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C H A P T E R E I G H T E E N
"Be stubborn and persist, and trust yourself on what you love. You have to trust what you love."
- Carolee Schneemann
Henri was the first to speak.
"Your Majesty!" His eyes grew darker. "You were supposed to read from the placards! There was nothing on it about inviting the Ambers, I had written them all!"
Henri turned to Lady Emmeline in exasperation.
"Is there any way to take another interview, or at least, remove a few lines?"
"We don't cheat our people." Lady Emmeline shook her head. "It's too late for another interview, this had to be done before the coronation ball, and the shorthands have already given their notes to the press to print as we speak." I looked around and realised that in fact all the notes were being printed by the press, right here in the sitting room. Copies and copies of what the shorthands wrote were being printed for the press to publish in their articles.
I didn't maintain eye contact. "I was doing what I had to. Surely you've heard about the protests that were being yelled the first time I visited! They hated me so much, this will help!"
"No it will not!" This was the very first time I ever heard Henri yell. "Do you realise what you just did? You printed an entire invitation to an Amber village! Imagine what everyone would think of you now? You just became Queen for goodness sake!"
"I don't care what anyone thinks of me, especially the Ivories." I shot back. The guards began to usher the crew and press out, along with Lady Emmeline.
"Believe it or not, you are Ivory now!" He took a step closer, venom in his voice. "You're supposed to follow the council's instruction, instructions that have been thought upon, not blatantly take a stupid risk just to get your image fixed. It's what we're all here for!"
"You don't understand!" I screamed. The Ambers were why I chose the throne. Why I chose to give up my life and everything I had. It was all for them. "I was an Amber once, Henri! I know their pain. I want to help them! Just like how you would help a motherless child! You know the suffering firsthand, you'd want to do something, anything, to help who you can!"
"Take Her Majesty to her chamber at once." His expression was stoic now, but his eyes were dangerously stil. "She needs to rest and fix what she has done."
"I don't need rest!" I crossed my arms. "I do not regret any of this, I am not going to even decline their invitation. If the Ivories think less of me, let them be! I am their ruler, I am their Queen! I'm supposed to be saving them, not dividing them!"
"ENOUGH!" Henri roared. His emotions finally being let through his mask. "If I hear you using your title as a threat once again, I shall ask Patrik to cancel any sort of Amber celebrations or privileges, you understand?"
Once upon a time, I thought Patrick was a good man until he fired Olive for debts. Once upon a time, I thought Henri was a good man too, until he showed where his true intentions lie. It was never with me. It was for his Kin.
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Once I reached the safety of my chamber, I bolted the door and drowned myself in sorrows. The tears kept running down, like a tap with no faucet. Funnily enough, I didn't know why I was crying. My head was a tornado of emotions, from not being able to save the Ambers of EastFox Village, the rebel attack and Don's plight to the mystery behind Eddelynne Cassida.
YOU ARE READING
THE IMPERIAL BLOODLINE
Fantasy*DISCONTINUED* The kingdom of Mithalore is separated by powers, Ivory, the elites and Ambers, the commoners. Having the ability of elemental control, the Ivory's were considered the ruling rank since the build-up of the kingdom, twenty centuries ago...