The Royal Quest of Floravera

🔜 Chapter Fifteen 🔚

By Arabella:
[December 5th]

"A Queens job is never done. We never sleep" - Rocklynn Valente

"You're stepping down? Really?" I tilt my head at his confession, he's obviously lying. I take a few steps down the stairs.

"Yes. Liam knows I plan to, I told him today on the writer. I-" he stops himself. "I just want to see my son become king before I die."

I look him up, and down. He does look a lot older than he used to. "Sounds like something for you, and your son to talk about." I say calmly. "I have to go get ready now. So goodbye." I then leave to my room.

Once I arrive there, I'm sweating. Stairs + lack of sleep/ food is not good. My eyes snap to a guard they walk up to me, "are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Can you please tell Hillston that he will be riding with me back to Hillstock?" I say then walk past him to my room, to pack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hand my bag off to the guard then hop into the carriage where Preston sits. "Glad to see you're here."

I smile at him. Then stare out the window as my vision blurs a bit. I had been awake 30 hours with only a muffin to eat. I didn't eat the breakfast that Leslie brought me, as it was already cold.

The guard shuts the carriage door, as he does someone yells from outside. "Wait!" I look outside and it's Liam. I thought he was pissed at me, why is he coming out here? I open the door to see what he wants, and he jumps inside the carriage and takes a seat across from me, and next to Preston. "I wanna come too."

"Really? Why?" Preston questions.

"I wanna go shopping." I chuckle a bit at that. Hillstock is known for their shops.

Liam also smiles at his joke. Seems he may not mad at me anymore. Well I hope. Preston speaks up. "Thats reasonable I guess." He looks between me, and Liam. "However, Arabella set up this carriage so we could talk while we travel."

He shrugs. "Too late now, we're already moving." Preston sighs

I roll my eyes. "Quit being so lame. Get along already, it's annoying." I snap. Both boys eye me. Liam is with concern, and Preston looks scared. "What I wanted to talk about was the fact that I needed to go to Hillstock and meet your parents. That's it."

"Oh." Preston says. Liam just secretly smirks as he looks out the window. He's amused right now?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, and we finally arrive at Hillstock. I still haven't slept, or eaten. But that won't stop me. Preston is first out of the carriage then Liam should be next. But he doesn't move. Instead he shuts the carriage door and turns to me.

"What's wrong with you?" He asks

"Excuse me?" I retort with a scowl on my face.

"I mean you look like you're dying. You have eyebags, and your face is paler than usual. Did you even sleep last night?" I raise my hand up to my eyes to feel if what he's saying is true. It is.

"Yes I slept, just not well, okay? But I'm fine." I lie to him, I don't want to worry him.

He sighs then opens the door. "Just so you know. When my mom died, my dad did everything that you're doing now. Not sleeping, isolating yourself, letting anger control your thoughts. Everything. If you don't stop you'll soon end up like him." He says. Then steps out of the carriage.

I follow him out, "I won't go insane." He clenches his jaw at that.

"Yeah that's what my dad said too before he murdered the entire Cavron Village... even the children." He doesn't look at me, he obviously is still mad at me. He walks away from me, and to the palace doors. I get this awful feeling in my stomach.

I follow behind him, not saying anymore. He isn't right, I won't go insane like his dad did... right?

We walk through the doors, some butlers greet us at the entrance then Preston stands further into the hallway. "My parents are waiting for you." He turns to Liam. "The shops are downtown."

Liam crosses his arms. Then turns to me. "I'll be outside." He walks away. He obviously doesn't trust the Hillstons. I'm pretty sure he doesn't trust anyone really. That's a common thing for everyone though.

"Wait. Liam should stay." Preston wide eyed me at that. Liam stood at the doorway, also confused.

"My parents only want to speak with you." Preston says.

I reach over and grab Liam's hand as I quickly come up with why he should stay. I don't want him to stay out there alone. As much as I hate to say it, I do care about him. "He's my future husband."

I say, looking at Preston. His eyes widen. "You're engaged!?" I nod. I won't turn to look at Liam. He's either a lot madder at me for lying about us, or grinning like a child who just got candy.

"Yep. Did you not see her ring?" He grabs my hand, and points it at Preston showing the wand.. that is a ring.

I can't resist it anymore, I tilt my head up to see him. His eyes stare into mine. He's smiling from ear to ear.

"I did not see the ring, but I guess he can join if he's gonna be the future king." Preston rolls his eyes. Liam takes my hand and leads me into the room where Preston's parents are.

"Ah Arabella! You made it... and Liam Kelvick?" She questions, raising an eyebrow. She doesn't seem scared of him like others. She's an old lady, so I don't blame her.

"Your majesty." He bowed, then took her hand, and brought it to his mouth.

She smiled then looked at us. "Have a seat. My husband will be here later for dinner."

We do as she says. "In your letter, you said you need to discuss something?"

She nodded. "Yes, about Preston."

She sighed before continuing. "He isn't doing well. I don't mean physically, well possibly I do, I'm not sure. What I mean is, he's been getting mad lately, angry actually and lashing out at the staff, us. Lots of people for just the simplest things." She looked down, stirring her tea.

"I'm not sure I can help with that?" I question, confused.

She looked back at me. "You can. I don't need help with his lash outs. I need help finding his parents."

"Parents?" Me and Liam say in unison.

She sighs. "What happens in this room, stays in this room." We both nod.

"Well you see, Preston is adopted, and no one knows about that other than us, and his adoptive father." My eyes widen as I stare at Liam, he stares back. Holy shit.