Returning Reign

Chapter 23

Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow! It means the world. Now enjoy chapter 23 of RR!

The next morning I got ready for work on time and headed to the staff cafeteria to meet up with Lizzy. We were halfway through the week and I would need to figure out how to get another ball gown before Saturday.

"Good morning," Lizzy greets me as I sit down next to her with my breakfast.

"Good morning," I reply with my mouth full of my breakfast sandwich. I was starving this morning. The cafeteria is full with bustling staff preparing for their shift and friends catching up.

"How was work yesterday?" Lizzy asks.

"It was fine. I cleaned the crown prince's suite." I reply vaguely. I could not say Nathaniel's first name out loud because I am not supposed to know him personally. Lizzy raises her eyebrow at me and I mouth to her the word 'later.' She nods in response and we continue to eat.

"What were you up to after work yesterday?" I ask her. Lizzy's face immediately turns pink. She dabs a napkin onto her mouth trying to conceal some of her blushed face away from me.

"I hung out with a friend," she replies quickly. I look at her questioningly. This will definitely be talked about later.

"Same," I tell her.

"Will you look at that?" Lizzy stood up quickly. She points at the clock on the wall. "Its time to work!" I give her one last odd look because of her weird behavior this morning. Lizzy and I make our way towards the head maid to get assigned our jobs for the day.

"We have two days to prepare the entire palace before the guests arrive. That includes decorating the ballroom, and preparing the entire guest floor and all the bedrooms for the foreign royalty." The head maid explains to our group of maids which consisted of about twenty maids. She splits us up into two groups, one to work on the ballroom and the other to work on the guest floor.

The work day seemed to sprint by quickly today and before I knew it Lizzy and I were heading back to our bedrooms.

"Are you planning on attending the final ball this weekend?" Lizzy asks. I nod my head in response.

"I am. Nathaniel invited me himself; it would be rude not to attend." I tell her. She gasps loudly and grabs me by my hand and forces me to run after her into my room.

"What are you doing Lizzy?" I ask her as she makes herself comfortable on my bed. She is sitting with her legs crossed and a blanket over her for comfort.

"We need a plan." Lizzy replies excitedly. Her smile is shining brightly.

"We do. This will be the last weekend where I can mingle with the royal family to try to get information about my parents." I tell her, coming to a harsh realization.

"I will be working this ball instead of attending with you." Lizzy tells me. Which shocks me, Lizzy loves the balls and she was the one who had to beg me to attend my first one.

"Lizzy this will be one of your last chances to attend a royal ball. Plus, I know how much you enjoy spending the evenings with Sebastian." I tell her. She looks at me surprised that I know her little secret.

"How did you-" Lizzy starts.

"I am your best friend of course I would notice. Nathaniel confirmed my suspicion too. Did you know they're best friends?" I tease her lightly.

"That's besides the point." Lizzy waves off the new topic with pink blushing cheeks. "I want to be able to keep an eye on you in case something goes wrong." Lizzy explains her reasoning.

'You can always change your mind." I tell her but she shakes her head.

"No, I want to help you more plus I will technically still be attending." She explains and I nod warily.

"Well you got a point. I have been trying to play it safe this entire time. It seems it has not gotten me nowhere. I guess it will be good that you keep an eye on me because on Saturday I will do everything to make sure I find my parents." I tell Lizzy.

"Oh! You cant forget what you will wear on Saturday?" Lizzy asks.

"I asked Nathaniel for the theme of the ball this final weekend. It is each royal family's colors. That way when Nathaniel choses a future bride, the crowd will know what family she comes from." I tell Lizzy.

"I happen to know all the colors associated with each family attending tomorrow. They taught us in school when we were young." Lizzy explains to me.

"What colors are not used?" I ask her. I cant wear another family's color because they will know I am not related to them.

"The deep color navy blue has not been used by a family in a long time," Lizzy suggests the color. With not many options I nod my head in agreement. The color of my dress will not be my priority on Saturday. Finding my parents will be the only agenda for me. This has gone on for far too long.

"I think I can go on Friday after work to visit my mother at the village and pick up a navy blue gown. She has plenty in that color even though no royalty requests it. She loves the color so much she will be glad to gift you one." Lizzy explains. I stand up and give her a big long hug.

"Thank you so much Lizzy. I dont know what I did to deserve you." I gush.

"I know that if the tables were turned and my mom was missing you would help me just as much. Plus, that's what friends do." She shrugs off her extreme kindness.

Authors Note:

Hi! It's so crazy to think that I am just a couple chapters away from finishing my first book! It is thanks to you, the people that message me, that I have not gave up. Thank you for your support it means the world to me!!!!

-xoxo Ellie Violet