The Road to Coronation

The Verdict

Chapter 11:

(Hugo POV)

"They have reached a verdict," My Dad said. I looked down at Sofia who nervously looked back up at me, "It's going to be ok." I then looked back at Dad, "Let's go." We began to walk down and we passed Sofia's family. King Rolland and Queen Miranda glared at me and I gulped. Sofia turned up to me, "What's wrong?" I whispered, "I'm 95% sure your parents want to kill me." She laughed and I was glad she found it funny, she needed the relief going into this meeting, but I was being serious.

We walked into the room and I continued supporting Sofia. As we stood before the the advisory board I could feel Sofia interlocking her fingers with mine. One of the advisors stood up, "In regards to the removal of Countess Cunningham as the trainer of Princess Sofia, the board unanimously grants this request." Sofia let out a small sigh and I closed my eyes squeezing her hand. Countess Cunningham would no longer be able to cause her anymore harm and Sofia would be safe for the time being. The advisor continued, "In regards to the removal of the Cunningham Family from the advisory board, the board grants this request." I wanted to cheer and shout but, I knew that I had to keep decorum right now but, I felt Sofia squeezing my hand while she maintained a straight face. My father and I bowed and Sofia bowed her head. "Thank you," Dad said. The advisor who was speaking then spoke, "The proposal, to forcefully annul Prince Hugo and Princess Sofia's marriage, has been tabled for the time being. We reserve the right to do so to return to this issue at a later date after Princess Sofia has begun her training and has been given a fair opportunity to prove herself." Of course, the advisors had to slip that one in. They have been fair in regards to the removal of the Cunningham Family but, they love to make it known that they have so much influence over our lives until we are crowned King and Queen. Sofia then spoke, "Thank you for the opportunity." I smiled at her, she was going to prove them all wrong. I knew that tone better than anyone, that was her determined voice and she was going to succeed.

We left the room and her family was standing there. Dad spoke, "They are being removed from the advisory board." "Wonderful," Amber said smiling at both of us. But, the look on King Rolland's face let me know I was still on trial with him. "Why don't we all go to our suite so that Sofia can rest and we can talk privately." He looked me dead in the eyes, "Marvelous idea." His tone dripping in passive-aggression. Sofia then turned to me, "You weren't kidding before, were you?" I shook my head.

(Sofia POV)

We got to our suite and Amber, James and Hugo helped me to the bed, while the adults stood watching us. "Prince Hugo," Mom started, "what happened to our daughter is unacceptable. We gave you our blessing for your marriage and allowed her to come to your kingdom because we trusted you and your ability to take care of her. She came here to a new place where the only people she knew were you and your father and this happened. Not only was she tortured by someone your country put in power but she was almost kidnapped and was left for dead outside a Ball." Hugo began to shrink back as Dad stepped in, "You are not the man that we let our daughter marry. That man stopped at nothing to keep her safe and would never leave her side. Where were you when all of this was happening?" Hugo began to open and close his mouth and I could tell he was beginning to blame himself again.

"Enough," I said from bed starting to sit up. Amber and James helped me arrange the pillows to support myself as I turned toward the adults. "I have two points I need to say and no one is going to interrupt me," I said glaring at the adults. "One, you may have given Hugo your blessing for our marriage but, you didn't let me do anything. I am an adult and I make my own choices, I may ask for your input but, that does not mean you get to choose what I do and do not do in life." I then turned to Hugo, "Same applies to you. I chose not to tell you what was happening in my training and I chose to let it go as long as it did. That is not your fault." I then turned back to my parents opened my mouth but someone else began speaking, "But, Sofia, even if you are an adult who makes their own choices you are in a new place. It is Hugo's responsibility to take care of you when you are in a new environment like this" Mom spoke. I looked her dead in the eyes I had warned them about interrupting me, "Like it was your responsibility when you became Queen and we moved to the castle. If I recall correctly I had no say in that choice and move. I was dropped into the middle of a new place and a new family..." Dad interrupted me, "But, nothing bad happened to you when you came to the castle." My eyes narrowed. I turned toward James and Amber, "I'm telling them." I said. The both knew what I was talking about and nodded letting me know they understood. I then turned back toward them, "On my first day of Royal Prep James pranked me into using the Enchanted Swing set and I got tossed into the fountain and was completely soaked. Thank goodness I landed somewhat safely or else I could have broken a bone, got a concussion or a number of other possible worse outcomes." James slouched back feeling ashamed about what he had done when we were kids, "And Amber, she didn't accept me as a member of the family at all. She would scoff at me when I made mistakes, was passive-aggressive all the time. She was the one who told James to do the prank in the first place and in addition to that during my dance lesson, you remember the ones I needed for the Ball, she gave me trick shoes so that I wouldn't learn anything in the class" Amber hung her head in embarrassment, I felt bad for them but I needed to make this point "Finally, I had gone to Cedric to get a spell, you remember the brief time that he wanted the crown and to steal my amulet right, anyways he gave me a spell that put everyone in the ballroom to sleep leaving me alone until I found Amber who evidently didn't particularly like me at the time." The stood there speechless.