Finally Free!

Sandcastles

As the darkness of the night fades into a beautiful new day, I step out of my cozy and warm bed to find Radley sleeping soundly. I sigh deeply as I see him shivering without a trace of warmth from the blanket, so I decide to quietly pull the blanket over him. As soon as I reach his face, I shriek as I am pulled down onto him.

"Radley," I laugh and shout at the same time, "you scared me." He smiles with his eyes half open, yawning, "Were you going to let me sleep?" I nod, "Why not?" "We have that meeting with your siblings, then later, we have to meet with the whole family," he says seriously, "you forgot?" I nod, "Yes I did forget. That is why you and everyone else are there to remind me." He chuckles, kissing me on my lips.

I make my way off him and into the shower then I change into an appropriate but breathable dress that is fit for the hot weather. Once we are dressed, we make our way to the tea room, which we asked if we could use for some negotiations.

"Anthurium," my siblings say politely. "It's nice to see you both," I say kindly. "So? Aster asks kindly. "Cut to the chase," Magnolia says seriously, "what do you guys want?" I sigh, "We will be hosting the new baby of Duke Ciril until they reach thirteen years of age." "So?" Aster asks once again, "you want us to be babysitters?" "Look," I struggle to put my thoughts into words, "I just need us all to pitch in so none of us get too attached to the child which is likely impossible, but... the child is in danger if we don't help so I was hoping you guys would assist when you are not doing school or royal duties or atleast until we find someone we trust to care for them."

They both smile as I stop babbling and Radley looks amused.

"You know," Magnolia says kindly, "Honourable Angelique is adorable so I don't think she wants to kill a little baby." I hit my hand on my forehead, "Magnolia it is not about the child. It is about the parents and an evil country known as The Kingdom of Hydrangea which is accountable for every child that has ever disappeared." My anger subsides as I state these words and then I groan as I realise what I have said.

"They took you?" Aster asks with anger in his eyes. Magnolia has tears in her eyes and I know it is all clicking in place for her as well. I sigh, "I am sorry. I...have not told you guys alot about my past or really anything about me, but you have to trust me when it comes to these things. I have seen them and what they do. I know who and what they really are like. It's just...not the best thing to relive and... I don't know anymore guys." They both sigh.

"Is that why he said he knew so much about you?" Magnolia asks and I nod. "He knows too much and he knows even more now that they have Kyle," I say with fear in my eyes, "I have not spoken to father about much. He thinks he knows everything but he doesn't. And everything I know is my motivation to rule this country and really fight back for the sake of everyone who was ever lost."

Magnolia sighs, "You may know a lot, but we are taught it in history. The Ponceau's, the name you hear everyone mention, they were amazing people. The land they lived in meant everything to them and so did the people. They were so intertwined with the community that they came to know too much about the stolen children scheme, so they wanted to go undercover to ensure that it was done away with." Her tears started falling.

Aster held her hand and continued, "It all really started with the Ponceau's. That is when everyone knew that something weird was going on and that everyone was playing games with the nobles' lives. Anyways, the Ponceau's decided to go to a warzone to investigate their theory under the impression that is was for charity, so they took all their children with them which made it look less suspicious in everyone's eyes. Their oldest child was, probably, around sixteen or so and the youngest was on the way. They adopted alot of children and had barely any of their own. So, from the five children they had, only the oldest was theirs and the one on the way. As they stayed their and did their charity work as well as their investigation, the main power began to realise, I think, as far as we know, their intentions or something of the sort which got them all killed. After that, it just seemed like the nobles lost children in bags after that. You went that very year."