The Road to Coronation

The Assessment

Chapter 4:

(Sofia POV)

"Sofia, we need to talk." His hand was on top of mine and I didn't want to move it. I was so tired and I just wanted to tell him everything but, if I screwed up, if Countess Laurianne decided to go to the advisors I would ruin this for Hugo and that was not something I was willing to do. My hands were sore, my lungs felt heavy and my eyes continued to droop. This self-fulfilling prophecy was never going to end. If my appearance was not up to par with her standards I had to copy 10 chapters of the book but, I couldn't start this until after dinner and I would stay up so late that no amount of makeup could hide the circles around my eyes and thus I would have to do it again. I stared straight ahead, I couldn't bring myself to look at Hugo. It felt like I was constantly failing him in ways that he couldn't yet see. "Sofia, please look at me," He begged and I wanted to but I still couldn't. He brought his hands to my face and forced me to look at him. I stared into his green eyes and launched my arms around him bawling into his chest.

(Hugo POV)

I didn't know why Sofia wouldn't look at me. I needed to know what was going on but, she wasn't even moving. "Sofia, please look at me," I begged trying to see her face. She still wouldn't move. I gently grabbed her face and had her face me. Her face showed no emotion but her, eyes were screaming as they were filled with fear, rage, sadness. Within a few moments I saw tears form as she rammed into my chest and began sobbing uncontrollably. I quickly wrapped my arms around her and brought us down to the floor where we sat as I held her. This was not my Sofia. The girl in front of me right now, is not my strong, independent, kind wife. This is a girl who has been broken down, stripped of her identity. "Sofia can you tell me what is wrong?" She shook her head in my chest. "Why can't you tell me? I'm your husband. If you can't tell me then who can you tell?" She started crying harder. "I want to tell you," she began to choke out, her voice coarse and tired, "But I can't." I felt helpless. I was a future king, I was going to responsible for the safety and happiness of an entire kingdom yet, I failed to do that for my own wife, my best friend. I held her until she fell asleep in my arms. I carried her to our room and she didn't wake up. I called in her maid Mary to help change her into something comfortable and then I placed her on the bed, climbed in and held her.

I don't remember falling back asleep but when I woke up I looked down at Sofia. I could be late for one morning, right now she needed me, Dad will understand. The meeting with the advisors is this afternoon so I will prepare after breakfast. I held Sofia and felt her come more into my chest. A couple of moments later she drowsily looked up at me and smiled. Her mind then woke up and she started frantically looking around the room, "Where are they?" She mumbled to herself. "Sofia, where are what?" "The pages I need to have the pages ready." Those pages she had to copy, that was the big concern. "Sofia I am sure they are still in the library calm down." She opened her mouth like she was about to tell me something but quickly closed it. "Sofia, please lay back down. We still have some time before breakfast and you could use the rest." Before she could argue I pulled her back down on the bed and her eyes began to flutter as her head touched the pillow, "Don't let me sleep too long." She mumbled before drifting off. I slid out of bed as I heard a knock on the door. This cause Sofia to stir but she didn't wake up.

I walked to the door and saw Dad and Sofia's maids waiting outside. I walked out of the room and closed the door, "Champ where have you been? You were supposed to come to my office an hour ago. Why aren't you ready?" The maids bowed, "Prince Hugo, we must prepare Princess Sofia for her training today." I spoke with my father first, "Last night, I woke up at 4 in the morning to see that my wife still had not come to bed. I went to the library and found her past out over a mountain of work. When I woke her up she was bawling in my chest and told me she couldn't tell me what was wrong. All I know is something is wrong and it has been for weeks. She is eating less, she never talks, she isn't coming to bed until late into the night and she was crying in my arms last night and there was nothing I could do. So this morning I am did do something. I took care of my wife, who needed me. I'm sorry that I wasn't with you but, she needed me." I turned toward the maids "As for you two, please let Countess Cunningham know that Sofia will not be attending training today. If she has any problems she may speak with me. Now if you'll excuse me I am going back to my wife and we will be down for breakfast in an hour." No one argued with me. My Dad gave me a nod of approval as I knew he would but what caught my attention was the look on Sofia's maids faces. They looked apprehensive and I didn't understand why.

(Sofia POV)

I could feel the weight shift as Hugo got back in the bed. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He smiled at me, "Are you feeling better?" I nodded wearily, I still didn't want to talk but, it felt good to see Hugo. I looked over at the clock and saw the time, "We are late for our training." I whispered while my thoughts began running. "I already spoke with my father and he is going to speak with Countess Cunningham. It is going to be alright." Hugo didn't understand what he had done but, it was too late for that now. I decided to enjoy this time. He wasn't pushing me to talk and I was glad about that.

"I think it's time for us to get dressed, we don't want to miss breakfast." He whispered. I nodded and got out of bed. I rang for one of my maids to come and Sarah came in. Hugo quickly got ready and he came to see me. Sarah was holding up the gown that Countess Laurianne had chosen a simple beige gown that was too small. "Sofia, is that what you want to wear?" He asked looking at the gown. I was silent but Sarah stepped in, "Forgive me, my Lord, but Princess Sofia doesn't select her clothing that is done by the Countess." Hugo seemed surprised by this but, I just nodded. He then walked deeper in the closet and took down a purple gown that was a more adult version of my favorite gown that I wore when I went to Royal Prep. A small smile escaped but it was enough that Hugo saw, "I think this is the way to go today." Sarah nodded.

(Hugo POV)

Sofia quickly changed and walked with me down to breakfast. Dad and I were talking as I saw Sofia quietly picked at my food, "Sofia..." Dad started and I turned to face him, "is something wrong with your food. You haven't been eating much lately." I was thankful my Dad finally asked. She wouldn't talk to me but, maybe if someone else asked. "I-I-I didn't mean to insult you King Garrick" she stuttered out. This surprised Dad and I. Sofia was always confident around us, yes she had been quiet, but we never heard her stutter. Her eyes were shifting around the room. "You aren't insulting anyone we are just worried about you," I chimed in. She went quiet again and I gave my Dad a look. Now even he could see that something was clearly wrong with Sofia. We just had to figure out what.

After breakfast was over I had to go over my notes for the presentation but, I didn't want to leave Sofia alone. "Sofia," I began Hmm was her response, "would you mind if I went over my presentation with you. I would love to hear your thoughts." She nodded and we walked into the library. Sofia then saw all her work from last night covered in black ink. She tenderly picked up the piece of paper and turned to me, "I'm sorry Sofia. I will explain everything to Countess Cunningham later." She nodded but, I could tell that something else was up. I began running my presentation.

She listened intently as I went through everything from what current trade deals were, to what our country needs and what our allies need and potential expansion on the trade deals that we could establish. "What do you think Sofia?" I asked. She paused for a second before speaking. "It was a great presentation but, you didn't talk about trades you can make with new countries and expanding your allies. What about Avalor, Zaufu, even Enchancia? You have access to trade with all these places but you're underutilizing them as allies. Some of the trade deals you want with existing allies don't seem likely to happen but, with these places you might be able to get more and an equal benefit from each." She was right. I hadn't thought about that. There was an entire angle I had missed and she found it. I quickly amended my presentation and ran through it for her again. She listened just as intently as she had the first time.

I looked at the clock and saw it was almost time for the meeting. I walked with Sofia to the meeting room, "Would you come inside?" she nodded. We walked inside and I sat down as she stood against the wall closest to me. I stood up as my dad and the advisors began to walk in. I then saw Countess Cunningham enter and stand behind her husband. I saw Sofia in my peripheral vision tense up as she saw her.

(Sofia POV)

Hugo began his presentation and he was doing a great job but, I felt Countess Cunningham staring at me. She was looking for me to make a mistake and I wouldn't let her find one. I so badly wanted to play with the necklace that I was wearing, the one Hugo gave me on our wedding day, but I refrained. I instead kept my hands behind my back and twirled my engagement ring and wedding band. At the end of Hugo's presentation the advisors began to clap as did his father however I refrained from doing so as I watched in the corner of my eye to see the Countess wasn't clapping either. Count Cunningham stood up, "Wonderful presentation Prince Hugo. This was truly excellent work." "Thank you," Hugo said bowing his head slightly out of respect. The Count then turned toward me, "As for you Princess Sofia, I believe that it is time for my wife to begin her progress report on you thus far."