Once Upon a Royal Christmas

chapter 4

The necessary arrangements were made with remarkable speed. In the days following Katarina’s decision, the air around the Welbourne home felt different—brimming with a sense of finality and the looming unknown. Katarina, Rosie, and Oliver packed what little they could, their hands moving with excitement and dread. It was strange, the thought of leaving behind the only life they had known for a world they couldn’t yet imagine.

Katarina spent extra time packing away their most treasured belongings. Family pictures, worn but precious, were carefully wrapped and placed in boxes, ready to be shipped to Edlenmoor. As she ran her fingers over the photographs of their parents, she felt a familiar ache in her chest. Some of her wished she could take the ranch with her, all the memories of their life together—but those days were behind them now. She had to look ahead, even if it hurt to do so.

Thankfully, they didn’t need to wait on passports. Collingsworth had already taken care of that long before she knew such arrangements were being made. The papers had been processed swiftly, and the passports, along with all necessary documentation, were now in the butler’s possession, waiting for them in town.

On her final visit to the bank, Katarina sat down with the teller who had delivered the devastating news about the ranch. The man, usually so brisk and efficient, wore a look of genuine sympathy when she explained her situation.

“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” he said, shaking his head. “The ranch was a big part of this town. Your father—he did so much for everyone around here.”

Katarina nodded, swallowing back the lump in her throat. “He did. But there’s nothing left for us here now.”

The teller leaned back, his hands folded on the desk. “If there’s anything we can do on our end, don’t hesitate to reach out. I hope this move brings you and your siblings the stability you deserve.”

“Thank you,” Katarina replied softly, appreciating the man’s kindness even if it couldn’t undo the reality of their situation. “We’ll do our best.”

As she left the bank for the final time, the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the small town that had been their home. For a brief moment, Katarina paused, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, taking in the quiet streets, the distant sound of children playing, and the smell of fresh-cut grass. She wondered if Edlenmoor would ever feel as familiar as this.

Returning home, she found Rosie and Oliver sitting at the table, staring at their half-packed boxes. Rosie looked up at her, her face mixed with uncertainty and hope. “Are we going to live in a castle, Kat?”

Katarina smiled gently, setting down her bag. “It seems that way.”

Oliver, ever the pragmatist, glanced up from the box he was taping shut. “I still don’t trust them. They left us alone for so long.”

Katarina knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I know. And I don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re doing this together. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

Oliver nodded, his eyes softening a little though his uncertainty remained. “Okay.”

Katarina stood and looked around at the only home they had ever known, now filled with packed boxes and empty spaces. Soon, they would be leaving it behind for a place she could hardly picture, a life she didn’t yet understand. But she had made her choice, and now it was time to see where it led them.

Katarina climbed the stairs slowly, her heart heavy as she approached her parents' room. The door creaked as she pushed it open, the familiar scent of her mother’s perfume still faintly lingering in the air. She hadn’t set foot in here much since they passed—too many memories, too much grief—but tonight, with the move ahead of them, she felt a need to hold on to something, anything, that would remind her of them.

She rummaged through drawers and closets, her fingers brushing against old shirts and trinkets, each sparking a distant memory. Yet, nothing she touched felt like enough. As she moved toward the dresser, she noticed her father’s old pocket watch tucked away in a drawer. The silver casing was worn, scratched from years of use, but when she opened it, the hands still ticked softly, keeping time. She smiled faintly, recalling how he used to pull it out, checking the time with a casual flick of his wrist. It was the only thing he had left from his father, a legacy of sorts.

Setting it aside gently, Katarina turned her attention to her mother’s jewelry case. She had expected to find the usual—a few rings, perhaps a bracelet—but as she sifted through the items, something caught her eye. Hidden beneath the velvet lining was a necklace she had never seen before. A delicate chain held a deep blue sapphire teardrop pendant, the gem gleaming faintly in the dim light.

Katarina frowned, turning the pendant over in her hand. Her mother had never worn this necklace, and she didn’t remember her mentioning it. It felt like a mystery, a piece of her mother’s life that had gone unnoticed, hidden for unknown reasons. Still, it was beautiful, and somehow, it felt important.

Finding a small box on the dresser, she carefully placed the pocket watch and the sapphire pendant inside, cradling them as if they were fragile pieces of her past. These would be her keepsakes, the things she would carry with her to Edlenmoor, the last tangible connections to her parents.

Tucking the box under her arm, she walked to her own room and gently placed it in her suitcase, nestling it between the few belongings she had managed to pack. Tomorrow, they would leave for the airport, and this ranch—their home, their memories—would soon be part of the past. A new life awaited them, one filled with uncertainty, but Katarina clung to the small hope that maybe, just maybe, this next chapter would offer them a chance to heal.