II. The Impact of Her

~ Twenty-One ~

"Robert! Elizabeth!" James shouted as he stood from his chair.

He walked over to us and continued, "What did I tell you about knocking before entering?"

"What did we say about interfering with the designs of our rooms without our permission?!" I snapped back as I walked over to them.

"I don't think your children are entirely concerned about their mother's well-being, James," Bethilda entered the conversation, standing behind him. She continued, "These changes are vital for the recovery of the queen."

"I suggest that you close your mouth before I shove a shoe in it!" Elizabeth threatened, grabbing her shoe in the process. Gonzalo quickly held her back. Elizabeth wasn't in her forgiving mode.

"Don't you dare disrespect your aunt in such a manner!" James yelled at Elizabeth.

"And you have no right to shout at Elizabeth when we are the ones who are being aggravated!" I stood in front of Elizabeth. "This woman," I pointed at Bethilda, "This lady that we have never seen before has the audacity to invade our chambers and act as if she has the right to change everything. And they are changes that we don't approve of! That's disrespectful!"

"I asked for your father's permission. He agreed to it," Bethilda interrupted once more.

"In case you haven't noticed, you old hag, the rooms you entered were our rooms, not His Majesty's," Elizabeth replied. "That means that entry to our rooms requires our permission, not the approval of His Majesty."

"I am the king of this castle, the head of this household. My permission, my decision is above all else!" James fired back.

"In that case, you're not worthy of being a ruler because you don't listen to people lower than your stature!" I replied.

"I don't think your children have a manner of respect for hierarchy, James," Bethilda continued to give her unnecessary remarks.

"One more word out of that mouth of yours and I swear, I will not hesitate to put an apple in it!" Elizabeth shouted once more. I put my arm before her, stopping her from moving any closer to them.

"Elizabeth!" James shouted at her once again.

"You have no right to stop my sister from expressing how she feels!" I pointed a finger at James.

Gonzalo held onto my arm.

I continued, "Mother never rearranged our rooms without our permission. And you are never a proper father to us. Why must your decision come first before ours?"

No one said a word after my response. James was stunned. Bethilda was confused. Elizabeth held me back, putting a hand on my chest.

"Elizabeth. Robert," a weak voice came from the door.

We turned around and it was Mother, supported by Linda and two other maids as she entered the room.

"Mother!" I rushed to her, stopping her from walking any further.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Elizabeth asked as she followed along with James and Bethilda. "You shouldn't be out of bed."

"Amelia, dear, you should be resting now," Bethilda added. "Linda, kindly escort her back to her bed."

Mother stopped her handmaidens before they could even obey Bethilda. "I was told that my children were having a quick yet loud conversation with you and their father," Mother said as she paused in between words. "I've decided to come here to see what's going on."

"Sweetheart, you must return to bed," James replied as he walked towards her. Kneeling before her, he continued, "Matters such as this shouldn't bother you right now."