Page 21 of Defying the Crown
With Ella's departure, a whirlwind of emotions consumes me. Speaking to Daniel on the phone simultaneously thrills and terrifies me. Our effortless online rapport has become second nature, but the notion of hearing his voice sends my pulse skyrocketing.
Imagining myself tongue-tied and flustered fills me with dread. Concerns plague me that our virtual connection won't survive the transition to a live discussion. Insecurities and uncertainties swarm my brain, the what-ifs relentless in their assault.
Yet Ella's comforting reassurances echo in my mind, her steadfast confidence in me a beacon. I know she's correct - I can't allow anxiety to impede me, not with such a precious opportunity at stake. Inhaling deeply to compose myself, I summon Daniel's info on my phone.
My heart pounds in my chest as I stare at Daniel's contact on my phone screen, my thumb hovering over the call button. Ella's words echo in my mind, urging me to take this leap of faith. Before I can second-guess myself, I hit the button and bring the phone to my ear, my breath catching in my throat as it starts to ring.
One ring. Two. Three. With each unanswered tone, my anxiety builds, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe he's busy, or asleep, or just doesn't want to talk to me. I'm about to hang up, ready to chalk it up as a failed attempt, when suddenly...
"Hello?" Daniel's voice fills my ear, warm and slightly breathless, as if he'd rushed to answer the call.
For a moment, I'm speechless, my mind going blank at the sound of his voice. It's different than I imagined, deeper and richer, with a slight rasp that sends shivers down my spine. I clear my throat, trying to find my words.
"H-hey, Daniel," I manage, cringing at the way my voice cracks nervously. "It's Harald. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time?"
There's a pause, and for a heart-stopping second, I'm sure he's going to say yes, to politely brush me off and end the call. My fingers tighten around the phone, and I can hear my own rapid heartbeat drumming in my ears. But then I hear the smile in his voice as he replies, "No, not at all! I'm actually really glad you called. It's great to finally hear your voice." The warmth in his tone makes my chest feel light, and I release a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. It's such a relief after what feels like an eternity of texting to finally hear that genuine enthusiasm, even if my royal status still hangs between us like an invisible wall.
Relief washes over me, a giddy smile spreading across my face as Daniel's warm voice fills my ear. My heart flutters in my chest like a caged bird finally set free. "Yeah, I've been wanting to call for a while now," I admit, feeling a blush heat my cheeks as I pace nervously across my private study. "I just wasn't sure if...I mean, I didn't want to overstep or anything." The words tumble out before I can stop them, and I silently curse my royal upbringing that makes me second-guess even the simplest interactions.
Daniel lets out a soft laugh, the sound warming me from the inside out like rays of sunlight breaking through storm clouds. "Trust me, you're not overstepping," he assures me, his words carrying that hint of playful attitude I've grown so fond of. "I've been hoping you'd call, too. Texting is great and all, but there's something special about actually talking to someone, you know?" His voice has this magnetic quality to it that makes me sink deeper into my leather sofa.
"Definitely," I agree, relaxing back against the sofa cushions as the initial nervousness starts to fade away. "It's nice to put a voice to the face, so to speak."
We fall into easy conversation then, the words flowing as naturally as if we'd known each other for years rather than weeks. Daniel tells me about his day with Jayda and Caleb and a practical joke that they played on Caleb that has me laughing so hard my sides ache. In turn, I share stories from my own life, carefully editing out any mentions of my royal status. For now, I just want to be Harald - not the Crown Prince, not the heir to the throne, just a guy talking to someone he cares about.
I open up to Daniel about my childhood with Ella, sharing cherished memories of the mischief and adventures we got into as young siblings. The laughter, the inside jokes, the music we used to listen to together just to torture our father, the unbreakable bond - it all comes pouring out as I recount those carefree earlydays. But then my voice grows heavier as I describe being sent away to boarding school, ripped from the comfort and familiarity of home at such a tender age. I confess the deep loneliness that haunted me there, the anguish of realizing that no one truly wanted to know the real me hiding behind my family name and wealth. They only saw a prince, not a person. As I bare these vulnerable parts of my past to Daniel, I feel the weight of those memories lift ever so slightly, grateful to finally have someone who cares to listen.
I tell Daniel about the event I had to attend the previous night. I explain how nervous and anxious I was feeling beforehand, dreading the whole affair. But then I tell him how his encouraging words to me echoed in my mind, bolstering my resolve. I could hear his voice telling me that I was stronger than I knew, that I could handle whatever challenges came my way. And with those words of support ringing in my ears, I found the courage within myself to walk into that event with my head held high, feeling truly capable for perhaps the first time. I express to Daniel how much his belief in me has come to mean, and how grateful I am to have him in my corner.
The conversation turns to previous relationships, and as Daniel opens up to me about his past, I feel my heart break for him. His voice wavers slightly as he recounts the painful memories of his breakup with Alex, the raw emotion still evident even after all this time.
"I thought he was the one, you know?" Daniel confesses, his words heavy with the weight of his heartache. "I gave him everything - my heart, my trust, my future. And he just...threw it all away like it meant nothing."
I can hear the catch in his throat as he describes coming home to find Alex in bed with another man, the betrayal cutting him to the core. But it's when he starts talking about the aftermath that I feel my own eyes start to sting with unshed tears.
"I just...I couldn't see a way out," Daniel admits, his voice barely above a whisper. "The pain was so intense, so all-consuming, that I couldn't imagine living with it for another second. I just wanted it to end."
My chest tightens as he recounts the desperation that led him to attempt to take his own life, the hopelessness that convinced him there was no other escape from the agony of heartbreak. I want to reach through the phone and pull him into my arms, to hold him close and promise him that he'll never feel that alone again.
But even in the midst of such darkness, there were glimmers of light. Daniel's voice softens as he talks about Jayda and Caleb, the unwavering support and love they showed him in his lowest moments.
"They never gave up on me," he says, a note of wonder in his tone. "Even when I had given up on myself, they were there, holding me up and reminding me that I was loved and needed in this world."
I feel a surge of gratitude towards these two people I've never met, these guardian angels who helped guide Daniel back from the edge of despair. I make a silent vow to myself that if I'm ever lucky enough to meet them in person, I'll thank them from the bottom of my heart for being there when he needed them most.
As Daniel finishes sharing his story, I feel a wave of empathy wash over me. His strength and resilience in the face of such heartbreak is truly inspiring. I take a deep breath, steeling myself to open up about my own struggles with relationships.
"I've never really had a serious relationship," I confess, my voice soft and vulnerable. "Growing up, my social status made it nearly impossible to date. I was always worried that if I did, they would just be doing it for the money or the prestige. And even more than that, I was terrified it would get back to my father."
I pause, swallowing hard against the lump that forms in my throat at the mention of my father. Daniel waits patiently, giving me the space to gather my thoughts.
"I've never been able to come out of the closet, not publicly anyway. My father, he's...he's not exactly accepting of that kind of thing. Ella knows, of course, and she loves me just the same."
I can hear Daniel's sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I'm afraid he'll pull away, that this revelation will be too much for our fledgling connection to bear. But instead, his voice comes through, warm and understanding.
"Oh, Harald," he murmurs, his tone filled with empathy. "I'm so sorry you've had to carry that burden alone for so long. I can't even imagine how difficult that must be, feeling like you can't be your true self out of fear."
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes at his words, and I blink them back, grateful for his compassion. "It's been hard," I admit, my voice cracking slightly. "I want to come out, to live openly and honestly. But I'm terrified of what my father will do if he finds out. He's not exactly known for his tolerance or understanding."
