Replaced by a True Prince, Your Failure Means Nothing Chapter 02

Replaced by a True Prince, Your Failure Means Nothing Chapter 02

I sent my live location straight into the group chat.

“You guys free? I’m at Haven State University.”

The chat went dead silent instantly.

Ten minutes later, a shadow fell over me. I lifted my head to see Joren and Maren standing in front of me.

Joren’s gaze swept over me once. If he’d bothered to look closer, he would’ve recognized we’d crossed paths barely an hour earlier. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh.

“You’re impossible,” he sighed. “Come on, princess. Let’s get you something to eat.”

Maren still clutched the red rose bouquet against her chest. She looped her arm through mine immediately.

“Wynne, you rushed all the way here just to see me, didn’t you?”

Joren heard her and scoffed from up ahead.

“See you? She’s obviously here for me.”

Maren huffed, shoving the bouquet into my arms, then darted forward like she planned to swat his shoulder.

“Liar. Wynne came to see me”

They laughed and sprinted ahead of me, just like they had every evening after school. They’d glance back over their shoulders as they pulled further away.

“Hurry up, Wynne! We’ll wait for you up front!”

They had been so good to me for so many years.

Could they really have betrayed me?

Even after watching everything play out firsthand, some dumb, tiny part of me still clung to hope.

I zoned out, and a rose thorn thorn pricked my palm.

I stared at the thin line of blood welling up on my skin. Minutes earlier, they’d held this exact bouquet while kissing each other without a care.

A sharp wave of nausea crashed over me. I doubled over, dry-heaving.

By the time I steadied myself, they’d already walked far ahead.

I stood frozen, trying to pinpoint when everything shifted. No matter who latched onto my arm first, they always wound up clinging to each other, leaving me trailing alone at the back.

I suddenly remembered what a friend had once told me.

Someone who loved you wouldn’t keep walking ahead and leave you behind.

I laughed hollowly to myself.

I’d signed up for the summer pre-college program just to stay close to them. I’d set up a flower stand to earn money for their graduation gifts.

All I got in return was watching my boyfriend and my best friend fall for each other right in front of my eyes.

We reached the campus entrance, and another student waved them down.

“Heard you two finally made it official! Congrats! Everyone knew you were a couple long before you admitted it.”

Their easy grins froze solid on their faces. Joren glanced at me, his jaw tight.

“They just love dumb jokes. Don’t let it get to you.”

Maren stared at her sneakers, too embarrassed to speak.

I’d known them for nearly fifteen years.

I knew exactly what they looked like when they lied. Every time I’d caught them lying before, I’d forced a smile, rambled about random nonsense to smooth things over, covered for them without hesitation.

This time, I only nodded once, no extra words.

Afraid I’d overthink their connection, they kept forced distance between each other the whole walk to the diner. Mid-meal, the group chat pinged. A message from Maren flashed on screen, only for her to delete it a split second afterward.

Maren: [How long’s she gonna stick around? Today’s our first official day dating! Our alone time’s totally ruined now.]

Technically I was Joren’s real girlfriend, but they acted as if I was some unwanted third wheel crashing their date.

They both panicked for a second, then plastered fake calm over their faces, chattering about spots they planned to take me afterward.

I stared at the fish fillets piled onto my plate. Fifteen years, and they still couldn’t remember I was allergic to fish.

I swallowed the sharp ache burning behind my eyes and spoke flatly.

“Don’t waste your time planning anything. I already bought a train ticket home.”

Maren pulled a strained smile onto her face.

“C’mon, Wynne, you came all this way. We have to show you around campus.”

I locked eyes with her, unblinking.

“Didn’t you just say I’m ruining your alone time?”

Maren’s face paled instantly.

“I sent that by accident, Wynne, you misread it—”

I pulled my arm free from her grasp. My tone held no anger, only weary acceptance.

“You two fit together perfectly. I’m just the extra third wheel dragging you down.”

Maren’s lips trembled, tears spilled down her cheeks instantly. Joren stepped in front of her, shielding her from my gaze, brows drawn sharp.

“Maren’s just my friend. Strangers make stupid comments all the time.”

“We were busy today, but we still made time for you. And this is how you act?”

“You’re slow, Wynne. Fine. But do you have to be this unreasonable too?”

I dug my nails so hard into my palms.

Everyone had always called me slow. Teachers said I struggled to keep up with schoolwork. Kids in our neighborhood picked on me because I never stood up for myself.

Only Joren used to brush my hair back and murmur soft reassurance.

“You’re never slow to me, Wynne.”

Now he’d joined the chorus calling me stupid.

I held his gaze steady, no tremor in my voice.

“Joren, we’re breaking up.”