Such Sweet Sorrow

Chapter Two: An Arrangement

Chapter Two: An Arrangement

The new morning brought new things, something I was usually happy of. I had slept in mother and father's room through the night, under mother's demand. Chauncey had been shot, but was expected to make a full recovery. Above all, the thing that was most frightening of all was that the Imposter was still in the castle- in the dungeon prisoner holding area- but in my home nonetheless, and I could tell that mother was not at all happy about this.

"Can't we send him off?" Mother asked that morning at breakfast.

"Out of the question. This is the only place where...interrogation...is appropriate." Torture. I could tell that was what he meant. Why didn't the imposter just tell them who he was working for? Why was it so important that I be taken?

"Does he not speak?" My mother asked.

"Not a word." My father said, "I'm starting to believe my dream was actually the future-" here we go again; "I think it was Relishe who sent him to abduct our daughter."

"Preposterous," my mother said, "The King of Relishe has long been our friend and ally."

"We can trust no one." my father said, "I've been thinking of sending you and Flora away."

"No," My mother said, "That would bring suspicion and show fear to our enemy, whoever they may be; I will not leave my country."

"Flora will." my father told her.

"Excuse me?" I asked, nearly choking on my ham.

"You heard me. You are not safe here." My father said, obviously going bonkers. "I know not though, of who we can trust."

"No one- you just said it a moment ago." my mother replied, I could tell she was watching her tongue again.

"We will speak about it in private. I don't want anyone to hear." my father looked around paranoid, watching the guards and the servants closely. They looked frightened to the bone.

Mother, father, and I sat in the private longue in my parents' bedroom after lunch. Father was pacing across the room, hand massaging his goatee.

"Your parents?" Father suggested. Oh my, that would be dreadful. Day...weeks...months with my mother's parent would feel like eternity. My grandmother had a knack for pointing out all my imperfections, while my grandfather had a knack for ordering me around as if I were his servant.

"They are away in Ireland for their annual charity drive." my mother told him. Phew.

"How about...Clarisse?" my father recommended.

"You'd trust Clarisse?" I knew something happened between Clarisse and my father; I didn't want to think about what.

"Wait-" my father looked as though he'd had an epiphany, "Roger Wesley..."

"Who?" my mother and I asked in usion.

"He was my best, dearest friend when we were children." my father explained, looking as though he was drifting back into his childhood, "I used to live near his family's ranch before I became King. We were the greatest of friends, Roger and I. I haven't spoken to him in years, but I think..."

"Who knows what has become of him!" Mother shouted standing up, I looked at her in shock, "He could be a crook for all we know. We can't trust anyone, especially people who you haven't seen in years!"

"If you have not forgotten..." my father said this very quietly, scary quite, "I AM KING! YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME AS THOUGH I WERE YOUR CHILD! I AM RULER OF THIS COUNTRY AND YOU, SO I WILL DECIDE WHAT I WILL DO WITH MY DAUGHTER!"