Majestic Misstaps

Chapter 12

Author's note
For the experience, I recommend you to listen to the song above on Spotify while reading this chapter. Trust me on this

Seraphine Palace, Eldoria
December

Minutes passed, and Jennie remained by her father's side, unwilling to leave him. Her mother, overwhelmed by the pain, had left the room earlier, unable to bear the sight of her husband in such a fragile state.

Jennie's solitude was broken by the soft sound of footsteps. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. "Your Highness," Jarvis spoke quietly.

Jennie quickly wiped her tears away, trying to maintain some composure. "What is it, Jarvis?" she asked, her voice betraying the weight of her sorrow.

Jarvis hesitated before speaking, knowing the gravity of his words. "Should we inform the Prime Minister about the King's condition?"

Jennie's gaze remained fixed on her father, her hand still clutching his. "Shouldn't you ask my mother?" she responded, her voice thick with emotion.

"Her Majesty has been taken to rest. She fainted earlier," Jarvis explained softly.

Jennie's head snapped towards him, her eyes wide with concern. For a moment, the reality of why her father had kept his illness a secret started to settle in her mind.

Turning back to face her father, Jennie felt a cold wave of realization wash over her. "Apart from you, who else knows?" she asked, her voice now barely above a whisper.

"The Prime Minister is aware, Your Highness," Jarvis replied carefully. "He had to be informed."

Jennie's grip tightened on her father's hand as anger welled up inside her. "And it didn't occur to you that his family—his wife, his children—should know as well?" she demanded, her voice rising in frustration.

"Your Highness, it was the King's express wish that his condition be kept confidential," Jarvis answered, his tone pleading for understanding.

"Why you, Jarvis?" Jennie's voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and hurt as she stood up to face him. "Why are you the one he confided in instead of his own family?"

Jarvis swallowed hard, struggling to find the words. "I was there when it first happened," he began, his voice low and steady. "We had just returned from an event, and he started coughing up blood. It was uncontrollable. He'd been coughing for weeks before that, but he hid it well."

Jennie stood still, her breathing shallow as she listened. "And then?" she asked, her voice almost breaking.

"He ordered me to call the doctor in secret. On that day, no one was allowed near his suite—only me and the doctor. He wanted to protect you all from the truth, to carry the burden alone," Jarvis continued, his voice cracking under the weight of his own emotions.

For a long moment, silence hung between them. Jennie's heart ached with a betrayal she hadn't expected. She looked up at Jarvis, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You said I could trust you, Jarvis," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But right now, I don't know if I can."

Without another word, Jennie turned on her heel and stormed towards the door. Just as she reached the threshold, she paused, glancing back over her shoulder with a cold determination in her eyes. "Inform the Prime Minister about my father's condition," she ordered, her voice resolute.