Finally Free!

Climbing Mountains

When we wake up, I head towards breakfast and everyone splits up to get ready for the ball.

I head to my room to find the clothes I should wear later today. Most are busy running about in the chaos of the day as they prepare for the ball, whether workers or nobles.

After making my way through the crowded halls and finding my father's room, I knock on the door and my mother comes to the door.

"Anthurium," my mother says kindly, "It's lovely to see you. We barely cross paths these days because of the season's chaos, but when we get home, we need to spend some time getting to know each other." I tense and nod slowly, "I'm looking for Father. He disappeared this morning after breakfast." "Yes, he's dealing with a potential crisis, but nothing to worry about. What did you need to ask him?" she asks me kindly. "Well," I say nervously as she ushers me into the room and I turn around to face her while she stands by the door, "I wanted to ask about the rules of intelligence. Can't someone go against them?" She nods, "Cedric did, but you need to get permission from the King to do that and it's a complicated process because a title must be relinquished. You cannot have both." "Why not?" I ask her. "Well," she says as she sits down on her bed, "it's a lot of work to be split up by each of them and the children suffer as well as the marriage. In the end, the marriage will end, the children will be harmed, and the territories will suffer as well." I sigh deeply as I nod, "Okay, so who is coming to the Sable ball." "Well, it is supposed to be just the Sable royals, but, now, it will be everyone who is eligible to marry one of the boys as well as the Duchess and Dukes," she says as she tries to remember, "that's what your father said anyways, but he hasn't finalised it yet." "Well, it was nice seeing you again, Mother, we really should talk about some things that I need to clear up about my past," I say honestly, but she doesn't seem to keen on the conversation anymore, "it's important that I understand what really happened, you know?" She nods and I see the fear in her eyes, but I don't know why yet as I walk out the door.

When I head back to my room, I find Callidora and Cedric there. They curtsy as I walk upto them and I smile at them.

"Is something wrong?" I ask them and Callidora looks at Cedric. "Your Highness we would like to sincerely apologize for yesterday. We misjudged the situation and made a wrong decision," Cedric apologizes and Callidora has a look of fear in her eyes. "Did my Father say something about this?" I ask him and he nods. I shake my head, "Please this is a dumb rule. I don't blame you. I took care of children a lot in my life even during this season when I went to a tribe, so it's nothing personal. I'm sorry if my father scared you and I'm glad you have such a good relationship with your children. Please forgive me as well." Callidora's eyes widen, "No, Your Highness, you didn't do anything wrong." "But I agreed," I say seriously, "so we are both at fault. Please forget about this situation and continue with the preparations for the ball. Did my father say anything else to make you guys seem so scared?" Cedric shakes his head but I can clearly see that my father said something to them.

They bow and curtsy, then they leave.

I sigh deeply as I open my room door only to find my father listening in on the whole situation which explains the fear in their eyes.

"Everyone out," my father says to the entire family that is crammed in my room, including Radley, who seems distressed, and as soon as everyone is out, he turns to look at me, "I know you don't understand the rules here and all that because you had different rules before. I know you are still getting used to them, but you dare to say to my subjects that I am wrong," "I didn't and never will utter those words," I say seriously, "I was wrong and they were wrong. It is a dumb rule and you did scare them. None of it was untrue." He sighs, "I don't care." I interrupt him, "If you instill fear in people then you are just as bad as Orpheus. All he cares about is fear and control. Sometimes all you need to be is kind like Delilah, even though she died she will never be forgotten for the right reasons. Do you want to be remembered for being a good King who fixed everything or the King that everybody feared because he was too afraid to show a little bit of human? Not being human is how Orpheus thinks and that's how he views everyone else." Anger is clear in his eyes as he looks at me and says, "Kings and Queens need control and respect. Kindness is not the way to get it." "Then count me out," I say seriously, "I will never be Orpheus, never. I will always be a human and a kind one at that no matter how other people view, because if I am kind, then no one will ever believe what anyone says about me except what they have seen. If they fear you and Orpheus spreads a rumour about you one day, they will be quick to believe it and try to get rid of you at any opportunity." "Fine, then," my father says seriously, "I guess Aster or Magnolia will be the heirs then." "None of them will be like you," I say seriously, and he glares at me. "Why are you becoming like this?" he asks me seriously. "You mean not a pushover and someone who speaks their mind?" I ask him and he nods, "this was who I always was. I remembered. I was feisty and stood up for myself as well as others and I never let anyone get away with anything, that's how I will remain." He walks towards the door and scoffs, "We will see who wins Anthurium." I nod, "We shall see." He leaves the room and everyone else walks into the room, so I turn around to look at them.