The Forbidden Princess [Paused]

Chapter 9: The Prince Is In Town

I hadn't used this tunnel in ages, but it wasn't covered in cobwebs and dust which surprised me.

Oh well, I thought. It's better freakishly clean than dirty.

We had each grabbed a candle stick from the library and lit them to be able to see going through the tunnel. I was leading, while Jesse stayed close behind me and Arthur was behind us both.

"Charlotte," Jesse whispered sharply in my ear. He said it in such a way that it made me have chills. "Charlotte, why do you need in your room?"

I shrugged. "No reason. I just miss my room. And need to grab a few things from it."

"Sounds good to me," Jesse said.

We continued to make our way through the tunnel until I could see a wooden door faintly up ahead. "We are here!"

I jerked on the handle and the door opened up, dust flying everywhere. I waved my hand to clear the dust from my face and accidentally blew my candle light out.

I walked through the door to see my room the same as it was when I had been banished in the first place. It seemed like no one had been in here, but why did it feel like something was wrong?

Nerves, I told myself. Just your nerves.

Yeah, I agreed. Just nerves...

I walked to my dresser and laid the burnt out candle on it, continuing to make my way to my bed. I immediately sat down, suddenly exhausted.

"Charlotte, is something wrong?" Arthur asked me.

"No," I lied. "I'm fine." I added a smile to make it seem believable.

He returned the smile them continued. "This is a very nice room. I love your paintings."

"My mother and I painted them together. Well, before she passed away."

Arthur turned from the paintings in which he was intensely admiring, to look at me with sorrow in his eyes. "I am terribly sorry, Charlotte. I didn't know."

"It's okay-wait. How wouldn't you know? Does the school not inform you to what happens in the royal family?" I asked.

Arthur and Jesse both shook their heads so I told them what happened. I told them of how Mother had caught a cold, or so we thought, and kept it for a long time. Then it became much worse and she couldn't even get out of bed she was so weak and ill. I was never told what was actually wrong with her, but I knew the doctor knew. His facial expression when he exited her room after each weekly visit said it all. She wasn't going to get better ever again.

About 8 months passed of Mother being in bed until she finally passed away, and might I add, very peacefully at that. I hated myself for the longest time, thinking that I caused her to die, but later I realized I didn't. There was nothing I could do to save her.

"That's the story," I said after I finished. "That's what happened to my mother."

The boys slumped on my bed, their faces like stone.

"Well," Jesse started, his eyes staring at the floor. "That's depressing." He brought his gaze to meet my eyes. "I don't like being sad. Tell me, Charlotte, why are we here in the first place? This is very random to visit your home in the middle of your banishment, wouldn't ya think?"

"Why yes, it is quite random to do so. But I needed in here. First, I needed this book. Second, I needed this." I walked to my dresser and opened the second drawer down all the way and dug as far as I could to the back of the drawer. My fingers felt around for the object then pulled it out, displaying it to the other two.