Sofia the First: The Rise of Rulers

Chapter Twenty-Nine: James

Chapter Twenty-Nine

James

We've been in this prison of a palace for three days now. I've been spending almost all my time at Vivian's side which is helping with the boredom, but I'm starting to go stir crazy. It's amazing how much you can learn about a person when you spend all of your time with them, especially when that person is easy to read. I thought I already knew her, but I was so wrong. I began to notice little things, like how she opens up pretty quickly once she's comfortable, how her eyes light up at the mention of good news, how she hates things that are overly complicated, how she cracks her knuckles when she's nervous, being with her constantly is like getting a window into her brain. I love it. It's not enough though, I need more. More time listening to her voice, more moments spent looking into her eyes, more instances of contact, more, more, more.

She's holding my hand and blabbing on about an idea she has for the village elementary school. I'm hanging on to every word. We're walking to the palace entrance to deal with some "pressing issue." Benedict, our steward, said we are needed immediately.

"And we can use the old vegetable garden for-" Vivian is cut short at the sight of the blond smirking teenager standing in the entrance.

"Your majesties, may I present to you Duchess-"

"Evelyn," My wife finishes, scowling.

"In the flesh."

"Wait, your cousin?" I turn to see Vivian absolutely fuming. I've never seen her this worked up in all the years I've known her.

"What is she doing here Benedict?" She demands.

"Well, you see, it was arranged by your father before..."

"Before he kicked the bucket. Now you have to prepare me for when you go to join him."

"Excuse me? My crown will not be passed to you."

"Well unless you have some secret heir you've been hiding, which would be impossible considering you've got virgin written all over you, I am technically next in line."

"Ok, woah. You're not just going to come in here unannounced and start disrespecting your queen. I understand if arrangements have already been made but now we're in charge. Do you know what that means? It means we could ship you right back to wherever you came from at this very moment. I don't care who you are or what your future title is, but the correct courtesy when entering the royal palace and greeting your rulers is to bow and wait for further instruction." I say once I've come to my senses.

"Geez who's got your panties in a bunch, your majesty."

"You heard him, Evelyn. Bow to me." And she does. She lowers herself to the ground and comes back up. Her eyes were damn near rolling out of their sockets, but still.

"Benedict, take her to a sitting room. Assign a guard to her to make sure she doesn't leave." Vivian says.

"Of course, your majesty." He replies as he leads the testy blonde away from us.

"She is not staying here James."

"Viv, let's just take a minute to think."

"I'm done thinking, I'm done waiting. I want her out by five."

"Like it or not, if something happens she will be the queen. Shouldn't we at least try to change her? At the very least prepare her?"

"You can't change evil."

"It's what your father wanted."

"It's not what I want."

"It's not what I want either but we have to try. Do it for our people."