The royal family one, yes."
"Oh you can be so dumb, Claire, it's a ring box, he's basically asking you to marry him." She said and my eyes rounded in shock.
"Oh, I did not think of it that way."
"Of course you didn't." She chuckled. "That's why you have me."
"And me." Michele walked in and gave me a hug and when I hugged him back he smiled. "It's about time, belle, I'm glad you remember us now."
"Hi, we brought some flowers." Jack, Michele's boyfriend and Max, Sophie's fiance, walked in with a huge bouquet of flowers.
"Oh wow, thank you so much, they're so beautiful." I watched as Sophie blushed hard as Max pecked her on the forehead.
Michele also smiled sweetly at Jack and the two of them hugged.
My best friends were in love and happy, I really couldn't ask for more.
.
.
[Luke]
After the press conference ended, I felt very drained, it had taken a lot of guts to do what I did but I didn't regret it.
I had the King's support and I hoped that Claire would at least remember me soon after watching the interview. I talked about all our many spots and things we did together and I could only hope that they would juggle her memory.
I wanted to head straight to the hospital but the King, my father wanted to talk with me and I also wanted to talk with too.
"Father, the people love you, they will not be happy about this." I started immediately.
"They love you too, Luke and in fact, I'm sure they will love you more after your interview." He said and I smiled.
"We'll have to deal with a lot of negative press, and criticism, the ministry too, do you think they can remove our family from power because of this?" I asked him.
"Who knows, if the scandal is big enough then maybe." He replied, nonchalantly.
"Our family has ruled Denmark for generations, father, we can't let that happen, let me leave, all of this is my fault anyway, let me leave and you can keep your title." I told him.
"Once upon a time, I would have jumped at that offer." He sighed. "I guess near death experiences do give new perspectives to life, Son, we'll be fine, even if we're no longer the royal family, we have enough wealth to feed generations, we will not be affected." He told me.
"It's not that." I shook my head and looked down as tears threatened to escape from my eyes. "It's our family name, our honor, I can't believe it's all going to rot during my time."
"It doesn't matter, Luke, none of it does." He said and pulled me into a big hug.
My father might not show it but I was sure that he was affected by this as I was.
"I'm going to the hospital to see Claire." I told him and he held me by the shoulders.
"Take this." He said and shoved the box into my pocket. "There's no need to waste anymore time." He said and tapped me on the chest.
"Thank you very much, father, I love you." I said and gave him a big hug.
***
"Luke, I remember everything." Those were the first words Claire said to me the minute I walked into her room.
"What!?"