From Prisoner To Princess [amazon edition]

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Standing from my throne, I take a deep breath to steady my nerves before addressing the room. I have practiced this all morning with my grandparents, I know I must be the one to start the proceedings first with an introduction.

"Good morning Cabinet members and Nobility." I begin, feeling all eyes focus on me.

"I am Princess Allisara Nimair, heir to the Nimairene throne, and I have called this meeting today to discuss the creation and abolishing of laws." My voice is clear and strong, carrying around the semi-circle room. I can hear the slight whispers as some open their binders, shock written on their face. It is rare for laws to be abolished, or so my grandmama told me. I can see why many would be shocked.

"I know this is so sudden with my return only happening twelve days before, but you all watched the news. I am the rightful heir and now I am undoing all the damaged that Juden Trilavantas caused while I was in hiding for my own safety. To prove to you all that the laws he created were In his favor, I have a short video to play." Nodding to the guard to the right of the stage, I take my seat as the screens above me turn on and Juden's confession plays for all to see. Hiding my hands under the table, I clench my fists to calm the rage that builds just from hearing his voice. I know the Kingdom deserves to watch his public execution, but part of me wished I had killed him in that interrogation room after his confession.

The video ends and the room is filled with many discussing this revelation. I can hear some individual words but with over one hundred people in this room, everyone's voices merge together into on cacophony of sounds.

"Silence!" My grandfather yells from his seat, the room quickly becoming so quiet that I can hear someone accidentally drop their pen.

"We have all be played by that bastard for fourteen years. Because of him my family believed our granddaughter was dead. If he had had his way, she would have been murdered alongside her parents and paternal family." He continues, his voice shaking with anger. Reaching towards him, I take my grandfather's hand in mine and give it a squeeze, letting my presence reassure him that I am here. That all the pain him and the Blanchard family faced has come to an end.

"We all know that many laws were created in the last fourteen years, laws that I believe are unfair and unjust to the people of Nimairene." I voice once I am sure that grandfather has calmed down.

"So with all of your help, I wish to discuss them in great detail and as we decide how to change or abolish them completely. My hope for the end of this meeting is to come out with a stronger law system for the people of Nimairene be they residents of the slums or provinces, to the Nobility and Politicians that help maintain the law of the Kingdom." My words seem to calm the anxious faces of many, but I notice a few that keep looking to one another. Tapping my binder five times – a signal we came up with – I confirm with Kolten that these four men and one women are indeed confirmed Traitors. Good. The best way to catch a rat is to smoke them out, and this meeting is the perfect place for it.

"If I may, your highness." A woman with black hair cut into a pixie style raises her hand and stands, her pale green dress making her stand out amongst the males that wore dark suits.

"You may, Miss..."

"Baroness Olivia Kenzington. This is only my fourth meeting your highness." Nodding my head, I allow Baroness Olivia to speak as she is the first brave soul to stand out when others are too cowardice to ask.

"What brought about the need to change?" She asks, her tone even and steady.

"What brought about the need for change was my first day back in my Palace with Juden threatened me, stating my throne was his. I had a gut feeling that there was more to this interaction and I was correct when I read the laws passed in the last fourteen years." Taking a breath to collect my thoughts for a brief second, I hold up the binder for all to see.