The Royal Secret

~The Parliament~

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Caitlyn was fidgety all morning. Facing Parliament wasn't exactly her cup of tea. The Princess only sees the Parliament at a royal ball. She never speaks to them either. Only the King or the Queen speaks with Parliament just so casually. Caitlyn was never involved with the Crown's dirty work and her father made sure of that.

"Caitlyn, would you like some breakfast?" Vi asked.

The Princess shook her head, "I'm not exactly hungry at the moment, dearest."

"Because you fear the Parliament?"

"Yes. That. I've never spoken with them before. I must if I'm stepping up."

"That seems a bit strange. You would think that if you are next to inherit the Crown, that you wouldn't have to speak with Parliament."

"That would be a bit too easy, wouldn't it?"

Vi held Christopher in her arms. She was the only other person Caitlyn trusted to hold him. Nothing against anyone else in the household, she just had an unending amount of trust for Vi.

Thankfully, the redness in his face began to fade a bit. His hands were more relaxed, palms scarred from balling his fists up so hard. The small tear stains that were once on the corners of his eyes had faded completely. Finally, his green eyes were more visible instead of bloodshot from screaming and crying so much.

"Vi, would you happen to know how long it takes for infants to lift their heads?" Caitlyn asked.

"Powder began to lift hers around two months of age," Vi explained, Christopher's head resting on her shoulder. "Some even began to lift theirs up around a month, so I've seen with Ekko."

"I'm surprised he hasn't started laughing yet. He should be cheering right now."

"He is just now beginning to be rid of his colic. Perhaps we needs to be more sensible of the world before he begins to laugh. Thankfully, we can see his eyes now."

"Yes, that is a plus. Thankfully, they aren't my father's eyes..."

Vi placed her hand on Caitlyn's shoulder, "I understand your reservations about your father. He has done horrible things. Try not to let it affect you so much. I will eat you alive, my love."

"I know... I just... When I think about Parliament, I think about him and how he would know how to handle them. I'm not exactly sure how they treat women there."

"No matter how horribly they treat you, they must understand that you are their Queen. If I am not mistaken, you are allowed to do anything you please with them in response to their actions."

"I suppose they're very lovely people to have served my father," Caitlyn said with a hint of sarcasm.

"I imagine so."

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Caitlyn sat at the piano, gliding her fingers along the keys. She hummed to the sound of the cords, attempting to come up with something of her own.

"Does your father know that you're in here?" A man asked from behind. The young Princess turned to see a man around the same age as her father, perhaps a bit older.

"Um... no," Caitlyn told him. "He does not."

"Well, it was a lovely tune. Perhaps I could hear the finish product."

"Yes. Perhaps."

"Lord Hoskel!" The King exclaimed, walking into the library. "I didn't think I would find you here!"

"Well, I heard piano cords and I had to stop by. Is this the Princess?"

The King looked at his daughter with little to no enthusiasm, "Uh, yes. Yes it is. This is Caitlyn..."

"She is wonderful at playing the piano, Your majesty. Just wonderful!"

"Yes, yes, why don't we go speak with the rest of Parliament, Hm?"

Caitlyn looked down at her hands as her father guided the man away from her. Her father practically refused to present her to society. He made her feel so worthless just because she wasn't his perfect male heir.

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Caitlyn stepped out of the carriage and turned to see that Vi wasn't following her. "Vi? Are you not coming?"

"Uh, I'm not allowed," Vi told her. "Did you not know that? It is only you allowed in there. I am just a noble to them."

"But not to me. I insist."

Vi cleared her throat, her neck glistening with sweat, "Just go ahead, I can wait out here."

"You're nervous."

"No, I just-"

"You are! Come on, Violet, don't be nervous. Trust me," she held her hand out, "Please? For me?"

"Fine. If you insist, Your Majesty."

"Oh, stop that, you know I hate formalities."

When Vi took Caitlyn's hand, it was sweaty. The Princess rubbed gentle circles in the Noble's palm as their footsteps grew closer and closer to Parliament. Once they found the room, the cold surrounded them like a ring of fire.

"Your Highness," A member spoke. "Welcome. I am Lord Salo. We are down just a couple of members due to the flu."

"I understand," Caitlyn told the man. She then looked to see a familiar face. One she had seen almost thirteen years ago, "Lord Hoskel, yes?"

The man cleared his throat, "Right. Yes. Lord Hoskel. The others would be Lord Heimerdinger, Lady Medarda, Lady Shoola, and Lord Bolbok."

Lady Shoola spoke up, "I suppose you are here to step up into your father's place?"

"Uh, yes," Caitlyn muttered. "Someone would have to cave in at some point. Eyes have been on me."

"They have, yes. Although, this position is not simple. You do understand that you have to listen to the begs and pleads of all of your citizens? Including the ones in the slums?"

"Yes. I can do that. That is why I am here. Over the recent years, I've come to realize that my father didn't exactly do that..."

"He did the best he could," Lord Salo defended. He then looked at the rest of the members. "Did he not?"

Some members cleared their throats, others looked around the room. Caitlyn gripped Vi's hand. Lord Heimerdinger cleared his throat, "I believe the Crown is yours, Your Highness. I believe you're only here to confirm with the Parliament."

"Yes, that is correct," Caitlyn said. "t's either me or some desperate fool."

"Correct. The official crowning with be in four days. Also, you are aware that in order to have a significant other, you must be married to them, yes? The spouse is also involved with the Crown just as much."

Suddenly, there was an absence of touch. Caitlyn stood facing the Parliament with tears forming in her eyes as Vi's footsteps left the room.

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Sorry for the short chapter guys
Also if the DMV doesn't do my fucking road test to get my license on Friday I'm literally gonna shove my stinky toes in their face cuz they piss me tf off. They're so rude for no reason like I didn't choose that job u did- anyway I'm working on updates plus a possible new story